CORRECTION: I said two wrong things in this video.First, I said the 73 Celtics tied the greatest regular season record with 68 wins, the lakers had won 69 games the previous year. Also, Don Chaney did not get traded to the suns for Charlie Scott, Chaney went to the aba in 1976
Chaney left by way of free agency - a real shame. Then Red traded Paul Westphal for Charlie Scott. As much as I loved Charlie Scott, I am not sure why Red made that trade, basically a 2 guard for a 2 guard about equal in talent, though Westphal was younger and maybe had a higher ceiling. He played lights out the next season for the Suns in the NBA finals vs the Celts. Game 5 - still the greatest basketball game of all time. What other game featured two very tough buzzer beaters in the last 5 seconds of the 2nd overtime, one by each team ? Jo Jo White (Finals MVP) ended up sitting down at half court at the end of the 3d overtime while a teammate had two free throws coming - just out of pure exhaustion.
@@tennsmoothie Westphal became a great offensive player for several teams after that trade. He wasn't particularly happy as a Celtic, he thought the way they brought players along was archaic. He said the team liked to think, "they made the kid a player." He had a brilliant mind for the game. Charlie Scott brought that kind of explosive scoring the team never had. He may have taken a few bad shots, but was a key player for that championship team. As the Celtics got older and players left, he was still there as they sunk to the bottom. He was (unfairly) booed and criticized for his shot selection. The guy played hard every night, the team just aged so quickly.
The Celtics of the 60s and 80s set the bar so high that a very successful team in the 70s was often overlooked. Havlicek was my favorite player but Cowens was the driving force and Silas was the quiet enforcer. Silas did the dirty work inside that allowed the others to flourish. Thanks for this look back.
Don Chaney was a beast on defense. He slowed down an old out of shape Oscar Robertson in the ‘74 finals. He played the same role K C Jones did in the 1960’s and Quinn Buckner in the 1980’s. They couldn’t shoot a lick but were good, not great point guards. And they were very good defensively. Dennis Johnson in the ‘80’s also played that role but he could shoot.
@@rileymrr1 thanks. Chaney deserves his props. Along with Jerry Sloan, the best defensive big Guard, late 60s, early 70s. And became a decent shooter, too.
Don Chaney is the answer to a great Celtics trivia question. He was the only Celtic to have played in the Bill Russell era, the John Havlicek era, and the Larry Bird era. If Chaney had played one more year with Bird, he would have been the only one to have won a championship with all three.
That group's triple OT game six of the 1976 finals vs. the Suns is the single best basketball game I have ever watched on any level. No one deserved to lose that game.
So many Hall of Famers in that game...Havlicek, Cowens, Jo Jo, Nelson, Charlie Scott and Westphal. It can be argued that Alvan Adams and Paul Silas should be in the Hall.
I’ve been around a long time and that was one of the greatest games I’ve ever watched. Celtics just outlasted em and the Suns couldn’t come back from it.
Your analysis of Havlicek is right on. His performance in game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals vs Kareem and the Bucks, admittedly in a 2 OT loss, was amazing. Clutch shots and clutch plays throughout.
You are so right. They happened to play on a team with other players that got a lot of recognition, but I am a huge Celtics fan and White and Silas were grossly underrated. The 70's Celtics were a very exciting team!
I loved that 70's team - because it was unexpected. And they had good rivalies with the Knicks which always made it exciting. Loved Dave Cowens. He was known for playing his best when he had four fouls. A beast. Any time you have a good NY - Boston riveraly in sports it makes things exciting. Back in the sixties and seventies you could always get tickets for playoff games - except when they played the knicks because of all the NY fans in boston.
Chicago guy here, I love Bird and his teams but my favorite all time NBA team is the 1974 Celtics . Cowens, Silas, Havlicek, White and Chaney were the best chemistry lineup ever ! Havlicek, underrated was Clutch !
I'm a Washington fan, but you have to just love the Celtics. Guys of unbelievable character. Undersized? Left-handed? Didnt matter. They found a way. Hard-workers? Who couldnt identify with that. They embodied everything great from top to bottom. The banners, the parkay floor. What can you say. So likeable!
Please keep these videos coming :) I love learning about old school basketball and you do such a great job presenting the history, especially the 70's because I think that decade gets overlooked.
Celtics in the 70s were great. But everyone seems to forget that only one franchise made the playoffs every year in the 70: the baltimore/Washington Bullets
Imagine if John Havliceck and Jojo White extended there career till late 70s. The line up will be Cowens, Rookie Larry Bird, Havliceck, Jojo White, Maxwell, Archibald and Maravich. They were stacked in 79-80 season to beat Sixers in the ECF.
It’s an interesting thought, but Havlicek would’ve been pushing 40 and his play undoubtedly would’ve declined. Also Cowens was not half the player that he was only a few years before and Maravich was just a shell of his former self (he only played 26 games, avg 17 mpg). Jo Jo was traded the season before for a first round pick and that started a series of moves which eventually brought both Parish and McHale to the team in 80-81.
Uncle Hays you are one old school guy. Your reviews and video clips of old school 70s teams unrivaled. Thanks for bringing back so many great memories for so many. This is when basketball was at its zenith..fewer teams less players many quality players on all rosters and was a team game. These guys made peanuts but played every game with injuries playing with pride never mailing it in. A time long gone by..
I was 11 when Russell retired, so I didn't find out until later how great the 60s Celts were. My first Celtic teams were in the 1970s and I loved those teams. That final against the Bucks was special, including, if I remember correctly, an incredible game six as Jabbar and Havlicek kept trading baskets down the stretch. Boston lost only to win game seven.
I was coming home from college when Milwaukee played Boston in game 7. I was at the Greyhound Station in Los Angeles watching the game on a tiny black and white TV. I kept feeding it quarters, hoping mom couldn't find me. She finally found me, but I told her I'm watching the game. She wasn't too happy since she was looking for me for more than an hour.
Nice vid. I’m one of your biggest supporters. Love to see your channel grow. My favorite player and most underrated at that time was probably Dave Cowens.
