The Boston Celtics had many memorable moments during the 1970s, including some of the most iconic plays and games in franchise history. Here are some of the top Celtics moments from the decade:
1. Winning the 1974 NBA Finals - The Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in a seven-game series to win their first NBA championship since 1968. John Havlicek was named Finals MVP.
2. Havlicek's steal in the 1976 Eastern Conference Finals - With the Celtics up by one point in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Havlicek stole an inbound pass to secure the win and advance to the NBA Finals.
3. Dave Cowens' MVP season in 1973 - Cowens averaged 20.5 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while leading the Celtics to a 68-14 record and an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
4. Larry Bird's debut in 1979 - After being drafted by the Celtics in 1978, Bird chose to play one more season in college before joining the team. His debut in the 1979-80 season was highly anticipated, and he did not disappoint, averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
5. Winning the 1976 NBA Finals - The Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games to win their 13th NBA championship. The series featured several close games and iconic moments, including Gar Heard's game-tying shot in Game 5 and the triple-overtime Game 5 itself.
These moments helped establish the Celtics as one of the premier franchises in the NBA and cemented their place in basketball history.
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