2016–17 Boston Celtics season
Season of National Basketball Association team the Boston Celtics
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2016–17 Boston Celtics seasonNational Basketball Association (NBA). The team obtained the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2008 when they won the NBA title. At 53–29, they finished with the lowest winning percentage of a No. 1 seed since the Detroit Pistons in 2007 .
In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round in six games, advancing to the Semifinals, where they then defeated the Washington Wizards in seven games, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. Despite falling short in their quest to win an 18th NBA title, the season was a success, as it saw the team make its deepest playoff run since 2012 .
Isaiah Thomas was voted to play in the 2017 All-Star Game.
Following the season, Avery Bradley was traded to the Detroit Pistons, Kelly Olynyk signed with the Miami Heat, and both Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending the Isaiah Thomas era in Boston in exchange for Kyrie Irving. Jaylen Brown was also added to the roster.
Draft picks
The Boston Celtics hold a modern-day league record with eight picks in the 2016 draft, the most picks held in a single draft since the NBA modified the draft to two rounds. Their top selection was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets due to them holding the third-worst record on the season. It was part of their return for trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in 2013. Their middle first-round selection, meanwhile, was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in the 2014 trade that saw Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell shipped out of Boston. The last first-round selection they held was their own. Meanwhile, every second-round selection for the Celtics that year was acquired via trade while their own second-round selection (which would have been pick #52 ) was sent away to the Utah Jazz .
For the first round of the draft, the Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown from the University of California , Guerschon Yabusele from France, and Ante Žižić from Croatia. In the second round, Boston took a surprise lottery-level talent still on the board in Deyonta Davis from Michigan State University , Rade Zagorac from Serbia, Demetrius Jackson (also considered by some a first-round level talent) from the University of Notre Dame , the first ever Ghanaian chosen in Ben Bentil (projected to be picked late in the first round) from Providence College , and the Egyptian Abdel Nader from Iowa State University . Deyonta Davis and Rade Zagorac would be the only players whose draft rights would be traded the night of the draft, as they would be going to the Memphis Grizzlies later for a 2018 second-round selection. Meanwhile, both Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Žižić would continue to remain overseas in China and Croatia respectively for one more season. The others signed contracts with the team, save for Ben Bentil and Abdel Nader. The latter headed off to the Maine Red Claws and the former travelled to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (three different times) and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China before being a part of the Dallas Mavericks later on in the season.
Game log
Preseason
2016 pre-season game log
Pre-season: 5–2 (home: 2–1; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
1
October 4
@ Philadelphia
