Even though they were the top team in sports for years as far as championships, the Celtics were struggling economically and even came close to folding more than once. Being part of what was then considered a minor sport and a fledgling league made for a bumpy journey.

The Celtics were one of the most self-disciplined and committed teams of all time. Thanks to Auerbach but also to his players' character, egos or statistics never got in the way.

It's hard to imagine what made this team so special by looking at grainy footage and still photographs. Thanks in large part to Red Auerbach, his brash personality and his intensity, the team was ahead of its time when it comes to conditioning, which allowed them to play at a fast pace, faster than any team at the time.

The Celtics dynasty revolved around Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and Red Auerbach. Three individuals with drastically different personalities and backgrounds, who all had a chip on their shoulder.

The turning point for the Celtics was April 30th, 1956, when Boston drafted Bill Russell. Up until then, the team had been competitive but couldn't get to the Finals.