2006–07 Boston Celtics season

The 2006–07 Boston Celtics season was the 61st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics finished 24–58, the second-worst in franchise history after the 15–67 record in 1996–97. It was also the second-worst record in the league in 2006–07, only marginally in front of the Memphis Grizzlies. The season was overshadowed by many injuries, in particular the injury to All-Star Paul Pierce, which caused him to miss seven weeks, and the deaths of Celtic legends Red Auerbach and Dennis Johnson.

2006–07 Boston Celtics season
Head coachDoc Rivers
General managerChris Wallace
OwnersBoston Basketball Partners
ArenaTD Banknorth Garden
Results
Record24–58 (.293)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 15th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFSN New England
RadioWRKO

Key dates

Summary

Just days before the start of the season, the Celtics were dealt an emotional blow when their patriarch Red Auerbach died at the age of 89. When the season started, the days of Auerbach seemed like a distant memory as the Celtics lost six of their first seven games en route to a 5–13 start. In December, the Celtics improved their play as they embarked on a 5-game winning streak. However, after losing All-Star Paul Pierce to a stress reaction in his left foot on December 20, the Celtics crumbled, winning just 3 of their next 42 games, including a franchise record 18-game losing streak that lasted from January 5 to February 14, and plunging into last place. In between the losing streak, the Celtics lost Tony Allen for the remainder of the season,[1] who tore both the ACL and MCL on an uncontested dunk attempt on January 10.[2]

Adding to the pain was the death of another Celtics legend, Dennis Johnson, who suffered a heart attack on February 22 at the age of 52 while coaching the Celtics NBDL affiliate, the Austin Toros. After Pierce had returned in early February after spending 7 weeks on the injured list, the Celtics played better and won 5 of 6 games in late February and early March. A few weeks later on St. Patrick's Day, the Celtics stunned the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs 91-85 on the road, making it the first time the Celtics won against Tim Duncan, whom they missed out on during the 1997 Draft Lottery.

But nagging injuries would continue to hamper Pierce, who sat out all of April, as the Celtics finished with a horrible 24-58 record that earned them the worst record in the Eastern Conference and 2nd worst record in the league, only marginally in front of the Memphis Grizzlies. Afterwards, the Celtics turned their focus to the draft lottery, where they had good chances of landing a Top 2 pick, allowing them to select either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. However, even the draft lottery came out all wrong for the Celtics as they were assigned the 5th overall selection, which seemed to guarantee another disappointing season.

Draft picks
Main article: 2006 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 7 Randy Foye (traded to Portland) SG  United States Villanova

Roster
2006–07 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
SG 42 Allen, Tony Injured 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1982–01–11 Oklahoma State
PF 4 Gomes, Ryan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1982–09–01 Providence
SG 5 Green, Gerald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1986–01–26 Gulf Shores Academy (TX)
C 7 Jefferson, Al 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 256 lb (116 kg) 1985–01–04 Prentiss HS (MS)
C 41 Olowokandi, Michael Injured 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1975–04–03 Pacific
C 43 Perkins, Kendrick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1984–11–10 Clifton J. Ozen HS (TX)
SF 34 Pierce, Paul Injured (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977–10–13 Kansas
PF 51 Pinkney, Kevinn 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1983–10–20 Nevada
PF 0 Powe, Leon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1984–01–22 California
C 50 Ratliff, Theo Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1973–04–17 Wyoming
SG 12 Ray, Allan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1984–06–17 Villanova
PG 9 Rondo, Rajon 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 171 lb (78 kg) 1986–02–22 Kentucky
PF 44 Scalabrine, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1978–03–18 USC
PF 55 Szczerbiak, Wally Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1977–03–05 Miami (OH)
PG 30 Telfair, Sebastian 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1985–06–09 Lincoln HS (NY)
PG 13 West, Delonte 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1983–07–26 Saint Joseph's
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2007-04-14