L 89–92
Terry Rozier (12)
Al Horford (8)
Avery Bradley (6)
Mullins Center 0–1
2
October 6
@ Charlotte
W 107–92
Isaiah Thomas (15)
Al Horford (8)
Bradley , Thomas (5)
Greensboro Coliseum 1–1
3
October 8
Charlotte
W 104–86
Jordan Mickey (16)
Jordan Mickey (6)
Hunter , Smart (5)
Mohegan Sun Arena 2–1
4
October 13
@ Brooklyn
W 100–97
Horford , Smart (13)
Al Horford (9)
Terry Rozier (7)
Barclays Center 3–1
5
October 15
@ New York
W 119–107
R. J. Hunter (17)
Amir Johnson (6)
Demetrius Jackson (6)
Madison Square Garden 4–1
6
October 17
Brooklyn
W 120–99
Isaiah Thomas (19)
Jonas Jerebko (7)
Green , Smart (4)
TD Garden 5–1
7
October 19
New York
L 96–121
Jaylen Brown (17)
Mickey , Young (7)
Demetrius Jackson (4)
TD Garden 5–2
2016–17 season schedule
Standings
Division
Conference
Regular season
2016–17 game log
October: 2–1 (home: 1–0; road: 1–1)
November
: 8–7 (home: 3–4; road: 5–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
4
November 2
Chicago
W 107–100
Amir Johnson (23)
Amir Johnson (6)
Isaiah Thomas (9)
TD Garden 3–1
5
November 3
@ Cleveland
L 122–128
Isaiah Thomas (30)
Zeller , Bradley (10)
Thomas , Zeller (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 3–2
6
November 6
Denver
L 107–123
Isaiah Thomas (30)
Avery Bradley (11)
Avery Bradley (6)
TD Garden 3–3
7
November 9
@ Washington
L 93–118
Isaiah Thomas (23)
Thomas , Olynyk (6)
Isaiah Thomas (10)
Verizon Center 3–4
8
November 11
New York
W 115–87
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Avery Bradley (10)
Marcus Smart (10)
TD Garden 4–4
9
November 12
@ Indiana
W 105–99
Isaiah Thomas (23)
Amir Johnson (9)
Bradley , Thomas (5)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 5–4
10
November 14
@ New Orleans
L 105–106
Isaiah Thomas (37)
Avery Bradley (10)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
Smoothie King Center 5–5
11
November 16
Dallas
W 90–83
Isaiah Thomas (30)
Avery Bradley (13)
Isaiah Thomas (6)
TD Garden 6–5
12
November 18
Golden State
L 88–104
Avery Bradley (17)
Avery Bradley (10)
Terry Rozier (5)
TD Garden 6–6
13
November 19
@ Detroit
W 94–92
Al Horford (18)
Al Horford (11)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 7–6
14
November 21
@ Minnesota
W 99–93
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Horford , Smart (6)
Horford , Smart (5)
Target Center 8–6
15
November 23
@ Brooklyn
W 111–92
Isaiah Thomas (23)
Amir Johnson (9)
Al Horford (8)
Barclays Center 9–6
16
November 25
San Antonio
L 103–109
Isaiah Thomas (24)
Al Horford (10)
Marcus Smart (10)
TD Garden 9–7
17
November 28
@ Miami
W 112–104
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Tyler Zeller (7)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
American Airlines Arena 10–7
18
November 30
Detroit
L 114–121
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Avery Bradley (10)
Terry Rozier (6)
TD Garden 10–8
December
: 10–6 (home: 4–2; road: 6–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
19
December 2
Sacramento
W 97–92
Al Horford (26)
Bradley , Jerebko (9)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 11−8
20
December 3
@ Philadelphia
W 107–106
Isaiah Thomas (37)
Avery Bradley (9)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
Wells Fargo Center 12–8
21
December 5
@ Houston
L 106–107
Al Horford (21)
Avery Bradley (10)
Al Horford (9)
Toyota Center 12–9
22
December 7
@ Orlando
W 117–87
Avery Bradley (23)
Jae Crowder (10)
Al Horford (8)
Amway Center 13–9
23
December 9
Toronto
L 94–101
Bradley , Horford (19)
Kelly Olynyk (9)
Al Horford (6)
TD Garden 13–10
24
December 11
@ Oklahoma City
