1974–75 Boston Celtics season

The 1974–75 Boston Celtics season was the 29th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season hoping to repeat as NBA champions, but were unable to defend their title, falling in the Eastern Conference finals to the Washington Bullets in six games. They did however, win their division for the fourth consecutive season, and their conference final appearance was the fourth straight to that point. Their 60–22 record topped the league as well.

1974–75 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coach	Tom Heinsohn
General manager	Red Auerbach
Arena	Boston Garden
Results
Record	60–22 (.732)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference finals (lost to Bullets 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WBZ-TV
Radio	WBZ Radio

The Boston Celtics were one of a handful of teams to play home games in four arenas; playing out of more than one arena was common in the league's first 30 or so years. Their main venue was Boston Garden, but three home games were played at the Hartford Civic Center, three at the Providence Civic Center and one at the Springfield Civic Center.

Draft picks

Main article: 1974 NBA draft

This table only displays picks through the second round.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	17	Glenn McDonald	SF	United States	Long Beach State
2	35	Kevin Stacom	SG	United States	Providence

Roster

1974–75 Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 34 Jim Ard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Cincinnati G 12 Don Chaney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Houston C 18 Dave Cowens 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Florida State C 29 Henry Finkel 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Dayton F 20 Phil Hankinson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Penn G/F 17 John Havlicek 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 203 lb (92 kg) Ohio State F 30 Glenn McDonald 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Long Beach State F 19 Don Nelson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Iowa F 35 Paul Silas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Creighton G 27 Kevin Stacom 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Providence G 44 Paul Westphal 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) USC G 10 Jo Jo White 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Kansas

Head coach Tom Heinsohn Assistant(s) John Killilea Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	60	22	.732	–	28–13	32–9	17–9
x-Buffalo Braves	49	33	.598	11	30–11	19–22	15–11
x-New York Knicks	40	42	.488	20	23–18	17–24	9–17
Philadelphia 76ers	34	48	.415	26	20–21	14–27	11–15

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	60	22	.732	–
2	y-Washington Bullets	60	22	.732	–
3	x-Buffalo Braves	49	33	.598	11
4	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	19
5	x-New York Knicks	40	42	.488	20
6	Cleveland Cavaliers	40	42	.488	20
7	Philadelphia 76ers	34	48	.415	26
8	Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	29
9	New Orleans Jazz	23	59	.280	37

