Celtics pay tribute to legendary Auerbach

? A bouquet of green roses topped by a single, unlit cigar sat in Red Auerbach’s empty seat at the new Boston Garden on Wednesday night as the Celtics opened the season without their patriarch for the first time in half a century.

A pregame tribute showed video of Auerbach – accompanied by Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” – running his teams through drills, berating officials, barking out plays and settling back in his chair to light up a victory cigar.

There was, of course, ample footage of players carrying him off the court on their shoulders, hugging him in a postgame celebration and holding up one of the NBA-record 16 championship trophies the franchise won under his watch.

Bagpipers skirled “Amazing Grace,” and some of the 56 years worth of team pictures – with Auerbach in the middle, holding the ball – circled the arena on the message board. On the court, two decals portrayed Auerbach in silhouette, smoking a cigar.

But the fans never got a chance to do what Auerbach did so many times – light up a victory cigar. Those in the expensive courtside seats were given them, but the Celtics lost to the New Orleans Hornets, 91-87.

“It was a great honor for me to even know Red,” Celtics captain Paul Pierce told the fans from midcourt before the game, surrounded by past greats such as Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Robert Parish. “As we move forward we’ve got to continue to celebrate his legacy.”

Former Boston Celtics player John Havlicek, left, greets Boston Mayor Thomas Menino as former Celtics player Robert Parish, right, stands nearby. They took part in a tribute to legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach Wednesday on City Hall Plaza in Boston.

Then, Pierce told the sellout crowd of 18,624 there was one thing that Auerbach liked best.

“Winning,” came the shout from the bleachers.

“Even better than winning,” Pierce answered, Auerbach liked the chant of “Let’s go, Celtics!”

And the crowd responded.

The Celtics wore black, shamrock-shaped patches on their uniforms and said they will dedicate the season to the former coach, general manager and president who died Saturday at the age of 89. He was buried Tuesday in Falls Church, Va.

“Aside from the talk about – and truth about – his competitiveness and people sharing stories about Red yelling at them,” NBA commissioner David Stern told reporters before the game, “this was a real gentleman and a very good friend.”

Through deft drafting and cunning trades, Auerbach loaded the Celtics with Hall of Famers and filled the rafters with banners – nine as a coach, seven more from the front office.

“He did whatever it takes to win, without breaking the rules,” former Celtic JoJo White said.