2021–22 Boston Celtics season
The 2021–22 Boston Celtics season was the 76th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Following the Celtics' first-round exit to the Brooklyn Nets in five games from last season, Danny Ainge left his role as the General Manager. Brad Stevens got promoted as the next President of Basketball Operations soon after. The Celtics hired Ime Udoka as the next head coach on June 28, 2021, in what was his only season as head coach before being suspended for violating team rules and later being replaced midway through the next season.
| 2021–22 Boston Celtics season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Ime Udoka |
| General manager | Brad Stevens |
| Owners | Wyc Grousbeck |
| Arena | TD Garden |
| Results | |
| Record | 51–31 (.622) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Warriors 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | NBC Sports Boston |
| Radio | WBZ-FM |
The Celtics began the season with an 18–21 record, but began a turnaround in January and finished with a 51–31 record and the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. With the Portland Trail Blazers missing the postseason for the first time since 2013, the Celtics now hold the longest active playoff streak, with consecutive appearances since 2015. They won the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2017. Multiple Celtics received NBA honors during the season. Jayson Tatum was selected to the All-NBA First Team and was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, while Marcus Smart was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Robert Williams III joined him on the NBA All-Defensive Team.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets in four games which was their third series sweep in 4 seasons. In the second round, they faced the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks for the third time in five seasons, defeating them in seven games. In the final game of the series, the Celtics made 22 3-pointers, a record for most ever in a playoff Game 7. The Celtics advanced to the conference finals for the fourth time in six years to play the top-seeded Miami Heat. In the previous two Conference finals matchups between the two teams, the Celtics lost both times: in 2012 in seven games and in 2020 in six. This time, they beat the Heat in seven games—including three wins on the road—to advance to the 2022 NBA Finals, their first Finals appearance since 2010. They faced the Golden State Warriors in a rematch of the 1964 Finals in an attempt to win their 18th championship and first since 2008. However, the Celtics would lose in six games despite taking a 2–1 lead.