I saw west in a game against the celtics post kc jones up from about 30ft. Russell could not help from that far away because he had to protect the basket. With no time left west sank s 30 ft jump shot.
Kareem was great but had is problems with physical players. Moses malone had his way with him. Side note i would have liked to see darrel dawkins and shaq go at it. Gus johnson reminded me of sir charles.
I'll never forget that team especially GAME 5 of the 1976 NBA FINALS. Watching it on a RCA CONSOLE TV the game was taped delayed. Because of the triple OT it didn't go off till wee hours of the morning.
Cowens broke is ankle in madison sq garden. He walked off the court, on a broken ankle because he did not to give nyc fans the satisfaction of seeing him being carried off the court. After the injury cowens was never the same. He could no longer jump as high and his first step was a little slower. He was incredibly tough and strong, and he hit alot of people on the court. He had pete rose kind of hustle.
When you played against cowens expect to get hit. He did not back down from anyone. People backed down from him. And when he got a rebound he swung his arms and elbows
The 70s Celtics teams were well coached and even though they were small.. they had a very very high basketball I q.... No surprise alot of them got into coaching later on..Dave cowens.. John havlicek.. don Nelson.. Jo Jo white.. don Chaney.. Hank finkel.. Paul silas.. Paul wesphal.. charlie Scott.. art Williams.. Steve kuberski.. Jim ard... As I say a bunch of really smart hard working guys very fun to watch and I watched them play all the time on tv as I grew up in buffalo
In 1975-76, the Celtics finished 54-28, first in the Eastern Conference and 2nd best in the league to the Warriors' 59-23. What about it? you ask? That's the last time the Celtics won the championship when they didn't have the best record in the league. Their subsequent titles, in 1981, 1984, 1986 and 2008, all came with the best record in the league and HCA throughout the playoffs. In any playoff year since the merger, if the Celtics had the POSSIBILITY of playing a series without the HCA, never mind they actually had to play a series without the HCA, they kissed the championship goodbye for sure. Their 1974 championship was the last time they had to win a series without the HCA (against the Bucks), and then ended up with the championship. 1977 lost to the 76ers (without the HCA) 1987 lost to the Lakers (without the HCA) 1988 lost to the Pistons with the HCA (but had they beaten the Pistons, they would have played the Lakers in the finals without the HCA). 1989 lost to the Pistons (without the HCA) 1990 lost to the Knicks with the HCA but they would have to play the Pistons without the HCA in the next round) 1991 lost to the Pistons with the HCA (but they would have to play the Bulls without the HCA in the next round) 1992 lost to the Cavaliers (without the HCA) 1993 lost to the Hornets with the HCA (but they would have to play the Knicks without the HCA in the next round) 1995 lost to the Magic (without the HCA) 2002 lost to the Nets (without the HCA) 2003 lost to the Nets (without the HCA) 2004 lost to the Pacers (without the HCA) 2005 lost to the Pacers with the HCA (but they would have to play the Pistons without the HCA in the next round) 2009 lost to the Magic with the HCA (but they would have to play the Cavs without the HCA in the next round) 2010 lost to the Lakers (without the HCA) 2011 lost to the Heat (without the HCA) 2012 lost to the Heat (without the HCA) 2013 lost to the Knicks (without the HCA) 2015 lost to the Cavs (without the HCA) 2016 lost to the Hawks (without the HCA) 2017 lost to the Cavs with the HCA (but they would have to play the Warriors in the finals without the HCA) 2018 lost to the Cavs with the HCA (but they would have to play the Warriors in the finals without the HCA) 2019 lost to the Bucks (without the HCA) 2021 lost to the Nets (without the HCA) 2022 lost to the Warriors (without the HCA) 2023 lost to the Heat with HCA. This year is very similar to 1976. They didn't have the best record, they would not have had the HCA had they played the Bucks in 2023 (or the Warriros in 1976). However, the team with the best record got upset in an earlier round, so the Celtics ended up with the HCA throughout the playoffs. That's what they had in 1976. In 2023, the Celtics would have had the HCA had they played the Nuggets in the finals.
Back in the day, these guys were the best of the best. Wilt individually. But the Celtics were king for 11 rings. They played as a unified and unselfish team. Everyone knew their role and stuck with it.
The 1970s Celtics were like like the Middle Man,in between the 60s& the 80’s,Dave Cowens played against,and stood up to all the greats,And was great,Boston had a Top Notch Defense,and won 2 Crowns!
I remember that 74 season when the Celtics played the Bucks in the NBA finals, I was 13 years old at that time and I was a big time bucks fans and still is but I was disappointed when the Celtics won and still is to this day. That was the last great Bucks team in 74, the year when Oscar retired. The Celtics was a great team in the 70's but also they were just the better team than the Bucks in that series.
Cowens was also a great rebounder at FSU. He averaged 17.2 RPG in his senior year. That year, he went up against 7' 2" Artis Gilmore in the first match-up against Jacksonville University and dominated him winning the game 89-83. It's a shame FSU was ineligible to compete in the post-season. Meanwhile, Jacksonville finished 27-2 with their 2 losses to FSU and UCLA in the NCAA Championship Final.
Great video.....one thing though.....you said the celtics were the only team in the 70s to win more than one title.....technically thats not true....the Knicks won in 70 and 73....even the 70 championship season 'began' in 69....because the 80s lakers won 5 but their first one was the 79-80 season....
One of the best combination of players was during the 1072? All star game, when the east played frazier, jojo white, hondo, debushere, and cowens. It is usually edited out. If anyone can find the uncut game, it is worth watching. That and the time chenier punched walt frazier in the back of the head. Frazier scored 19 points in a row on chenier. That was how the knicks retaliated in those days.
