1991–92 Boston Celtics season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the 46th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] This marked the thirteenth and final NBA season for All-Star forward, and Celtics legend Larry Bird, who would retire after the season.[2][3][4][5] Bird missed nearly half of the season due to a nagging back injury, only playing just 45 games.[6][7][8] Midway through the season in January, the Celtics traded Brian Shaw to the Miami Heat in exchange for Sherman Douglas.[9][10][11] The Celtics trailed the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division for the first half of the season, holding a 28–18 record at the All-Star break.[12] But a furious rally at the end of the season helped the Celtics finish with a 51–31 record, and claim the division title (and the #2 Eastern Conference seed, although since they finished six games behind the #3 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in record, Cleveland would have home court in a head-to-head playoff series).[13] The Celtics also qualified for the playoffs for the thirteenth consecutive season.[14]

1991–92 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachChris Ford
General managerDave Gavitt
OwnersDon Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record51–31 (.622)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Cavaliers 3–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFXT
(Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy)
SportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
RadioWEEI
(Glenn Ordway, Doug Brown)
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

One of the season highlights for Bird was a 49-point performance in a nationally televised double-overtime win over eventual Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers.[15][16] It was the most points for Bird since February 15, 1988, when he scored 49 at Phoenix Suns. Bird averaged 20.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, while Reggie Lewis led the team with 20.8 points and 1.5 steals per game. Bird and Lewis were both selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, but Bird did not play due to injury.[17][18] In addition, Robert Parish averaged 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and surpassed the 20,000 point mark,[19][20] while sixth man Kevin McHale provided the team with 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played 56 games due to a leg injury,[6][7] Kevin Gamble provided with 13.5 points per game, and second-year guard Dee Brown contributed 11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game,[21] but only played just 31 games due to a knee injury.[22][23] Also, top draft pick Rick Fox was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in three straight games of the Eastern Conference First Round,[24][25][26] then took a 2–1 series lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals,[27][28] but lost in seven games.[29][30][31][32]

Following the loss, the Celtics would not win a playoff series for another ten years.

Draft picks

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RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
124Rick FoxSF  CanadaNorth Carolina

Roster

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1991–92 Boston Celtics roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
PG5Bagley, John6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)1960–04–23Boston College
SF8Battle, Kenny6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)1964–10–10Illinois
SF33Bird, Larry6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1956–12–07Indiana State
PG7Brown, Dee6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)160 lb (73 kg)1968–11–29Jacksonville
PG20Douglas, Sherman6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)160 lb (73 kg)1966–09–15Syracuse
SF44Fox, Rick6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg)1969–07–24North Carolina
SF34Gamble, Kevin6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg)1965–11–13Iowa
C53Kleine, Joe6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)255 lb (116 kg)1962–01–04Arkansas
SG35Lewis, Reggie6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg)1965–11–21Northeastern
PF41Massenburg, Tony6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1967–07–31Maryland
PF32McHale, Kevin6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)210 lb (95 kg)1957–12–19Minnesota
C00Parish, Robert7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)230 lb (104 kg)1953–08–30Centenary
PF54Pinckney, Ed6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)195 lb (88 kg)1963–03–27Villanova
PG12Pritchard, Kevin6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)1967–07–17Kansas
SG4Robinson, Larry6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)1968–01–11Centenary
C52Vranković, Stojko7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)260 lb (118 kg)1964–01–22Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 23, 1992

