On November 2, 1946, just shy of 4,000 people showed up at the home opening of the Providence Steamrollers – a new basketball team in the newly former Basketball Association of America. Now you may be thinking, who the hell are the Steamrollers and what is the Basketball Association of American? They're not a dynasty! But it would be the lowly team that the Steamrollers would beat that would go on to form one of the greatest dynasties in North American sports.

It was on November 2, 1946, that the Providence Steamrollers eked out a 59-53 win vs the Boston Celtics. The Game was fairly close through out, but no Celtics player reached double figures in the game. Red Wallace lead Boston in scoring with just 9 points. Dino Martin of Providence lead all scorers with 18 points.

The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports, winning 18 NBA titles and becoming synonymous with winning basketball. But that is our view of them now, almost 80 years after they played their first game. In 1946, the Celtics were anything but winners.

The first loss vs the Steamrollers was just a harbinger of things to come for the Celtics. The Steamrollers were also far from a good basketball team. They would go on to win just 27 more games the rest of the season, and just 18 more for the next 3 years of their existence – and their 1948 campaign may be the worst in NBA history.

Three days later the Celtics would host their first home game in Boston Garden. The Boston Garden become an iconic feature in Celtics lore, but at the time the Celtics were just a way too fill up seats when the Bruins were not at home.

November 5, 1946, saw the Chicago Stags, who until a week and a half before the start of the season had been called the Atomics, and most the programs and brochures for sale called them as such.

The 4,300 people who showed up for the first Celtics game were treated to a relatively good basketball game, one that saw the Celtics come up two-points short, falling 57-55. Max Zaslofsky of the Stags put on a show for the fans, scoring a then BAA record 28 points in the game. Johnny Simmons lead the Celtics in scoring with 13 points.

Following the loss the Celtics went out for their first ever road trip – three games in five days. The road trip was not very successful as the Celtics dropped their first game to the Detroit Falcons in blowout fashion 69-46.

The Celtics then went down to Chicago to face the Stags again, this time at their place. Unlike the first game, this one was not close. The Stags blew it open in the third quarter and got an easy ten-point win. There was some hope for the Celtics though, as they got over the 60 point barrier for the first time in franchise history.

The road trip would end in St Louis, where the Celtics played their first overtime game vs the Bombers. The game was close, but it was a 4-point third quarter which really doomed the Celtics.

Following the loss to the Bombers, the Celtics took a long train ride from St Louis to Boston.

Back in Boston the Celtics finally got a few days to rest before taking on the Toronto Huskies. 5,100 people showed up to watch the Celtics and Huskies play, and for the first time in Celtics history the fans left the Garden happy. The Celtics defeated the Huskies 53-49 to get their first win in franchise history.

The Celtics home-stand continued a few nights later in a rematch with the Bombers. But unlike the last game vs the Bombers, this one was not close as the Celtics fell 65-53.

The Huskies got a chance to avenge their loss from a week earlier the following night as Boston traveled north of the boarder for the first time in franchise history to play in Toronto. The Celtics would score a than franchise high 82 points in an overtime game, unfortunately, the Huskies scored 83 and the Celtics dropped to 1-7 on the season.

The Celtics than dropped back down into America and back to Detroit, where they once again lost to the Falcons in a game that really was not close.

Twenty-Two days after their season began, the Celtics hosted the Steamrollers in Boston, and once again lost to the Steamrollers. The game was not as close as the 71-59 score would indicate.

At 1-9 the Celtics traveled to the city of Brotherly love to face the Philadelphia Warriors. The Warriors had played the fewest games in the BAA that season because of scheduling issues. So while this was Boston's 11th game of the season, this was only the Warriors 5th, and the fresh legs really meant something in this game as the Warriors outran the Celtics 66-54.

On Thanksgiving Day the Celtics hosted the Pittsburgh Ironmen, and gave the fans something to be thankful for. With a 59-55 win to improve to 2-10 on the season. Harold Kottman scored a than Celtics record 19 points in the turkey day game.

The Celtics found their losing ways once again as the season entered December losing by 10 at Chicago to the Stags.