Regular season

Standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Toronto Raptors 4735.573-30–1117–2411–5
x-New Jersey Nets 4141.500624–1717–2410–6
Philadelphia 76ers 3547.4271221–2014–279–7
New York Knicks 3349.4021419–2214–273–13
Boston Celtics 2458.2932312–2912–297–9
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Detroit Pistons5329.646–
2 x-Cleveland Cavaliers5032.6103
3 y-Toronto Raptors4735.5736
4 y-Miami Heat4438.5379
5 x-Chicago Bulls4933.5984
6 x-New Jersey Nets4141.50012
7 x-Washington Wizards4141.50012
8 x-Orlando Magic4042.48813
9 Philadelphia 76ers3547.42718
10 Indiana Pacers3547.42718
11 New York Knicks3349.40220
12 Charlotte Bobcats3349.40220
13 Atlanta Hawks3052.36623
14 Milwaukee Bucks2854.34125
15 Boston Celtics2458.29329

Record vs. opponents
2006-07 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOK NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–30–41–30–21–11–22–01–11–32–00–22–00–41–22–01–20–21–23–11–31–11–11–10–20–22–20–21–3
Boston 1–3—2–20–31–20–21–10–40–21–11–30–20–21–11–22–21–12–20–23–11–31–30–22–00–21–11–11–30–20–3
Charlotte 3–12–2—1–22–20–21–12–21–10–21–20–22–00–22–22–21–11–21–12–22–22–20–20–21–11–10–20–31–12–2
Chicago 4–03–02–1—2–21–11–13–11–10–23–10–21–11–13–14–00–21–32–03–11–22–11–12–00–21–12–02–20–23–1
Cleveland 3–12–12–22–2—0–20–21–32–01–13–12–02–02–01–34–02–02–11–12–21–23–10–21–12–02–01–13–11–12–1
Dallas 2–02–02–01–12–0—3–11–10–33–12–02–13–14–02–02–04–02–04–02–02–02–02–23–04–03–14–02–01–21–1
Denver 1–11–11–11–12–01–3—0–23–11–22–02–13–12–22–02–02–21–12–21–11–11–11–23–12–21–23–11–11–31–1
Detroit 2–14–02–21–33–11–12–0—0–21–12–22–02–02–02–13–11–14–01–12–14–03–11–11–11–10–22–02–10–22–2
Golden State 0–22–01–11–10–23–01–32–0—2–11–12–20–43–10–20–22–11–13–11–11–12–01–32–13–11–33–11–12–21–1
Houston 1–11–12–02–01–11–32–11–11–2—1–13–12–24–02–02–02–22–01–32–02–02–01–32–23–02–23–01–11–32–0
Indiana 3–13–12–11–31–30–20–22–21–11–1—1–11–12–02–24–00–20–41–12–12–22–20–22–00–21–10–21–20–20–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–02–02–00–21–21–20–22–21–31–1—2–23–02–02–01–21–12–21–11–12–02–23–12–20–42–20–21–31–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–21–10–21–31–30–24–02–21–12–2—2–21–10–23–12–01–20–22–01–11–31–23–12–13–11–12–11–1
Memphis 0–21–12–01–10–20–42–20–21–30–40–20–32–2—0–20–22–10–21–30–21–11–10–42–21–21–31–21–11–31–1
Miami 4–02–12–21–33–10–20–21–22–00–22–20–21–12–0—2–12–03–11–11–30–41–30–22–02–01–12–02–12–03–1
Milwaukee 2–12–22–20–40–40–20–21–32–00–20–40–22–02–01–2—2–01–20–21–31–32–10–21–11–12–01–11–30–21–3
Minnesota 0–21–11–12–00–20–42–21–11–22–22–02–11–31–20–20–2—1–11–32–01–12–01–32–22–21–21–30–21–31–1
New Jersey 2–12–22–13–11–20–21–10–41–10–24–01–10–22–01–32–11–1—1–14–02–22–20–20–21–10–20–22–22–04–0
New Orleans/Oklahoma City 2–02–01–10–21–10–42–21–11–33–11–12–22–13–11–12–03–11–1—2–01–10–20–31–23–10–42–20–21–21–1
New York 2–11–32–21–32–20–21–11–21–10–21–21–12–02–03–13–10–20–40–2—2–11–30–21–11–10–21–11–31–12–2
Orlando 1–33–12–22–12–10–21–10–41–10–22–21–10–21–14–03–11–12–21–11–2—2–10–22–01–11–12–00–42–02–2
Philadelphia 3–13–12–21–21–30–21–11–30–20–22–20–21–11–13–11–20–22–22–03–11–2—1–11–11–10–22–01–31–10–3
Phoenix 1–12–02–01–12–02–22–11–13–13–12–02–23–14–02–02–03–12–03–02–02–01–1—4–03–11–22–12–01–31–1
Portland 1–10–22–00–21–10–31–31–11–22–20–21–32–12–20–21–12–22–02–11–10–21–10–4—2–20–42–21–12–22–0
Sacramento 1–12–01–12–00–20–42–21–11–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–12–21–11–31–11–11–11–32–2—0–42–11–12–10–2
San Antonio 2–01–11–11–10–21–32–12–03–12–21–14–01–23–11–10–22–12–04–02–01–12–02–14–04–0—4–02–02–22–0
Seattle 2–01–12–00–21–10–41–30–21–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–13–12–02–21–10–20–21–22–21–20–4—1–12–20–2
Toronto 2–23–13–02–21–30–21–11–21–11–12–12–01–11–11–23–12–02–22–03–14–03–10–21–11–10–21–1—0–23–1
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–12–13–12–02–23–12–03–11–23–10–22–03–10–22–11–10–21–13–12–21–22–22–22–0—1–1
Washington 3–13–02–21–31–21–11–12–21–10–23–01–11–11–11–33–11–10–41–12–22–23–01–10–22–00–22–01–31–1—

