1994–95 Boston Celtics season

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

1994–95   Boston Celtics season
Head coach Chris Ford
General manager M.L. Carr
Arena Boston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record3547 (.427)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish East First Round
(lost to Magic 1–3)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WSBK-TV
SportsChannel New England
Radio WBNW
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 49th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. [1] This was the Celtics' first season since the 1979–80 season without long-time center Robert Parish, who left as a free agent to the Charlotte Hornets. It was also the team's final season of play at the Boston Garden (as well as splitting their schedule with Hartford Civic Center). [2] [3] [4] After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Celtics had the ninth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Eric Montross from the University of North Carolina. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Prior to the season, the Celtics signed free agent All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins (a controversial move late in Wilkins' career), [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] signed free agents Pervis Ellison, [15] [16] second-year guard David Wesley and rookie guard Greg Minor, [17] [18] and acquired Blue Edwards and Derek Strong from the Milwaukee Bucks. [19] [20]

Contents

The Celtics got off to a 7–6 start in November, but played below .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 19–27 record at the All-Star break. [21] At midseason, Edwards was traded back to his former team, the Utah Jazz in exchange for Jay Humphries. [22] [23] [24] The Celtics won eight of their final twelve games finishing third in the Atlantic Division with a 35–47 record. [25]

Wilkins averaged 17.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while second-year star Dino Radja averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Dee Brown provided the team with 15.6 points and 1.4 steals per game. In addition, Sherman Douglas contributed 14.7 points and 6.9 assists per game, while Montross averaged 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Off the bench, Rick Fox contributed 8.8 points per game, but only played 53 games due to ankle and foot injuries, [26] while Xavier McDaniel provided with 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Wesley contributed 7.4 points, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game in only 51 games, starting in 36 of them due to a knee injury, [27] while Ellison averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Strong provided with 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. [28]

Despite finishing twelve games under .500, the Celtics qualified for the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the Eastern Conference First Round, the team suffered a 47-point margin in a Game 1 road loss to the #1 seed Orlando Magic, 124–77, [29] [30] [31] but managed to defeat them in Game 2, 99–92 (seizing the "theoretical home court advantage" for the series). [32] [33] [34] However, the Magic defeated the Celtics at Boston Garden in both Games 3 and 4 to close out the series. [35] [36] [37] [38] The Magic would go on to reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose in four straight games to the 6th-seeded, and defending champion Houston Rockets. [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

Following the season, Wilkins and McDaniel both left to play overseas in Greece, [44] [45] [46] [47] while Strong signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, [48] Humphries was released to free agency, and head coach Chris Ford was fired. General Manager M.L. Carr explained the firing as having to do with "diminishing returns". [49] [50] [51]

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
19 Eric Montross CFlag of the United States.svg United States North Carolina
236 Andrei Fetisov SFFlag of Russia.svg Russia Fórum Valladolid

Roster

1994–95 Boston Celtics roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 8 Blackwell, James 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)1968–02–25 Dartmouth
G 7 Brown, Dee 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)160 lb (73 kg)1968–11–29 Jacksonville
F 45 Dawson, Tony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1967–08–25 Florida State
G 20 Douglas, Sherman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)1966–09–15 Syracuse
F 55 Earl, Acie 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)1970–06–23 Iowa
F 29 Ellison, Pervis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg)1967–04–03 Louisville
F 44 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg)1969–07–24 North Carolina
G 5 Humphries, Jay 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)1962–10–17 Colorado
F 34 McDaniel, Xavier 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)205 lb (93 kg)1963–06–04 Wichita State
F 9 Minor, Greg 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)1971–09–18 Louisville
C 0 Montross, Eric 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)270 lb (122 kg)1971–09–23 North Carolina
F/C 40 Radja, Dino 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)225 lb (102 kg)1967–04–24 Croatia
F 31 Strong, Derek 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg)1968–02–09 Xavier
G 4 Wesley, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)1970–11–14 Baylor
F 12 Wilkins, Dominique 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg)1960–01–12 Georgia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- Orlando Magic 5725.69539–218–2318–10
x- New York Knicks 5527.671229–1226–1523–5
x- Boston Celtics 3547.4272220–2115–2614–14
Miami Heat 3250.3902522–1910–319–19
New Jersey Nets 3052.3662720–2110–3113–15
Philadelphia 76ers 2458.2933314–2710–3112–16
Washington Bullets 2161.2563613–288–339–19
#
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Orlando Magic 5725.695
2y-Indiana Pacers 5230.6345
3x-New York Knicks 5527.6712
4x-Charlotte Hornets 5032.6107
5x-Chicago Bulls 4735.57310
6x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.52414
7x-Atlanta Hawks 4240.51215
8x-Boston Celtics 3547.42722
9 Milwaukee Bucks 3448.41523
10 Miami Heat 3250.39025
11 New Jersey Nets 3052.36627
12 Detroit Pistons 2854.34129
13 Philadelphia 76ers 2458.29333
14 Washington Bullets 2161.25636

