Editing Boston Celtics (section)

===1979–1992: Larry Bird era===
The relationship between Brown and Auerbach worsened with Brown's decision to acquire [[Bob McAdoo]] in February 1979,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/12/archives/knicks-send-mcadoo-to-celtics-for-3-picks-came-here-in-1976-mcadoo.html|title=Knicks Send McAdoo To Celtics for 3 Picks|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=February 12, 1979|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301121521/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/12/archives/knicks-send-mcadoo-to-celtics-for-3-picks-came-here-in-1976-mcadoo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in exchange for three first-round draft picks that Auerbach had planned to use to rebuild the franchise.<ref name="auto1">Golden, Daniel (May 10, 1987). "Brown Yearns for Old Kentucky Home; He'd Love to Return to the Governor's Mansion – And So Far, He's the Frontrunner". The Boston Globe.</ref> Again, Brown made the trade without consulting Auerbach.<ref>May, Peter (May 24, 2000). "Vindicated McAdoo Happily Heading for the Hall". The Boston Globe.</ref> Auerbach almost left Boston to take a job with the New York Knicks as a result.<ref name="auto1"/> With public support strongly behind Auerbach, Brown sold the team to [[Harry Mangurian]] in 1979 rather than run the risk of losing his famed general manager.<ref>Pluto, Terry (1990). Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association. Simon and Schuster. {{ISBN|0-671-67390-4}} at 347.</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_bio.html Bob McAdoo Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301202703/http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_bio.html |date=March 1, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved August 9, 2001.</ref> The Celtics would struggle through the season, going 29–53.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/timeline/ CNN/SI&nbsp;– 33: Timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605004844/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/timeline/ |date=June 5, 2012 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved April 2, 2002.</ref> Newcomers [[Chris Ford]], [[Rick Robey]], [[Cedric Maxwell]] and [[Nate Archibald]] failed to reverse the team's momentum.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1981.html All-Time Finals Challenge: 1981 Celtics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184156/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1981.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved June 4, 2000.</ref>

[[File:Larry Bird Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|12 time All-Star [[Larry Bird]] played in the Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.]]
Larry Bird debuted for the Celtics during the [[1979–80 NBA season|1979–80 season]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html Boston Celtics History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026022832/http://www.nba.com/celtics/celtics_history.html |date=October 26, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved February 10, 2008.</ref> With a new owner in place, Auerbach made a number of moves that would bring the team back to prominence. He almost immediately traded McAdoo,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_summary.html Bob McAdoo Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321145107/http://www.nba.com/history/players/mcadoo_summary.html |date=March 21, 2010 }}, nba.com/history. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref><!-- Under "Transactions" section --> a former NBA scoring champion, to the [[Detroit Pistons]] for [[guard (basketball)|guard]] [[M. L. Carr]], a defensive specialist, and two first-round picks in the [[1980 NBA draft]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> He also picked up [[point guard]] [[Gerald Henderson]] from the [[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]. Carr, Archibald, Henderson and Ford formed a highly competent backcourt, blending in well with the talented frontcourt of Cowens, Maxwell and Bird. With Bird winning [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] honors<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html Rookie of the Year Award Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307060322/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html |date=March 7, 2011 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> the team went 61–21, a 32-game improvement from the previous season. Playing strong in the playoffs, the Celtics fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980.html 1980 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711100852/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref>

After the season, Auerbach completed one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, garnering a pair of future Hall of Famers for a pair of first-round draft picks. Seeking to improve the team immediately, Auerbach sent the team's two first-round draft picks to the [[Golden State Warriors]] for both [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Robert Parish]]<ref name="parish" /> and the Warriors' first-round pick. He then used the pick the Celtics obtained from Golden State to select [[University of Minnesota]] [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980 Complete First R<!-- article title -->ound Results&nbsp;– 1980–89] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321192607/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980 |date=March 21, 2010 }}, nba.com/history/draft. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> The "Big Three" of Bird, McHale and Parish played together for the Celtics until 1992, won three NBA championships together,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_trios_in_sports/bird_mchale_parish.html|title=RealClearSports – 1. Bird/McHale/Parish|first=Posted on 10 26 10 2:05 AM|last=UTC|website=www.realclearsports.com|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145633/http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_trios_in_sports/bird_mchale_parish.html|archive-date=December 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and were later described as the best NBA frontcourt of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2004/07/12/376468/wheres-the-chief-robert-parish-left-the-game-vowing-never-to-return-but-like-his-old-teammates-from-boston-hes-no-longer-content-to-be-on-the-sideline|title=Where's the Chief? Robert Parish left the game vowing never to return. But like his old teammates from Boston, he's no longer content to be on the sideline|first=Leigh|last=Montville|website=Vault|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602143155/https://www.si.com/vault/2004/07/12/376468/wheres-the-chief-robert-parish-left-the-game-vowing-never-to-return-but-like-his-old-teammates-from-boston-hes-no-longer-content-to-be-on-the-sideline|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPRj9R73tA0C&q=bird+mchale+parish+best+frontcourt&pg=PA83|title=Rivals: Legendary Matchups That Made Sports History|first1=David K.|last1=Wiggins|first2=R. Pierre|last2=Rodgers|date=October 4, 2012|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=9781610753494|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=birdbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html|title=Larry Bird Bio|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|work=NBA.com|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101905/http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-01-19-9801190125-story.html|title=FANS JUST SEE THAT NUMBER|first=JEFF JACOBS; Courant Sports|last=Columnist|website=courant.com|date=January 19, 1998|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301121506/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-01-19-9801190125-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Robert Parish Celtics.jpg|thumb|Robert Parish]]
Despite losing [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Dave Cowens]] to retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went 62–20 under coach [[Bill Fitch]] in [[1980–81 NBA season|1980–81]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Season-by-Season Record|url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/season-by-season-record/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=BostonCelticsHistory.com|access-date=December 26, 2022|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226191015/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/season-by-season-record/|url-status=live}}</ref> Once again, the Celtics faced the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, falling behind 3–1 before coming back to win Game Seven, 91–90. The Celtics went on to win the 1981 NBA championship over the [[Houston Rockets]],<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981.html 1981 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712095419/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981.html |date=July 12, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> with Maxwell being named [[NBA Finals MVP]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/finalsmvps.html Finals MVP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812222132/http://www.nba.com/history/finalsmvps.html |date=August 12, 2017 }}, nba.com/history. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref>

