“Boston is dead! Boston is dead!” That’s what they chanted in Philly back in ’67, when the 76ers stomped the Celtics 140-116 in Game 5 of the playoffs. It felt like the end, after eight straight titles, the dynasty was finished. John Havlicek, that legend, wasn’t having any of it though. His comeback was pure fire: “We’re only dead until October.” Talk about setting the tone for a comeback.
The Fall of a Dynasty and a Risky Move
The previous year, 1966-67, was a tough pill to swallow. After years of owning the league, the Celtics’ incredible winning streak ended. Red Auerbach, the coaching GOAT, had stepped down after the 1966 championship, passing the torch to none other than Bill Russell himself. Russell took on the player-coach role, something completely unheard of in today’s game. Can you imagine? Playing nearly 40 minutes a night and running the team from the bench at the same time? It’s wild to think about now, but it wasn’t uncommon in the NBA’s first three decades, with 40 such guys in history. The last one was even another Celtic, Dave Cowens, who went 27-41 in 1978-79. But back in ’67, Russell was filling the shoes of basketball’s most successful coach while still dominating on the court.
Building Back from the Brink
That 1966-67 season was a monster for the Sixers. The Celtics still put up a stellar 60-21 record, which would normally lead the league, but Philly just went bananas with a league-record 68-13. Boston took out New York 3-1 in the first round, then squared up with Wilt Chamberlain and that loaded 76ers squad. The Celtics actually won the season series 5-4, but in the playoffs, the Sixers came out hot, grabbing a 3-0 lead. The Celtics pride showed up for Game 4, pulling out a win, but Game 5 in Philly saw the Sixers unleash everything, and that’s when those infamous “Boston is dead!” chants started. Heading into the 1967-68 regular season, Russell was learning on the job, with zero assistant coaches, like every team back then. Luckily, his roster was packed with veteran leadership who could help him out when he was on the floor. Some familiar faces were gone, with Russell’s longtime teammate K.C. Jones retiring. K.C. was one of the few Celtics to retire without a ring, but he did have the distinction of being the first player to win eight titles without a loss, a mark Havlicek and Satch Sanders would later match. A newer face, Bailey Howell, a seven-year veteran, had been acquired the year prior. With one season of coaching under his belt, Russell was ready to chase winning again.
That 1967-68 season was all about proving the doubters wrong, showing everyone that the Celtics were far from dead. What kind of season would Russell and the team put together to shut everyone up?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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