1980–81 Boston Celtics season

In 1980–81 the Boston Celtics went 62-20 under coach Bill Fitch. Despite losing center Dave Cowens to retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went on to capture the 1981 NBA Championship over the Houston Rockets. The highlight was that this championship was achieved just two years after Larry Bird had been drafted. Cedric Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.

NBA draft
After the 1979–80 season, Auerbach completed what may be the most lopsided trade in NBA history. Auerbach had always been a fan of stockpiling draft picks, so even after the success of 1979–80 the Celtics had both the 1st and 13th picks in the 1980 NBA draft left over from the M.L. Carr trade. Auerbach saw an opportunity to improve the team immediately, sending the two picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for center Robert Parish and the Warriors first round pick, the 3rd overall, University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. With these three future Hall of Famers on the team the Celtics had a core in place to become a dominant team in the NBA.

Season standings
Notes
 * z, y – division champions
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * 1981 regular season schedule
 * 1981 regular season schedule

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 5
 * Chicago
 * W 121–109
 * Larry Bird (23)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Bird, Maxwell (5)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 7
 * Chicago
 * W 106–97
 * Archibald, Parish (27)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Larry Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 10
 * @ Chicago
 * W 113–107
 * Larry Bird (24)
 * Larry Bird (17)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * Chicago Stadium 19,995
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * April 12
 * @ Chicago
 * W 109–103
 * Larry Bird (35)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Tiny Archibald (6)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,249
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 21
 * Philadelphia
 * L 104–105
 * Larry Bird (33)
 * Robert Parish (13)
 * Tiny Archibald (9)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 22
 * Philadelphia
 * W 118–99
 * Larry Bird (34)
 * Larry Bird (16)
 * Larry Bird (5)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * April 24
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 100–110
 * Larry Bird (22)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Tiny Archibald (5)
 * Spectrum 18,276
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 26
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 105–107
 * Cedric Maxwell (20)
 * Larry Bird (17)
 * Tiny Archibald (14)
 * Spectrum 18,276
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * April 29
 * Philadelphia
 * W 111–109
 * Larry Bird (32)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Tiny Archibald (7)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * May 1
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 111–109
 * Larry Bird (25)
 * Larry Bird (16)
 * Tiny Archibald (6)
 * Spectrum 18,276
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * May 3
 * Philadelphia
 * W 91–90
 * Larry Bird (23)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Tiny Archibald (7)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 4–3


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 5
 * Houston
 * W 98–95
 * Larry Bird (18)
 * Larry Bird (21)
 * Larry Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * May 7
 * Houston
 * L 90–91
 * Larry Bird (19)
 * Larry Bird (21)
 * Archibald, Henderson (4)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 9
 * @ Houston
 * W 94–71
 * Cedric Maxwell (19)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * The Summit 16,121
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 10
 * @ Houston
 * L 86–91
 * Cedric Maxwell (24)
 * Cedric Maxwell (14)
 * Larry Bird (7)
 * The Summit 16,121
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * May 12
 * Houston
 * W 109–80
 * Cedric Maxwell (28)
 * Cedric Maxwell (15)
 * Larry Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * May 14
 * @ Houston
 * W 102–91
 * Larry Bird (27)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Tiny Archibald (12)
 * The Summit 16,121
 * 4–2

Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Award winners

 * Nate Archibald, All-NBA Second Team
 * Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
 * Cedric Maxwell, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
 * Kevin McHale, All-NBA Rookie Team