L 96–99
Al Horford (19)
Amir Johnson (8)
Marcus Smart (9)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 13–11
25
December 14
@ San Antonio
L 101–108
Avery Bradley (25)
Avery Bradley (10)
Bradley , Smart (9)
AT&T Center 13–12
26
December 16
Charlotte
W 96–88
Isaiah Thomas (26)
Al Horford (8)
Horford , Smart , Thomas (5)
TD Garden 14–12
27
December 18
@ Miami
W 105–95
Isaiah Thomas (23)
Al Horford (7)
Al Horford (8)
American Airlines Arena 15–12
28
December 20
@ Memphis
W 112–109 (OT)
Isaiah Thomas (44)
Al Horford (14)
Isaiah Thomas (6)
FedExForum 16–12
29
December 22
@ Indiana
W 109–102
Isaiah Thomas (28)
Al Horford (11)
Isaiah Thomas (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17–12
30
December 23
Oklahoma City
L 112–117
Isaiah Thomas (34)
Johnson , Bradley , Horford , Jerebko (6)
Isaiah Thomas (10)
TD Garden 17–13
31
December 25
@ New York
W 119–114
Isaiah Thomas (27)
Al Horford (7)
Marcus Smart (7)
Madison Square Garden 18–13
32
December 27
Memphis
W 113–103
Avery Bradley (23)
Amir Johnson (10)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 19–13
33
December 29
@ Cleveland
L 118–124
Isaiah Thomas (31)
Jonas Jerebko (7)
Isaiah Thomas (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 19–14
34
December 30
Miami
W 117–114
Isaiah Thomas (52)
Al Horford (6)
Marcus Smart (6)
TD Garden 20–14
January
: 10–4 (home: 8–2; road: 2–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
35
January 3
Utah
W 115–104
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Kelly Olynyk (7)
Isaiah Thomas (15)
TD Garden 21–14
36
January 6
Philadelphia
W 110–106
Avery Bradley (26)
Al Horford (12)
Marcus Smart (8)
TD Garden 22–14
37
January 7
New Orleans
W 117–108
Isaiah Thomas (38)
Al Horford (7)
Al Horford (8)
TD Garden 23–14
38
January 10
@ Toronto
L 106–114
Isaiah Thomas (27)
Al Horford (9)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
Air Canada Centre 23–15
39
January 11
Washington
W 117–108
Isaiah Thomas (38)
Al Horford (9)
Isaiah Thomas (5)
TD Garden 24–15
40
January 13
@ Atlanta
W 103–101
Isaiah Thomas (28)
Jae Crowder (9)
Isaiah Thomas (9)
Philips Arena 25–15
41
January 16
Charlotte
W 108–98
Isaiah Thomas (35)
Kelly Olynyk (9)
Horford , Olynyk , Smart , Thomas (4)
TD Garden 26–15
42
January 18
New York
L 106–117
Isaiah Thomas (39)
Horford , Johnson (7)
Al Horford (10)
TD Garden 26–16
43
January 21
Portland
L 123–127 (OT)
Isaiah Thomas (41)
Al Horford (9)
Smart , Thomas (6)
TD Garden 26–17
44
January 24
@ Washington
L 108–123
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Jae Crowder (6)
Isaiah Thomas (13)
Verizon Center 26–18
45
January 25
Houston
W 120–109
Isaiah Thomas (38)
Jae Crowder (10)
Horford , Thomas (9)
TD Garden 27–18
46
January 27
Orlando
W 128–98
Isaiah Thomas (21)
Jonas Jerebko (8)
Marcus Smart (11)
TD Garden 28–18
47
January 28
@ Milwaukee
W 112–108 (OT)
Isaiah Thomas (37)
Johnson , Olynyk (7)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
Bradley Center 29–18
48
January 30
Detroit
W 113–109
Isaiah Thomas (41)
Jonas Jerebko (10)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
TD Garden 30–18
February
: 8–4 (home: 4–1; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
49
February 1
Toronto
W 109–104
Isaiah Thomas (44)
Jae Crowder (8)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 31–18
50
February 3
L.A. Lakers
W 113–107
Isaiah Thomas (38)
Kelly Olynyk (9)
Al Horford (8)
TD Garden 32–18
51
February 5
L.A. Clippers
W 107–102
Isaiah Thomas (28)
Al Horford (15)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
TD Garden 33–18
52