Record vs. opponents

1994-95 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta 3–12–21–41–42–02–03–22–00–21–42–00–22–21–32–04–02–21–33–11–11–11–11–10–20–24–0
Boston1–31–30–42–21–11–13–12–01–12–20–21–14–11–32–02–30–52–33–11–10–21–10–21–10–23–1
Charlotte 2–23–12–23–20–21–15–02–00–21–42–00–23–14–11–13–13–11–33–10–22–01–11–12–02–03–1
Chicago 4–14–02–22–31–11–15–02–01–12–21–11–13–11–42–02–23–11–34–01–11–10–21–10–20–22–2
Cleveland 4–12–22–33–20–21–12–22–00–22–31–11–11–34–01–14–02–21–33–11–11–11–10–20–21–13–1
Dallas 0–21–12–01–12–01–41–13–12–31–13–11–30–21–14–11–10–20–22–00–43–12–22–30–42–41–1
Denver 0–21–11–11–11–14–11–11–31–41–14–02–22–02–06–01–10–20–21–11–33–12–21–41–31–42–0
Detroit 2–31–30–50–52–21–11–11–10–22–21–10–21–32–31–12–21–31–34–01–10–21–10–20–20–23–1
Golden State 0–20–20–20–20–21–33–11–10–40–23–23–21–10–21–31–11–10–21–13–21–40–51–31–42–22–0
Houston 2–01–12–01–12–03–24–12–04–01–13–10–42–01–13–22–00–20–22–03–11–33–11–50–42–32–0
Indiana 4–12–24–12–23–21–11–12–22–01–12–01–12–23–22–03–11–32–24–01–11–12–02–01–10–23–1
L.A. Clippers 0–22–00–21–11–11–30–41–12–31–30–22–30–21–11–30–20–20–21–11–40–51–40–40–51–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–12–01–11–13–12–22–02–34–01–13–21–11–13–12–00–21–11–11–42–33–21–34–12–22–0
Miami 2–21–41–31–33–12–00–23–11–10–22–22–01–14–01–11–31–41–31–40–20–20–20–20–20–24–1
Milwaukee 3–13–11–44–10–41–10–23–22–01–12–31–11–10–41–12–22–20–43–10–20–21–10–20–20–23–1
Minnesota 0–20–21–10–21–11–40–61–13–12–30–23–11–31–11–11–10–21–11–10–40–41–30–50–41–41–1
New Jersey 0–43–21–32–20–41–11–12–21–10–21–32–00–23–12–21–11–42–22–30–21–11–10–21–10–22–3
New York 2–25–01–31–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–02–04–12–22–04–12–34–01–11–12–01–10–20–24–0
Orlando 3–13–23–13–13–12–02–03–12–02–02–22–01–13–14–01–12–23–24–11–12–01–11–10–21–13–2
Philadelphia 1–31–31–30–41–30–21–10–41–10–20–41–11–14–11–31–13–20–41–40–22–01–10–20–20–23–2
Phoenix 1–11–12–01–11–14–03–11–12–31–31–14–14–12–02–04–02–01–11–12–05–04–12–24–12–22–0
Portland 1–12–00–21–11–11–31–32–04–13–11–15–03–22–02–04–01–11–10–20–20–53–21–32–31–32–0
Sacramento 1–11–11–12–01–12–22–21–15–01–30–24–12–32–01–13–11–10–21–11–11–42–30–43–20–41–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–11–12–03–24–12–03–15–10–24–03–12–02–05–02–01–11–12–02–23–14–02–23–22–0
Seattle 2–01–10–22–02–04–03–12–04–14–01–15–01–42–02–04–01–12–02–02–01–43–22–32–21–32–0
Utah 2–02–00–22–01–14–24–12–02–23–22–03–12–22–02–04–12–02–01–12–02–23–14–02–33–12–0
Washington 0–41–31–32–21–31–10–21–30–20–21–32–00–21–41–31–13–20–42–32–30–20–21–10–20–20–2

