# 1990–91 Boston Celtics season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the 45th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Celtics hired Chris Ford as their new head coach. After playing in Italy the previous season, former Celtics guard Brian Shaw would return to the team after a one-year absence. After failing to advance past the first round in the two previous seasons, it appeared going into the 1990–91 season that the Celtics were fading as NBA title contenders. However, the Celtics burst to a 29–5 start reminiscent of their title years of the 1980s, and once again established themselves as contenders, holding a 35–12 record at the All-Star break.
Beginning in January, Larry Bird began to miss significant playing time due to back injuries (Bird would miss 22 regular season games) and the team struggled in his absence. The team limped to the finish, losing 6 of their final 8 games to finish at 56–26 (still good for the Atlantic Division title and #2 seed in the East). The Celtics also qualified for the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season.
Bird averaged 19.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while sixth man Kevin McHale averaged 18.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and Robert Parish provided the team with 14.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Bird, McHale and Parish were all selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, with Ford coaching the Eastern Conference, but Bird did not participate due to injury. In addition, Reggie Lewis finished second on the team in scoring with 18.7 points per game, while Kevin Gamble contributed 15.6 points per game, Shaw provided with 13.8 points, 7.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and top draft pick Dee Brown averaged 8.7 points and 4.2 assists per game off the bench, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and also won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Charlotte. Bird also finished tied in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while McHale finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, Gamble finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, and Ford finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Celtics survived a scare from the 7th-seeded Indiana Pacers, going the full five games before winning a classic finale (in which Bird went to the locker room during the game with injury, only to return and finish with 32 points). In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Celtics held home court advantage against the 2-time defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, but Bird missed Game 1 with injury and the Pistons took the game at Boston Garden, 86–75. Bird returned for the remainder of the series and the Celtics rallied to win Games 2 and 3 (Game 3 a blowout win in Detroit, 115–83), but Detroit won 3 in a row afterwards to take the series.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 19 | Dee Brown | SG/PG | United States | Jacksonville |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | 35–6 | 21–20 | 20-6 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 12 | 29-12 | 15-26 | 14-12 |
| x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 17 | 21-20 | 18-23 | 17–9 |
| Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 26 | 21-20 | 9-32 | 10-16 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 30 | 20-21 | 6–35 | 8-18 |
| Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 32 | 18-23 | 6-35 | 9-17 |
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Chicago Bulls | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 48 | 34 | .585 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 18 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 8 | x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 31 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 24 | 58 | .293 | 37 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1990-91 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Charlotte | 4–1 | 1–3 | – | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 4–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | – | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–3 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 1–4 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 0–4 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 1–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Orlando | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Philadelphia | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | – | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | – | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

