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.
| 2004–05 Boston Celtics season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Doc Rivers |
| General manager | Chris Wallace |
| Owners | Boston Basketball Partners |
| Arena | Fleet Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 45–37 (.549) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First Round (lost to Pacers 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | FSN New England |
| Radio | WWZN |
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 with the Heat will go to win the championship the following season.