The Boston Celtics are starting their preseason at present with video games in Abu Dhabi in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. What it’s possible you’ll not know is that that is the primary time for the reason that 2016-17 season that the Celtics are taking part in a preseason recreation away from an NBA stadium.
Earlier than the NBA modified the preseason schedule to 4 video games within the 2017-18 season, the Celtics used to play in arenas not solely throughout New England, however all around the world.
1988 McDonalds Open, Madrid, Spain
The primary time the Celtics ever went abroad to play a preseason recreation was in 1988 after they had been a part of the second annual McDonalds Open. The McDonalds Open had 4 of the most effective groups from all around the world competing in a mini event at Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid, Spain.
The Celtics had been representing the NBA on this event after the Milwaukee Bucks gained the primary McDonalds Open in 1987. Boston could be dealing with off in opposition to Actual Madrid of Spain who was the host membership, Scavolini Pesaro of Italy who had been the champions of the 1987-88 Serie A of the LBA, and Yugoslavia who simply completed with a silver medal within the 1988 Olympics.
Photograph by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Boston would make fast work of Yugoslavia within the semifinals of the event 113-85, as Larry Fowl dropped 27 factors to guide the Celtics to the win. Kevin McHale would additionally rating 21 factors, 4 blocks, and 11 rebounds and Robert Parish would have 20 factors and 15 rebounds. For Yugoslavia, future Celtics participant Dino Radja would have 15 factors and Chicago Bulls legend Tony Kukoc would have 17 factors.
The ultimate matchup for the Celtics could be in opposition to Actual Madrid. It was no simple activity as future Corridor of Famer Drazen Petrovic was an issue for the Celtics with 22 factors, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Nonetheless, behind Larry Fowl’s 29 factors, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds the Celtics would go on to win the sport and the event as Fowl was named the MVP of the 1988 McDonalds Open.
2007, Pallazetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy
Earlier than the 2007-08 season, the Boston Celtics made two trades that may not solely change the course Celtics historical past, however basketball historical past perpetually.
On June twenty eighth, they traded Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the fifth decide within the 2007 Draft for Ray Allen. On July thirty first, they traded Al Jefferson, Gerald Inexperienced, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratlif, a 2009 1st spherical decide, and Minnesota’s 2009 1st spherical decide to the Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett. Pairing Allen and Garnett alongside star Paul Pierce, the Celtics would kind The Large 3.
To start their reign of terror, the NBA had them be a part of the 2007 NBA Europe Stay Tour the place the Celtics performed the Toronto Raptors in Rome, Italy. The Celtics, decked out in inexperienced jerseys which had “Boston” within the colours of the Italian flag, beat the Raptors 89-85. The Large 3 would mix for 50 factors with Paul Pierce main the best way with 21 factors, Kevin Garnett had 19, and Ray Allen had 10.
2007, DCU Middle, Worcester, MA
The 2007-08 Celtics would additionally play the New Jersey Nets on October nineteenth on the DCU Middle in Worcester, Massachusetts. Over 10,000 individuals packed the DCU Middle that evening to witness the Large 3 Celtics in motion. Sadly, the sport in Worcester didn’t go as deliberate.
At halftime, the rating was 36-33 Celtics and the rest of the sport needed to be canceled as condensation from the ice rink beneath the court docket made the ground too slippery to play on. As a comfort, the Celtics provided an autograph session with the gamers for the followers, however that needed to be stopped after 20 minutes as a result of each individual within the enviornment swarmed the court docket.
2012, Ulker Sports activities Enviornment, Istanbul, Turkey
The Celtics file in opposition to worldwide competitors is 5-1 with the one loss on their resume in opposition to Fenerbahce Istanbul of Turkey. On October fifth, 2012, the Celtics took a visit to Istanbul for the primary preseason recreation of the 2012-13 season. Little did Boston know that Fenerbahce Ulker got here to play.