Season schedule

1974–75 game log Total: 60–22 (home: 28–13; road: 32–9)
October: 3–4 (home: 1–3; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 18 Buffalo 126–119 Don Nelson (28) Paul Silas (19) Jo Jo White (8) Boston Garden 15,320 0–1 2 October 19 @ Buffalo 113–95 John Havlicek (25) Paul Silas (22) Havlicek, Westphal (6) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15,288 1–1 3 October 23 Cleveland 108–107 Jo Jo White (28) Paul Silas (16) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden 7,158 1–2 4 October 25 Atlanta 109–116 John Havlicek (34) Paul Silas (24) John Havlicek (7) Boston Garden 12,742 2–2 5 October 26 @ New York 86–97 John Havlicek (25) Paul Silas (11) Jo Jo White (4) Madison Square Garden 19,694 2–3 6 October 29 @ Cleveland 107–92 Jo Jo White (24) Paul Silas (18) Jo Jo White (11) Richfield Coliseum 13,184 3–3 7 October 30 Chicago 105–104 Paul Westphal (17) Paul Silas (16) Paul Westphal (6) Boston Garden 7,964 3–4
November: 8–6 (home: 4–5; road: 4–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 8 November 1 Philadelphia 98–114 John Havlicek (29) Jim Ard (16) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden 8,269 4–4 9 November 2 @ Atlanta 126–125 Paul Westphal (27) Paul Silas (18) Paul Westphal (7) Omni Coliseum 6,897 5–4 10 November 6 Portland 110–128 John Havlicek (40) Paul Silas (10) Jo Jo White (10) Boston Garden 12,134 6–4 11 November 8 Detroit 105–104 John Havlicek (36) Paul Silas (13) John Havlicek (5) Boston Garden 9,542 6–5 12 November 10 @ Kansas City–Omaha 102–99 John Havlicek (26) Jim Ard (18) Jo Jo White (7) Kemper Arena 8,118 7–5 13 November 12 @ Milwaukee 91–83 Paul Silas (22) Paul Silas (13) John Havlicek (7) MECCA Arena 9,919 8–5 14 November 14 Buffalo 112–100 Jo Jo White (25) Paul Silas (14) Jo Jo White (5) Providence Civic Center 7,315 8–6 15 November 15 Kansas City–Omaha 110–109 John Havlicek (30) Paul Silas (20) Paul Silas (6) Boston Garden 13,192 8–7 16 November 16 @ Washington 124–109 Don Nelson (35) Paul Silas (17) John Havlicek (9) Capital Centre 16,204 9–7 17 November 20 Golden State 120–115 John Havlicek (23) Jim Ard (14) John Havlicek (8) Providence Civic Center 3,509 9–8 18 November 22 Phoenix 94–95 Jo Jo White (23) Jim Ard (12) John Havlicek (9) Boston Garden 13,756 10–8 19 November 23 @ Philadelphia 96–98 Don Nelson (35) Paul Silas (14) Don Chaney (6) The Spectrum 7,008 10–9 20 November 27 Seattle 99–104 Jo Jo White (31) Dave Cowens (15) Don Chaney (9) Boston Garden 10,543 11–9 21 November 29 New York 96–86 Dave Cowens (23) Paul Silas (17) Cowens, White (5) Boston Garden 15,320 11–10
December: 10–3 (home: 2–2; road: 8–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 4 Los Angeles 90–101 Dave Cowens (32) Dave Cowens (15) John Havlicek (8) Boston Garden 8,881 12–10 23 December 6 @ Houston 120–114 (OT) Dave Cowens (38) Dave Cowens (11) Don Chaney (6) Hofheinz Pavilion 5,268 13–10 24 December 8 @ New Orleans 111–101 Jo Jo White (21) Dave Cowens (16) Cowens, Silas (4) Municipal Auditorium 7,042 14–10 25 December 10 @ Chicago 107–89 Don Chaney (28) Paul Silas (15) Jo Jo White (8) Chicago Stadium 11,036 15–10 26 December 13 Washington 108–89 John Havlicek (16) Dave Cowens (15) Havlicek, Silas (4) Boston Garden 15,320 15–11 27 December 14 @ Atlanta 92–90 (OT) Jo Jo White (25) Dave Cowens (19) Jo Jo White (8) Omni Coliseum 7,253 16–11 28 December 17 Philadelphia 113–109 Jo Jo White (22) Dave Cowens (18) Jo Jo White (11) Providence Civic Center 4,134 16–12 29 December 18 @ Philadelphia 131–99 John Havlicek (27) Paul Silas (13) Dave Cowens (8) The Spectrum 7,145 17–12 30 December 20 New Orleans 106–110 Dave Cowens (27) Paul Silas (15) Cowens, White (4) Springfield Civic Center 6,883 18–12 31 December 21 @ New York 109–91 John Havlicek (26) Paul Silas (21) Paul Silas (6) Madison Square Garden 19,694 19–12 32 December 25 @ Phoenix 96–110 Jo Jo White (33) Dave Cowens (13) John Havlicek (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,276 19–13 33 December 28 @ Golden State 115–105 Dave Cowens (32) Dave Cowens (18) Jo Jo White (11) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 20–13 34 December 29 @ Seattle 121–101 Dave Cowens (26) Dave Cowens (19) Jo Jo White (7) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082 21–13
January: 13–1 (home: 8–0; road: 5–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 35 January 1 @ Portland 108–94 John Havlicek (31) Dave Cowens (14) Jo Jo White (11) Memorial Coliseum 11,362 22–13 36 January 3 @ Los Angeles 127–106 Jo Jo White (28) Dave Cowens (13) Jo Jo White (8) The Forum 16,955 23–13 37 January 8 Atlanta 96–104 Paul Westphal (23) Paul Silas (21) Cowens, Havlicek (5) Boston Garden 12,160 24–13 38 January 9 @ Buffalo 108–100 Dave Cowens (28) Paul Silas (12) Dave Cowens (8) Maple Leaf Gardens 13,544 25–13 39 January 10 Los Angeles 97–103 Jo Jo White (23) Cowens, Silas (13) Jo Jo White (10) Boston Garden 13,385 26–13 40 January 12 @ Buffalo 101–114 Dave Cowens (22) Paul Silas (13) Havlicek, Westphal (7) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15,377 26–14 41 January 17 Detroit 90–96 Dave Cowens (23) Don Nelson (10) Jo Jo White (6) Boston Garden 15,320 27–14 42 January 18 Houston 