John Havlicek was Bird before Bird flew in Boston. This was my favorite Celtics team and Hondo it's best player. Also no center I've ever seen could out hustle Dave Cowens. He was relentless and completely fearless on the court. Paul Silas was a monster on the boards and Jo Jo White a top flight guard. I liked Charlie Scott, but wished they hadn't traded Paul Westphal. It really opened up his opportunity to star though and he became The Suns' go to guy. Anyone who would understate Hondo just doesn't know the game. He was one it's greatest stars ever and would be just as great a player in any era. He never stopped moving. My favorite player of all time!
Correction. Chaney signed with the ABA St Louis Spirits. Paul Westphal was traded to Phoenix for Charlie Scott. Scott was an All Star and Westphal became an even better player than Scott.
I was and still am an LA Lakers fan. So I was always watching what was going on with the Celtics. Game #5 of the NBA finals - both teams could have won that game. But the Suns put themselves in a hole getting behind by over 20 points in the first half. I still think Havlicek charged and the basket after the first or second overtime should not have counted. I do not understand why the Celtics did not win the east in the 1974-75 season.
Ran into a very good Bullets team in ‘75 ECF (Hayes, Unseld, Chenier, Kevin Porter). Someone else above already made the point but, during the 70’s, the Bullets made the playoffs every year (Finals 4x, 1 Champ).
In the 1973 ECF Havlicek injured his shoulder(essentially a dislocation) in Game #3, not Game #6. They managed to beat NY in Games 5 and 6 with Hondo essentially playing with one arm. If he hadn't gotten hurt the Celts win another title.
Bradley ran hondo into a debushere pick and separated his shoulder. They played tough then. It was like hockey. They had physical guys on the bench whosr job was th give hard if not flagrant fouls
Dream matchup Willis reed and ny Knicks playoffs series against Dave Cowen and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics , 1973 Willis reed and ny Knicks looked unbeatable, another playoff series battles 1974
@@scottodonnell7121 Actually, they changed their defense in the deciding game to front Kareem. It surprised the Bucks so much that they were turned into fawns
The Celtics fast break was just as effective and entertaining as the Lakers fast break and I disliked them both (SIXERS FAN) but I respected both of them they were GREAT Teams!
Details matter. The Celtics traded Paul Westphal to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott. Don Chaney jumped leagues to the ABA. You need to do better with your facts.
Good catch, Kyle! Don Chaney signed with the ABA Spirits of St. Louis after a contract dispute with Red Auerbach...after a Celtics lowball offer of $60,000. Chaney was a class-act and was insulted. While Charlie Scott was possibly a better defender than Westphal, the trade was a disaster for Boston.
2:38 Dave wasn't a lot shorter than Bill, and both had long reach for their height and PLAYED taller. Also consider how he compared to Wes Unseld, who was even shorter.
I think the word "good" is an understatement and should be replaced with "great!" As I've told everyone I know for the last half-century, their '73 team was the greatest of all time to have not won a championship, and that is attributable SOLEY to "Dave the Butcher"s" hacking of Hondo's arm in the semi-s that year. Cowen's OWNED Chamberlain that year and the Celts would have easily disposed of the Lakers had they met in the finals. I certainly enjoyed watching their 70's iteration much more so than the more lauded 80's version due to their defensive prowess and for what a lot of people have seemingly forgotten: Hondo, Cowens, and Silas were certainly one of the greatest frontcourts of all time and rarely get the credit they deserve for being so.
Dave Cowen wasn't in Robert Parrish league , Dave Cowen was short nba center like Willis reed,hoeever willis reed played mostly in the 1960s Dave Cowen 1970s nba center begin to grow taller😊
When Dave Debusschere was on the Knicks they beat the Celtics twice in the playoffs in the 70s and won 2 championships. When Debusschere left the Knicks never won another championship.
Good video. A lot of people forget how good they were. One reason is they were not good between 1977-1979 and then Larry Bird and others came around and we forgot about 70s Celtics. By the way you need to be better at speaking. You have no inflection in voice, you rarely pause. It just seems like you're reading without really caring about the topic. That's my opinion
@@Amick44 Cowens retired after the 79-80 season, where he was Celtics teammates with Maravich, Archibald, Chaney, and Larry Bird. He remained retired for two years before joining the Bucks. Former teammate and friend Don Nelson was the Bucks head coach and that team was championship caliber. The Bucks surrendered Quinn Buckner to the Celtics for Cowens rights...a darn good haul.
Hindsight’s always 20-20. Paul didn’t play a lot with White and Chaney ahead of him and I think Red was worried after “The Duck” jumped to the ABA. There were a lot of similarities in White and Westphal’s respective games and I think Auerbach wanted someone who could play strong D. Let’s not forget, they won a championship with Charlie. And then Scott got hurt in ‘77 and wasn’t the same.
They were damn good they won 2 titles and should have won three but havlicek hurt his shoulder in 1973....havlicek was a legendary superstar he white and cowens were hall of famers..and Don chaney Don nelson Hank finkal and art Williams Steve kuberski were all smart role players ..paul silas was a great rebounder and Paul wesphal was there for awile another hall of famer too I believe they were well coached very smart and ran all day well conditioned but they were a small team
Um in 1973 the record was 69-13 as set by wilt and the lakers in 1972 so um they infact did not die the standing record was which the record in 1967 slight correction.
They were pretty good but havlicek himself said in 1985 that bird Celtics were much better and I assume the best bill russell teams were too because Hondo said that the bird and Russell teams would have to play to find out who was better. Anyways, I love all the great boston teams in any decade
Well those 1970 teams with Havlicek ripped my Buffalo Braves apart all the time especially in the playoffs I was living in Buffalo at the time and they ripped us apart
@@senseichess8688 I heard that superfast Randy Smith thought he could guard Hondo but havlicek ran him into like 7 or 8 bone jarring picks in 1 st half so he went back to defending Jojo I assume...I bet there is not 1 player in nba history that could keep up with Hondo for 45 minutes, RIP to all 3 plus Tommy and Jack Ramsey .