February 8
@ Sacramento
L 92–108
Isaiah Thomas (26)
Kelly Olynyk (8)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
Golden 1 Center 33–19
53
February 9
@ Portland
W 120–111
Isaiah Thomas (34)
Olynyk , Brown (8)
Rozier , Smart (5)
Moda Center 34–19
54
February 11
@ Utah
W 112–104
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Al Horford (9)
Thomas , Smart (5)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 35–19
55
February 13
@ Dallas
W 111–98
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Olynyk , Johnson (7)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
American Airlines Center 36–19
56
February 15
Philadelphia
W 116–108
Isaiah Thomas (33)
Kelly Olynyk (7)
Marcus Smart (5)
TD Garden 37–19
57
February 16
@ Chicago
L 103–104
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Kelly Olynyk (7)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
United Center 37–20
All-Star Break
58
February 24
@ Toronto
L 97–107
Isaiah Thomas (20)
Amir Johnson (6)
Isaiah Thomas (5)
Air Canada Centre 37–21
59
February 26
@ Detroit
W 104–98
Isaiah Thomas (33)
Jae Crowder (11)
Crowder , Horford (5)
Palace of Auburn Hills 38–21
60
February 27
Atlanta
L 98–114
Isaiah Thomas (19)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 38–22
March
: 11–5 (home: 8–1; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
61
March 1
Cleveland
W 103–99
Isaiah Thomas (31)
Crowder , Horford (10)
Al Horford (10)
TD Garden 39–22
62
March 3
@ L. A. Lakers
W 115–95
Isaiah Thomas (18)
Jaylen Brown (8)
Isaiah Thomas (8)
Staples Center 40–22
63
March 5
@ Phoenix
L 106–109
Isaiah Thomas (35)
Jae Crowder (10)
Isaiah Thomas (5)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 40–23
64
March 6
@ L. A. Clippers
L 102–116
Isaiah Thomas (32)
Jae Crowder (8)
Isaiah Thomas (5)
Staples Center 40–24
65
March 8
@ Golden State
W 99–86
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Jae Crowder (10)
Al Horford (6)
Oracle Arena 41–24
66
March 10
@ Denver
L 99–119
Isaiah Thomas (21)
Marcus Smart (7)
Isaiah Thomas (5)
Pepsi Center 41–25
67
March 12
Chicago
W 100–80
Isaiah Thomas (22)
Jae Crowder (10)
Al Horford (6)
TD Garden 42–25
68
March 15
Minnesota
W 117–104
Isaiah Thomas (27)
Al Horford (9)
Al Horford (8)
TD Garden 43–25
69
March 17
@ Brooklyn
W 98–95
Jae Crowder (24)
Jae Crowder (12)
Marcus Smart (5)
Barclays Center 44–25
70
March 19
@ Philadelphia
L 99–105
Al Horford (27)
Al Horford (8)
Marcus Smart (8)
Wells Fargo Center 44–26
71
March 20
Washington
W 110–102
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Al Horford (5)
TD Garden 45–26
72
March 22
Indiana
W 109–100
Isaiah Thomas (25)
Horford , Olynyk (8)
Al Horford (8)
TD Garden 46–26
73
March 24
Phoenix
W 130–120
Isaiah Thomas (34)
Horford , Crowder (10)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 47–26
74
March 26
Miami
W 112–108
Isaiah Thomas (30)
Al Horford (10)
Marcus Smart (9)
TD Garden 48–26
75
March 29
Milwaukee
L 100–103
Isaiah Thomas (32)
Marcus Smart (11)
Al Horford (6)
TD Garden 48–27
76
March 31
Orlando
W 117–116
Isaiah Thomas (35)
Al Horford (9)
Isaiah Thomas (7)
TD Garden 49–27
April: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
77
April 2
@ New York
W 110–94
Isaiah Thomas (19)
Jonas Jerebko (9)
Isaiah Thomas (6)
Madison Square Garden 50–27
78
April 5
Cleveland
L 91–114
Isaiah Thomas (26)
Bradley , Horford (7)
Isaiah Thomas (6)
TD Garden 50–28
79
April 6
@ Atlanta
L 116–123
Isaiah Thomas (35)
Kelly Olynyk (8)
Marcus Smart (7)
Philips Arena 50–29
80
April 8
@ Charlotte
W 121–114