Following the [[1981–82 NBA season|1981–82 season]], the Celtics once again met the 76ers in the playoffs. This time, they lost in seven games.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html 1982 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711135344/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> In [[1982–83 NBA season|1983]] the Celtics were swept in the playoffs (a first for the franchise) by the Milwaukee Bucks;<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html 1983 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604201835/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html |date=June 4, 2020 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 7, 2010.</ref> afterwards, Fitch resigned and the team was sold to new owners led by [[Don Gaston]].<ref name="gaston" />

In [[1983–84 NBA season|1983–84]], the Celtics under new coach [[K. C. Jones]] would go 62–20 and return to the [[1984 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] after a three-year hiatus.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1984.html Boston Celtics Roster and Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711215434/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1984.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Boston came back from a 2–1 deficit to defeat the Lakers for their 15th championship.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/The1984NBAFinals_121203.html The 1984 NBA Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184428/http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/The1984NBAFinals_121203.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Bird renewed his college rivalry with Lakers star [[Magic Johnson]] during this series. After the season, Auerbach officially retired as general manager, but maintained the position of team president.<ref name="red"/> He was succeeded by [[Jan Volk]].<ref name="red"/>

In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics met again in the Finals, with the Lakers winning.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985.html 1985 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404191546/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985.html |date=April 4, 2020 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> This was the first time the Lakers had defeated the Celtics in the Finals and the only time the team had won a championship at Boston Garden. During the following off-season, the Celtics acquired [[Bill Walton]] from the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] in exchange for [[Cedric Maxwell]].<ref>[http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2007/11/postscript-on-walton-maxwell-trade.html Postscript on the Walton-Maxwell Trade] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710191524/http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2007/11/postscript-on-walton-maxwell-trade.html |date=July 10, 2012 }}, lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com September 7, 1985. Retrieved December 11, 2010.</ref> Walton had been an All-Star and league MVP while leading the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] to the 1977 NBA championship, but injuries had hobbled him since. Considered the best passing center in NBA history, he stayed healthy and was a big part of the Celtics' success in 1986.

The Celtics won the second pick in the [[1986 NBA draft]] and drafted [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] star [[Len Bias]], one of the most heralded prospects of his era.<ref>Jackson, Scoop [https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/060619_bias The legend of Len Bias], sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Bias died 36 hours later of an accidental cocaine overdose.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/biasfrnt.htm The Len Bias Tragedy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201915/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/biasfrnt.htm |date=June 28, 2011 }}, washingtonpost.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Despite the tragedy, the Celtics remained competitive in [[1986–87 NBA season|1986–87]], going 59–23 and again winning the Eastern Conference Championship.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987.html 1987 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018123628/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987.html |date=October 18, 2011 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> They were defeated in the Finals by the Lakers in six games.

In 1988, the Celtics lost in six games to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988.html 1988 NBA Playoff Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711140305/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988.html |date=July 11, 2022 }}, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.</ref> Following the season, head coach K.C. Jones retired and was replaced by assistant [[Jimmy Rodgers (basketball)|Jimmy Rodgers]]. Boston's hopes for [[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89]] faded when Bird underwent a procedure to remove bone spurs in his feet early in the season, and the Celtics won just 42 games before a first-round playoff defeat to the Pistons. Bird returned in [[1989–90 NBA season|1989–90]] and led the Celtics to a 52–30 record. In the [[1990 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], the Celtics collapsed after winning the first two games in a best-of-five series against the New York Knicks, losing three straight games and the series. After the playoffs, Rodgers was fired and replaced by assistant coach and former Celtics player [[Chris Ford]].

Under Ford's leadership, the Celtics improved to 56–26 in [[1990–91 NBA season|1990–91]], recapturing the Atlantic Division title even though Bird missed 22 games with several injuries. The Celtics again lost to the Pistons in the playoffs. In 1992, a late-season rally allowed a 51–31 Celtics team to catch the New York Knicks and repeat as Atlantic Division champions. After sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the first round, the Celtics lost a seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinals series to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]. Back injuries limited Bird to only 45 regular season games, and just four of ten in the playoffs. After thirteen NBA seasons and a gold medal at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Olympics]] with the [[United States men's national basketball team|Dream Team]], continued back trouble led Bird to retire in 1992.