@@leodrosia4369 yes sir i played a pickup game in buffalo once and I was guarding randy...he was a great guy and he said that havlicek was by far the hardest player he ever had to guard because he knew where everyone on the floor was at all times and constantly ran Smith into pick after pick and of course he never tired or slowed down his stamina skill and basketball I q were off the charts.the braves used to try Jim macmillan gar heard jack Marin randy Smith Fred Hilton Billy knight Adrian dantley lee winfield Dick Garrett bob Weiss herm Gillian mike Davis on him as he played forward and guard... He made that 70s team go...nearly every offensive play involved him
CORRECTION: I said two wrong things in this video.First, I said the 73 Celtics tied the greatest regular season record with 68 wins, the lakers had won 69 games the previous year. Also, Don Chaney did not get traded to the suns for Charlie Scott, Chaney went to the aba in 1976
You make mistakes in every video you make. You are a fraud.
Hondo scored 54 points in 74 against the Braves, not in 73.
Chaney left by way of free agency - a real shame. Then Red traded Paul Westphal for Charlie Scott. As much as I loved Charlie Scott, I am not sure why Red made that trade, basically a 2 guard for a 2 guard about equal in talent, though Westphal was younger and maybe had a higher ceiling. He played lights out the next season for the Suns in the NBA finals vs the Celts. Game 5 - still the greatest basketball game of all time. What other game featured two very tough buzzer beaters in the last 5 seconds of the 2nd overtime, one by each team ? Jo Jo White (Finals MVP) ended up sitting down at half court at the end of the 3d overtime while a teammate had two free throws coming - just out of pure exhaustion.
@@tennsmoothie Westphal became a great offensive player for several teams after that trade. He wasn't particularly happy as a Celtic, he thought the way they brought players along was archaic. He said the team liked to think, "they made the kid a player." He had a brilliant mind for the game.
Charlie Scott brought that kind of explosive scoring the team never had. He may have taken a few bad shots, but was a key player for that championship team. As the Celtics got older and players left, he was still there as they sunk to the bottom. He was (unfairly) booed and criticized for his shot selection. The guy played hard every night, the team just aged so quickly.
@@tennsmoothie yeah they added Charlie Scott and Dave bing two smart veteran players and it led to a title
The Celtics of the 60s and 80s set the bar so high that a very successful team in the 70s was often overlooked. Havlicek was my favorite player but Cowens was the driving force and Silas was the quiet enforcer. Silas did the dirty work inside that allowed the others to flourish. Thanks for this look back.
Those Buffalo Braves had McAdoo and was a tough team.
The team later moved to San Diego and became the …..
Clippers.
@Gary Alleyne , All three wore numbers in the 10’s.
@Gary Alleyne Russell, Havlicek and Sam Jones were a force in the 60s.
Don Chaney was a beast on defense. He slowed down an old out of shape Oscar Robertson in the ‘74 finals. He played the same role K C Jones did in the 1960’s and Quinn Buckner in the 1980’s. They couldn’t shoot a lick but were good, not great point guards. And they were very good defensively. Dennis Johnson in the ‘80’s also played that role but he could shoot.
@@rileymrr1 thanks. Chaney deserves his props. Along with Jerry Sloan, the best defensive big Guard, late 60s, early 70s. And became a decent shooter, too.
Don Chaney is the answer to a great Celtics trivia question. He was the only Celtic to have played in the Bill Russell era, the John Havlicek era, and the Larry Bird era. If Chaney had played one more year with Bird, he would have been the only one to have won a championship with all three.
That group's triple OT game six of the 1976 finals vs. the Suns is the single best basketball game I have ever watched on any level. No one deserved to lose that game.
So many Hall of Famers in that game...Havlicek, Cowens, Jo Jo, Nelson, Charlie Scott and Westphal. It can be argued that Alvan Adams and Paul Silas should be in the Hall.
@@hoppysport2872 well said...rickey sobers Don nelson Dick van arsdale..alot of good players on those teams
I’ve been around a long time and that was one of the greatest games I’ve ever watched. Celtics just outlasted em and the Suns couldn’t come back from it.
I was 12 years old and stayed up to watch that game late on tape delay.
@@terrancethomas9792 I watched the whole series I was almost 17 at the time
Your analysis of Havlicek is right on. His performance in game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals vs Kareem and the Bucks, admittedly in a 2 OT loss, was amazing. Clutch shots and clutch plays throughout.
Jo Jo White & Paul Silas are two of basketball’s most underrated players!
You are so right. They happened to play on a team with other players that got a lot of recognition, but I am a huge Celtics fan and White and Silas were grossly underrated. The 70's Celtics were a very exciting team!
Yes so is don Nelson
Paul Silas rarely shot the ball but man could he rebound. JoJo was so smooth.
Paul salad was like a pre Dennis Rodman without the dark side of Dennis Rodman
@@manny4552 Dave Debusschere of the Knicks was way better than both Nelson and Silas.
I loved that 70's team - because it was unexpected. And they had good rivalies with the Knicks which always made it exciting. Loved Dave Cowens. He was known for playing his best when he had four fouls. A beast. Any time you have a good NY - Boston riveraly in sports it makes things exciting. Back in the sixties and seventies you could always get tickets for playoff games - except when they played the knicks because of all the NY fans in boston.
Chicago guy here, I love Bird and his teams but my favorite all time NBA team is the 1974 Celtics . Cowens, Silas, Havlicek, White and Chaney were the best chemistry lineup ever ! Havlicek, underrated was Clutch !
Well said
Well said..I agree
Great video that deserves thousands of likes. I have always thought that the 70s Celtics needed more recognistion and praise. Thanks.
I'm a Washington fan, but you have to just love the Celtics. Guys of unbelievable character. Undersized? Left-handed? Didnt matter. They found a way. Hard-workers? Who couldnt identify with that. They embodied everything great from top to bottom. The banners, the parkay floor. What can you say. So likeable!
Yes indeed
❤️ 1970s boston celtics
Please keep these videos coming :) I love learning about old school basketball and you do such a great job presenting the history, especially the 70's because I think that decade gets overlooked.
That was a great video! I loved watching Don Nelson dunk!!
