The 90's
The Players: Alonzo Mourning, Toni Kukoc, Mitch Richmond, Derrick Coleman, Donyell Marshall, Tim Hardaway, Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Reggie Theus, Armen Gilliam, Jay Humphries, "Hot Rod" Williams, Dennis Rodman, Doc Rivers
This is the decade that made the Celtics. In total, the Celtics made the Finals 5 times, with the first 4 times being done back...to back...to back...to back. Had injuries not had hampered them during the 1997 postseason, it might've been 6 straight finals appearances. 6. Straight. 6 also happens to be the number of division titles they had, back in the old Atlantic division. To have that level of dominance, in the opening decade of the league's existence, well, that's making a strong first impression, all right. From 1992 to 1996, the Celtics came away with two titles from their 4 Finals appearances. Their return trip in '98 saw the official end of the dynasty as the Mavericks stomped them out 4-1. Their rebuilding phase was short though, as by 2000 they'd already remolded their roster for a new millennium. I'm just going to repost something I'd written way earlier now, as it best sums up the Celtics in the 90s.
The 2000sXist2Inspire wrote: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:33 am Think about this - when it's all said and done, the Boston Celtics will have spent at least half of the decade in the NBA Finals. The Celtics have been the #1 team to beat in the East since '93, and their dominance since then speaks for itself. Despite slow starts and disappointing finishes in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, in 1992-93 the 6th-seeded Celtics - led by the 2nd pick in the '92 Draft, Alonzo Mourning - took down #3 (Pacers), #2 (Magic), and finally, #1 (Pistons), en route to a thrilling 7-game series with the Lakers in the Finals. They were beaten that season, but returned with new faces in the 1993-94 season, and beat the Lakers in 6 in their Finals rematch. They repeated as champions the next season, and were finally beaten by Kemp and the Warriors in 1995-96. Injuries derailed their bid to get to a 5th straight Finals appearance, but the now-aging Celtics were right back in it in 1997-98, this time coming up short against the Mavs. Though it seemed like the end of an era, in 1999 the Celtics drafted PG Steve Francis out of Maryland with the 4th pick in the 1999 Draft, and traded for star swingman Doug Christie later. As of this writing, the Celtics are currenly in the driver's seat for yet another division title, and it seems as if the proud legacy of the Boston Celtics will continue to grow in the new millennium.
The Players: Steve Francis, Doug Christie, Steven Hunter, Carlos Boozer, John Salmons, Larry Hughes, Jason Terry
So...about that. While the Celtics were still a threat throughout the 2000s, they were never really able to put it all together and win the big one. Their best run was in the 2008 playoffs, where Steven Hunter, Carlos Boozer, John Salmons, Larry Hughes, and a now-aging Steve Francis upset the dreaded Hawks on the way to the Finals, where they were then taken down by KG and the Nuggets. But let me take a little time to talk about Steven Hunter. One of the great draft steals in NBA history, Hunter was drafted 25th by Boston in 2001. This is Hunter on draft day: http://pbsl.ijbl.net/2000/players/player381.htm
This is what I said about him in my draft review:
This is Hunter at the end of his rookie deal: http://pbsl.ijbl.net/2004/players/player381.htmXist2Inspire wrote: Tue May 19, 2015 9:55 pm #25: Celtics draft Steven Hunter
Hunter initially seems no different from the numerous other defense-only big men that litter the bottom of the FA market, but his athleticism could help him maintain a roster spot much like Jerome James of the Nets. He's a far cry from a possible Zo replacement, so don't read too much into this selection at all.
He wasn't Zo's replacement, but he was a far cry from being "a far cry." Hunter was an absolute machine defensively, once averaging 4.5 blocks per game for an entire season. An unexpected legend, Hunter was just another great player to make his mark upon the Celtics franchise.
The 2010's and beyond
The Players: Tyler Ulis, John Wall, DeAndre Ayton, Phil Millburn, Jared Dudley, Julio De La Rosa, Karl-Anthony Towns
These, unfortunately, were the dark times. There was even a particularly miserable stretch where they missed the playoffs 7 seasons in a row, posting 3 straight seasons of sub-20 wins. The lone bright spot came in the 2026-27 season, where - in the midst of a respectable run not unlike the 00s - they managed to make the conference finals. This turned out to be somewhat of a last gasp for the once-proud franchise, as their gradually aging core of DeAndre Ayton, Tyler Ulis, and Julio De La Rosa struggled to elevate their disgraceful supporting cast, brought upon by the absence of their GM. All three moved on to other teams shortly after, and that was it. The Celtics were officially shut down after posting a horrendous 8-win season, the worst ever in their history.
So, that's all, just a quick reminder of what we lost, a team that was once the standard-bearer, the dynasty that all other dynasties were judged by - until the Hawks, that is. Perhaps one day, the league will have grown enough to welcome a new incarnation of the Celtics into the fold, one that will proudly attempt to live up to the legacy this team has left behind.