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

Regular season
Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tony Allen 331824.4.514.242.7843.81.71.5.411.5
Ryan Gomes 736031.2.467.381.8115.61.6.7.212.1
Gerald Green 812622.0.419.368.8052.61.0.5.310.4
Al Jefferson 696033.6.514.000.68111.01.3.71.516.0
Michael Olowokandi 2409.8.413..6672.0.2.3.51.7
Kendrick Perkins 725321.9.491.000.6005.21.3.31.34.5
Paul Pierce 474637.0.439.389.7965.94.11.0.325.0
Kevinn Pinkney 6016.7.444.500.6672.5.8.5.55.2
Leon Powe 63211.4.446.000.7363.4.2.2.34.2
Theo Ratliff 2222.0.333..7503.5.0.51.52.5
Allan Ray 47515.1.386.414.7641.5.9.4.16.2
Rajon Rondo 782523.5.418.207.6473.73.81.6.16.4
Brian Scalabrine 541719.0.403.400.7831.91.1.4.34.0
Wally Szczerbiak 321928.1.415.415.8973.11.7.6.115.0
Sebastian Telfair 783020.2.371.289.8181.42.8.6.16.1
Delonte West 694732.2.427.365.8533.04.41.1.512.2

Transactions

Trades
June 28, 2006
 To Boston Celtics
Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and 2008 2nd round pick		 To Portland Trail Blazers
Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz, and the 7th pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Randy Foye)
June 28, 2006
 To Boston Celtics
Brian Grant, and the 21st pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Rajon Rondo)		 To Phoenix Suns
Future 1st round pick
June 28, 2006
 To Boston Celtics
The 49th pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Leon Powe)		 To Denver Nuggets
Future 2nd round pick
October 13, 2006
 To Boston Celtics
Luke Jackson, and cash considerations		 To Cleveland Cavaliers
Dwayne Jones

Free agents

See also

References
  1. Celtics guard Allen out for season with knee injury
  2. Tony Allen Interview Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, May 14, 2007
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