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log
Total: 35–47 (home: 20–21; road: 15–26)
November: 7–6 (home: 3–4; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
3November 11, 1994
7:30 p.m. EST
Houston L 82–102 Radja (31) Radja (11) Fox (6) Boston Garden
14,890
0–3
December: 4–11 (home: 2–4; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
23December 17, 1994
8:30 p.m. EST
@ Houston W 112–109 Wilkins (43) Montross (12) Wesley (11) The Summit
15,757
10–13
January: 5–9 (home: 5–5; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
February: 6–6 (home: 3–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
All-Star Break
March: 6–11 (home: 2–5; road: 4–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
April: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1994–95 schedule

Playoffs

1995 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 28@ Orlando L 77–124 Dee Brown (20) Dominique Wilkins (9) Sherman Douglas (6) Orlando Arena
16,010
0–1
2April 30@ Orlando W 99–92 Dominique Wilkins (24) Brown, Radja (8) Sherman Douglas (15) Orlando Arena
16,010
1–1
3May 3 Orlando L 77–82 Brown, Wilkins (16) Pervis Ellison (10) Sherman Douglas (7) Boston Garden
14,890
1–2
4May 5 Orlando L 92–95 Dominique Wilkins (22) Dominique Wilkins (18) Douglas, Brown (5) Boston Garden
14,890
1–3
1995 schedule

Player statistics

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

Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics
PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
James Blackwell 906.8.600.667.9.7.3.01.6
Dee Brown 796935.3.447.385.8523.23.81.4.615.6
Tony Dawson 206.5.375.3331.0001.5.5.0.04.0
Sherman Douglas 654331.5.475.244.6892.66.91.2.014.7
Acie Earl 3036.9.382.4831.5.1.2.32.2
Blue Edwards 31716.4.426.256.8962.11.5.6.37.1
Pervis Ellison 551119.7.507.000.7175.6.6.41.06.8
Rick Fox 53719.6.481.413.7722.92.61.0.48.8
Tony Harris 306.0.375.000.889.0.0.0.04.7
Jay Humphries 608.7.444.000.500.51.7.3.01.7
Xavier McDaniel 681521.0.451.286.7124.41.6.4.38.6
Greg Minor 63815.0.515.167.8332.21.0.5.36.0
Eric Montross 787529.7.534.000.6357.3.5.4.810.0
Dino Rađa 664832.5.490.000.7598.71.7.91.317.2
Derek Strong 702419.2.453.286.8205.4.6.3.26.3
David Wesley 513627.1.409.429.7552.35.21.6.27.4
Dominique Wilkins 776431.5.424.388.7825.22.2.8.217.8

Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics
PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Dee Brown 4443.0.419.346.8755.04.81.3.318.8
Sherman Douglas 4442.0.353.333.7275.08.31.0.315.0
Acie Earl 1010.0.333.0002.0.0.01.02.0
Pervis Ellison 4017.0.5791.0004.3.5.51.36.0
Xavier McDaniel 4014.8.294.000.7501.51.3.0.03.3
Greg Minor 409.3.3851.000.3.5.3.32.8
Eric Montross 4415.5.455.5002.3.0.0.03.3
Dino Rađa 4338.3.400.7147.02.31.01.315.0
Derek Strong 4120.3.333.5006.0.8.8.32.8
Dominique Wilkins 4437.5.426.471.88910.82.0.5.819.0
  • Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

Awards

PlayerAward
Eric Montross NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team

Transactions

The Celtics were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.

