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

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

The Boston Celtics have been present in the NBA Playoffs 62 times in 79 seasons while the Detroit Pistons did it 43 times in their 77 seasons. Between the two they total 21 of the 78 NBA championships (26.9%).

They have faced each other in 8 playoff series, 5 of them won by the Celtics and 3 by the Pistons.

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 Celtics and the Pistons 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
	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
Playoff Appearances:	62 (78.5%)	43 (55.8%)
Playoffs Missed:	17 (21.5%)	34 (44.2%)
NBA Titles:	18	3
Finals Lost:	5	4
All-time Playoff Record:	429 wins 320 losses (.573)	190 wins 186 losses (.505)
Total NBA Seasons:	79 1946-47 to present	77 1948-49 to present

Teams Comparison Playoff Performances Year by Year
Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
2025	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2024	NBA Champions	DNQ
2023	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
2022	Lost NBA Finals	DNQ
2021	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
2020	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
2009	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2008	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2007	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
2006	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
2005	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost NBA Finals
2004	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	NBA Champions
2003	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
2002	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
2001	DNQ	DNQ
2000	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
1999	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1998	DNQ	DNQ
1997	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1996	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1995	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
1994	DNQ	DNQ
1993	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
1992	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1991	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Pistons defeated the Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
1990	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	NBA Champions

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
1989	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	NBA Champions
	* The Pistons defeated the Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
1988	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost NBA Finals
	* The Pistons defeated the Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
1987	Lost NBA Finals	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
1986	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1985	Lost NBA Finals	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
1984	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1983	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
1982	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
1981	NBA Champions	DNQ
1980	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ

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

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
1969	NBA Champions	DNQ
1968	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Division Semis
	* The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-2 in the Eastern Division Semifinals.
1967	Lost Eastern Division Finals	DNQ
1966	NBA Champions	DNQ
1965	NBA Champions	DNQ
1964	NBA Champions	DNQ
1963	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Semis
1962	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Finals
1961	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Semis
1960	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Semis

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Detroit Pistons
1959	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Semis
1958	Lost NBA Finals	Lost Western Division Finals
1957	NBA Champions	Lost Western Division Semis (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1956	Lost Eastern Division Semis	Lost NBA Finals (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1955	Lost Eastern Division Finals	Lost NBA Finals (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1954	Lost Eastern Division Finals	Lost Western Division Round Robin (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1953	Lost Eastern Division Finals	Lost Western Division Finals (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1952	Lost Eastern Division Semis	Lost Western Division Semis (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1951	Lost Eastern Division Semis	Lost Western Division Semis (as Fort Wayne Pistons)
1950	DNQ	Lost Central Division Finals (as Fort Wayne Pistons)