1990-91 game log :
November
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1Fri. Nov. 2Cleveland Cavaliers125-101Boston Garden1-0
2Sat. Nov. 3@ New York Knicks106-103Madison Square Garden2-0
3Tue. Nov. 6@ Chicago Bulls110-108Chicago Stadium3–0
4Fri. Nov. 9Chicago Bulls100-120Boston Garden3–1
5Sat. Nov. 10@ New Jersey Nets105-91Brendan Byrne Arena4–1
6Tue. Nov. 13@ Milwaukee Bucks91-119Bradley Center4–2
7Wed. Nov. 14Charlotte Hornets135-126Boston Garden5-2
8Fri. Nov. 16Utah Jazz114-89Boston Garden6–2
9Sat. Nov. 17@ Washington Bullets102-90Capital Centre7–2
10Wed. Nov. 21Houston Rockets108-95Boston Garden8–2
11Fri. Nov. 23Sacramento Kings115-105Boston Garden9–2
12Sat. Nov. 24@ Cleveland Cavaliers113-102Richfield Coliseum10–2
13Mon. Nov. 26Miami Heat118-101Hartford Civic Center11–2
14Fri. Nov. 30Washington Bullets123-95Boston Garden12–2 :
December
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
15Sat. Dec. 1@ Philadelphia 76ers110-116The Spectrum12–3
16Mon. Dec. 3Seattle SuperSonics135-102Boston Garden13–3
17Wed. Dec. 5Denver Nuggets148-140Boston Garden14–3
18Fri. Dec. 7@ Dallas Mavericks112-104Reunion Arena15–3
19Sat. Dec. 8@ San Antonio Spurs96-102HemisFair Arena15–4
20Mon. Dec. 10@ Houston Rockets107-95The Summit16–4
21Wed. Dec. 12Milwaukee Bucks129-111Boston Garden17–4
22Fri. Dec. 14Detroit Pistons108-100Boston Garden18–4
23Sat. Dec. 15@ Miami Heat114-100Miami Arena19–4
24Wed. Dec. 19Philadelphia 76ers115-105Boston Garden20–4
25Thu. Dec. 20@ Charlotte Hornets115-96Charlotte Coliseum21–4
26Sun. Dec. 23Atlanta Hawks132-104Boston Garden22–4
27Wed. Dec. 26Indiana Pacers152-132Boston Garden23–4
28Fri. Dec. 28@ Atlanta Hawks114-131The Omni23–5 :
January
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
29Wed. Jan. 2New York Knicks113-86Boston Garden24–5
30Fri. Jan. 4Phoenix Suns132-103Boston Garden25–5
31Sun. Jan. 6Dallas Mavericks127-110Boston Garden26–5
32Tue. Jan. 8@ New York Knicks101-87Madison Square Garden27–5
33Wed. Jan. 9Milwaukee Bucks110-102Boston Garden28–5
34Fri. Jan. 11Los Angeles Clippers109-107Boston Garden29–5
35Sat. Jan. 12@ Washington Bullets99-116Capital Centre29–6
36Wed. Jan. 16Golden State Warriors105-110Boston Garden29–7
37Fri. Jan. 18New Jersey Nets106-111Boston Garden29–8
38Mon. Jan. 21@ Detroit Pistons90-101The Palace of Auburn Hills29–9
39Wed. Jan. 23Detroit Pistons111-94Boston Garden30–9
40Fri. Jan. 25@ Philadelphia 76ers94-116The Spectrum30–10
41Sun. Jan. 27Los Angeles Lakers87-104Boston Garden30–11
42Mon. Jan. 28@ Minnesota Timberwolves108-87Target Center31–11
43Wed. Jan. 30Orlando Magic144-102Boston Garden32–11 :
February
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
44Fri. Feb. 1@ Charlotte Hornets91-92Charlotte Coliseum32–12
45Sun. Feb. 3Washington Bullets119-101Boston Garden33–12
46Wed. Feb. 6Charlotte Hornets133-117Boston Garden34–12
47Thu. Feb. 7@ New York Knicks117-101Madison Square Garden35–12
48Tue. Feb. 12@ Seattle SuperSonics114-111Seattle Center Coliseum36–12
49Thu. Feb. 14@ Golden State Warriors128-112Oakland Coliseum37–12
50Fri. Feb. 15@ Los Angeles Lakers98-85The Forum38–12
51Sun. Feb. 17@ Denver Nuggets126-108McNichols Sports Arena39–12
52Tue. Feb. 19@ Phoenix Suns105-109Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum39–13
53Fri. Feb. 22New Jersey Nets111-99Hartford Civic Center40–13
54Sun. Feb. 24@ Indiana Pacers109-115Market Square Arena40–14
55Tue. Feb. 26@ Chicago Bulls99-129Chicago Stadium40–15
56Wed. Feb. 27Minnesota Timberwolves116-111Boston Garden41–15 :
March
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
57Fri. Mar. 1San Antonio Spurs108-98Boston Garden42–15
58Sun. Mar. 3Portland Trail Blazers107-116Boston Garden42–16
59Mon. Mar. 4Indiana Pacers126-101Hartford Civic Center43–16
60Wed. Mar. 6Miami Heat126-117Boston Garden44–16
61Fri. Mar. 8@ Los Angeles Clippers104-98L.A. Sports Arena45–16
62Sun. Mar. 10@ Portland Trail Blazers111-109 (OT)Memorial Coliseum46–16
63Tue. Mar. 12@ Sacramento Kings110-95ARCO Arena47–16
64Wed. Mar. 13@ Utah Jazz109-112Salt Palace47–17
65Fri. Mar. 15@ Washington Bullets94-86Capital Centre48–17
66Sun. Mar. 17Philadelphia 76ers110-105Boston Garden49–17
67Tue. Mar. 19@ Atlanta Hawks92-104The Omni49–18
68Wed. Mar. 20Washington Bullets102-81Boston Garden50–18
69Fri. Mar. 22@ Indiana Pacers109-121Market Square Arena50–19
70Thu. Mar. 28@ Miami Heat88-90Miami Arena50–20
71Fri. Mar. 29Cleveland Cavaliers110-108Boston Garden51–20
72Sun. Mar. 31Chicago Bulls135-132 (2OT)Boston Garden52–20 :
April
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
73Tue. Apr. 2@ New Jersey Nets94-77Brendan Byrne Arena53–20
74Thu. Apr. 4New Jersey Nets123-104Boston Garden54–20
75Sat. Apr. 6@ Orlando Magic98-102Orlando Arena54–21
76Thu. Apr. 11@ Milwaukee Bucks92-111Bradley Center54–22
77Fri. Apr. 12Miami Heat119-109Boston Garden55–22
78Sun. Apr. 14New York Knicks115-102Boston Garden56–22
79Tue. Apr. 16@ Detroit Pistons90-118The Palace of Auburn Hills56–23
80Thu. Apr. 18@ Philadelphia 76ers97-122The Spectrum56–24
81Fri. Apr. 19@ Cleveland Cavaliers117-124 (OT)Richfield Coliseum56-25
82Sun. Apr. 21Atlanta Hawks105-117Boston Garden56–26 :
1990-91 Schedule :

