2002–03_Boston_Celtics_season

2002–03 Boston Celtics season

2002–03 Boston Celtics season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Boston Celtics

The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Celtics acquired Vin Baker and Shammond Williams from the Seattle SuperSonics,[2][3][4] and signed free agent and undrafted rookie J.R. Bremer.[5][6] The Celtics posted a six-game winning streak after losing their first two games, and got off to a solid 16–7 start, holding a 27–22 record at the All-Star break.[7] At midseason, Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for former Celtics center Mark Blount.[8][9] However, the Celtics lost six straight games in March, and finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record.[10] The team made the playoffs for the second time with team captain Paul Pierce, but this time as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Quick Facts Boston Celtics season, Head coach ...

Pierce averaged 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.4, assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Antoine Walker averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Pierce and Walker were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.[11] In addition, Tony Delk contributed 9.8 points per game, while Eric Williams provided the team with 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, Bremer contributed 8.3 points per game and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Tony Battie provided with 7.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.[12]

After defeating the 3rd-seeded Indiana Pacers four games to two in the Eastern Conference First Round,[13][14][15] the Celtics were unable to stop the New Jersey Nets as they were swept in four straight Eastern Conference Semi-final games.[16][17][18] The Nets would reach the Finals for the second consecutive year, but would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.[19][20][21] This was also Walker's final season with the Celtics, as he was traded along with Delk to the Dallas Mavericks the following offseason.[22][23][24] He would return to Boston midway during the 2004–05 season. Also following the season, Bremer was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[25]

The franchise gained new owners that season when Paul Gaston sold the team to the Boston Basketball Partners, represented by Wyc Grousbeck, in the fall of 2002.

Draft picks

Main article: 2002 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

Regular season

Standings

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

Record vs. opponents

More information Team, ATL ...

Game log

More information 2002-03 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 25–16; road: 19–22), Game ...

Playoffs

More information 2003 playoff game log, Game ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    2002-03 Boston Celtics
  2. [2]
    Broussard, Chris (July 23, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Baker Goes to Boston in a Five-Player Trade". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Baker Traded to the Celtics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 23, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Celts Get Sonics' Baker in 5-Player Deal". Chicago Tribune. July 23, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  5. [5]
    Golen, Jimmy (October 2, 2002). "Celtics Make Unusual Point". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  6. [6]
    Smith, Sam (October 30, 2002). "Eastern Conference Capsules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. [7]
    "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  8. [8]
    "NBA - Celtics Pick Up Blount, Bryant from Nuggets". ESPN. Associated Press. February 20, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  9. [9]
    Sheridan, Chris (February 21, 2003). "Celts Trade for Front-Line Help". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "2002–03 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. [11]
    "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  12. [12]
    "2002–03 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. [13]
    Broussard, Chris (May 2, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Put On a Show to Defeat the Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  14. [14]
    Goodman, Jeff (May 2, 2003). "Celtics Finish Off Pacers with Rout". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  15. [15]
    Golen, Jimmy (April 30, 2003). "Celtics Advance with Win Over Pacers". CT Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  16. [16]
    Robbins, Liz (May 13, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Take Long Way to Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  17. [17]
    "Nets Make Sweep Kidd's Play". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 13, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  18. [18]
    Goodman, Jeff (May 13, 2003). "Nets Sweep Celtics". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  19. [19]
    "Spurs Defeat Nets to Win N.B.A. Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  20. [20]
    Heisler, Mark (June 16, 2003). "Spurs Reduce the 'Risk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  21. [21]
    "San Antonio 88, New Jersey 77". United Press International. June 15, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  22. [22]
    Broussard, Chris (October 21, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Dallas Acquires Antoine Walker, Adding Even More Scoring Punch". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  23. [23]
    "Mavericks Get Walker". Los Angeles Times. October 21, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  24. [24]
    Trecker, Jerry (October 21, 2003). "Walker Out of Celtics' Picture". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  25. [25]
    "Cleveland Sends Jumaine Jones to Boston". ESPN. July 28, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
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