2007–08 Boston Celtics season

Did You Know?

• The Celtics sold out all 41 regular-season home games.
• The 66 wins were the third-most in franchise history, behind the 1972–73 team's 68 and the 1985–86 team's 67.
• This was the last time the Celtics won an NBA championship until the 2023–24 season.

Key dates

On June 28, the Celtics acquired Ray Allen in a draft-day trade. Free agency began July 1. Kevin Garnett was acquired on July 31. The preseason started October 6 against the Toronto Raptors in Rome as part of the 2007 NBA Europe Live Tour.

The regular season began November 2 against the Washington Wizards. On December 27, the Celtics matched their previous season's victory total with a win over the Seattle SuperSonics. They became the first team to clinch a playoff berth on March 5. On March 10, they won 50 games for the first time since 1991–92.

The Atlantic Division title was clinched on March 14 despite a loss to the Utah Jazz. On March 18, they ended the third-longest winning streak in NBA history by defeating the Houston Rockets. On March 28, they matched the combined wins of the previous two seasons (57) with a win over the New Orleans Hornets. Sixty wins were reached on April 2 for the first time since 1985–86.

The best record in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs were clinched on April 5. The regular season concluded on April 16 against the New Jersey Nets. On May 4, the Celtics advanced past the Atlanta Hawks in Game 7 of the first round. They advanced past the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the conference semifinals on May 18.

On May 30, they reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. On June 17, they won the championship with a Game 6 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, and Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP.

Summary

On May 22, the Celtics received the fifth overall pick in the draft lottery, the worst-case scenario, losing the chance to draft Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. On June 28, they traded that pick along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to the Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen and the 35th overall selection. On July 31, the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the largest trade for one player in NBA history, sending Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first-round pick, and a conditional pick. The trade left the roster depleted. On August 1, the team signed guards Eddie House and Jackie Manuel, and on August 9, center Scot Pollard. Danny Ainge asked Reggie Miller to return from retirement, but Miller declined on August 23. On August 27, James Posey signed, providing a significant bench improvement.

Playoffs

Despite having the NBA's best regular-season record at 66–16, the Celtics faced a difficult playoff path, playing a record 26 postseason games, surpassing the 25 games played by the 1994 New York Knicks and 2005 Detroit Pistons. In the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics won Games 1 and 2 at home, then lost Games 3 and 4 on the road. They won Game 5 at home, lost Game 6 on the road, and won Game 7 at home 99–65. In the conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston won Games 1 and 2 at home, lost Games 3 and 4 on the road, won Game 5 at home, lost Game 6 on the road, and won Game 7 at home 97–92.

The Celtics then faced the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals, winning in six games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. In the Finals, they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2, capturing their 17th championship. The record for most postseason games was set in Game 6 of the Finals.

Awards, records and milestones

Kevin Garnett was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for November 5–11, March 17–23, and April 7–13. Doc Rivers was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November, March, and April. Paul Pierce was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for December 10–16 and December 24–30. Rivers and the coaching staff earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game after a January 21 win over the New York Knicks.

Garnett led all players in All-Star voting with 2,399,148 votes, the sixth-highest total in history, and was named a starter. Pierce was named an All-Star reserve. Ray Allen was named by Commissioner David Stern to replace injured Caron Butler as a reserve. Rajon Rondo participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam.

Garnett was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team. Pierce was named All-NBA Third Team. Danny Ainge was named NBA Executive of the Year. Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP.

On November 2, Garnett recorded a 20-point, 20-rebound, 5-assist game in his first game with the team, joining Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Maurice Stokes. The Celtics' 8–0 start was their best since winning 10 straight to open the 1972–73 season.