Celtics in the 70s were great. But everyone seems to forget that only one franchise made the playoffs every year in the 70: the baltimore/Washington Bullets
Imagine if John Havliceck and Jojo White extended there career till late 70s. The line up will be Cowens, Rookie Larry Bird, Havliceck, Jojo White, Maxwell, Archibald and Maravich. They were stacked in 79-80 season to beat Sixers in the ECF.
Jojo White did played in til 1981, but it wasn't with the Celtics. It was the Kansas City Kings.
It’s an interesting thought, but Havlicek would’ve been pushing 40 and his play undoubtedly would’ve declined. Also Cowens was not half the player that he was only a few years before and Maravich was just a shell of his former self (he only played 26 games, avg 17 mpg). Jo Jo was traded the season before for a first round pick and that started a series of moves which eventually brought both Parish and McHale to the team in 80-81.
Yeah havlicek retired in 1978. Just missed bird...would have been fun to watch
Tommy Heinsohn was a terrific head coach.
Tommy heinsohn great nba player& great nba coach , Tommy heinsohn ❤️ to shoot the basketball
Great TV announcer & commentary color basketball TV coach
Uncle Hays you are one old school guy. Your reviews and video clips of old school 70s teams unrivaled. Thanks for bringing back so many great memories for so many. This is when basketball was at its zenith..fewer teams less players many quality players on all rosters and was a team game. These guys made peanuts but played every game with injuries playing with pride never mailing it in. A time long gone by..
‘22 Celtics could use some of the 70’s Celtics grit that’s for sure.
I was 11 when Russell retired, so I didn't find out until later how great the 60s Celts were. My first Celtic teams were in the 1970s and I loved those teams. That final against the Bucks was special, including, if I remember correctly, an incredible game six as Jabbar and Havlicek kept trading baskets down the stretch. Boston lost only to win game seven.
I saw the whole series on tv live... You can see some of it on RUclips now.. most of game six is here
Yeah, that game 6 was great. If memory serves, Cowens fouled out and Kareem ended up winning it with his patented sky hook from the corner.
@@thomasleary2814 yes seven footer Hank finkal was in Kareem's face but that hook shot was so hard to block and it was usually automatic
Man great years, those were the years that made a Celtic fan 👏 Hondo Mr hustle, 6'9" Mr hustle.
I was coming home from college when Milwaukee played Boston in game 7. I was at the Greyhound Station in Los Angeles watching the game on a tiny black and white TV. I kept feeding it quarters, hoping mom couldn't find me. She finally found me, but I told her I'm watching the game. She wasn't too happy since she was looking for me for more than an hour.
I watched the whole series.. lol I'm old
Celtic for life
Nice vid. I’m one of your biggest supporters. Love to see your channel grow. My favorite player and most underrated at that time was probably Dave Cowens.
i watched the Celtics 70-74 because they were usually on TV after church.
❤️ dave cowen no weakness
My favorite era of Pro Hoops!💫🌟✨😁🏀🏆🏀
❤️1970s NBA basketball
Mine too
Dream matchup Willis reed and ny Knicks against Dave Cowen and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics 1973&1974 playoffs series
The Celtics need another trophy on their list coming out. All about 18 banners, Go Celtics!
Uncle Hays I like you to show the Lakers and Bucks teams of the 70's, they were my favorite teams back in the 70's.
Your videos too well made to have this little recognition keep it up
Ikr and I just found him myself and was stunned to see his subscribers numbers.
Great job with this video
The fifth game of that Phoenix/Boston series was the greatest NBA game I ever saw. And I saw it on TV.
Instant sub after watching this. Superb quality
Cowens became a taxi driver for a day and said ‘nah, I’ll go back to basketball’. Big surprise 🤣
Became NBA assistant coach
Nba assistant coaches get paid alot better
This channel has hella potential
Hondo was the clutchest player I think I've ever seen until Larry Bird came along. Still waiting for someone to top them.
Kind of ignoring Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ain't ya?
So many great ones. They belong in any conversation.
Hondo was the ultimate professional. Always in great shape and prepared for a game. Ran like a greyhound.
I saw west in a game against the celtics post kc jones up from about 30ft. Russell could not help from that far away because he had to protect the basket. With no time left west sank s 30 ft jump shot.
Kareem was great but had is problems with physical players. Moses malone had his way with him. Side note i would have liked to see darrel dawkins and shaq go at it. Gus johnson reminded me of sir charles.
keep making vids, ver very good and it will catch on, great work
I'll never forget that team especially GAME 5 of the 1976 NBA FINALS. Watching it on a RCA CONSOLE TV the game was taped delayed. Because of the triple OT it didn't go off till wee hours of the morning.
Great game and series
Not where I was. Augusta Ga, watched it live.
Cowens broke is ankle in madison sq garden. He walked off the court, on a broken ankle because he did not to give nyc fans the satisfaction of seeing him being carried off the court. After the injury cowens was never the same. He could no longer jump as high and his first step was a little slower. He was incredibly tough and strong, and he hit alot of people on the court. He had pete rose kind of hustle.
He was a hacker, and I mean that in a good way. My favorite Celtic.
When you played against cowens expect to get hit. He did not back down from anyone. People backed down from him. And when he got a rebound he swung his arms and elbows
Cowens never broke his ankle during his career ??????????
I watched the game. They took out a streacher which he refused.
Dave Cowen was a great nba short center, bill Russell pick out Dave Cowen for red auerback
❤️ 1970s boston celrics
This team could really run and pass !!! It’s amazing to see
Another good one!
Liked a lot of those 70's teams.
Sub #519 here uncle Hays, good work Brother!
They had a great team, had a couple of down years after Russell and S Jones, but bounced back. Went to ECF 5 years in a row and won two titles.
I LOVED THIS TEAM!!!
New sub. I like your videos keep it up bro
I never knew any of things you speak of in you're videos and is shocked that you don't have way more subscribers
used to play ball with JoJo White, he was a great player and a really great guy
Really;;; lucky
I hope Havliceck extend his career till 1979-80 season. Imagine you have Cowens, Bird, Havliceck, Archibald, Maxwell and Maravich.