Fenerbahce took the lead early and seemingly by no means seemed again. Even within the 4th quarter when Jeff Inexperienced lower the deficit to three, Romain Sato hit a dagger nook three with beneath a minute to go pushing the lead again as much as 6. The ultimate rating was 97-91.
Romain Sato, who was taken with the 52nd decide of the 2004 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, led Fenerbahce with 24 factors and seven rebounds on 8-15 taking pictures from the sector and 4-4 from three-point vary. Bojan Bogdanovic was additionally a part of that Fenerbahce workforce after being drafted within the 2011 NBA Draft, he would have 11 factors on 4-11 taking pictures off the bench on this recreation. For the Celtics, Jeff Inexperienced and Jared Sullinger would lead the Celtics in scoring with 16 factors a bit as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett would mix for less than 14 factors. The Celtics then took off to Italy the place they might crush Olimpia Milano 105-75.
2010, 2013, SNHU Enviornment, Manchester, New Hampshire
The Celtics would play many preseason video games in Manchester, NH through the years. One of many earliest was within the 2010-2011 preseason when the Celtics would face off in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers. This was the Celtics debut for Shaquille O’Neal.
One other notable recreation in Manchester was on October twelfth, 2013 within the 2013-14 season when the Celtics took on the New York Knicks. Boston began out 0-3 on this preseason however was in a position to beat the Knicks for not solely their first win, however the first skilled win for Brad Stevens in his Celtics teaching profession. Rookie Kelly Olynyk led the best way with 15 factors as Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford dropped 13 factors within the 111-81 win.
2014, Cross Insurance coverage Enviornment, Portland, Maine
In 2009, the D-League permitted town of Portland, Maine as a brand new enlargement workforce named the Maine Crimson Claws. In 2012, the Celtics formally made the Crimson Claws their official D-League workforce.
The Celtics determined to schedule a preseason recreation on the Cross Insurance coverage Enviornment in Portland, ME on October fifteenth, 2014, making this the primary NBA recreation held in Portland in 19 years. The Celtics went on to lose this recreation to the Raptors 92-89 as Marcus Thornton could be the Celtics main scorer with 17 factors however Toronto was in a position to draw back down the stretch.
Regardless of the loss, this was an excellent nod to town of Portland and Maine Celtics, who’re nonetheless the G-League affiliate of the Celtics and are nonetheless going sturdy not too long ago. Final season, they made the G-League Finals.
2015, Barclaycard Middle, Madrid, Spain
As part of the NBA’s International Video games Europe 2015, the Boston Celtics confronted off in opposition to Olimpia Milano and Actual Madrid to start the 2015 preseason. This may be the primary time for the reason that 1988 McDonalds Open that the Celtics would play Actual Madrid. Wanting again on the video games there wasn’t a lot competitors for the Celtics as they might win 124-91 vs Olimpia Milano and 111-96 vs Actual Madrid.
One fascinating be aware concerning the recreation in Madrid was the 16 12 months outdated child for Actual Madrid, scoring 1 level on 0-2 taking pictures in 16 minutes in opposition to the Celtics. That participant was Luka Doncic who the Celtics confronted and subsequently beat within the 2024 NBA Finals.
2016, Mullins Middle, Amherst, MA
The 2016-17 season was the ultimate time the Celtics performed preseason video games in several arenas. The primary recreation was on October 4th, 2016 the place they performed the Philadelphia 76ers on the Mullins Middle on the campus of the College of Massachusetts Amherst.
UMass Amherst could be the house for 2 Celtics debuts: Jaylen Brown and Al Horford.
Jaylen Brown was the third decide within the 2016 NBA Draft and had a strong debut on this recreation. In 21 minutes, he would drop 8 factors, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds on 4-9 taking pictures from the sector.
Al Horford would additionally make his Celtics debut on this recreation after signing a 4-year, $113 million contract with Boston within the offseason. Horford would begin the sport and drop 8 factors and eight rebounds on 4-8 taking pictures in quarter-hour.
