2008–09 Boston Celtics season

The 2008–09 Boston Celtics season was the 63rd season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They started the season as the defending NBA champions, where they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, winning their seventeenth NBA championship, as well as marking their ninth series victory over the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Celtics started the season 27–2, which surpassed a mark set by the 1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers for the best two-loss start in NBA history. This run also included a 19-game winning streak, which improved a Celtics franchise record set in 1981–82. However, the Celtics lost seven out of the following nine games, and eventually finished with a 62–20 record. The Celtics had the fifth best team offensive rating in the NBA.

The team's star power forward Kevin Garnett suffered a season-ending injury in February. Despite not having Garnett, they defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round in seven games, However, they lost to the Orlando Magic in the conference semifinals in seven games, eliminating them from the playoffs. The Magic would go on to the NBA Finals, their second NBA Finals appearance, only to lose to last year's Finals runner-up, the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

Until 2024, this was the last time that the Celtics won 60 or more games.

Key dates June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City. July 1: The free agency period started. October 8: The pre-season started with a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. October 28: The regular season started with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which Boston won 90–85. December 11: Recorded the best season start in franchise history, starting at 21–2.Big 3 carry streaking Celtics to 13th straight win, Associated Press, December 11, 2008 December 23: Recorded the longest winning streak in franchise history at 19, and the best season start in NBA history with 27–2.

Summary

NBA Draft 2008

On June 26, the Celtics selected shooting guard J. R. Giddens with the 30th and center Semih Erden with the 60th overall picks in the 2008 NBA draft, and traded cash considerations in exchange for small forward Bill Walker, who had been selected by the Washington Wizards with the 47th overall pick. Giddens had worked out with the Celtics before the draft for three days, and received praises from head coach Doc Rivers, who thought he could fight for minutes on the team right away.Julian Benbow, Taking a shot with J.R., The Boston Globe, June 27, 2008. He was already familiar with future teammates Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins, who were his teammates at the 2003 McDonald's High School All-American Game. Walker was considered a lottery pick,Mark Murphy, Danny Ainge again busy late, Boston Herald, June 27, 2008. but suffered the third knee injury in his career during a workout at the Golden State Warriors facility on June 15.Gary Parrish, K-State's Walker injures knee in draft workout , CBSSports.com, June 16, 2008. However, he remained in the draft despite the injury,Walker stays in draft, despite knee; UCLA's Mbah a Moute, too, ESPN.com, June 16, 2008. and was expected to have minor surgery in July that would keep him out for three to four weeks.Marc J. Spears, Walker looking to trade in his run of bad luck, The Boston Globe, June 29, 2008.Marc J. Spears, Walker to have surgery, The Boston Globe, July 1, 2008. Erden was not expected to join the roster this season, and was seen by general manager Danny Ainge as their first-round pick in 2009.

Free agency The Celtics headed into the off-season with several free agents and tried to gather a group to repeat as the NBA Champions, with a key decision on unrestricted free agent James Posey,Steve Bulpett, Celts drafting offseason plan, Boston Herald, June 28, 2008. who, in a widely anticipated move,Chris Forsberg, Posey to opt out today, The Boston Globe, June 30, 2008. opted out of the second and final year of his contract with the Celtics on June 30,Marc J. Spears, Posey out; offer to Allen?, The Boston Globe, June 30, 2008. but stated that he wanted to return to the Celtics on a new contract. P.J. Brown, who made key contributions during the 2008 NBA Playoffs, was leaning towards retirement,Marc J. Spears, Ainge braces for free agency, The Boston Globe, June 25, 2008. and the status of restricted free agent Tony Allen remained uncertain after the first-round selection of J. R. Giddens, who was seen as a possible replacement. Later it was revealed that the Celtics did not extend a qualifying offer to Allen, making him an unrestricted free agent.Marc J. Spears, Posey is Celtics' top target, The Boston Globe, July 1, 2008. The Celtics also hoped to keep unrestricted free agent Eddie House, and decisions were to be made on unrestricted free agents Sam Cassell and Scot Pollard.Marc J. Spears, Might 'The Birdman' cometh?, The Boston Globe, June 29, 2008.

The Celtics were interested in small forward Corey Maggette as a replacement for James Posey, but Maggette signed with the Golden State Warriors on a much higher contract than the Celtics were able to offer, which added to the urgency to re-sign Posey.Marc J. Spears, Posey officially on market, The Boston Globe, July 9, 2008. On July 11, the Celtics addressed their need for a backup center by signing Patrick O'Bryant to a 2-year, $3 million contract,Marc J. Spears, Celtics get their 'big', The Boston Globe, July 12, 2008. after he had an impressive workout with the team a week earlier,Steve Bulpett, C's make big move, Boston Herald, July 12, 2008. and consequently ruled out the return of Scot Pollard and P.J. Brown. Eventually, James Posey signed with the New Orleans Hornets on July 16, since the Celtics were reluctant to offer him more than a three-year deal at the mid-level exception.Marc J. Spears, Posey bolts Celtics for Hornets, The Boston Globe, July 17, 2008.Marc Stein, Posey agrees to four-year deal with Hornets, ESPN.com, July 16, 2008. Compensating for the loss of Posey,Frank Dell'Apa, Allen will be ready to jump in, The Boston Globe, July 24, 2008. the Celtics re-signed Tony Allen to a 2-year, $5 million contract, and were also able to re-sign Eddie House to a 2-year, $5.6 million contract, using the mid-level exception only on House.Frank Dell'Apa, Celtics rebound, re-sign Allen, House, Boston Globe, July 22, 2008.

On August 22, the Celtics signed small forward Darius Miles, who was forced to sit out the previous two seasons due to microfracture surgery on his right knee and thought to have a career-ending injury,Miles, thought to have career-ending injury, signs with Celtics, ESPN.com, August 22, 2008. to a non-guaranteed contract,Marc J. Spears, Celtics bring in Miles, The Boston Globe, August 22, 2008. and expected him to fight for a roster spot at training camp.Celtics sign Darius Miles, Boston Herald, August 22, 2008. He worked out twice with the team and impressed with his health and attitude, but would sit out the first ten games of the regular season for violating the league's substance abuse policy if he made the roster.Ian Thomsen, A onetime phenom, Miles trying for unprecedented comeback, Sports Illustrated, July 17, 2008.Marc Stein, Warriors want Williams, Miles wants in, Smith wants out, ESPN.com, July 19, 2008. This signing ultimately put the roster up to the league maximum of 15 players, of which 14 players had fully guaranteed contracts. On September 29, the first day of training camp, Sam Cassell re-signed with the team, which put the roster one player over the maximum.Frank Dell'Apa, Repeat performance would suit Cassell, The Boston Globe, September 30, 2008. On October 20, Miles was waived, a move which finalized the roster for the start of the season.Gary Dzen, Celtics waive Miles, The Boston Globe, October 20, 2008. On February 27, Stephon Marbury signed with the Celtics. In the following season he was offered a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum for $1.3 million but declined the contract.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Team 1 30 J. R. Giddens SG New Mexico 2 60 Semih Erden C Fenerbahçe Ülker

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

2008–09 Boston Celtics season

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