1985–86 Boston Celtics season

1985–86 Boston Celtics season
Sixteenth NBA Championship
Head coach	K. C. Jones
Owner(s)	Don Gaston, Alan N. Cohen, Paul Dupee
Arena	Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record	67–15 (.817)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Champions
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	SportsChannel New England, WLVI, WTXX
Radio	WRKO, WTIC

In 1985–86 the Celtics fielded what some consider to be the best team in NBA history. The Celtics won 67 games, going 40–1 at home, which would be tied 30 years later by the San Antonio Spurs in 2016 (37–1 at the Boston Garden, 3–0 at the Hartford Civic Center), and just one win shy of tying their franchise record of 68 wins set in 1972–73. Larry Bird won his third consecutive MVP award after having arguably his finest season, and Bill Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. They would win their 16th championship and the last for 22 years, defeating the Houston Rockets in six games in the NBA Finals.

NBA Draft

The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams could not intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	20	Sam Vincent	Guard	United States	Michigan State
3	70	Andre Battle	Guard	United States	Loyola (IL)
4	93	Cliff Webber	Forward	United States	Liberty Baptist
5	116	Albert Butts	Forward	United States	La Salle
6	139	Ralph Lewis	Guard	United States	La Salle
7	162	Chris Remly		United States	Rutgers

Regular season

• Under head coach K.C. Jones, the 1985–86 Boston Celtics finished the regular season with a record of 67–15. This team is generally considered to be the best of Larry Bird's career. In addition to longtime Celtics Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the franchise was joined on the front line by former NBA MVP Bill Walton. Despite a career plagued by a series of serious injuries to his knees, ankles and feet, Walton would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Walton appeared in a career high 80 games. The backcourt was led by the MVP of the 1979 NBA Finals, defensive stopper Dennis Johnson, and former Toronto Blue Jays baseball player, shooting guard Danny Ainge. Off the bench, the Celtics featured former All-Star Scott Wedman and recent acquisition (from the Indiana Pacers) Jerry Sichting.

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	67	15	.817	–	40–1	27–14	18–6
x-Philadelphia 76ers	54	28	.659	13	31–10	23–18	15–9
x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	28	26–15	13–28	11–13
x-New Jersey Nets	39	43	.476	28	26–15	13–28	11–13
New York Knicks	23	59	.280	44	15–26	8–33	5–19

