1971–72 Boston Celtics season

1971–72 Boston Celtics season
Atlantic Division Champions
Head coach	Tom Heinsohn
General manager	Red Auerbach
Arena	Boston Garden
Results
Record	56–26 (.683)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Conference Finals (Eliminated 1-4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

The 1971-72 NBA season was the Celtics' 26th season in the NBA.^[1]

Offseason

NBA Draft

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
y-Boston Celtics	56	26	.683	–	32–9	21–16	3–1	15–3
x-New York Knicks	48	34	.585	8	27–14	20–19	1–1	11–7
Philadelphia 76ers	30	52	.366	26	14–23	14–26	2–3	6–12
Buffalo Braves	22	60	.268	34	13–27	8–31	1–2	4–14

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT
1	z-Boston Celtics	56	26	.683
2	y-Baltimore Bullets	38	44	.463
3	x-New York Knicks	48	34	.585
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	36	46	.439
5	Philadelphia 76ers	30	52	.366
5	Cincinnati Royals	30	52	.366
7	Cleveland Cavaliers	23	59	.280
8	Buffalo Braves	22	60	.268

z = clinched division title

y = clinched division title

x = clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

East Conference Semifinals

(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (C2) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 126, Atlanta 108
• Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 113, Boston 104
• Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 136, Atlanta 113
• Game 4 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 112, Boston 110
• Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 124, Atlanta 114
• Game 6 @ Atlanta: Boston 127, Atlanta 118

East Conference Finals

(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Boston: New York 116, Boston 94
• Game 2 @ New York: New York 106, Boston 105
• Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 115, New York 109
• Game 4 @ New York: New York 116, Boston 98
• Game 5 @ Boston: New York 111, Boston 103

Awards and records

• John Havlicek, All-NBA First Team
• John Havlicek, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Don Chaney, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References

1. 1971-72 Boston Celtics