A freak winter storm blew in as the Celtics were entering Pittsburgh for a rematch with the Ironmen. The storm did not delay the game, but it did delay the fans. Only 300 people showed up to see the Celtics get a 2-point win vs the Ironmen. The fans really did not miss much, as this was a terrible game even by terrible game standards of the 1940s. The two teams managed to combine for just 13 first quarter points, and Boston's Al Brightman was the only player to score in double figures. This was also the Celtics first road victory in franchise history.

The Celtics would head back to Boston for a pair of much needed home games. The first on the schedule was the Detroit Falcons. Boston actually came out of the gate really good vs the Falcons, but had a terrible second quarter scoring just 3-points. Still, the Celtics kept it close but eventually fell 65-61.

The next game was the Celtics first vs the New York Knicks. The 12-3 Knicks had the best record in the BAA at that time, and had looked really good, while the 3-12 Celtics had the worst record, and the game went exactly as you would have expected. The Knicks crushed the Celtics 90-65. The 25-point loss was the Celtics worst of the season, and the 90 points was the most they would give up that season.

The next afternoon the Celtics had to make their way down to Madison Square Garden in New York City to face the Knicks again. Oddly enough, the Celtics played much better during this Sunday road matinee game then they did a few hours prior at home. At half-time the Knicks lead 28-26, in part to a horrible second quarter for the Knicks where they scored just 8 points. The game was close until the fourth quarter, where the Celtics managed to score just 5 points. At just shy of 11,000 people, this would be the largest crowed the Celtics would play in front of during the season.

Returning to Boston, the Celtics hosted a trio of home games. First against the Detroit Falcons – a team that had dominated them during the early part of the season. The Celtics played probably their best game of the season at that point, and Jerry Kelly became the first Celtics player ever to score 20 or more points in a game when he dropped in 21-points to help the Celtics defeat the Falcons 73-66.

The struggling Philadelphia Warriors came to town two nights later, and once again the Celtics played very well. The Celtics were unable to stop Warriors star Joe Fulks who scored 28 points, but Red Wallace and Jerry Kelly had really good games and guided the Celtics to a 77-65 victory, marking the first time the Celtics had a winning streak in their franchises history.

The win streak could not last for ever, as in the third game vs the St Louis Bombers, the Celtics luck just was not there. The Celtics fell behind early, but after a furious comeback fell 2-points short 76-74. Five Celtics scored in double figures for the first time ever.

Thee days and a very long train ride later, the Celtics had a rematch with the Bombers in St Loius, this time the game was not close and the Bombers coasted to an easy victory.

The Celtics hopped on another train to get them to Pittsburgh just in time to lose by 10 to the Ironmen. For the third time in 22 games, no Celtics player reached double figures. There is no official count as to how many fans attended this game, but some reports at the time said it was around 500.

The Celtics got to spend Christmas at home before embarking on another road trip, this time back to Philadelphia to face the Warriors who had just found their groove. The Celtics played them tough, but fell 63-60 as Fulks dropped 25 on them, Both Jerry Kelly and Art Spector fouled out, marking the first time any Celtics players had fouled out of a game.

The Celtics traveled back to where it all began in Providence to face the Steamrollers, and once again failed to get a W. Losing 80-68.

The Celtics host the BAA's best team, the Washington Capitols and actually make a showing out of it. The game was tight through out, and the Celtics forced overtime. In overtime the Celtics had one of the most embarrassing overtimes in BAA/NBA history losing that overtime period 13-3, and the game 70-60. This marked the Celtics sixth straight loss.

1947 brought new hope and jubilation to the Celtics, as in their first game of the New Year they traveled up north to face Toronto, and the Celtics finally ended their six game losing streak with a 58-53 victory. The six game losing streak was the worst of the season. Al Brightman tied Jerry Kelly's team record for most points scored in a game with 21.

The hope and jubilation that 1947 brought in Canada ended once the Celtics got back to Boston. The Celtics had another pathetic showing, this time to the Cleveland Rebels and lost 64-53.

Hope would be renewed when the Celtics took on the Knicks as the Celtics played one of their best games of the season winning 66-62.

The next night the Celtics traveled to Providence again, and unlike the previous two visits the Celtics played great and got a very impressive 73-72 victory.