## Playoffs

1991 playoff game log :
First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 26
Indiana
W 127–120
Reggie Lewis (28)
Larry Bird (12)
Larry Bird (12)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
April 28
Indiana
L 118–130
Lewis, Shaw (22)
Robert Parish (12)
Larry Bird (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–1
3
May 1
@ Indiana
W 112–105
Kevin McHale (22)
Larry Bird (9)
Brian Shaw (7)
Market Square Arena 16,530
2–1
4
May 3
@ Indiana
L 113–116
Kevin McHale (24)
Robert Parish (12)
Larry Bird (8)
Market Square Arena 16,530
2–2
5
May 5
Indiana
W 124–121
Larry Bird (32)
Larry Bird (9)
Brian Shaw (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
3–2 :
Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 7
Detroit
L 75–86
Reggie Lewis (20)
Kevin McHale (10)
Brian Shaw (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
May 9
Detroit
W 109–103
Reggie Lewis (23)
Robert Parish (13)
Dee Brown (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–1
3
May 11
@ Detroit
W 115–83
Reggie Lewis (21)
Robert Parish (11)
Brown, McHale (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
2–1
4
May 13
@ Detroit
L 97–104
Kevin McHale (28)
Robert Parish (10)
Brian Shaw (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
2–2
5
May 15
Detroit
L 111–116
Reggie Lewis (30)
Reggie Lewis (11)
Dee Brown (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
May 17
@ Detroit
L 113–117 (OT)
Kevin McHale (34)
Ed Pinckney (9)
Reggie Lewis (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
2–4 :
1991 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Larry Bird | 60 | 60 | 38.0 | .454 | .389 | .891 | 8.5 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 19.4 |
| Dee Brown | 82 | 5 | 23.7 | .464 | .206 | .873 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.7 |
| Kevin Gamble | 82 | 76 | 33.0 | .587 | .000 | .815 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 15.6 |
| Joe Kleine | 72 | 1 | 11.8 | .468 | .000 | .783 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| Reggie Lewis | 79 | 79 | 36.4 | .491 | .077 | .826 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 18.7 |
| Kevin McHale | 68 | 10 | 30.4 | .553 | .405 | .829 | 7.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 18.4 |
| Robert Parish | 81 | 81 | 30.1 | .598 | .000 | .767 | 10.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 14.9 |
| Ed Pinckney | 70 | 16 | 16.6 | .539 | .000 | .897 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 5.2 |
| Dave Popson | 19 | 0 | 3.4 | .406 | .000 | .900 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
| Brian Shaw | 79 | 79 | 35.1 | .469 | .111 | .819 | 4.7 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 13.8 |
| Charles E. Smith | 5 | 0 | 6.0 | .429 | .000 | .600 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Derek Smith | 2 | 0 | 8.0 | .250 | .000 | .750 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Michael Smith | 47 | 3 | 8.3 | .475 | .250 | .815 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4.6 |
| Stojko Vranković | 31 | 0 | 5.4 | .462 | .000 | .556 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
| A. J. Wynder | 6 | 0 | 6.5 | .250 | .000 | .750 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.0 |

### Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Larry Bird | 10 | 10 | 39.6 | .408 | .143 | .863 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| Dee Brown | 11 | 0 | 25.8 | .491 | .000 | .824 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 12.2 |
| Kevin Gamble | 11 | 11 | 21.6 | .483 | .000 | .667 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 6.0 |
| Joe Kleine | 5 | 1 | 6.2 | .444 | .000 | .000 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| Reggie Lewis | 11 | 11 | 42.0 | .487 | .000 | .824 | 6.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 22.4 |
| Kevin McHale | 11 | 1 | 34.2 | .527 | .545 | .825 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 20.7 |
| Robert Parish | 10 | 10 | 29.6 | .598 | .000 | .689 | 9.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 15.8 |
| Ed Pinckney | 11 | 0 | 15.5 | .762 | .000 | .810 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.5 |
| Brian Shaw | 11 | 11 | 28.7 | .470 | .333 | .867 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 11.0 |
| Derek Smith | 10 | 0 | 8.6 | .429 | .000 | .786 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
| Michael Smith | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Stojko Vranković | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |

## Awards and records

* Dee Brown, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

## Transactions

| Players Added Draft Dee Brown Free agency Dave Popson (August 17, 1990; re-signed December 27, 1990) Stojko Vranković (October 2, 1990) Derek Smith (December 22, 1990) A. J. Wynder (April 12, 1991) | Players Lost Released Jim Paxson (October 6, 1990) Dave Popson (June, 1991) Free agency Gerald Paddio (September 27, 1990) (to Cleveland) |
Player Transactions Citation: