On this day: Celts win vs CLE in ’17 ECF, PHI in ’12 ECF; Watts born
On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics small forward Ron Watts was born in 1943 in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. Watts would play his college ball with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and be drafted by the Celtics with the 17th overall pick of the 1965 NBA draft.
The Washington native would go on to play for two seasons with Boston, though in only 29 games total and just one during the entirety of his rookie season. He would win a championship with the team in 1966 and would log a career 1.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game with the team.
He would leave the Celtics after being drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1967 NBA expansion draft.
Coach Don Nelson gestures to his Golden State Warriors players at the Oakland Coliseum, on Jan. 22, 1992. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)
On this date in 1992, former Boston forward Don Nelson was awarded the IBM NBA Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in NBA history to win the honor three times.
His Warriors recorded a 55-27 record, their second-best in the history of the franchise.
Nelson previously won the Coach of the Year award with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1983 and 1985, his first stop as head coach after leaving the Celtics as a player.
May 21, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (top) blocks a shot by Philadelphia 76ers power forward Elton Brand (middle) in the third quarter of game five in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
It is also the anniversary of two playoff wins since the season of Boston’s last title in 2007-08. The first was a 101-85 blowout of the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
A playoff career-high from big man Brandon Bass helped secure the win, with Bass logging 27 points and 6 rebounds, Kevin Garnett 20 points and 6 boards, and Paul Pierce added 16 points as well.
May 21, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen (20) is guarded by Philadelphia 76ers center Spencer Hawes (left) in the third quarter of game five in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Center Greg Stiemsma chipped in 10 points off the bench.
“We’ve got a few good players on the team that they had to focus on,” said Bass via the Associated Press. “That left me open, and I was able to take advantage of my opportunity.”
May 21, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and guard JR Smith (5) during the second half in game three of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
It is also the date that the Celtics snuck by the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-108 in Game 3 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
It was won with a last-second 3-pointer from veteran guard Avery Bradley, securing the sole win in a series without star point guard Isaiah Thomas.
May 21, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) celebrates a 3-point basket by guard Avery Bradley in the fourth quarter against Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Guard Marcus Smart would score 27 points, 5 boards, and 7 assists to lead the team, Bradley 20 points, and big man Al Horford 16 points and 6 assists, while center Kelly Olynyk added 15 points off the bench.
“Everybody had to step up their game tonight especially with one of our brothers down,” Smart said via the A.P. “Our love and support goes out to Isaiah. We wish he could be here but we understand. We just kept fighting.”
“Everybody did their part,” he added.
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