Game log

1985–86 Game Log
October Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 1 Fri. Oct. 25 @ New Jersey Nets 109–113 Brendan Byrne Arena 0–1 2 Sat. Oct. 26 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 105–100 Richfield Coliseum 1–1 3 Wed. Oct. 30 Milwaukee Bucks 117–106 Boston Garden 2–1
November Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 4 Fri. Nov. 1 Atlanta Hawks 109–105 Boston Garden 3–1 5 Sat. Nov. 2 @ Washington Bullets 88–73 Capital Centre 4–1 6 Fri. Nov. 8 Phoenix Suns 125–101 Boston Garden 5–1 7 Sat. Nov. 9 @ Detroit Pistons 124–105 Pontiac Silverdome 6–1 8 Wed. Nov. 13 Indiana Pacers 118–114 Boston Garden 7–1 9 Fri. Nov. 15 Washington Bullets 118–114 Boston Garden 8–1 10 Sat. Nov. 16 @ Indiana Pacers 109–111 Market Square Arena 8–2 11 Wed. Nov. 20 Utah Jazz 115–106 (OT) Boston Garden 9–2 12 Fri. Nov. 22 Philadelphia 76ers 110–103 Boston Garden 10–2 13 Sat. Nov. 23 @ New York Knicks 113–104 Madison Square Garden 11–2 14 Tue. Nov. 26 @ Philadelphia 76ers 98–91 The Spectrum 12–2 15 Wed. Nov. 27 Detroit Pistons 132–124 Boston Garden 13–2 16 Fri. Nov. 29 New York Knicks 94–88 Boston Garden 14–2 17 Sat. Nov. 30 @ Atlanta Hawks 102–97 The Omni 15–2
December Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 18 Tue. Dec. 3 @ Milwaukee Bucks 112–109 The MECCA 16–2 19 Wed. Dec. 4 @ New Jersey Nets 130–111 Brendan Byrne Arena 17–2 20 Fri. Dec. 6 Portland Trail Blazers 103–121 Boston Garden 17–3 21 Tue. Dec. 10 Atlanta Hawks 114–110 Hartford Civic Center 18–3 22 Wed. Dec. 11 Sacramento Kings 118–101 Boston Garden 19–3 23 Sat. Dec. 14 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 99–109 Richfield Coliseum 19–4 24 Sun. Dec. 15 Chicago Bulls 109–104 Boston Garden 20–4 25 Tue. Dec. 17 @ Chicago Bulls 108–116 Chicago Stadium 20–5 26 Wed. Dec. 18 Dallas Mavericks 137–117 Boston Garden 21–5 27 Sat. Dec. 21 @ Philadelphia 76ers 102–108 The Spectrum 21–6 28 Wed. Dec. 25 @ New York Knicks 104–113 (2 OT) Madison Square Garden 21–7 29 Sat. Dec. 28 @ Utah Jazz 110–108 Salt Palace 22–7 30 Mon. Dec. 30 @ Los Angeles Clippers 125–103 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 23–7
January Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 31 Thu. Jan. 2 @ Indiana Pacers 122–104 Market Square Arena 24–7 32 Fri. Jan. 3 New Jersey Nets 129–117 Boston Garden 25–7 33 Tue. Jan. 7 @ Detroit Pistons 109–113 Pontiac Silverdome 25–8 34 Wed. Jan. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers 126–95 Boston Garden 26–8 35 Fri. Jan. 10 Atlanta Hawks 115–108 Boston Garden 27–8 36 Wed. Jan. 15 Denver Nuggets 123–100 Boston Garden 28–8 37 Fri. Jan. 17 @ Indiana Pacers 123–105 Market Square Arena 29–8 38 Sat. Jan. 18 @ Atlanta Hawks 125–122 (OT) The Omni 30–8 39 Wed. Jan. 22 Los Angeles Lakers 110–95 Boston Garden 31–8 40 Fri. Jan. 24 Golden State Warriors 135–114 Boston Garden 32–8 41 Sun. Jan. 26 Philadelphia 76ers 105–103 Boston Garden 33–8 42 Thu. Jan. 30 @ Chicago Bulls 101–91 Chicago Stadium 34–8 43 Fri. Jan. 31 @ Washington Bullets 97–88 Capital Centre 35–8
February Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 44 Sun. Feb. 2 Seattle SuperSonics 114–101 Boston Garden 36–8 45 Tue. Feb. 4 @ Milwaukee Bucks 112–93 The MECCA 37–8 46 Wed. Feb. 5 Washington Bullets 103–88 Boston Garden 38–8 47 Tue. Feb. 11 @ Sacramento Kings 100–105 ARCO Arena I 38–9 48 Thu. Feb. 13 @ Seattle SuperSonics 107–98 Seattle Center Coliseum 39–9 49 Fri. Feb. 14 @ Portland Trail Blazers 120–119 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 40–9 50 Sun. Feb. 16 @ Los Angeles Lakers 105–99 The Forum 41–9 51 Mon. Feb. 17 @ Phoenix Suns 101–108 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 41–10 52 Wed. Feb. 19 @ Golden State Warriors 115–100 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 42–10 53 Thu. Feb. 20 @ Denver Nuggets 100–102 McNichols Sports Arena 42–11 54 Sun. Feb. 23 Indiana Pacers 113–98 Hartford Civic Center 43–11 55 Tue. Feb. 25 @ New York Knicks 91–74 Madison Square Garden 44–11 56 Wed. Feb. 26 San Antonio Spurs 120–100 Boston Garden 45–11 57 Fri. Feb. 28 Los Angeles Clippers 124–108 Boston Garden 46–11
March Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 58 Sun. Mar. 2 Detroit Pistons 129–109 Boston Garden 47–11 59 Tue. Mar. 4 @ Chicago Bulls 106–94 Chicago Stadium 48–11 60 Wed. Mar. 5 Chicago Bulls 108–97 Boston Garden 49–11 61 Fri. Mar. 7 New York Knicks 115–108 Boston Garden 50–11 62 Sat. Mar. 8 @ Washington Bullets 108–110 (OT) Capital Centre 50–12 63 Mon. Mar. 10 @ Dallas Mavericks 115–116 Reunion Arena 50–13 64 Tue. Mar. 11 @ Houston Rockets 116–104 The Summit 51–13 65 Thu. Mar. 13 @ San Antonio Spurs 135–119 HemisFair Arena 52–13 66 Fri. Mar. 14 @ Atlanta Hawks 121–114 The Omni 53–13 67 Sun. Mar. 16 Philadelphia 76ers 118–101 Boston Garden 54–13 68 Tue. Mar. 18 Cleveland Cavaliers 126–96 Hartford Civic Center 55–13 69 Wed. Mar. 19 Indiana Pacers 127–108 Boston Garden 56–13 70 Fri. Mar. 21 Chicago Bulls 126–105 Boston Garden 57–13 71 Mon. Mar. 24 Houston Rockets 114–107 Boston Garden 58–13 72 Wed. Mar. 26 Milwaukee Bucks 121–115 Boston Garden 59–13 73 Fri. Mar. 28 Washington Bullets 116–97 Boston Garden 60–13 74 Sun. Mar. 30 New Jersey Nets 122–117 Boston Garden 61–13
April Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 75 Tue. Apr. 1 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 123–105 Richfield Coliseum 62–13 76 Wed. Apr. 2 Detroit Pistons 122–106 Boston Garden 63–13 77 Fri. Apr. 4 New York Knicks 119–98 Boston Garden 64–13 78 Sun. Apr. 6 @ Philadelphia 76ers 94–95 The Spectrum 64–14 79 Tue. Apr. 8 @ Milwaukee Bucks 126–114 The MECCA 65–14 80 Wed. Apr. 9 @ New Jersey Nets 98–108 Brendan Byrne Arena 65–15 81 Fri. Apr. 11 Cleveland Cavaliers 117–104 Boston Garden 66–15 82 Sun. Apr. 13 New Jersey Nets 135–107 Boston Garden 67–15
1985–86 Schedule

