2001–02_Boston_Celtics_season

2001–02 Boston Celtics season

2001–02 Boston Celtics season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Boston Celtics

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 56th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] This season saw the Celtics select future All-Star Joe Johnson from the University of Arkansas with the tenth pick in the 2001 NBA draft,[2][3][4][5] but later on traded him along with Randy Brown at midseason to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk.[6][7][8] The team also signed free agent Erick Strickland during the off-season.[9] The Celtics struggled with a 5–6 start to the season, but then won 12 of their next 14 games, and held a 28–21 record at the All-Star break.[10] They later on posted a 7-game winning streak in March, and won eight of their final nine games finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record,[11] making their first playoff appearance since 1995.[12]

Quick Facts Boston Celtics season, Head coach ...

Paul Pierce averaged 26.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Antoine Walker averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and Kenny Anderson provided the team with 9.6 points, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In addition, Strickland contributed 7.7 points per game off the bench, and Tony Battie provided with 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.[13] Pierce and Walker were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, which was Pierce's first All-Star appearance.[14][15][16]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, advancing to the second round for the first time since 1992.[17][18][19][20] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they lost Game 1 to the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons, 96–84 on the road,[21][22] but managed to defeat them four games to one, reaching the conference finals also for the first time since 1988.[23][24][25][26] In the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics took a 2–1 series lead over the top-seeded New Jersey Nets.[27][28] However, they would lose to the Nets in six games.[29][30][31][32] The Nets would go on to reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games.[33][34][35][36][37]

Following the season, Anderson was traded along with Vitaly Potapenko to the Seattle SuperSonics,[38][39][40] while Rogers signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,[41][42][43] Strickland signed with the Indiana Pacers,[44][45] and Mark Blount signed with the Denver Nuggets.

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

Roster Notes

  • Rookie point guard Omar Cook also holds American citizenship, but he represents Montenegro in international play. He was signed by the Celtics on April 16, but never played for the team.
  • Small forward Roshown McLeod missed the entire season with a nerve ailment in his lower left leg, and never played for the Celtics.[46]

Regular season

Standings

More information W, L ...
More information #, Team ...

Record vs. opponents

More information Team, ATL ...

Game log

More information 2001-02 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 27–14; road: 22–19), Game ...

Playoffs

More information 2002 playoff game log, Game ...

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 and records

Transactions

See also

References

  1. [1]
    2001-02 Boston Celtics
  2. [2]
    Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "Pro Basketball; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. [3]
    Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". Associated Press. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. [4]
    Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  5. [5]
    "2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Report: Rogers, Delk to Celtics". United Press International. February 20, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Boston Acquires Delk, Rogers from Phoenix". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 21, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. [8]
    "Celts, Suns Make Trade; Jackson Set to Be Dealt". Deseret News. February 21, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  9. [9]
    "Celtics Sign Strickland". United Press International. November 1, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  11. [11]
    "2001–02 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  12. [12]
    "Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  13. [13]
    "2001–02 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  14. [14]
    "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  15. [15]
    "2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10". Eskimo North. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. [16]
    "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  17. [17]
    Broussard, Chris (May 4, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sparked by Pierce's 46, Celtics Return to Glory". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Celtics Have the Green Light Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 4, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  19. [19]
    Wyche, Steve (May 5, 2002). "The Celtics Pierce the 76ers' Bubble". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  20. [20]
    "2002 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: 76ers vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  21. [21]
    "Pistons Just Point to the Defense". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 6, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  22. [22]
    "2002 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals Game 1: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons Box Score, May 5, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  23. [23]
    "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Return to Eastern Finals". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 15, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  24. [24]
    "Celtics Oust Pistons". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 15, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  25. [25]
    Lage, Larry (May 15, 2002). "Celtics Rev Up, Eliminate Pistons". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  26. [26]
    "2002 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals: Celtics vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  27. [27]
    Robbins, Liz (May 26, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Nets Dig a Big Hole for the Celtics, and Then Fall in". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  28. [28]
    Pucin, Diane (May 26, 2002). "Nets Buckle Under to Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  29. [29]
    Rhoden, William C. (June 1, 2002). "Sports of the Times; Nets Prove They Are Better Team". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  30. [30]
    Pucin, Diane (June 1, 2002). "Kidd's Numbers Don't Lie as Nets Finish Off Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  31. [31]
    Wyche, Steve (June 2, 2002). "New Jersey Fueled by Power of 1". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  32. [32]
    "2002 NBA Eastern Conference finals: Celtics vs. Nets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Lakers Sweep Nets for Another Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 2002. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  34. [34]
    Brown, Tim (June 13, 2002). "O'Neal Is a Three-Peat MVP as Lakers Finally Cut Down the Nets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  35. [35]
    Wyche, Steve (June 13, 2002). "O'Neal, Lakers Cut Down Nets". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  36. [36]
    "L.A. Lakers 113, New Jersey 107". United Press International. June 13, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  37. [37]
    "2002 NBA Finals: Nets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  38. [38]
    Broussard, Chris (July 23, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Baker Goes to Boston in a Five-Player Trade". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  39. [39]
    "Baker Traded to the Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 23, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  40. [40]
    "Celts Get Sonics' Baker in 5-Player Deal". Chicago Tribune. July 23, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  41. [41]
    "Nets Sign F Rodney Rogers". United Press International. August 14, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  42. [42]
    "Kings Get Bigger, Deeper by Adding Clark". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 15, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  43. [43]
    Robbins, Liz (September 27, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Though Nets Got Close, They Have Far to Go". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  44. [44]
    "Stackhouse Goes to Wizards". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 12, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  45. [45]
    "Pacers Ink G Erick Strickland". United Press International. September 11, 2002. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  46. [46]
    "Celtics Activate McLeod". Associated Press. November 14, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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