The Celtics next hosted the league leading Capitols, in a game that was brutally ugly. After the first quarter the Celtics lead 9-5, at half time the Celtics 21-12. The Capitols scoring in single digits in back-to-back quarters is the only time the Celtics have held an opponent in doing so. Both teams managed to score just 26 points each in the second half, but the damage had been done in the first half and Boston got the ugly win. The 47-38 victory is one of the lowest scoring games in NBA history.

Boston took its three game win streak to New York City, but this time only around 3,500 people showed up to watch the game. The Celtics played their best game of the year and beat the Knicks handily 58-45 to increase their win streak to four games.

A little past the half-way point in the season the Celtics had a four game win streak, had won 5 of their last six games, and were sitting at 10-22, things did not look bad, and then they rolled into Chicago. The Stags had been finding their groove going into this game and obliterated the Celtics 81-54.

The next game at Philadelphia was more of the same, as the Warriors crushed the Celtics 59-43.

The two blowout losses did not crush the Celtics spirits though, as they bounded back with a 48-43 win vs Pittsburgh, though the Celtics had another one of their patented single digit quarters which nearly cost them the game.

The Celtics got another solid win vs the now reeling New York Knicks 52-46.

The Celtics closed out January with a pair of games vs the Capitols, one in Boston and one in Washington DC. Both games were blowout wins in favor of the Caps. The Celtics struggled to score in both games and had almost non-existent defense.

The Celtics got back on the winning track with a blowout win vs the Ironmen in Boston.

The Celtics next game was against Joe Fulks and the Warriors. Fulks had averaged about 27 points a game vs Boston in their previous match-ups, but this time Boston had game planned for him and held him to just 18 points on 7 of 26 shooting. Still, the Warriors showed that they were the better team and got the 61-55 victory.

The Celtics next hosted the Knicks, who had been in a freefall for weeks. The Knicks played the Celtics tight, but Boston ended up with the 1 point win 49-48. No Knicks player scored in double figures, marking the first time Boston held every opponents player to single digits.

Boston got another nice home vs a couple nights later vs the Bombers, an easy 64-54 victory over a team who had dominated them early in the season.

The Celtics headed out on the road in the middle part of February for a four game trip. The first game was against the Stags, and as they had all season the Stags easily handled the Celtics 84-77. Connie Simmons did set a franchise record for most points in a game with 25 points. The 77-points also tied the season high.

The Celtics defense again struggled as it let up 84 points in consecutive games as the Celtics fell to the Cleveland Rebels 84-73. Connie Simmons became the first Celtics player in franchise history to have back-to-back 20 point games as he scored 21 points in the loss.

The Celtics defense finally played well vs the Falcons and Simmons scoring barrage continued as the Celtics got a much needed win 57-51.

The Celtics ended their four game roadie north of the boarder vs Toronto, but the defense let them down again as they fell 67-61. But Connie Simmons continued to impress, as he broke his own single game franchise scoring record by scoring 26 points vs the Huskies.

Boston returned home for a Sunday afternoon game vs the Steamrollers. Connie Simmons cooled down, scoring just 10 points, and the Celtics fell to the Rollers by 12.

A crushing and embarrassing defeat to the Caps, 83-59, brought the Celtics losing streak up to 3. Despite having the best record in the league, only about 1,500 people watched the Caps take on the Celtics at Uline Arena.

The Celtics finally ended their three game skid with a 69-62 home win over the Rebels After the one home game the Celtics traveled back to the nations capital to take on the Caps, and once again around 1,500 people came to see the leagues best team beat up the Celtics. Bob Feerick became the first player to ever score 30 points against the Celtics in the Caps 75-52 victory.

As the season entered into March the Celtics got a much needed four game home-stand. First up was the Detroit Falcons. After an early decent start, the Falcons had fallen a part and the loser of this game would have sole possession of the worst record in the BAA. After a sluggish start, the Celtics found their groove and got a 9-point win.

The next home game was vs the Toronto Huskies, who just never found anything to make the season go well. The Huskies entered the game with just 1 more win than the Celtics. The game was close,but Boston ended up pulling it out at the end to the delight of nearly 6,000 spectators.

