2001–02 Boston Celtics season

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 with the tenth pick in the 2001 NBA draft, but later on traded him at midseason to the Phoenix Suns for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk. The Celtics struggled with a 5–6 start to the season, but then won 12 of their next 14 games. They won nine of their final ten games finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, making their first playoff appearance since 1995. Paul Pierce averaged 26.1 points per game and was selected along with Antoine Walker for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, which marked his first All-Star appearance.

2001–02 Boston Celtics season
Head coachJim O'Brien
General managerChris Wallace
Owner(s)Paul Gaston
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Nets 2–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net New England
RadioWWZN

In the 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.[2] In the semifinals, they defeated the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons four games to one, reaching the Conference Finals also for the first time since 1988. However, they would lose in six games to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals after taking a 2–1 series lead.[3]

Following the season, Kenny Anderson was traded along with Vitaly Potapenko to the Seattle SuperSonics, and Rogers signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets.

Draft picks
Main article: 2001 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Joe Johnson SG  United States Arkansas
1 11 Kedrick Brown SF/SG  United States Okaloosa-Walton
1 21 Joseph Forte SG  United States North Carolina

Roster
Roster listing
2001–02 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
PG 7 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970–10–09 Georgia Tech
C 4 Battie, Tony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1976–02–11 Texas Tech
C 30 Blount, Mark 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–11–30 Pittsburgh
SF 42 Brown, Kedrick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1981–03–18 Okaloosa-Walton Community College
PG 12 Cook, Omar  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 St. John's
SG 28 Delk, Tony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1974–01–28 Kentucky
SG 40 Forte, Joseph  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1981–03–23 North Carolina
PF 0 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–02–01 Kentucky
SF 5 McLeod, Roshown  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 221 lb (100 kg) 1975–11–17 Duke
G/F 34 Pierce, Paul (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977–10–13 Kansas
C 52 Potapenko, Vitaly 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1975–03–21 Wright State University
SF 54 Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1971–06–20 Wake Forest
PG 20 Strickland, Erick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–11–25 University of Nebraska
PF 8 Walker, Antoine (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1976–08–12 Kentucky
SF 55 Williams, Eric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–07–17 Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2002–04–16

Roster Notes

Regular season

Standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New Jersey Nets 5230.634–33–819–2216–8
x-Boston Celtics 4933.598327–1422–1917–7
x-Orlando Magic 4438.537827–1417–2412–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers 4339.524922–1921–2014–11
Washington Wizards 3745.4511522–1915–2612–13
Miami Heat 3646.4391618–2318–2310–14
New York Knicks 3052.3662219–2211–304–20
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-New Jersey Nets5230.634–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5032.6102
3 x-Boston Celtics4933.5983
4 x-Charlotte Hornets4438.5378
5 x-Orlando Magic4438.5378
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers4339.5249
7 x-Toronto Raptors4240.51210
8 x-Indiana Pacers4240.51210
9 Milwaukee Bucks4141.50011
10 Washington Wizards3745.45115
11 Miami Heat3646.43916
12 Atlanta Hawks3349.40219
13 New York Knicks3052.36622
14 Cleveland Cavaliers2953.35423
15 Chicago Bulls2161.25631

