2003–04 Boston Celtics season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Celtics acquired Raef LaFrentz, a teammate of Paul Pierce from the University of Kansas, from the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics roster move continued in December when Tony Battie and Eric Williams were both traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ricky Davis. In February, Mike James was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Lindsey Hunter and Chucky Atkins in a three-team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks. However, Hunter was waived after the trade and later re-signed with the Pistons. The team also released Vin Baker, who signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.

2003–04 Boston Celtics season
Head coach
General managerChris Wallace
OwnersBoston Basketball Partners L.L.C.
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Pacers 0–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net New England
RadioWWZN
< 2002–03 2004–05 >

Celtics head coach Jim O'Brien resigned after a 22–24 start to the season. He was replaced by John Carroll for the remainder of the season. However, the Celtics would lose 12 of their first 13 games under Carroll. When General Manager Danny Ainge stated that the Celtics would be better off missing the playoffs, the statement seemed to motivate the team as they posted a 9–5 record in March. The Celtics, despite finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division with a low 36–46 record, qualified for the playoffs as the number 8 seed, making them the first NBA team to reach the playoffs with a below .500 record since the 1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers, who were swept by the Utah Jazz that postseason. They were swept in four games by the Indiana Pacers in the opening round. Pierce was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. Following the season, Carroll was fired as coach and replaced by Doc Rivers, who also fired by the Orlando Magic after 1–10 start.

Neither of the Celtics' home playoff games against Indiana sold out, an increasingly rare occurrence among any NBA playoff teams by the 2000s. The team only drew over 17,300 to Game 3 and about 16,400 to Game 4, thousands of tickets below the FleetCenter's capacity of 18,624. (In fact, neither did Indiana, who only drew as high as 17,000 to Game 2.)

Draft picks

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 16 Troy Bell (traded to Memphis) PG   United States Boston College
1 20 Dahntay Jones (traded to Memphis) SG   United States Duke
2 56 Brandon Hunter PF   United States Ohio

Roster

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2003–04 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 7 Atkins, Chucky 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1974–08–14 South Florida
PG 11 Banks, Marcus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1981–11–19 UNLV
SG 13 Barros, Dana 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 1967–04–13 Boston College
C 30 Blount, Mark 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–11–30 Pittsburgh
SF 12 Davis, Ricky 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1979–09–23 Iowa
PF 56 Hunter, Brandon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1980–11–24 Ohio
SG 20 Jones, Jumaine 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1979–02–10 Georgia
C 45 LaFrentz, Raef 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976–05–29 Kansas
PF 0 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–02–01 Kentucky
C 4 Mihm, Chris 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1979–07–16 Texas
C 43 Perkins, Kendrick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1984–11–10 Clifton J. Ozen HS (TX)
G/F 34 Pierce, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1977–10–13 Kansas
C 5 Stewart, Michael 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–04–25 California
SG 44 Welsch, Jiří 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1980–01–27 Czech Republic
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2004–02–19

Regular season

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Season standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 28–13 19–22 18–7
x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 5 29–12 13–28 15–10
x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 8 23–18 16–25 15–7
x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 11 19–22 17–24 14–10
Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 14 21–20 12–29 10–14
Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 22 17–24 8–33 3–21
Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 26 11–30 10–31 8–16
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744
2 y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 14
3 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7
4 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 19
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20
7 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26
10 Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28
11 Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 28
12 Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33
13 Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 36
14 Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38
15 Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 40

Record vs. opponents

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2003-04 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Boston 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–1
Chicago 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–3
Cleveland 3–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–2
Dallas 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–0
Detroit 3–1 3–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0
Golden State 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Houston 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–0
Indiana 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1
L.A. Clippers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–0 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–0
Memphis 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–0
Miami 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–0
New Jersey 3–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–0
New Orleans 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
New York 3–0 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 4–0
Orlando 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 4–0
Philadelphia 2–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–1
Portland 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–0 4–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 2–0
Seattle 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–1
Toronto 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3
Utah 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1
Washington 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1

Game log

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Playoffs

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2004 playoff game log
First Round: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 17 @ Indiana L 88–104 Paul Pierce (20) Paul Pierce (10) three players tied (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
16,605
0–1
2 April 20 @ Indiana L 90–103 Paul Pierce (27) Mark Blount (10) Chucky Atkins (6) Conseco Fieldhouse
17,347
0–2
3 April 23 Indiana L 85–108 Ricky Davis (16) Mark Blount (8) Ricky Davis (7) FleetCenter
17,680
0–3
4 April 25 Indiana L 75–90 Paul Pierce (27) Mark Blount (13) Walter McCarty (5) FleetCenter
16,389
0–4
2004 schedule

Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

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Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins 24 24 33.0 .418 .351 .778 1.9 5.3 1.1 .0 12.0
Vin Baker 37 33 27.0 .505 .000 .732 5.7 1.5 .6 .6 11.3
Marcus Banks 81 2 17.1 .400 .314 .756 1.6 2.2 1.1 .2 5.9
Dana Barros 1 0 11.0 .667 1.000 .0 .0 .0 .0 6.0
Tony Battie 23 6 21.8 .479 1.000 .697 5.1 .9 .3 .9 5.9
Mark Blount 82 73 29.3 .566 .719 7.2 .9 1.0 1.3 10.3
Kedrick Brown 21 10 19.4 .455 .375 .615 3.2 1.2 .8 .1 5.2
Ricky Davis 57 5 29.4 .488 .380 .732 4.2 2.6 1.2 .2 14.1
Brandon Hunter 36 12 11.3 .457 .000 .442 3.3 .5 .4 .0 3.5
Mike James 55 55 30.6 .418 .381 .800 3.2 4.4 1.3 .0 10.7
Jumaine Jones 42 2 8.9 .344 .295 .609 1.6 .3 .3 .2 2.2
Raef LaFrentz 17 1 19.3 .460 .200 .769 4.6 1.4 .5 .8 7.8
Walter McCarty 77 23 24.7 .388 .374 .756 3.1 1.6 .9 .3 7.9
Chris Mihm 54 16 17.4 .500 .644 5.1 .2 .5 .8 6.1
Kendrick Perkins 10 0 3.5 .533 .667 1.4 .3 .0 .2 2.2
Paul Pierce 80 80 38.7 .402 .299 .819 6.5 5.1 1.6 .7 23.0
Michael Stewart 17 0 4.2 .400 .500 .6 .0 .1 .1 .3
Jiří Welsch 81 68 26.9 .428 .381 .743 3.7 2.3 1.2 .1 9.2
Eric Williams 21 0 24.4 .435 .344 .716 4.5 1.2 1.0 .0 11.6

Playoffs

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Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins 4 4 33.3 .436 .300 .895 3.5 3.8 .8 .0 13.5
Marcus Banks 4 0 15.0 .438 .400 1.000 1.8 1.8 .5 .3 5.0
Dana Barros 1 0 1.0 .000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
Mark Blount 4 4 36.3 .486 .737 9.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 12.0
Ricky Davis 4 0 30.8 .400 .400 .688 3.0 3.5 .5 .0 11.8
Brandon Hunter 3 0 3.3 1.000 1.0 .3 .0 .3 .7
Jumaine Jones 2 0 14.0 .333 .000 2.5 1.0 .0 .0 2.0
Walter McCarty 4 4 31.8 .478 .400 5.3 2.0 .5 .5 7.0
Chris Mihm 4 0 16.3 .318 .600 4.5 .0 1.0 1.0 5.0
Paul Pierce 4 4 40.5 .342 .294 .839 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 20.8
Michael Stewart 1 0 2.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
Jiří Welsch 4 4 26.0 .478 .250 1.000 3.0 2.3 .5 .0 8.0
  • Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

Transactions

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Trades

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July 29, 2003 To Cleveland Cavaliers
J. R. Bremer
Bruno Šundov
2005 second-round pick
To Boston Celtics
Jumaine Jones
October 20, 2003 To Dallas Mavericks
Tony Delk
Antoine Walker
To Boston Celtics
Raef LaFrentz
Chris Mills
Jiří Welsch
2004 first-round pick
December 15, 2003 To Cleveland Cavaliers
Tony Battie
Kedrick Brown
Eric Williams
To Boston Celtics
Ricky Davis
Chris Mihm
Michael Stewart
2005 second-round pick
February 19, 2004 To Boston Celtics
Chucky Atkins (From Detroit)
Lindsey Hunter (From Detroit)
2004 first-round pick (From Detroit)
To Atlanta Hawks
Chris Mills (From Boston)
Željko Rebrača (From Detroit)
Bob Sura (From Detroit)
2004 first-round pick (From Detroit)
To Detroit Pistons
Mike James (From Boston)
Rasheed Wallace (From Atlanta)

Free agents

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Additions
Player Date signed Former team
Mike James July 25 Miami Heat
Subtractions
Player Date signed New Team
Vin Baker February 18 New York Knicks
Lindsey Hunter February 25 Detroit Pistons

References

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See also

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