101–123 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (17) Westphal, White (6) Hartford Civic Center 11,283 28–14 43 January 19 Philadelphia 100–102 Jo Jo White (27) Paul Silas (14) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden 15,320 29–14 44 January 21 @ Houston 113–102 John Havlicek (22) Dave Cowens (17) John Havlicek (12) Hofheinz Pavilion 4,576 30–14 45 January 22 @ New Orleans 110–102 Dave Cowens (22) Dave Cowens (16) Dave Cowens (4) Loyola Field House 5,723 31–14 46 January 24 Kansas City-Omaha 87–96 Dave Cowens (26) Paul Silas (15) Cowens, White (4) Boston Garden 10,952 32–14 47 January 26 Buffalo 93–107 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (13) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden 15,320 33–14 48 January 31 Cleveland 99–121 Jo Jo White (24) Dave Cowens (14) John Havlicek (10) Boston Garden 15,320 34–14
February: 9–5 (home: 3–2; road: 6–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 February 2 Milwaukee 102–120 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (2) John Havlicek (6) Boston Garden 15,320 35–14 50 February 3 @ Detroit 114–100 Jo Jo White (29) Dave Cowens (20) Dave Cowens (8) Cobo Arena 10,962 36–14 51 February 5 @ Milwaukee 92–90 Dave Cowens (23) Dave Cowens (15) Dave Cowens (10) MECCA Arena 10,938 37–14 52 February 7 Philadelphia 98–95 Cowens, Nelson (20) Paul Silas (15) Cowens, Havlicek (8) Boston Garden 15,320 37–15 53 February 8 @ New York 128–102 Dave Cowens (31) Dave Cowens (12) Jo Jo White (7) Madison Square Garden 19,694 38–15 54 February 9 New York 88–105 Dave Cowens (25) Dave Cowens (20) Cowens, White (6) Boston Garden 15,320 39–15 55 February 12 @ Kansas City-Omaha 102–103 Don Nelson (21) Dave Cowens (13) Dave Cowens (6) Omaha Civic Auditorium 9,728 39–16 56 February 14 @ Phoenix 112–106 Dave Cowens (29) Paul Silas (14) Jo Jo White (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,338 40–16 57 February 15 @ Portland 102–100 John Havlicek (25) Dave Cowens (12) John Havlicek (10) Memorial Coliseum 11,798 41–16 58 February 19 @ Seattle 95–121 Jo Jo White (18) Dave Cowens (16) Paul Westphal (6) Seattle Center Coliseum 13,680 41–17 59 February 22 @ Golden State 108–114 John Havlicek (27) Dave Cowens (17) John Havlicek (8) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,961 41–18 60 February 23 @ Los Angeles 119–115 Dave Cowens (30) Dave Cowens (13) Jo Jo White (11) The Forum 13,723 42–18 61 February 26 New York 103–121 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (19) John Havlicek (7) Boston Garden 13,169 43–18 62 February 28 Milwaukee 106–107 Dave Cowens (33) Dave Cowens (19) Jo Jo White (9) Boston Garden 15,320 44–18
March: 13–4 (home: 7–2; road: 6–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 63 March 2 Seattle 104–97 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (22) Cowens, White (7) Hartford Civic Center 11,283 44–19 64 March 4 @ New York 126–111 John Havlicek (27) Dave Cowens (15) Jo Jo White (6) Madison Square Garden 19,694 45–19 65 March 5 @ Philadelphia 116–107 Cowens, Havlicek (28) Dave Cowens (20) John Havlicek (8) The Spectrum 9,087 46–19 66 March 9 Golden State 102–101 Jo Jo White (25) Dave Cowens (12) John Havlicek (7) Boston Garden 15,320 46–20 67 March 11 @ Chicago 121–115 (OT) Havlicek, White (34) John Havlicek (15) Cowens, Havlicek (7) Chicago Stadium 19,121 47–20 68 March 12 Phoenix 82–88 Jo Jo White (20) Dave Cowens (18) Jo Jo White (7) Hartford Civic Center 11,283 48–20 69 March 14 Portland 98–103 Dave Cowens (24) Paul Silas (18) Dave Cowens (7) Boston Garden 13,087 49–20 70 March 16 Houston 94–99 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (21) John Havlicek (9) Boston Garden 15,320 50–20 71 March 18 @ Detroit 116–90 Don Nelson (27) Don Nelson (15) John Havlicek (5) Cobo Arena 9,379 51–20 72 March 19 @ Washington 80–97 Paul Westphal (17) Paul Silas (15) Paul Westphal (8) Capital Centre 19,035 51–21 73 March 21 Buffalo 101–109 Jo Jo White (26) Dave Cowens (16) Don Nelson (7) Boston Garden 15,320 52–21 74 March 22 @ New York 90–81 Jo Jo White (22) Paul Silas (19) Nelson, White (3) Madison Square Garden 19,694 53–21 75 March 23 New York 86–96 John Havlicek (22) Dave Cowens (16) John Havlicek (10) Boston Garden 12,656 54–21 76 March 25 @ Cleveland 89–84 Dave Cowens (25) Dave Cowens (17) John Havlicek (7) Richfield Coliseum 18,911 55–21 77 March 26 New Orleans 100–113 Jo Jo White (23) Dave Cowens (19) Paul Westphal (10) Boston Garden 15,320 56–21 78 March 28 Chicago 92–97 Dave Cowens (19) Paul Silas (15) John Havlicek (6) Boston Garden 15,320 57–21 79 March 29 @ Buffalo 96–102 Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (21) John Havlicek (6) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 18,169 57–22
April: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 80 April 2 Buffalo 92–95 Cowens, Havlicek (23) Cowens, Silas (12) John Havlicek (6) Boston Garden 12,391 58–22 81 April 4 Washington 94–95 John Havlicek (22) Dave Cowens (14) Cowens, Havlicek, Nelson (6) Boston Garden 15,320 59–22 82 April 5 @ Philadelphia 111–97 Dave Cowens (22) Dave Cowens (24) Dave Cowens (9) The Spectrum 12,237 60–22
Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Playoffs

