Mickey the Mouth
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- May 21, 2026
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Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame Celtics coach Bill Fitch was hired to that job shortly after resigning from the same position with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1979. Having previously coached at various collegiate institutions before joining the NBA as the head coach of the Cavaliers, Fitch was a former Marine drill instructor.
His rigorous training methods garnered considerable popularity with rookie fellow future Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who attributes his high-energy work ethic to Fitch's influence. The Davenport native went on to win an NBA championship with the Celtics at the end of the 1980-81 season and received his second Coach of the Year award for the previous season with the team.
Fitch resigned at the end of the 1982-83 season after being swept in the East Semis by the Milwaukee Bucks in four games after amassing a 242-86 regular-season record and a 26-19 postseason record, good for .738 and .578 winning records, respectively.
[IMG alt="19 Oct 1994: Head coach Bill Fitch of the Los Angeles Clippers watches from the bench during an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Anaheim Pond in Anaheim, California. The Lakers defeated the Clippers 120-104.
Getty Images/ Stephen Dunn"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtics_...es_699/da963de91d65f8458761bbd40e77ef85[/IMG]
Today is also the date of the Charlie Scott – Paul Westphal trade, which sent Westphal to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Scott. Westphal, a point guard drafted by the Celtics out of USC with the 10th overall pick of the 1972 NBA Draft, averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 points, and 2.1 assists per game with the team.
Scott, also a guard, had also been drafted by Boston (in the 1970 NBA Draft) but had already signed with the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association, where he played two seasons before joining the Suns. Scott played two seasons with the Celtics, winning a championship with the team in 1976 and averaging 17.5 points, 4.2 boards, and 4.4 assists per game before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1977.
In 1976 on this date, center Dave Cowens went off in Game 1 of the Finals against the Suns with a 25-point, 21-rebound explosion as the Celtics defeated Phoenix 98-87.
It would end with the Celtics winning their 13th NBA championship four games to two.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Fitch hire; Westphal/Scott deal; 'Beat LA' chant born
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His rigorous training methods garnered considerable popularity with rookie fellow future Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who attributes his high-energy work ethic to Fitch's influence. The Davenport native went on to win an NBA championship with the Celtics at the end of the 1980-81 season and received his second Coach of the Year award for the previous season with the team.
Fitch resigned at the end of the 1982-83 season after being swept in the East Semis by the Milwaukee Bucks in four games after amassing a 242-86 regular-season record and a 26-19 postseason record, good for .738 and .578 winning records, respectively.
[IMG alt="19 Oct 1994: Head coach Bill Fitch of the Los Angeles Clippers watches from the bench during an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Anaheim Pond in Anaheim, California. The Lakers defeated the Clippers 120-104.
Getty Images/ Stephen Dunn"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtics_...es_699/da963de91d65f8458761bbd40e77ef85[/IMG]
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Today is also the date of the Charlie Scott – Paul Westphal trade, which sent Westphal to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Scott. Westphal, a point guard drafted by the Celtics out of USC with the 10th overall pick of the 1972 NBA Draft, averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 points, and 2.1 assists per game with the team.
Scott, also a guard, had also been drafted by Boston (in the 1970 NBA Draft) but had already signed with the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association, where he played two seasons before joining the Suns. Scott played two seasons with the Celtics, winning a championship with the team in 1976 and averaging 17.5 points, 4.2 boards, and 4.4 assists per game before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1977.
Historic milestones
In 1976 on this date, center Dave Cowens went off in Game 1 of the Finals against the Suns with a 25-point, 21-rebound explosion as the Celtics defeated Phoenix 98-87.
It would end with the Celtics winning their 13th NBA championship four games to two.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Fitch hire; Westphal/Scott deal; 'Beat LA' chant born
Continue reading...