Isaiah Thomas (35)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Al Horford (7)
Spectrum Center 51–29
81
April 10
Brooklyn
W 114–105
Isaiah Thomas (27)
Crowder , Horford , Jerebko (8)
Crowder , Smart (6)
TD Garden 52–29
82
April 12
Milwaukee
W 112–94
Gerald Green (18)
Green , Horford (6)
Smart , Thomas (8)
TD Garden 53–29
2016–17 season schedule
Roster
2016–17 Boston Celtics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SG 0
Bradley, Avery
180 lb (82 kg)
1990-11-26
Texas
SF 7
Brown, Jaylen
225 lb (102 kg)
1996-10-24
California
SF 99
Crowder, Jae
235 lb (107 kg)
1990-07-06
Marquette
SG 30
Green, Gerald
205 lb (93 kg)
1986-01-26
Gulf Shores Academy HS (TX)
PF 42
Horford, Al
250 lb (113 kg)
1986-06-03
Florida
PG 9
Jackson, Demetrius (DL)
201 lb (91 kg)
1994-09-07
Notre Dame
PF 8
Jerebko, Jonas
231 lb (105 kg)
1987-03-02
Sweden
PF 90
Johnson, Amir
240 lb (109 kg)
1987-05-01
Westchester HS (CA)
PF 55
Mickey, Jordan (DL)
235 lb (107 kg)
1994-07-09
LSU
C 41
Olynyk, Kelly
238 lb (108 kg)
1991-04-19
Gonzaga
PG 12
Rozier, Terry
190 lb (86 kg)
1994-03-17
Louisville
PG 36
Smart, Marcus
227 lb (103 kg)
1994-03-06
Oklahoma State
PG 4
Thomas, Isaiah
185 lb (84 kg)
1989-02-07
Washington
SG 13
Young, James
215 lb (98 kg)
1995-08-16
Kentucky
C 44
Zeller, Tyler
253 lb (115 kg)
1990-01-17
North Carolina
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(DL) On assignment to D-League affiliateRoster
Playoffs
2017 playoff game log
First Round: 4–2 (home: 1–2; road: 3–0)
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Series
1
April 30
Washington
W 123–111
Isaiah Thomas (33)
Al Horford (9)
Al Horford (10)
TD Garden 1–0
2
May 2
Washington
W 129–119 (OT)
Isaiah Thomas (53)
Al Horford (12)
Marcus Smart (5)
TD Garden 2–0
3
May 4
@ Washington
L 89–116
Al Horford (16)
Jae Crowder (7)
Isaiah Thomas (4)
Verizon Center 2–1
4
May 7
@ Washington
L 102–121
Isaiah Thomas (19)
Crowder , Rozier (7)
Marcus Smart (6)
Verizon Center 2–2
5
May 10
Washington
W 123–101
Avery Bradley (29)
Marcus Smart (11)
Isaiah Thomas (9)
TD Garden 3–2
6
May 12
@ Washington
L 91–92
Bradley , Thomas (27)
Kelly Olynyk (8)
Jae Crowder (8)
Verizon Center 3–3
7
May 15
Washington
W 115–105
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Horford , Smart (6)
Isaiah Thomas (12)
TD Garden 4–3
Conference Finals: 1–4 (home: 0–3; road: 1–1)
2017 playoff schedule
Player statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
Awards
References
^ "Boston Celtics sign Al Horford" . nba.com/celtics . July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016 .^ "Gerald Green returns to where it all started" . nba.com/celtics . July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016 .^ ESPN News Services (July 1, 2016). "Evan Turner agrees to 4-year, $70M deal with Blazers" . Retrieved July 1, 2016 .^ SI Wire (July 1, 2016). "Report: Portland, Evan Turner agree to four-year, $70 million deal" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 1, 2016 .^ "Raptors Sign Jared Sullinger" . NBA.com . July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016 .^ "James Young Earns Celtics' Final Roster Spot" . NBA.com . October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016 .^ Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook named Players of the Week ^ Thomas, Curry and Durant named Kia Players of Month for January ^ Isaiah Thomas, Stephen Curry named NBA Players of the Week ^ "Celtics' Brad Stevens to coach East All-Stars" . NBA.com. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017 .
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