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Larry Bird	82	805	557	166	51	2115	25.7
Kevin McHale	68	551	181	29	134	1448	21.3
Robert Parish	81	770	145	65	116	1305	16.1
Dennis Johnson	78	268	456	110	35	1213	15.6
Danny Ainge	80	235	405	94	7	855	10.7
Scott Wedman	79	192	82	38	22	634	8.0
Bill Walton	80	544	165	38	106	606	7.6
Jerry Sichting	82	104	188	50	0	537	6.5
David Thirdkill	49	70	15	11	3	163	3.3
Sam Vincent	57	48	69	17	4	184	3.2
Sly Williams	6	15	2	1	1	17	2.8
Rick Carlisle	77	77	104	19	4	199	2.6
Greg Kite	64	128	17	3	28	83	1.3

Playoffs

1st Round

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls: Celtics win series 3–0

• Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 17): Boston 123, Chicago 104
• Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 20): Boston 135, Chicago 131 (2OT)
• Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 22): Boston 122, Chicago 104

The Celtics steamrolled through the Eastern Conference Playoffs, sweeping the Chicago Bulls 3–0 in the first round. The highlight of the first round was the second game, which went into double-overtime. Matched up against a superior Celtics team, Michael Jordan exploded for 63 points at the Boston Garden and nearly lead his team to a stunning upset. The Celtics won the game 135–131, and closed out the series two days later in Chicago.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 4–1

• Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 27): Boston 103, Atlanta 91
• Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 29): Boston 119, Atlanta 98
• Game 3 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 2): Boston 111 , Atlanta 107
• Game 4 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 4): Atlanta 106, Boston 94
• Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 6): Boston 132, Atlanta 99

Boston proceeded by besting the young Atlanta Hawks four games to one in the semifinals. The series was highlighted by a game 5 blow-out. The final score was 132–99, and featured the Celtics hammering the Hawks in the third quarter by a score of 36–6.

Conference Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4–0

• Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 13): Boston 128, Milwaukee 96
• Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 15): Boston 122, Milwaukee 111
• Game 3 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 17): Boston 111, Milwaukee 107
• Game 4 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 18): Boston 111, Milwaukee 98

The Eastern Conference Finals matched the Celtics up against the Milwaukee Bucks and head coach Don Nelson. Nelson was a former Celtic player who enraged the Celtics in the 1983 NBA Playoffs by accusing Celtic guard Danny Ainge of "dirty" play. The Celtics ended up sweeping the Bucks. This was the third time in four years that the Bucks and the Celtics had met in the Playoffs; the Bucks defeated the Celtics in the 1983 Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Celtics defeated the Bucks in the 1984 Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4–2

• Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 26): Boston 112, Houston 100
• Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 29): Boston 117, Houston 95
• Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (June 1): Houston 106, Boston 104
• Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (June 3): Boston 106, Houston 103
• Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (June 5): Houston 111, Boston 96
• Game 6 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 8): Boston 114, Houston 97

Following the conclusion of the 1986 NBA Finals, a video documentary of the 1986 NBA season, known as "Sweet Sixteen", was released.^[1] David Perry was the narrator after Dick Stockton narrated the last three NBA season documentaries.

Roster

Boston Celtics roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G/F 44 Ainge, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 Brigham Young F 33 Bird, Larry (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State University G 34 Carlisle, Rick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959–10–27 Virginia G 3 Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine C 50 Kite, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1961–08–05 Brigham Young F/C 32 McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota C 00 Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary College of Louisiana G 12 Sichting, Jerry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue F 45 Thirdkill, David 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–04–12 Bradley G 11 Vincent, Sam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–05–18 Michigan State C 5 Walton, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1952–11–05 UCLA G 8 Wedman, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952–07–29 Colorado G/F 35 Williams, Sly 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1958–01–26 Rhode Island	Head coach K.C. Jones (San Francisco) Assistant coach(es) Jimmy Rodgers (Ohio State) Chris Ford (Villanova) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

^[2]

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Reserve	Inactive
C	Robert Parish	Bill Walton	Greg Kite
PF	Kevin McHale
SF	Larry Bird		David Thirdkill
SG	Danny Ainge	Scott Wedman	Rick Carlisle
PG	Dennis Johnson	Jerry Sichting	Sam Vincent

Award winners

• Larry Bird, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
• Larry Bird, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
• Larry Bird, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
• Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
• Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team
• Dennis Johnson, All-NBA Defensive Second Team
• Bill Walton, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

References

1. "Sweet Sixteen" documentary on YouTube
2. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1986.html

• Celtics on Database Basketball
• Celtics on Basketball Reference
• NBA documentary about the 1985–86 Boston Celtics on YouTube