Celtics Stats:
NBA championships: 16
Last year in Finals: 1987
Playoffs since 1980: 19
Bill Russell
Larry Bird
| BOSTON CELTICS ROSTER (* PER = Player Efficiency Rating) | ||||||||
| POS | PLAYER | HT | YEAR | AGE | PTS | REB | AST | PER* |
| G | BOB COUSY | 6-1 | 1960 | 31 | 19.4 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 18.7 |
| Comment: Old-timers insist he's best pure point guard ever; 1st-team All-NBA 10 straight years | ||||||||
| G | PAUL PIERCE | 6-6 | 2006 | 28 | 26.8 | 6.7 | 4.7 | 23.7 |
| Comment: Yes, he deserves his spot in the Celtics' pantheon: 6th in NBA in scoring while shooting career-high 47.1% | ||||||||
| G | JO JO WHITE | 6-3 | 1972 | 25 | 23.1 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 15.3 |
| Comment: Part of the bridge between the Russell-Bird dynasties, seven-time All-Star averaged career high in scoring in '72 | ||||||||
| F/G | JOHN HAVLICEK | 6-5 | 1971 | 30 | 28.9 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 20.8 |
| Comment: If you want, start him in the backcourt or use him as the 6th man; 1st-team All-NBA, 2nd-team all-defense in '71 | ||||||||
| F | LARRY BIRD | 6-9 | 1986 | 29 | 25.8 | 9.8 | 6.8 | 25.6 |
| Comment: Scored more and had higher PER in other years, but was MVP (for third straight year) and Finals MVP in '86 | ||||||||
| F | KEVIN MCHALE | 6-10 | 1987 | 29 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 24.0 |
| Comment: Just feed him the ball on the low block and watch him do his thing; 1st-team All-NBA, 1st-team all D in '87 | ||||||||
| F | TOM HEINSOHN | 6-7 | 1962 | 27 | 22.1 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 20.2 |
| Comment: 2nd-team All-NBA in '62; won eight titles as a player and two as Celtics coach ('74, '76) | ||||||||
| F/C | DAVE COWENS | 6-9 | 1973 | 24 | 20.5 | 16.2 | 4.1 | 18.1 |
| Comment: "Big Red" was NBA MVP in '73 in leading Celtics to 68-14 record, best in franchise history | ||||||||
| C | BILL RUSSELL | 6-9 | 1965 | 30 | 14.1 | 24.1 | 5.3 | 19.5 |
| Comment: His five MVP awards (including '65) despite minimal offensive skills show how respected he was a shot blocker and leader | ||||||||
| C | ROBERT PARISH | 7-0 | 1981 | 27 | 18.9 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 25.2 |
| Comment: Nine-time All-Star who shot over 53 percent in his career; stolen from Warriors (with McHale) for Joe Barry Carroll | ||||||||
SCOUTING REPORT: Three keys for the Celtics against the Bulls: (1) Who guards MJ? Havlicek might be the guy, although he's a step slow; Russell will have to help out; (2) Control the boards; if they can keep Rodman off the offensive boards, they can run more; (3) Feed Bird or McHale down low; Gilmore is tough, but Celtics can exploit height inside; (4) Who guards MJ? After all, he did once score 63 in a playoff game against Boston.