# 2004–05 Boston Celtics season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. The team hired Doc Rivers to be their head coach for the upcoming season. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired All-Star guard Gary Payton, and former Celtics forward Rick Fox from the Los Angeles Lakers, but Fox would retire before the season. The Celtics struggled playing under .500 for the first half of the season. At midseason, Payton was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for former Celtic All-Star forward Antoine Walker. However, Payton would never suit up for the Hawks and was released shortly after. He then re-signed with the Celtics afterwards for the remainder of the season. The team went on a 7-game winning streak in March, finishing first place in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Paul Pierce was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
Despite their mediocre record, the Celtics earned the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they lost to the 6th-seeded Indiana Pacers in a seven-game first round series. Boston did not return to the playoffs until 2008 en route to the championship. Following the season, Walker was traded to the Miami Heat, while Payton went along with him signing as a free agent. The Heat went on to win the championship the following season.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/School |
| 1 | 15 | Al Jefferson | PF | United States | Prentiss HS (MS) |
| 1 | 24 | Delonte West | SG/PG | United States | Saint Joseph's |
| 1 | 25 | Tony Allen | SG | United States | Oklahoma State |
| 2 | 40 | Justin Reed | SF | United States | Ole Miss |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 45 | 37 | .549 | – | 27–14 | 18–23 | 8–8 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2 | 25–16 | 18–23 | 8–8 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3 | 24–17 | 18–23 | 11–5 |
| New York Knicks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 12 | 22–19 | 11–30 | 6–10 |
| Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 12 | 22–19 | 11–30 | 7–9 |
Eastern Conferencevte :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Miami Heat | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | y-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 5 |
| 3 | y-Boston Celtics | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 4 | x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Washington Wizards | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 |
| 8 | x-New Jersey Nets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 10 | Orlando Magic | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 26 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 26 |
| 13 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 29 |
| 14 | Charlotte Bobcats | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks | 13 | 69 | .159 | 46 |

### Record vs. opponents

2004-05 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Cleveland | 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 |
| Miami | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| New York | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Toronto | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

2005 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–4 (home: 1–3; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 23
Indiana
W 102–82
Raef LaFrentz (21)
Paul Pierce (9)
Gary Payton (7)
FleetCenter 18,624
1–0
2
April 25
Indiana
L 79–82
Paul Pierce (32)
Pierce, Walker (7)
Paul Pierce (5)
FleetCenter 18,624
1–1
3
April 28
@ Indiana
L 76–99
Paul Pierce (19)
Antoine Walker (9)
Gary Payton (6)
Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
1–2
4
April 30
@ Indiana
W 110–79
Paul Pierce (30)
Jefferson, Pierce (7)
Paul Pierce (8)
Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
2–2
5
May 3
Indiana
L 85–90
Paul Pierce (27)
three players tied (7)
four players tied (3)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–3
6
May 5
@ Indiana
W 92–89 (OT)
Antoine Walker 24
Al Jefferson 14
Paul Pierce 6
Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
3–3
7
May 7
Indiana
L 70–97
Antoine Walker (20)
three players tied (7)
Gary Payton (7)
FleetCenter 18,624
3–4 :
2005 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tony Allen | 77 | 34 | 16.4 | .475 | .387 | .737 | 2.9 | .8 | 1.0 | .3 | 6.4 |
| Marcus Banks | 81 | 2 | 14.1 | .402 | .356 | .742 | 1.6 | 1.9 | .8 | .2 | 4.6 |
| Mark Blount | 82 | 57 | 26.0 | .529 | .000 | .713 | 4.8 | 1.6 | .4 | .8 | 9.4 |
| Ricky Davis | 82 | 11 | 32.9 | .462 | .339 | .815 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.1 | .3 | 16.0 |
| Tom Gugliotta$^†$ | 20 | 0 | 10.9 | .297 | | .667 | 2.2 | .6 | .5 | .2 | 1.3 |
| Al Jefferson | 71 | 1 | 14.8 | .528 | .000 | .630 | 4.4 | .3 | .3 | .8 | 6.7 |
| Raef LaFrentz | 80 | 80 | 27.5 | .496 | .364 | .811 | 6.9 | 1.2 | .5 | 1.2 | 11.1 |
| Walter McCarty$^†$ | 44 | 0 | 12.6 | .413 | .333 | .533 | 1.8 | .6 | .3 | .2 | 3.7 |
| Gary Payton | 77 | 77 | 33.0 | .468 | .326 | .761 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 1.1 | .2 | 11.3 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 60 | 3 | 9.1 | .471 | | .638 | 2.9 | .4 | .2 | .6 | 2.5 |
| Paul Pierce | 82 | 82 | 36.1 | .455 | .370 | .822 | 6.6 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .5 | 21.6 |
| Justin Reed | 23 | 0 | 5.3 | .517 | .000 | .733 | .7 | .4 | .1 | .0 | 1.8 |
| Antoine Walker$^†$ | 24 | 24 | 34.5 | .442 | .342 | .557 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 16.3 |
| Jiří Welsch$^†$ | 55 | 32 | 20.5 | .428 | .323 | .773 | 2.5 | 1.5 | .7 | .1 | 7.5 |
| Delonte West | 39 | 7 | 13.0 | .426 | .358 | .704 | 1.7 | 1.4 | .5 | .2 | 4.5 |

### Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tony Allen | 7 | 3 | 12.9 | .444 | | .429 | 1.7 | .3 | .4 | .3 | 2.7 |
| Marcus Banks | 7 | 0 | 15.1 | .448 | .500 | .500 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .6 | .0 | 4.6 |
| Mark Blount | 4 | 0 | 10.8 | .286 | | .000 | 1.5 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Ricky Davis | 7 | 2 | 34.3 | .432 | .333 | .769 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .3 | 12.4 |
| Al Jefferson | 7 | 0 | 19.4 | .415 | | .750 | 6.4 | .3 | .6 | 1.1 | 6.1 |
| Raef LaFrentz | 7 | 7 | 26.4 | .390 | .500 | .800 | 4.9 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.7 | 6.9 |
| Gary Payton | 7 | 7 | 34.1 | .446 | .071 | .833 | 4.1 | 4.6 | .9 | .1 | 10.3 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 6 | 0 | 4.7 | .800 | | .333 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .5 | 1.5 |
| Paul Pierce | 7 | 7 | 39.6 | .505 | .259 | .868 | 7.7 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 22.9 |
| Justin Reed | 6 | 0 | 3.7 | .333 | .000 | .750 | .2 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.2 |
| Antoine Walker | 6 | 6 | 37.3 | .413 | .368 | .636 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 16.7 |
| Delonte West | 7 | 3 | 16.4 | .524 | .455 | .500 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.0 | .1 | 4.1 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

## Transactions
### Trades

| August 2, 2004 | To Boston CelticsGary Payton, Rick Fox, conditional 1st round pick, and cash considerations | To Los Angeles LakersChris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, and Jumaine Jones |
| February 8, 2005 | To Boston Celtics2005 conditional 2nd round pick | To Phoenix SunsWalter McCarty, and cash considerations |
| February 24, 2005 | To Boston CelticsAntoine Walker | To Atlanta HawksGary Payton, Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart, and future 1st round pick |
| February 24, 2005 | To Boston Celtics2007 1st round pick | To Cleveland CavaliersJiří Welsch |