1968 Overview

From Hoopedia

1967-68 NBA Season

Having lost to the 76ers in the 1967 playoffs, ending their string of eight straight championships, the Boston Celtics had to listen to a new tune the following season.

“Everywhere we went, especially in Philadelphia, they had a chant: ‘Boston’s dead. Boston’s dead,’” Bailey Howell said. “Everywhere we went, the fans were real vocal. But it just made you more determined, really. It helped you to play.”

Helped so well, in fact, that the Celtics claimed their 10th title. The NBA greeted two more expansion franchises, Seattle and San Diego, which were installed in the Western Division while Detroit moved to the East. The NBA was now a 12-team league and played an 82-game schedule for the first time.

The season also brought the birth of the rival ABA, with 11 teams playing a 78-game schedule in places such as Dallas, Denver, Houston and Oakland. The league gained credibility with the naming of NBA legend George Mikan as its first commissioner and with Rick Barry’s decision to sign with the Oakland franchise.

In the NBA, Detroit’s Dave Bing became the first guard to lead the NBA in scoring (27.1) since 1948. But the real story was the return of the Celtics, who came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Eastern Finals over Philadelphia, then defeated the Lakers in six games to take the title.

With the win, Bill Russell proved that he could play and coach at the same time, which meant the same old tune for opponents.