1994–95 Boston Celtics season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 49th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] It was also the last season of play at the Boston Garden.[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] 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]

1994–95 Boston Celtics season
Head coachChris Ford
General managerM.L. Carr
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record35–47 (.427)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast First Round
(lost to Magic 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
SportsChannel New England
RadioWBNW

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 six 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
Main article: 1994 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
19Eric MontrossC United StatesNorth Carolina
236Andrei FetisovSF RussiaFórum Valladolid

Roster
1994–95 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
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 (C) 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 Injured 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 Injured 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 12 Wilkins, Dominique (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1960–01–12 Georgia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Orlando Magic 5725.695—39–218–2318–10
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
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Orlando Magic5725.695–
2 y-Indiana Pacers5230.6345
3 x-New York Knicks5527.6712
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5032.6107
5 x-Chicago Bulls4735.57310
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4339.52414
7 x-Atlanta Hawks4240.51215
8 x-Boston Celtics3547.42722
9 Milwaukee Bucks3448.41523
10 Miami Heat3250.39025
11 New Jersey Nets3052.36627
12 Detroit Pistons2854.34129
13 Philadelphia 76ers2458.29333
14 Washington Bullets2161.25636

Record vs. opponents
1994-95 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
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
Boston 1–3–1–30–42–21–11–13–12–01–12–20–21–14–11–32–02–30–52–33–11–10–21–10–21–10–23–1
Charlotte 2–23–1–2–23–20–21–15–02–00–21–42–00–23–14–11–13–13–11–33–10–22–01–11–12–02–03–1
Chicago 4–14–02–2–2–31–11–15–02–01–12–21–11–13–11–42–02–23–11–34–01–11–10–21–10–20–22–2
Cleveland 4–12–22–33–2–0–21–12–22–00–22–31–11–11–34–01–14–02–21–33–11–11–11–10–20–21–13–1
Dallas 0–21–12–01–12–0–1–41–13–12–31–13–11–30–21–14–11–10–20–22–00–43–12–22–30–42–41–1
Denver 0–21–11–11–11–14–1–1–11–31–41–14–02–22–02–06–01–10–20–21–11–33–12–21–41–31–42–0
Detroit 2–31–30–50–52–21–11–1–1–10–22–21–10–21–32–31–12–21–31–34–01–10–21–10–20–20–23–1
Golden State 0–20–20–20–20–21–33–11–1–0–40–23–23–21–10–21–31–11–10–21–13–21–40–51–31–42–22–0
Houston 2–01–12–01–12–03–24–12–04–0–1–13–10–42–01–13–22–00–20–22–03–11–33–11–50–42–32–0
Indiana 4–12–24–12–23–21–11–12–22–01–1–2–01–12–23–22–03–11–32–24–01–11–12–02–01–10–23–1
L.A. Clippers 0–22–00–21–11–11–30–41–12–31–30–2–2–30–21–11–30–20–20–21–11–40–51–40–40–51–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–12–01–11–13–12–22–02–34–01–13–2–1–11–13–12–00–21–11–11–42–33–21–34–12–22–0
Miami 2–21–41–31–33–12–00–23–11–10–22–22–01–1–4–01–11–31–41–31–40–20–20–20–20–20–24–1
Milwaukee 3–13–11–44–10–41–10–23–22–01–12–31–11–10–4–1–12–22–20–43–10–20–21–10–20–20–23–1
Minnesota 0–20–21–10–21–11–40–61–13–12–30–23–11–31–11–1–1–10–21–11–10–40–41–30–50–41–41–1
New Jersey 0–43–21–32–20–41–11–12–21–10–21–32–00–23–12–21–1–1–42–22–30–21–11–10–21–10–22–3
New York 2–25–01–31–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–02–04–12–22–04–1–2–34–01–11–12–01–10–20–24–0
Orlando 3–13–23–13–13–12–02–03–12–02–02–22–01–13–14–01–12–23–2–4–11–12–01–11–10–21–13–2
Philadelphia 1–31–31–30–41–30–21–10–41–10–20–41–11–14–11–31–13–20–41–4–0–22–01–10–20–20–23–2
Phoenix 1–11–12–01–11–14–03–11–12–31–31–14–14–12–02–04–02–01–11–12–0–5–04–12–24–12–22–0
Portland 1–12–00–21–11–11–31–32–04–13–11–15–03–22–02–04–01–11–10–20–20–5–3–21–32–31–32–0
Sacramento 1–11–11–12–01–12–22–21–15–01–30–24–12–32–01–13–11–10–21–11–11–42–3–0–43–20–41–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–11–12–03–24–12–03–15–10–24–03–12–02–05–02–01–11–12–02–23–14–0–2–23–22–0
Seattle 2–01–10–22–02–04–03–12–04–14–01–15–01–42–02–04–01–12–02–02–01–43–22–32–2–1–32–0
Utah 2–02–00–22–01–14–24–12–02–23–22–03–12–22–02–04–12–02–01–12–02–23–14–02–33–1–2–0
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
3 November 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
23 December 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
1 April 28 @ Orlando L 77–124 Dee Brown (20) Dominique Wilkins (9) Sherman Douglas (6) Orlando Arena
16,010		 0–1
2 April 30 @ Orlando W 99–92 Dominique Wilkins (24) Brown, Radja (8) Sherman Douglas (15) Orlando Arena
16,010		 1–1
3 May 3 Orlando L 77–82 Brown, Wilkins (16) Pervis Ellison (10) Sherman Douglas (7) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–2
4 May 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
  GP Games 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
Player Award
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

