Bulls vs. Celtics Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year

Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.

The Chicago Bulls have been present in the NBA Playoffs 36 times in 59 seasons while the Boston Celtics did it 62 times in their 79 seasons. Between the two they total 24 of the 78 NBA championships (30.8%).

They have faced each other in 5 playoff series, all of themwon by the Celtics.

On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Bulls and the Celtics advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.

Summary of Their Playoff History
	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
Playoff Appearances:	36 (61.0%)	62 (78.5%)
Playoffs Missed:	23 (39.0%)	17 (21.5%)
NBA Titles:	6	18
Finals Lost:	0	5
All-time Playoff Record:	187 wins 162 losses (.536)	429 wins 320 losses (.573)
Total NBA Seasons:	59 1966-67 to present	79 1946-47 to present

Teams Comparison Playoff Performances Year by Year
Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
2025	DNQ (lost Play-in)	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
2024	DNQ (lost Play-in)	NBA Champions
2023	DNQ (lost Play-in)	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
2022	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost NBA Finals
2021	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2020	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
2009	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Celtics defeated the Bulls 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
2008	DNQ	NBA Champions
2007	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
2006	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
2005	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2004	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2003	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
2002	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
2001	DNQ	DNQ
2000	DNQ	DNQ

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
1999	DNQ	DNQ
1998	NBA Champions	DNQ
1997	NBA Champions	DNQ
1996	NBA Champions	DNQ
1995	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1994	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
1993	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1992	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
1991	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
1990	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
1989	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1988	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
1987	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost NBA Finals
	* The Celtics defeated the Bulls 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
1986	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	NBA Champions
	* The Celtics defeated the Bulls 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
1985	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost NBA Finals
1984	DNQ	NBA Champions
1983	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
1982	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
1981	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	NBA Champions
	* The Celtics defeated the Bulls 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
1980	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
1979	DNQ	DNQ
1978	DNQ	DNQ
1977	Lost Western Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
1976	DNQ	NBA Champions
1975	Lost Western Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
1974	Lost Western Conference Finals	NBA Champions
1973	Lost Western Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
1972	Lost Western Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
1971	Lost Western Conference Semis	DNQ
1970	Lost Western Division Semis	DNQ

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
1969	DNQ	NBA Champions
1968	Lost Western Division Semis	NBA Champions
1967	Lost Western Division Semis	Lost Eastern Division Finals
1966	-	NBA Champions
1965	-	NBA Champions
1964	-	NBA Champions
1963	-	NBA Champions
1962	-	NBA Champions
1961	-	NBA Champions
1960	-	NBA Champions

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics
1959	-	NBA Champions
1958	-	Lost NBA Finals
1957	-	NBA Champions
1956	-	Lost Eastern Division Semis
1955	-	Lost Eastern Division Finals
1954	-	Lost Eastern Division Finals
1953	-	Lost Eastern Division Finals
1952	-	Lost Eastern Division Semis
1951	-	Lost Eastern Division Semis
1950	-	DNQ