It would have been great to see havlicek run with bird
One of the unsung hero of the 76 Championship squad was Glenn McDonalds. He helped the Cs in OT. He played in our country as an Import Player.
He should have had an outstanding career.
I remember him well
I LOVE....1970,s era NBA/ABA Hoops 🏀🏆
The 70s Celtics teams were well coached and even though they were small.. they had a very very high basketball I q.... No surprise alot of them got into coaching later on..Dave cowens.. John havlicek.. don Nelson.. Jo Jo white.. don Chaney.. Hank finkel.. Paul silas.. Paul wesphal.. charlie Scott.. art Williams.. Steve kuberski.. Jim ard... As I say a bunch of really smart hard working guys very fun to watch and I watched them play all the time on tv as I grew up in buffalo
dream matchup Willis reed and ny Knicks against Dave Cowen and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics playoffs series 1973&1974
@@Loydstardeli2017 yes sir
@@Loydstardeli2017yes indeed
In 1975-76, the Celtics finished 54-28, first in the Eastern Conference and 2nd best in the league to the Warriors' 59-23.
What about it? you ask?
That's the last time the Celtics won the championship when they didn't have the best record in the league.
Their subsequent titles, in 1981, 1984, 1986 and 2008, all came with the best record in the league and HCA throughout the playoffs.
In any playoff year since the merger, if the Celtics had the POSSIBILITY of playing a series without the HCA, never mind they actually had to play a series without the HCA, they kissed the championship goodbye for sure.
Their 1974 championship was the last time they had to win a series without the HCA (against the Bucks), and then ended up with the championship.
1977 lost to the 76ers (without the HCA)
1987 lost to the Lakers (without the HCA)
1988 lost to the Pistons with the HCA (but had they beaten the Pistons, they would have played the Lakers in the finals without the HCA).
1989 lost to the Pistons (without the HCA)
1990 lost to the Knicks with the HCA but they would have to play the Pistons without the HCA in the next round)
1991 lost to the Pistons with the HCA (but they would have to play the Bulls without the HCA in the next round)
1992 lost to the Cavaliers (without the HCA)
1993 lost to the Hornets with the HCA (but they would have to play the Knicks without the HCA in the next round)
1995 lost to the Magic (without the HCA)
2002 lost to the Nets (without the HCA)
2003 lost to the Nets (without the HCA)
2004 lost to the Pacers (without the HCA)
2005 lost to the Pacers with the HCA (but they would have to play the Pistons without the HCA in the next round)
2009 lost to the Magic with the HCA (but they would have to play the Cavs without the HCA in the next round)
2010 lost to the Lakers (without the HCA)
2011 lost to the Heat (without the HCA)
2012 lost to the Heat (without the HCA)
2013 lost to the Knicks (without the HCA)
2015 lost to the Cavs (without the HCA)
2016 lost to the Hawks (without the HCA)
2017 lost to the Cavs with the HCA (but they would have to play the Warriors in the finals without the HCA)
2018 lost to the Cavs with the HCA (but they would have to play the Warriors in the finals without the HCA)
2019 lost to the Bucks (without the HCA)
2021 lost to the Nets (without the HCA)
2022 lost to the Warriors (without the HCA)
2023 lost to the Heat with HCA. This year is very similar to 1976. They didn't have the best record, they would not have had the HCA had they played the Bucks in 2023 (or the Warriros in 1976). However, the team with the best record got upset in an earlier round, so the Celtics ended up with the HCA throughout the playoffs. That's what they had in 1976. In 2023, the Celtics would have had the HCA had they played the Nuggets in the finals.
Back in the day, these guys were the best of the best. Wilt individually. But the Celtics were king for 11 rings. They played as a unified and unselfish team. Everyone knew their role and stuck with it.
The 70's Celtics were really good.
Dave Cowens was a tank at center.
Big Red! 1973 NBA MVP!!
1970s boston celtics beat Willis reed & NY knick 1974 playoff series
Dave Cowen was like a white Willis reed, had no weakness , could score& rebound, & great defender etc etc
The 1970s Celtics were like like the Middle Man,in between the 60s& the 80’s,Dave Cowens played against,and stood up to all the greats,And was great,Boston had a Top Notch Defense,and won 2 Crowns!
I remember that 74 season when the Celtics played the Bucks in the NBA finals, I was 13 years old at that time and I was a big time bucks fans and still is but I was disappointed when the Celtics won and still is to this day. That was the last great Bucks team in 74, the year when Oscar retired. The Celtics was a great team in the 70's but also they were just the better team than the Bucks in that series.
No, the Bucks had very good teams in the late 70's-early 80's. Nelson was coaching.
@@scottodonnell7121 you're right they did have some goods teams in the late 70's-early 80's.
Havlicek was awesome that year and he was 34 years old..the legend
Hey congrats on the bucks finally winning another championship recently with Giannis
Cowens was awesome. I still don’t know how he was able to be such a great rebounder as a 6’8” center.
Cowens was also a great rebounder at FSU. He averaged 17.2 RPG in his senior year. That year, he went up against 7' 2" Artis Gilmore in the first match-up against Jacksonville University and dominated him winning the game 89-83.
It's a shame FSU was ineligible to compete in the post-season. Meanwhile, Jacksonville finished 27-2 with their 2 losses to FSU and UCLA in the NCAA Championship Final.
Great video.....one thing though.....you said the celtics were the only team in the 70s to win more than one title.....technically thats not true....the Knicks won in 70 and 73....even the 70 championship season 'began' in 69....because the 80s lakers won 5 but their first one was the 79-80 season....
Cowens didn't win the rookie of the year award by himself. He was co rookie of the year. Along with Portlands Geoff Petrie.
Ironically, the same season, in the ABA, Dan Issel and Charlie Scott were also co winners.
My favorite two players ever are Havlicek and Bird. Bird did have the opportunity to play with Dave Cowens and Pete Maravich for a season...
Maravich was only there the last last 1/3 of the season.
