2005 Boston Celtics

Finding your Boston Celtics atop their division used to be a given, but in recent years the Celtics have struggled. That makes the 2004-05 season a triumphant return to dominance, though the Celtics fell to the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs. With Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz anchoring the Celtics again this year, you can count on another exciting season, so you need to get your tickets now for what could be a Celtics championship season.

Celtics in the Basketball Hall of Fame include: Nate Archibald, Larry Bird, Walter Brown, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Wayne Embry, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, Bailey Howell, K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, Clyde Lovellette, Ed Macauley, Pete Maravich, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Andy Phillip, Frank Ramsey, Arnie Risen, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, John Thompson, and Bill Walton.

In 1995, the Boston Celtics moved from the historic Boston Garden into their new home, then known as the Fleet Center, since renamed TD Banknorth Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts. There hang the jerseys of Hall of Famers such as Larry Bird, Bill Walton, and Bill Russell. Also hanging from the rafters are a record sixteen NBA Championship banners, even more than Western Conference rivals the Los Angeles Lakers. Led by legendary coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics won eight consecutive NBA Championships between 1959 and 1966. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the NBA came up with a list of the fifty greatest players of all time. Thirteen Celtics appeared on the list, more than any other team in the league.

Boston is also home of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, who call Fenway Park their home. The Red Sox made a late run in the summer of 2003 and made it all the way to the American League Championship Series before losing in game seven to the archrival New York Yankees. The National Hockey League's Boston Bruins also call Boston home. The five-time Stanley Cup winners also play at the TD Banknorth Garden. The football team of choice in Boston is the New England Patriots, playing in Gillette Stadium less than 30 miles outside of Boston. The Patriots were the Super Bowl champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005.