On this day: Boston wins 12th championship in 1974; Keith Bogans born
On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 102-87 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Milwaukee to win their 12th NBA Championship. It was Boston’s first championship with legendary big man Bill Russell, and head coach and former player Tommy Heinsohn’s first as coach.
Celtics center luminary Dave Cowens led the team with 28 points and 14 rebounds, forward John Havlicek added 16 points and 9 boards, and 6 assists while point guard Jo Jo White chipped in 16 points and 5 assists. Reserve forward contributed Paul Silas 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals for good measure. Dropping their usual man-to-man defense to double and triple Bucks star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar proved critical to the win.
It was Boston’s first championship since 1969.
Dave Cowens, right, of Boston Celtics, presses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Milwaukee Bucks as he looks for someone to pass to during an NBA championship game, May 12, 1974, Milwaukee, Wisc. Celtics used full-court press during the entire game, which effectively beat Bucks, 102-87, to capture the NBA Championship. (AP Photo)
“We were the David and they were the Goliath,” said then-coach of the Celtics Tommy Heinsohn to On Milwaukee’s Jim Owczarski many years later.
“It’s very frustrating because if we were healthy, I think we would have beat them in six games,” countered Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Sep 30, 2013; Waltham, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward/guard Keith Bogans (4) poses for pictures during media day at the Celtics Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
It is also the birthday of former Celtic Keith Bogans, while only playing six games with the team, indirectly helped make the existence of the current roster possible.
Born on this day in 1980 in Alexandria, Virginia, Bogans made the deal that sent Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 possible by agreeing to a sign-and-trade.
Jan 5, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Boston Celtics shooting guard Keith Bogans (4) passes the ball while being guarded by Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher (6) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
While another iteration of the deal might have been had, the picks which landed Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Romeo Langford were acquired or derived from the deal he helped make possible.
Bogans averaged 2 points, 0.5 rebounds, and as many assists with Boston before being excused by the team indefinitely for unnamed personal reasons.
Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo puts up a floater against Orlando Magic’s Rafer Alston (1), Rashard Lewis (9), and Dwight Howard (12) in the second half of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series in Boston Tuesday, May 12, 2009. At the far right is Celtics’ Glen Davis. The Celtics came from behind to win 92-88. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
It is also the date of two playoff wins since the season of the Celtics’ last championship in 2007-08. The first was a 92-88 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Scoring all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, now-CBA star guard Stephon Marbury helped keep Boston’s postseason hopes alive, as did center Glen Davis, leading Boston with 22 points and 7 boards, while Paul Pierce contributed 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Boston Celtics’ Stephon Marbury (8) celebrates with teammates Eddie House and Glen Davis (11) as Orlando Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu, left, reacts late in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series in Boston on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. The Celtics came from behind to win 92-88. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
“Stephon Marbury led the charge in the second half and made some things happen, and that energy fed me,” said Davis via the Associated Press.
“Things weren’t going right, and we’re looking for an answer … You help others, and motivate others, and that’s what Stephon Marbury did and that’s what we all did.”
Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives by Philadelphia 76ers guard Lou Williams (23) during the first quarter of Game 1 in the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series, Saturday, May 12, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The other win was a 92-91 squeaker against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinals.
It took a triple-double from Rajon Rondo and 29 points and 11 rebounds from Kevin Garnett to secure the win, with the former putting up 17 assists, 13 points, and 12 boards.
“I feel like I could out-quick him. That’s what I did,” Rondo said via the A.P. “We knew they had a foul to give. I told Doc [Rivers] to get me the ball and I could use my speed.”
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