The 1987–88 Boston Celtics season was the 42nd season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive time, becoming the first team to do so since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics (which reached the previous thirteen).

PG-3 Dennis Johnson SG-44 Danny Ainge SF-33 Larry Bird PF-32 Kevin McHale C-00 Robert Parish

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) New York Knicks: Celtics win series 3-1

Last Playoff Meeting: 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-3)

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 4-3

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-1)

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4-2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1987 Eastern Conference Finals (Boston won 4-3)

The Celtics would end up losing to the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals as an aging Celtics team was beginning to falter against a younger and fresher pistons team. This would be the first time in 5 years the the Celtics would not make it the finals and would not return to another finals until 2008.

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