Playing with Maravich is hardly an "opportunity" for a player of Bird's caliber
Cowens would’ve been a better 2nd string C/PF to Robert Parish or Kevin McHale than Rick Robey or Greg Kite
@@bobbygarcia7544 Yes, he should have come back in '81for his 3rd ring
Mine too.. they were awesome
How good were they in the 60s? The best. You're right about Havlicek.
One of the best combination of players was during the 1072? All star game, when the east played frazier, jojo white, hondo, debushere, and cowens. It is usually edited out. If anyone can find the uncut game, it is worth watching. That and the time chenier punched walt frazier in the back of the head. Frazier scored 19 points in a row on chenier. That was how the knicks retaliated in those days.
@Gary Alleyne great points
Willis reed and ny Knicks playoff series battles against Dave Cowen and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics
Over the years between the Celtics and Patriots, we in the greater Boston area have been spoiled. Plus, the Red Sox with four WS titles since 2004! 😎👍
And the bruins
The Bobby Orr Bruins!
Pretty darn good!
John Havlicek was Bird before Bird flew in Boston. This was my favorite Celtics team and Hondo it's best player. Also no center I've ever seen could out hustle Dave Cowens. He was relentless and completely fearless on the court. Paul Silas was a monster on the boards and Jo Jo White a top flight guard. I liked Charlie Scott, but wished they hadn't traded Paul Westphal. It really opened up his opportunity to star though and he became The Suns' go to guy. Anyone who would understate Hondo just doesn't know the game. He was one it's greatest stars ever and would be just as great a player in any era. He never stopped moving. My favorite player of all time!
Boston Celtics 1974 beat Willis reed & NY knick in the playoffs
The celtics of the 70s were superb
Great battles with Willis reed and ny Knicks playoff series battles against Dave Cowen & John havlichek & Boston Celtics 1973&1974
Correction. Chaney signed with the ABA St Louis Spirits. Paul Westphal was traded to Phoenix for Charlie Scott. Scott was an All Star and Westphal became an even better player than Scott.
Ah, you're right. Big brain fart on Don Chaney getting traded to Phoenix
@@unclehays750 it was only a year apart from actual trade. Hey, been awhile.
I was and still am an LA Lakers fan. So I was always watching what was going on with the Celtics. Game #5 of the NBA finals - both teams could have won that game. But the Suns put themselves in a hole getting behind by over 20 points in the first half. I still think Havlicek charged and the basket after the first or second overtime should not have counted. I do not understand why the Celtics did not win the east in the 1974-75 season.
Ran into a very good Bullets team in ‘75 ECF (Hayes, Unseld, Chenier, Kevin Porter). Someone else above already made the point but, during the 70’s, the Bullets made the playoffs every year (Finals 4x, 1 Champ).
The New York Knicks also won 2 NBA World Championships in the 1970’s.
Dream matchup Willis reed and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics playoffs series against willis reed and ny Knicks 1973&1974
In the 1973 ECF Havlicek injured his shoulder(essentially a dislocation) in Game #3, not Game #6. They managed to beat NY in Games 5 and 6 with Hondo essentially playing with one arm. If he hadn't gotten hurt the Celts win another title.
And in game 4 the 2 refs, O'Donnell and Madden, gave that 2 overtime game to the Knicks. Rippoffffffff!!
@@scottodonnell7121 Wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last for the Celts at MSG! Are you any relation to ol' Jake O.??
@@retromaven2159 God. I hope not. He was a MLB umpire too.
Really, dream matchup 1973 Willis reed& ny Knicks against Dave cowen& Boston Celtics 1973& 1974 battle of early 1970s titans of nba basketball
Thanks for nba history lessons
They won 68 games in 72-73 but Havlicek got hurt in the Eastern Conference finals & they lost to the Knicks in 7. Thatd be 3 titles in the 70s.
Bradley ran hondo into a debushere pick and separated his shoulder. They played tough then. It was like hockey. They had physical guys on the bench whosr job was th give hard if not flagrant fouls
Dream matchup Willis reed and ny Knicks playoffs series against Dave Cowen and healthy John havlichek & Boston Celtics , 1973 Willis reed and ny Knicks looked unbeatable, another playoff series battles 1974
How did Celtics beat kreem and the bucks, wouldn’t the centers be way outmatched? Our guy must have been real good defenseman
Cowens was a hell of a center as well. A running, mid range shooting type. The big low post C's hated playing him.
Cowens despite his size could gaurd guys bigger than him
@@ericthomas917 and almost always better than they could guard him.
He had that outside shot. Kareem had to go out to guard him. And on defense, in the 7th game, they doubled him. Silas on top and Cowens behind.
@@scottodonnell7121 Actually, they changed their defense in the deciding game to front Kareem. It surprised the Bucks so much that they were turned into fawns
Nice
Don’t forget Bradley running hondo into a debusshere pick that separated his shoulder
The Celtics fast break was just as effective and entertaining as the Lakers fast break and I disliked them both (SIXERS FAN) but I respected both of them they were GREAT Teams!
Magic's Lakers had a much better fast break, but good point
Details matter. The Celtics traded Paul Westphal to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott. Don Chaney jumped leagues to the ABA.
You need to do better with your facts.
Good catch, Kyle! Don Chaney signed with the ABA Spirits of St. Louis after a contract dispute with Red Auerbach...after a Celtics lowball offer of $60,000.
Chaney was a class-act and was insulted. While Charlie Scott was possibly a better defender than Westphal, the trade was a disaster for Boston.
2:38
Dave wasn't a lot shorter than Bill, and both had long reach for their height and PLAYED taller.
Also consider how he compared to Wes Unseld, who was even shorter.
