NBA historical past spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers effectively know, the Boston Celtics have gained a league-high 18 championships. This month, we’re recapping every of these title years.
The 1962-63 season could be Bob Cousy’s thirteenth in a Boston uniform – and his final, as he had introduced his retirement. The Celtics with out Cooz was nearly unthinkable. He was their first famous person, coming from Holy Cross as an NCAA champion. He would finish his profession because the Celtics captain, a six-time NBA champ, 12-time All-NBA, 13-time All-Star, 1957 league MVP, eight-time league assists chief, and a Corridor of Famer.
That very same season was John Havlicek’s first in a Boston uniform, the ninth general choose from Ohio State, the place he additionally gained an NCAA title. Havlicek would play 16 seasons, changing into Celtics captain, an eight-time NBA champ (notably, 8-0 within the Finals), 11-time All-NBA, 13-time All-Star, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time All-Protection, the franchise’s profession scoring chief (26,395 factors) and a Corridor of Famer. And his nickname, Hondo, got here from the title of a John Wayne film, as a result of he was mentioned to resemble the actor.
Stringing their careers collectively, Cousy and Havlicek gave the Celtics practically three a long time of greatness. And through this one season as teammates, they might assist the Celtics win their fifth straight NBA championship, and the sixth general, making Boston the league’s prime franchise, passing the Lakers’ 5 titles.
As they’d finished yearly since Invoice Russell’s arrival, the Celtics posted the league’s greatest file at 58-22.
Russell was voted the league MVP for the third straight 12 months and fourth general. (Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Chook are the one gamers to win three consecutive MVPs). Russell additionally was named All-NBA first crew, as voters forged ballots logically this 12 months and dropped Chamberlain to second crew behind the MVP. Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn joined Russell as All-NBA decisions.
Purple Auerbach’s veteran acquisition this season was buying and selling a second-round choose for 6-foot-9 heart Clyde Lovellette. Coming into his tenth NBA season, Lovellette was a double-double scorer and rebounder who gained a title with the Minneapolis Lakers as a rookie, and was a four-time All-Star who additionally performed for Cincinnati and St. Louis. He would end his profession with two rings as a Celtic.
The spotlight of the common season occurred on St. Patrick’s Day, when Cousy was honored earlier than his retirement. Surrounded by household and teammates, an emotional Cousy couldn’t communicate by his tears. In a now-famous Boston sports activities second, the world fell silent till a loud fan boomed out, “We love ya, Cooz!” Ever since, followers at related sports activities ceremonies have tried to match that second with their very own shouts. Nobody has succeeded.
Following their customary bye within the first spherical, the Celtics have been matched up with the Cincinnati Royals — not Chamberlain’s Warriors, who missed the playoffs. However no Wilt didn’t imply breezing to the Finals. Along with famous person level guard Oscar “Large O” Robertson, the Royals had All-Stars in heart Wayne Embry and ahead Jack Twyman.
They instantly confirmed what they may do, successful the opener, 135-132. Robertson hit Boston with a triple double of 43 factors, 10 assists, 14 rebounds. Embry and Twyman mixed for 42 factors because the Royals overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. Oddly, every of the primary 4 video games of the sequence went to the guests, so it was 2-2 going to Recreation 5 in Boston. Robertson scored 36, however Heinsohn offset that with 34 and Boston gained, 125-120. Recreation 6 in Cincinnati was one other Large O present: 36/15/14 for his third triple double of the sequence.
In yet one more Recreation 7 on the parquet ground, it appeared that the one method to cease Robertson was for somebody to match his scoring. And Robertson made that robust, delivering his second 43-point evening of the sequence. On this evening, nevertheless, Sam Jones was simply higher. Coming by within the clutch as ordinary, Jones scored 19 factors within the second quarter alone. For the total recreation, he made 18 of 27 pictures plus 11 of 12 free throws for 47 factors, a brand new private greatest and a file for a person in a Recreation 7. (That file stood for practically six a long time till damaged by Luka Doncic. Jayson Tatum holds it now with 51 versus the Sixers in 2023.) Heinsohn added 31 factors and Cousy 21 factors and 16 assists.
With their seventh straight journey to the Finals, Bob Cousy now had a golden alternative to retire as a champion. The opponent would as soon as once more be the Lakers, and this time Boston took care of enterprise, successful the primary two at residence, then prevailing in a detailed Recreation 4 in Los Angeles for a 3-1 lead.
In Recreation 5, the packed Boston Backyard wished to see Cooz rejoice another time on the parquet. Besides Elgin Baylor and Jerry West mixed for 75 factors and compelled the Celtics to fly again to California another time. Even going for his or her fifth straight title, the Celtics weren’t infallible.
After outscoring the Lakers 33-17 within the second quarter, Boston held a 14-point lead at halftime of Recreation 6. They remained up 12 going to the fourth. The lead was 9 with 10:57 to play (an eternity, for positive) when Cousy needed to be helped off the ground with a severe foot harm. The LA followers gave him a standing ovation. The timing couldn’t have been worse. After the harm, the Lakers dug deeper and Boston’s lead turned thinner.
With 4:43 to play, Cousy stunned everybody by coming again on the court docket. The Lakers continued to use strain and obtained to inside one level of Boston, 108-107. Even so, the Celtics having their captain again to stabilize the crew was essential.
The captain being injured in what might be his closing recreation, however making a valiant return and main the crew to victory. Tacky film script? Not this time.
Tommy Heinsohn made a number of key performs in crunch time. With the Celtics defending a two-point lead, he stole a cross and went all the way in which for a layup. Celtics by 4. Moments later, when the margin was down to 1 and the Lakers needed to foul to cease the clock, Heinsohn swished 4 straight from the road to spice up the result in 5.
It wasn’t over till…
Seconds earlier than the ultimate buzzer, Cousy heaved the ball towards the rafters. When it got here down, the rebound was grabbed by…Invoice Russell. In fact.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a evaluation of the 1964 season and the highway to successful Banner #7.