Trades

June 29, 1994 To Boston Celtics
Blue Edwards
Derek Strong
To Milwaukee Bucks
Ed Pinckney
Andrei Fetisov
February 3, 1995 To Boston Celtics
Jay Humphries
1995 second-round pick
To Utah Jazz
Blue Edwards

Free agents

Player Transactions Citation: [52]

See also

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The 1993–94 NBA season was the Clippers' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 10th season in Los Angeles. The Clippers had the thirteenth overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected Terry Dehere out of Seton Hall University. In the off-season, the team signed free agent Mark Aguirre, who won two championships with the Detroit Pistons from 1989 to 1990. Under new head coach Bob Weiss, the Clippers played slightly under .500 with an 11–14 start, but then struggled posting a 7-game losing streak between December and January, as Stanley Roberts only played just 14 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The team held a 16–29 record at the All-Star break.

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Pacers' 16th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season as a franchise. The Pacers struggled early into the season losing 9 of their first 13 games. After ten games, the team released Mike Sanders to free agency; Sanders would later on re-sign with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers continued to struggle with a 15–28 record near the end of January, and held a 19–29 record at the All-Star break. However, they won 25 of their final 39 games, finishing the season fourth in the Central Division with a mediocre 40–42 record.

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Jazz's 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 16th season in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the off-season, the Jazz signed free agent Antoine Carr, and acquired Adam Keefe from the Atlanta Hawks. The Jazz struggled losing four of their first six games, but then won seven of their next eight games, then won eight straight games in December. The team posted a 14–1 record in January, which included a 14-game winning streak which ended in early February, as the Jazz held a 35–13 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Jay Humphries to the Boston Celtics in exchange for former Jazz guard Blue Edwards. The Jazz posted a nine-game winning streak between February and March, then won their final seven games of the season, finishing second in the Midwest Division with a 60–22 record. They made their 12th consecutive trip to the playoffs.

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Nuggets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season as a franchise. It was also their first season playing at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets had the 18th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, and selected James Posey out of Xavier University. During the off-season, the team acquired Ron Mercer and Popeye Jones from the Boston Celtics, and signed free agent George McCloud. With Dan Issel back as head coach, the Nuggets had a solid nucleus of second-year star Raef LaFrentz, Antonio McDyess and Nick Van Exel with a 17–15 record to start the season. However, the Nuggets would struggle and slip below .500, holding a 21–27 record at the All-Star break.

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 76ers 46th season in the National Basketball Association, and 32nd season in Philadelphia. The 76ers had the sixth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Sharone Wright out of Clemson University. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Scott Williams, Jeff Grayer, then signed Willie Burton during the first month of the regular season. Under new head coach John Lucas, the Sixers struggled losing six of their first seven games. After a 10–16 start to the season, they went on a nine-game losing streak between December and January, as Jeff Malone only played just 19 games due to a sprained ankle, averaging 18.4 points per game. After holding a 14–34 record at the All-Star break, the Sixers posted an eight-game losing streak in March, and finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 24–58 record.

The 1993–94 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. During the off-season, the Nets signed free agents Kevin Edwards, Armen Gilliam, and undrafted rookie guard David Wesley, and acquired Benoit Benjamin from the Los Angeles Lakers. After the tragic death of star guard Dražen Petrović, who died in a car accident during the off-season on June 7, 1993; Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson would both step it up, having All-Star seasons being selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game. The Nets got off to a rough start losing 10 of their first 14 games, as Chris Morris only played just 50 games due to knee and thumb injuries. In December, the team traded Rumeal Robinson to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Johnny Newman. However, after holding a 22–24 at the All-Star break, the Nets would win 8 of their final 11 games finishing third in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record.

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