Boston Celtics

Lakers-Celtics Rivalry. Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named the Associated Press' NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004-2005 season. HEAD COACH: Doc Rivers
ASSISTANT COACHES: Dave Wohl, Tony Brown, Jim Brewer, Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill and Paul Pressey
. They entered the first round (the Wild Card portion) of the playoffs as a lower seed, but proceeded to be eliminated by opponent New York Jets, who won in overtime over the Chargers 20-17. Rookie placekicker Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard field goal that would have advanced San Diego into the next round, thus opening the door for a Jets victory. Bench. The Chargers went on to finish the regular season 12-4. Starters. An estimated 1200+ fans waited as long as six hours to greet the team at Chargers Park, their year-round training facility starting in 2005.

Under current general manager Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics won the division championship in the 2004-2005 season, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in game 7 in the postseason. In fact, the Chargers had not made the post-season since 1995, the year after their Super Bowl XXIX appearance, until on December 19, 2004, a year removed from their disastrous 4-12 season of 2003, they finally earned a trip back to the post-season by capturing the AFC West Division Title, winning their eighth straight game while shutting out the Cleveland Browns 21-0. In 1994 the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden into the Fleet Center. They were the host team for Super Bowls XXII, XXXII, and XXXVII in San Diego, but failed to make the playoffs in any of these seasons. After the retirement of Bird, the Celtics yet again went into rebuilding. The underdog Chargers lost to the 49ers, 49-26. The three Finals where the Celtics played the Lakers featured the matchup of Bird versus NBA great Magic Johnson. In 1995, the San Diego Chargers made their first and only Super Bowl appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami.

Jones led the Celtics to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances against the Lakers and the Houston Rockets between 1984 and 1987, winning championships in 1984 and 1986. The game began with San Diego building a 24-0 lead and then losing all of it by early in the third quarter. Jones was named head coach. Both quarterbacks threw for more than 400 yards, and tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes and blocked a crucial field goal despite despite suffering from heat-induced fatigue and cramps. The team won a title in 1981, and the following year K.C. On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable double-overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, ultimately winning 41-38. With the acquisition of NBA legend Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, the Celtics yet again became a dominant team in the NBA, playing in 5 NBA Finals in the 1980s. 17, 1979, the Chargers defeat the Denver Broncos 17-7 for their first AFC West division title since the merger before a national Monday Night Football television audience and their home crowd.

The rebuilding phase only lasted two years. On Dec. After the 1976 victory, though, Boston went into another phase of rebuilding. San Diego also clinched their first playoff berth in 14 years with a 35-0 victory against the New Orleans Saints. In 1974 the team bested the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, and in 1976 the team won yet another championship after defeating the Phoenix Suns. In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division after the NFL merger with the AFL. 1979 marks a positive turning point for the Chargers franchise as quarterback Dan Fouts sets an NFL record with his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game in which he threw for 303 yards against the Oakland Raiders. However, with Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics became dominant again. The Chargers of that era were widely acknowledged as having the most striking uniforms in the history of pro football.

The next season was one of rebuilding as the Celtics had their first losing record in a long time. The Chargers franchise appeared in the first two American Football League Championship games and five altogether, winning the AFL title in 1963 with a 51 - 10 thumping of the Boston Patriots. sports history. The phrase was later appropriated by various NFL teams. The streak of 8 consecutive NBA championships is the longest streak of consecutive championships in U.S. The Chargers were the originators of the term "Fearsome Foursome" to describe their all-star defensive line, anchored by Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd. Russell retired after the 1969 season, effectively ending a dominant Celtics dynasty that had garnered 11 NBA titles. They also played defense, as indicated by their professional football record 49 pass interceptions in 1961.

The aging team managed two more championships, though, in 1968 and 1969, each against the Lakers in the NBA Finals. With stars such as Lance Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the Chargers' offense struck fear into the hearts of AFL defenders. Russell took over as a player and coach. However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken. Their only coach for the ten year life of the AFL was Sid Gillman, a Hall of Famer who forced his competition to try to field as professional a product as the Chargers. After the 1966 championship, though, Auerbach retired. The Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers were one of the elements that made the American Football League the genesis of modern professional football. The Celtics would eventually meet the Lakers a total of 10 times in the NBA Finals. In his day, he set the pro football record of consecutive games with a reception.

During that timespan, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals six times, starting an intense- and sometimes bitter- rivalry. The early AFL years of the San Diego Chargers were highlighted by the outstanding play of wide receiver Lance Alworth. Under coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics won another seven championships for eight championships in a row. The Chargers only spent one season in L.A. before moving to San Diego in 1961. In 1959, with Russell and Jones, the Celtics won the NBA Championship with the sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers. Established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959, in 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles. Jones, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last 8 seasons. Note: The throwback jersey helmets are white with a yellow lightning bolt and the player number in black..

However, with the acquisition of K.C. The Chargers now annually wear throwback uniforms from the 1960's that are sentimental favorites. In 1957, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games. Note: The original colors of the Charger franchise was Electric blue (sky blue), gold, and white. Louis Hawks in seven games, giving the Celtics the first of a NBA record 16 NBA Championships. The San Diego Chargers are a National Football League team based in San Diego, California. Russell had an immediate impact; that year, the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the then St. Eli Manning.