A late cold front blew into Boston mixed with spring training for the Redsox and Bruins playoff fever, caused fewer than 2,000 fan to catch the Celtics next game vs the Steamrollers. The fans did not miss much as the Steamrollers continued their domination over the Celtics with an 87-70 victory.

Fans returned for the Celtics in their final home game of the four game home-stand, against the Huskies again. The Celtics crushed the huskies 69-57 and jumped them in the standings. In just a week and a half the Celtics had gone from worst record in the BAA, to being just on the outside of the playoff race.

The good times could not last forever for Boston, as they traveled to Philly to take on Fulks and the Warriors. This time the Celtics could not stop Fulks as he scored 25 points in a Warriors route of the Celtics.

Boston returned home to face the Rebels, who were fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Division. The Celtics played the Rebels tight and took the game to overtime. But once again, a lackluster showing in overtime cost the Celtics as they fell 67-58.

Before nearly 6,00 fans attending the final home game of the season, the Chicago Stags put an end to the Boston Celtics playoffs hopes with a crushing 80-69 victory. The Celtics actually played good, but the Stags were just too much for them.

The Celtics next traveled to Cleveland to take on the Rebels, and despite being in the mist of a playoff run, had struggled to attract fans. The game was played in a near empty arena. The official box score lists just 182 people in attendance, but according to Rebels coach Roy Clifford it was more around 50. This would be the least attended game in NBA history.

The next game vs Pittsburgh may have had even fewer in attendance, though there is no official data about the game attendance, it was reported the arena was practically empty. The Celtics did pick up an easy win, even if nobody witnessed it.

St Louis did have fans show up in Boston's penultimate game of the season; nearly 8,000 in fact. The fans did get a good game, though it did not go in Bostons favor as they lost their 38th game of the season.

The last game of the season was at Cleveland, and this time nearly 2,000 fans did show up for the game. The Celtics finished their terrible first season with a 71-66 victory. Connie Simmons scored 20 points for the 5th time in the season and Boston's final record was 22-38.

The late rally helped Boston finish tied for last place in the Eastern Division with Toronto, but both Pittsburgh and Toronto finished worse in the Western division. However, of the four worst teams in the BAA in 1947, only Boston would play the following the season. Cleveland would join Detroit, Toronto, and Pittsburgh in folding after just one season. Baltimore would be brought into the league from the ABL.

The Warriors would go on to beat the Stags in the BAA finals and capture the first title in league history.

Boston's first season was a rough one to say the least. The Celtics would dress 20 different players in their inaugural season, and only Connie and Johnnie Simmons (No relations) would play in all 60 games.

Only one Boston player averaged double figures for the season, and that was Connie Simmons who averaged 10.3 points per game, though Al Brightman got close with 9.8 points per game.

The one thing that Boston had going for it, which kept it alive when the other bottom feeders faultered was attendance. The Celtics lead the BAA in gate receipts and averaged about 4,500 fans per home game.

The Celtics would go out and try to make a big splash the next year to get better. As the worst team of the remaining BAA teams, they got first dips on players from the disbanded teams, and quickly went out and added Ed Sadowki, and Mel Riebe. It did not help all that much, as the Celtics finished the 1948 season with just 20 wins, but did make the playoffs- were they lost to Chicago.

The Celtics first four seasons were pitiful, Boston managed to win just 89 games in four season and make only one playoff appearance. They did however, manage to keep the fans in Boston invested and attending the games. This lead to them making money despite being terrible on the court.

Things would change for the Celtics forever in 1950, when they fired head coach Al Julian and hired Red Auerbach. Auerbach took over as both coach and GM, and immediately went out and got Bob Cousy from the Stags as they were dispanding. In Auerbach's first season in Boston they finally had a winning record going 39-30.

Auerbach quickly built a good team behind Cousy, Ed Macauley, Bill Sharmin and Don Barksdale. Things really changed in 1959 when Auerbach went out and got Bill Russell and Tom Heinshon. The Celtics would go on to win 11 of the next 13 NBA titles and cement themselves as the greatest pro-dynasty in sports.