I think the word "good" is an understatement and should be replaced with "great!" As I've told everyone I know for the last half-century, their '73 team was the greatest of all time to have not won a championship, and that is attributable SOLEY to "Dave the Butcher"s" hacking of Hondo's arm in the semi-s that year. Cowen's OWNED Chamberlain that year and the Celts would have easily disposed of the Lakers had they met in the finals. I certainly enjoyed watching their 70's iteration much more so than the more lauded 80's version due to their defensive prowess and for what a lot of people have seemingly forgotten: Hondo, Cowens, and Silas were certainly one of the greatest frontcourts of all time and rarely get the credit they deserve for being so.
Dont get me wrong, I loved Chief, but a prime 1974 Dave Cowens with a prime 1985 Larry Bird and cast - UNSTOPPABLE!
Dave Cowen wasn't in Robert Parrish league , Dave Cowen was short nba center like Willis reed,hoeever willis reed played mostly in the 1960s Dave Cowen 1970s nba center begin to grow taller😊
The best thing about the 1970s Celtics were the green Converse shoes.
In the 1973 ECF’s,Hondo’s Injury cost the C’s against the NY Knicks!
When Dave Debusschere was on the Knicks they beat the Celtics twice in the playoffs in the 70s and won 2 championships. When Debusschere left the Knicks never won another championship.
Good video. A lot of people forget how good they were. One reason is they were not good between 1977-1979 and then Larry Bird and others came around and we forgot about 70s Celtics. By the way you need to be better at speaking. You have no inflection in voice, you rarely pause. It just seems like you're reading without really caring about the topic. That's my opinion
The 1972 Lakers had the best record of all time (69-13) until the Bulls’ 1996 record of 72-10.
Cowens did break his ankle against the knicks and walked off the court. He refused to be carried off the in a stretcher. I saw the game
1973 playoff series??
JOHN HONDO HAVLICEK INVENTED MOVING WITH OUT THE BALL STAYED MOVING ALLWAYS MOVING THE MAN WAS A BEAST!!! MY FAVORED CELTIC FOR ALL TIME NUMBER 17 😉😉😉
He was awesome
I played like Havlicek--keep moving without the ball! You'll get opportunities.
70s Celtics won 2 titles and are never talked about its always Russell's ,Birds and the Big 3 Cs
Cowens was first traded to Bucks in 1980 before retiring
Nope. Cowens joined Milwaukee a couple of years after retiring.
@@Amick44 Cowens retired after the 79-80 season, where he was Celtics teammates with Maravich, Archibald, Chaney, and Larry Bird.
He remained retired for two years before joining the Bucks. Former teammate and friend Don Nelson was the Bucks head coach and that team was championship caliber. The Bucks surrendered Quinn Buckner to the Celtics for Cowens rights...a darn good haul.
NBA in the 70s was stacked. Knicks two chips. Celtics two chips. Bucks, Lakers, Warriors, Bullets, Sonics. No dominant team.
3:30 John Havlicek, Don Nelson
Dave Cowens
Correction, Paul Westphal was traded to the Suns.Don Chaney went to the ABA.
To this day I don’t know why the Celts traded Westphal. I think his contract was up that year and he wanted big money but I would have paid him.
Hindsight’s always 20-20. Paul didn’t play a lot with White and Chaney ahead of him and I think Red was worried after “The Duck” jumped to the ABA. There were a lot of similarities in White and Westphal’s respective games and I think Auerbach wanted someone who could play strong D. Let’s not forget, they won a championship with Charlie. And then Scott got hurt in ‘77 and wasn’t the same.
Hard to say if they were the team of the decade tho. The NBA was fading a bit during that time
the 1970's celtics were elite and i'll be COMPLETELY unbiased and admit that jojo white and john havlicek were more elite than dave cowens
They were damn good they won 2 titles and should have won three but havlicek hurt his shoulder in 1973....havlicek was a legendary superstar he white and cowens were hall of famers..and Don chaney Don nelson Hank finkal and art Williams Steve kuberski were all smart role players ..paul silas was a great rebounder and Paul wesphal was there for awile another hall of famer too I believe they were well coached very smart and ran all day well conditioned but they were a small team
Yep - a small team that absolutely killed opponents on the boards. Cowens and Silas were relentless.
@@tennsmoothie yes they were
Um in 1973 the record was 69-13 as set by wilt and the lakers in 1972 so um they infact did not die the standing record was which the record in 1967 slight correction.
👍🏻
Auerbach admitted, it's a mistake not keeping Westphal.
I think Westphal was happy to be traded and bet more playing time.
I would say hondo was like pippin. Bird was like bob Pettit
John havlichek was alot alot better than Scott pippen
Even better was they all played in Chuck Taylors!!!
They were pretty good but havlicek himself said in 1985 that bird Celtics were much better and I assume the best bill russell teams were too because Hondo said that the bird and Russell teams would have to play to find out who was better. Anyways, I love all the great boston teams in any decade
The notion that any tams were better than the Russell teams is laughable. Russell won ELEVEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
@@mja91352 it is laughable that you would disrespect havliceks opinion so much
Well those 1970 teams with Havlicek ripped my Buffalo Braves apart all the time especially in the playoffs I was living in Buffalo at the time and they ripped us apart
@@senseichess8688 I heard that superfast Randy Smith thought he could guard Hondo but havlicek ran him into like 7 or 8 bone jarring picks in 1 st half so he went back to defending Jojo I assume...I bet there is not 1 player in nba history that could keep up with Hondo for 45 minutes, RIP to all 3 plus Tommy and Jack Ramsey .
@@leodrosia4369 yes sir i played a pickup game in buffalo once and I was guarding randy...he was a great guy and he said that havlicek was by far the hardest player he ever had to guard because he knew where everyone on the floor was at all times and constantly ran Smith into pick after pick and of course he never tired or slowed down his stamina skill and basketball I q were off the charts.the braves used to try Jim macmillan gar heard jack Marin randy Smith Fred Hilton Billy knight Adrian dantley lee winfield Dick Garrett bob Weiss herm Gillian mike Davis on him as he played forward and guard... He made that 70s team go...nearly every offensive play involved him
I'm kin to SAM JONES #24
Really, legendary Sam Jones Mr clutch shooting basketball 🏀
Very lucky, Sam Jones was unstoppable scoring points