1975 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 14 Houston W 123–106 John Havlicek (30) Dave Cowens (19) John Havlicek (9) Boston Garden 15,320 1–0 2 April 16 Houston W 112–100 Dave Cowens (28) Dave Cowens (18) John Havlicek (7) Boston Garden 13,254 2–0 3 April 19 @ Houston L 102–117 Don Nelson (21) Havlicek, Silas (8) Silas, White (5) Hofheinz Pavilion 10,218 2–1 4 April 22 @ Houston W 122–117 Dave Cowens (31) Dave Cowens (24) Jo Jo White (8) Hofheinz Pavilion 10,218 3–1 5 April 24 Houston W 128–115 John Havlicek (28) Dave Cowens (12) John Havlicek (11) Boston Garden 15,320 4–1
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 27 Washington L 95–100 Jo Jo White (27) Dave Cowens (19) Paul Silas (6) Boston Garden 15,320 0–1 2 April 30 @ Washington L 92–117 Don Nelson (23) Paul Silas (17) Jo Jo White (7) Capital Centre 19,035 0–2 3 May 3 Washington W 101–90 John Havlicek (26) Paul Silas (25) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden 15,320 1–2 4 May 7 @ Washington L 108–119 Jo Jo White (32) Dave Cowens (17) Jo Jo White (7) Capital Centre 19,035 1–3 5 May 9 Washington W 103–99 Dave Cowens (27) Dave Cowens (12) Don Chaney (5) Boston Garden 15,320 2–3 6 May 11 @ Washington L 92–98 Dave Cowens (23) Dave Cowens (21) Jo Jo White (6) Capital Centre 19,035 2–4
1975 schedule

Awards and records

• John Havlicek, All-NBA Second Team
• Dave Cowens, All-NBA Second Team
• Jo Jo White, All-NBA Second Team
• John Havlicek, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Paul Silas, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Dave Cowens, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Don Chaney, NBA All-Defensive Second Team