Regular season

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Season standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics5131.62234–717–2419–9
x-New York Knicks5131.62230–1121–2020–8
x-New Jersey Nets4042.4881125–1615–2615–13
x-Miami Heat3844.4631328–1310–3114–14
Philadelphia 76ers3547.4271623–1812–2915–13
Washington Bullets2557.3052614–2711–307–21
Orlando Magic2161.2563013–288–338–20
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Chicago Bulls6715.817
2y-Boston Celtics5131.62216
3x-Cleveland Cavaliers5725.69510
4x-New York Knicks5131.62216
5x-Detroit Pistons4834.58519
6x-New Jersey Nets4042.48827
7x-Indiana Pacers4042.48827
8x-Miami Heat3844.46329
9Atlanta Hawks3844.46329
10Philadelphia 76ers3547.42732
11Milwaukee Bucks3151.37836
12Charlotte Hornets3151.37836
13Washington Bullets2557.30542
14Orlando Magic2161.25646
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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1991-92 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta3–12–20–50–52–02–01–41–12–01–41–10–22–23–12–03–12–22–22–22–00–21–10–21–11–12–2
Boston1–33–11–33–11–11–14–01–11–12–22–02–03–22–20–22–33–25–03–11–11–12–01–12–01–13–1
Charlotte2–21–30–42–31–11–11–41–10–23–20–21–11–32–31–11–30–43–13–11–10–21–12–01–10–22–2
Chicago5–03–14–03–22–02–04–11–11–13–12–01–14–03–22–04–04–03–13–11–12–02–01–12–01–14–0
Cleveland5–01–33–22–31–11–13–11–11–15–01–12–03–13–12–02–24–03–14–01–10–22–01–11–11–14–0
Dallas0–21–11–10–21–13–20–20–44–21–11–30–41–11–13–20–20–21–10–22–20–41–30–50–41–40–2
Denver0–21–11–10–21–12–30–20–42–30–20–41–30–21–12–31–10–22–02–01–31–32–21–41–31–51–1
Detroit4–10–44–11–41–32–02–01–12–02–20–22–02–23–21–12–22–24–03–10–22–02–01–11–11–13–1
Golden State1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–12–22–03–23–21–12–04–02–01–12–01–13–22–35–02–23–21–32–0
Houston0–21–12–01–11–12–43–20–22–21–12–22–22–01–13–21–11–12–01–11–33–13–13–21–31–42–0
Indiana4–12–22–31–30–51–12–02–20–21–10–22–03–14–12–02–21–32–22–21–10–21–12–00–21–12–2
L.A. Clippers1–10–22–00–21–13–14–02–02–32–22–02–32–02–04–01–10–22–01–13–22–32–32–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers2–00–21–11–10–24–03–10–22–32–20–23–22–01–13–12–02–02–02–02–31–44–11–31–41–31–1
Miami2–22–33–10–41–31–12–02–21–10–21–30–20–24–02–02–21–43–11–40–20–22–01–11–11–15–0
Milwaukee1–32–23–22–31–31–11–12–30–21–11–40–21–10–42–00–41–33–13–10–20–20–21–11–11–13–1
Minnesota0–22–01–10–20–22–33–21–10–42–30–20–41–30–20–20–20–20–20–20–40–41–30–60–42–30–2
New Jersey1–33–23–10–42–22–01–12–20–21–12–21–10–22–24–02–02–33–13–21–11–11–11–10–20–22–3
New York2–22–34–00–40–42–02–02–21–11–13–12–00–24–13–12–03–24–13–11–11–11–10–22–02–04–0
Orlando2–20–51–31–31–31–10–20–40–20–22–20–20–21–31–32–01–31–43–20–20–20–21–11–10–22–3
Philadelphia2–21–31–31–30–42–00–21–31–11–12–21–10–24–11–32–02–31–32–30–21–11–11–12–00–25–0
Phoenix0–21–11–11–11–12–23–12–02–33–11–12–33–22–02–04–01–11–12–02–03–24–13–13–22–22–0
Portland2–01–12–00–22–04–03–10–23–21–32–03–24–12–02–04–01–11–12–01–12–35–02–24–12–22–0
Sacramento1–10–21–10–20–23–12–20–20–51–31–13–21–40–22–03–11–11–12–01–11–40–51–31–41–32–0
San Antonio2–01–10–21–11–15–04–11–12–22–30–22–23–11–11–16–01–12–01–11–11–32–23–13–11–40–2
Seattle1–10–21–10–21–14–03–11–12–33–12–03–24–11–11–14–02–00–21–10–22–31–44–11–33–12–0
Utah1–11–12–01–11–14–15–11–13–14–11–13–13–11–11–13–22–00–22–02–02–22–23–14–11–32–0
Washington2–21–32–20–40–42–01–11–30–20–22–22–01–10–51–32–03–20–43–20–50–20–20–22–00–20–2

Game log

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Playoffs

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1992 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 23IndianaW 124–113Reggie Lewis (32)Robert Parish (14)John Bagley (9)Boston Garden
14,890
1–0
2April 25IndianaW 119–112 (OT)John Bagley (35)Robert Parish (14)John Bagley (15)Boston Garden
14,890
2–0
3April 27@ IndianaW 102–98Reggie Lewis (32)Ed Pinckney (14)John Bagley (11)Market Square Arena
16,530
3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
1992 schedule

Player statistics

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Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game

Awards and records

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Transactions

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References

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  1. ^ 1991-92 Boston Celtics
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (August 19, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Bird Unlaces His Sneakers and Says Goodbye". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (August 19, 1992). "LARRY BIRD RETIRES: It Was Just a Hate-Love Relationship: Basketball: The Lakers Wanted to Kill the Mocking Bird, Until They Got to Know Him. Then They Just Wanted to Beat Him". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Arace, Michael (August 19, 1992). "A Final Buzzer Bird Can't Beat". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Thomsen, Ian (August 20, 1992). "Cheers for the Old Larry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "PRO BASKETBALL; Bird Is Placed on Injured List". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 7, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Bird Is Put on Injured List, Because of Inflammed Back". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 7, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Bird Begins Therapy and Hopes for Best". The New York Times. July 7, 1992. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Celtics Trade Shaw to Heat for Douglas". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 11, 1992. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. ^ Winderman, Ira (January 11, 1992). "Douglas to Celtics for Shaw". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Brown, Clifton (January 12, 1992). "PRO BASKETBALL; Injured Celtics Send Shaw to the Heat for Douglas". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "1991–92 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  15. ^ "Results Plus". The New York Times. March 16, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  16. ^ Hafner, Dan (March 16, 1992). "NBA ROUNDUP: Bird Gets 49; Celtics Win in Two Overtimes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Heisler, Mark (February 9, 1992). "Comeback or Farewell, a Magical All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "BASKETBALL; For Parish, 20,000 Points and Counting". The New York Times. January 18, 1992. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  20. ^ Aldridge, David (April 29, 1992). "Parish a Chief at Peace". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  21. ^ "1991–92 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Walter Davis Waived by Trail Blazers". The New York Times. October 30, 1991. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Arace, Michael (November 1, 1991). "Ready or Not, Here Come the Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; One Down, How Many to Go? Depleted Celtics Sweep Pacers". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 28, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  25. ^ Arace, Michael (April 29, 1992). "Look Who's Talking". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  26. ^ "1992 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pacers vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  27. ^ "BASKETBALL; Late Rally Puts Celtics One Up on the Cavaliers". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 9, 1992. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  28. ^ Arace, Michael (May 9, 1992). "Bird Still Needs Time, But Brown Going Strong". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  29. ^ George, Thomas (May 18, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Cavalier Youth Serves Up a Blowout of Aging Celtics". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  30. ^ "Cavaliers Step Up Into Conference finals: NBA Playoffs: Daugherty Scores 16 Points in the First Quarter as Cleveland Beats Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1992. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  31. ^ Arace, Michael (May 18, 1992). "The Bird Question: Answer to Take Time". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  32. ^ "1992 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals: Celtics vs. Cavaliers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.