On this day in Boston Celtics history, William Theodore Walton III (better known as Bill) was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
An NCAA champion under iconic head coach John Wooden at UCLA, the California native was selected with the first pick of the 1974 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, for whom he played for four seasons and won an NBA title in 1977. He also played for the Clippers in both their San Diego and Los Angeles incarnations before being dealt to the Celtics in 1985.
The La Mesa native, who is one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players, won a second title with Boston in 1986 before constant pain from injuries forced his retirement in 1987.
It is also the anniversary of the passing of former Celtics president and trustee Clarence H. Adams, who helmed the team on the business side during the era the club was owned by National Equities Inc.
President of the team between 1967 and 1968, Adams passed away in 1987; rest in peace.
It is also the date the team defeated the Detroit Pistons, 123-113, in Game 6 of the 1985 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals, defeating the Pistons, 4-2.
The Celtics won despite 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists from Detroit star point guard Isiah Thomas.
Two years to the day later, Boston beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 138-137, in a double-overtime nail-biter in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
Boston won due to a 42-point explosion from Bird, who also had 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
Forward Kevin McHale added 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson added 19 points and 12 assists.
Today is also the anniversary of another postseason squeaker, the Celtics beating the Orlando Magic, 95-94, in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
Glen Davis hit the winning shot in the game’s final moments after being left open for an easy bucket.
“This is really neat,” he said via the Associated Press. “This is my first time, so bear with me.”
“Big Baby” filled in for an injured Kevin Garnett well, logging 21 points and 6 boards and Paul Pierce led all Celtics with 27 points. Point guard Rajon Rondo added 21 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.
In 2012, Boston defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 83-80, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round, sending the Hawks fishing 4-2.
After being called the “dirtiest guy in the league” by an Atlanta owner, Garnett responded with a 28-point, 14-rebound, 3-steal and 5-block performance to seal the series.
“Thank you to their owner for giving me some extra gas tonight,” Garnett exclaimed via the A.P. “My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth to know what he’s talking about with X’s and O’s versus checkbooks and bottom lines.”
Pierce added 18 points, and Rondo 14 more and 8 assists.
Finally, the Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards, 123-101, in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals behind a playoff career-high 29 points from guard Avery Bradley.
Big man Al Horford added 19 points, 7 assists and 6 boards while point guard Isaiah Thomas chipped in 18 points and 9 assists.
“The great start kind of got us going on both ends of the floor,” Bradley said courtesy of the A.P. “Tonight we saw if we’re able to start the right way, the game’s in our control.”