Record vs. opponents
2001-02 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —2–22–23–13–10–22–01–32–01–11–31–11–12–03–11–30–22–11–31–31–31–11–10–20–20–20–41–10–3
Boston 2–2—2–12–24–00–22–02–21–10–23–02–02–02–03–11–31–13–14–03–11–31–11–10–20–21–12–21–13–1
Charlotte 2–21–2—4–03–10–22–01–32–01–13–11–10–21–13–02–20–21–32–23–11–32–01–10–21–11–12–21–13–1
Chicago 1–32–20–4—1–30–20–21–31–12–00–40–22–01–11–32–20–20–43–10–31–21–10–20–20–21–10–40–21–3
Cleveland 1–30–41–33–1—0–21–11–31–12–02–20–20–21–13–13–12–01–32–21–30–31–10–20–21–10–21–30–21–2
Dallas 2–02–02–02–02–0—4–01–14–02–22–02–21–34–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–33–11–13–11–1
Denver 0–20–20–22–01–10–4—0–21–32–20–21–31–33–10–20–22–21–12–00–21–13–12–20–40–43–11–11–30–2
Detroit 3–12–23–13–13–11–12–0—1–11–13–11–10–22–02–12–21–13–13–12–22–11–10–20–20–21–13–11–14–0
Golden State 0–21–10–21–11–10–43–11–1—1–30–22–21–33–10–20–21–31–11–10–21–10–42–20–40–40–40–20–41–1
Houston 1–12–01–10–20–22–22–21–13–1—0–21–30–41–30–21–12–20–21–10–21–12–21–30–40–42–21–12–21–1
Indiana 3–10–31–34–02–20–22–01–32–02–0—1–10–21–12–21–31–11–32–13–13–11–11–12–01–10–21–31–13–1
L.A. Clippers 1–10–21–12–02–02–23–11–12–23–11–1—1–33–12–01–12–20–22–01–10–23–11–31–31–31–31–10–41–1
L.A. Lakers 1–10–22–00–22–03–13–12–03–14–02–03–1—3–11–12–02–21–12–02–01–12–22–23–13–13–11–13–12–0
Memphis 0–20–21–11–11–10–41–30–21–33–11–11–31–3—1–10–20–40–21–10–22–01–32–21–30–40–41–13–10–2
Miami 1–31–30–33–11–31–12–01–22–02–02–20–21–11–1—3–10–21–32–23–11–31–11–10–21–12–01–30–22–2
Milwaukee 3–13–12–22–21–30–22–02–22–01–13–11–10–22–01–3—0–21–21–32–11–30–20–20–22–00–24–02–03–1
Minnesota 2–01–12–02–00–22–22–21–13–12–21–12–22–24–02–02–0—1–12–01–11–12–22–21–32–22–21–13–12–0
New Jersey 1–21–33–14–03–10–21–11–31–12–03–12–01–12–03–12–11–1—4–03–12–21–11–11–12–01–12–21–13–1
New York 3–10–42–21–32–21–10–21–31–11–11–20–20–21–12–23–10–20–4—0–41–31–11–11–10–22–03–01–11–3
Orlando 3–11–31–33–03–11–12–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–31–21–11–34–0—3–12–00–21–10–20–23–11–12–2
Philadelphia 3–13–13–12–13–01–11–11–21–11–11–32–01–10–23–13–11–12–23–11–3—2–00–20–21–11–11–30–22–3
Phoenix 1–11–10–21–11–11–31–31–14–02–21–11–32–23–11–12–02–21–11–10–20–2—2–21–31–32–21–12–20–2
Portland 1–11–11–12–02–02–22–22–02–23–11–13–12–22–21–12–02–21–11–12–02–02–2—2–21–33–11–11–32–0
Sacramento 2–02–02–02–02–01–34–02–04–04–00–23–11–33–12–02–03–11–11–11–12–03–12–2—3–12–22–04–01–1
San Antonio 2–02–01–12–01–13–14–02–04–04–01–13–11–34–01–10–22–20–22–02–01–13–13–11–3—2–21–14–02–0
Seattle 2–01–11–11–12–01–31–31–14–02–22–03–11–34–00–22–02–21–10–22–01–12–21–32–22–2—2–01–31–1
Toronto 4–02–22–24–03–11–11–11–32–01–13–11–11–11–13–10–41–12–20–31–33–11–11–10–21–10–2—1–11–2
Utah 1–11–11–12–02–01–33–11–14–02–21–14–01–31–32–00–21–31–11–11–12–02–23–10–40–43–11–1—2–0
Washington 3–01–31–33–12–11–12–00–41–11–11–31–10–22–02–21–30–21–33–12–23–22–00–21–10–21–12–10–2—

Game log
2001-02 Game Log

Total: 49–33 (Home: 27–14; Road: 22–19)

October (Home: 0-1; Road: 1-0)
November (Home: 4-2; Road: 2-3)
December (Home: 6-0; Road: 5-5)
January (Home: 5-4; Road: 3-4)
February (Home: 1-3; Road: 4-4)
March (Home: 7-4; Road: 4-2)
April (Home: 4-0; Road: 3-1)
2001-02 Schedule

Playoffs

East First Round

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Eastern Conference Finals (Boston won 4-1)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(BOS-PHI)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 April 21 Philadelphia 82 Boston 92 1-0 FleetCenter, Boston NBC 12:30et Recap
2 April 25 Philadelphia 85 Boston 93 2-0 FleetCenter, Boston TNT 8:00et Recap
3 April 28 Boston 103 Philadelphia 108 2-1 First Union Center, Philadelphia NBC 12:30et Recap
4 May 1 Boston 81 Philadelphia 83 2-2 First Union Center, Philadelphia TNT 8:00et Recap
5 May 3 Philadelphia 87 Boston 120 3-2 FleetCenter, Boston TNT 7:00et Recap
Boston wins series 3–2

East Conference Semifinals

(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Boston Celtics Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-2)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(DET-BOS)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 May 5 Boston 86 Detroit 94 1-0 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills NBC 3:00et Recap
2 May 8 Boston 85 Detroit 77 1-1 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT 8:00et Recap
3 May 10 Detroit 64 Boston 66 1-2 FleetCenter, Boston TNT 7:00et Recap
4 May 12 Detroit 79 Boston 90 1-3 FleetCenter, Boston NBC 3:00et Recap
5 May 14 Boston 90 Detroit 81 1-4 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TBS 8:00et Recap
Boston wins series 4–2

Conference Finals

(1) New Jersey Nets vs. (3) Boston Celtics Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Nets and Celtics.

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(NJN-BOS)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 May 19 Boston 97 New Jersey 104 1-0 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey NBC 5:30et Recap
2 May 21 Boston 93 New Jersey 86 1-1 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey TNT 8:00et Recap
3 May 25 New Jersey 90 Boston 94 1-2 FleetCenter, Boston NBC 5:30et Recap
4 May 27 New Jersey 94 Boston 92 2-2 FleetCenter, Boston NBC 5:30et Recap
5 May 29 Boston 92 New Jersey 103 3-2 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey NBC 9:00et Recap
6 May 31 New Jersey 96 Boston 88 4-2 FleetCenter, Boston NBC 7:00et Recap
New Jersey wins Eastern Conference Championship series 4–2

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

See also

References
  1. 2001-02 Boston Celtics
  2. "PRO BASKETBALL; Sparked by Pierce's 46, Celtics Return to Glory". New York Times. May 4, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  3. "Sports of The Times; Nets Prove They Are Better Team". New York Times. June 1, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
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