References
  1. 1994-95 Boston Celtics
  2. Cavanaugh, Jack (April 16, 1995). "BACKTALK; The Last Days of a Garden Where Memories Grew". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. Araton, Harvey (April 22, 1995). "ON PRO BASKETBALL; A Not-So-Fond Farewell to a Shrine". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. "Boston Garden Fertile Ground for Memories". The Washington Post. April 22, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  5. Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. Denlinger, Ken (June 30, 1994). "Robinson Goes with the Bucks". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. Baker, Chris (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Lakers Recall the Past: Pro Basketball: Temple Guard Jones Reminiscent of Former Great Michael Cooper". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. "1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. "Dominique Wilkins a Celtic". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 23, 1994. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  11. Baker, Chris (July 23, 1994). "Clippers Must Pay the Price of Losing Wilkins to Celtics: Basketball: All-Star Forward's Short Tenure in L.A. Ends with a Three-Year, $11-Million Deal from Boston". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  12. "Celtics Sign Dominique Wilkins". The Washington Post. July 23, 1994. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  13. "Wilkins Signs with Celtics". Tampa Bay Times. July 23, 1994. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  14. Arace, Michael (July 24, 1994). "Instantly, the Celtics Are Credible". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  15. Justice, Richard (July 28, 1994). "Ex-Bullet Ellison Close to Signing with Celtics". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  16. Arace, Michael (October 19, 1994). "Celtics Hope Ellison Dressed for Success". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  17. "Picking Up the Pace". Hartford Courant. July 28, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  18. "Minor Moves on Court". Hartford Courant. October 27, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  19. "Bucks Trade Edwards to Celtics". United Press International. June 30, 1994. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  20. "Eastern Conference". The Washington Post. November 4, 1994. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  21. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  22. "Edwards, Humphries Swapped Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 4, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  23. Evans, Richard (February 4, 1995). "Blue's Back: Jazz Deal Humphries, 2nd-Round Draft Pick to Celtics for High-Flying Edwards". Deseret News. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  24. Arace, Michael (February 4, 1995). "Edwards Traded by Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  25. "1994–95 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. Arace, Michael (March 13, 1995). "Celtics Give Hawks Opening in Fourth". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  27. Arace, Michael (April 28, 1995). "The Point Is Well-Taken". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  28. "1994–95 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  29. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Magic Buries a Bad Memory and Celtics". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  30. Winderman, Ira (April 29, 1995). "Celtics Are No Match; Magic Rolls to 47-Point Victory". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  31. Landman, Brian (April 29, 1995). "Win 1 Is Magic Mauling". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  32. "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Bounce Back and Head Home Even". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  33. "NBA PLAYOFFS: Celtics Dispel Magic, Now Come Ghosts". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  34. "Celtics Mystify Magic". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 1, 1995. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  35. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Grant and Magic Wrap Up Garden's Parquet". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1995. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  36. "Magic Finishes Off Celtics and the Garden: NBA Playoffs: Orlando Holds on for 95-92 Victory, Setting Up East Semifinal Against Chicago". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1995. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  37. Povtak, Tim (May 6, 1995). "Hardaway Learns Keys to Playoffs". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  38. "1995 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  39. Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  40. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 15, 1995). "NBA FINALS: Two-Ring Circus Hits Houston: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon (who else?) Is MVP Again After Leading Rockets to Sweep of Magic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  41. Justice, Richard (June 15, 1995). "Rockets' Sweep Finishes Magic Season". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  42. Guest, Larry (June 15, 1995). "Magic Are the Main Entree at This Friendly Texas Barbecue". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  43. "1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  44. "Wilkins Leaves Celtics to Sign for Greek Club". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1995. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  45. "McDaniel to Leave NBA, Play in Greece". United Press International. September 7, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  46. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Celtics to Wilkins: Goodbye, Good Luck". The New York Times. September 8, 1995. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  47. "Chambers Is Israel-Bound". The Washington Post. October 18, 1995. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  48. Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 3, 1995). "THE NBA: 1995-96: Greater Expectations: Lakers May Have Accomplished a Lot, But Now They're Really Thinking Big". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  49. "Celtics Fire Chris Ford". United Press International. May 17, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  50. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Celtics Drop Ford as Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  51. Arace, Michael (May 18, 1995). "Ford Reaches Point of No Return with Celtics". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  52. "1994–95 Boston Celtics Transactions". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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