1987–88 Boston Celtics season

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1987–88 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachK.C. Jones
OwnersDon Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Finals
(Lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel New England, WLVI, WTXX, WTIC-TV
RadioWEEI, WTIC Radio
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 Boston Celtics season was the 42nd season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Coming from an NBA Finals defeat to their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, the Celtics finished first place in the Eastern Conference with 57 wins and 25 losses, with Larry Bird being selected to the All-NBA First Team. Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge were all selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the New York Knicks in four games. In the semi-finals, the Celtics trailed 3–2 to Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks, but won the final two games. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive time, becoming the first team to do so since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics (which reached the previous thirteen). However, they would lose to Isiah Thomas and the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons in six games.

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1987 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 22 Reggie Lewis SF  United States Northeastern
2 45 Brad Lohaus C/PF  United States Iowa
4 70  United States Virginia
4 91  United States Oklahoma
5 114 David Butler  United States California
6 137  United States Wisconsin–Stevens Point
7 160  United States Northeastern

Roster[]

Boston Celtics roster
  • v
  • t
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
F/C 42 United States Acres, Mark 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–11–15 Oral Roberts
G/F 44 United States Ainge, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU
F 33 United States Bird, Larry (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
G/F 20 United States Daye, Darren (waived) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1960–11–30 UCLA
C 53 United States Gilmore, Artis 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1949–09–21 Jacksonville
G 43 United States Henry, Conner (waived) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–07–21 UC Santa Barbara
G 3 United States Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
C 50 United States Kite, Greg (waived) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1961–08–05 BYU
G/F 35 United States Lewis, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–11–21 Northeastern
F/C 54 United States Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa
F/C 32 United States McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota
G 11 United States Minniefield, Dirk 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–01–17 Kentucky
C 00 United States Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary College of Louisiana
G/F 4 United States Paxson, Jim (from POR) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1957–07–09 Dayton
C 32 United States Walton, Bill Injured 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) UCLA
F/C 31 United States Roberts, Fred 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1960–08–10 BYU
G 12 United States Sichting, Jerry (to POR) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue
Head coach
  • United States K.C. Jones (San Francisco)
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Depth chart[]

  • PG-3 Dennis Johnson
  • SG-44 Danny Ainge
  • SF-33 Larry Bird
  • PF-32 Kevin McHale
  • C-00 Robert Parish

Roster Notes[]

  • Center Bill Walton missed the entire season due to a right foot injury.

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 57 25 .695 – 36–5 21–20 19–5
x-Washington Bullets 38 44 .463 19 25–16 13–28 13–11
x-New York Knicks 38 44 .463 19 29–12 9–32 10–14
Philadelphia 76ers 36 46 .439 21 27–14 9–32 12–12
New Jersey Nets 19 63 .232 38 16–25 3–38 6–18
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics 57 25 .695 –
2 y-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 3
3 x-Chicago Bulls 50 32 .610 7
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 7
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks 42 40 .512 15
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 15
7 x-Washington Bullets 38 44 .463 19
8 x-New York Knicks 38 44 .463 19
9 Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 19
10 Philadelphia 76ers 36 46 .439 21
11 New Jersey Nets 19 63 .232 38

Record vs. opponents[]

1987-88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 2–4 2–3 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–0 3–3 6–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3
Boston 4–2 – 3–3 2–3 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–2 3–3 – 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Cleveland 1–5 3–2 3–3 – 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 5–1 2–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 6–0
Dallas 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 1–1 4–1 4–2 2–0 5–0 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 – 1–1 4–1 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–4 2–0
Detroit 4–2 3–3 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Golden State 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 0–2 – 0–5 0–2 3–3 0–6 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 3–2 1–5 1–4 0–2
Houston 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 5–0 – 2–0 3–2 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 2–4 0–5 3–3 2–4 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 – 1–1 1–1 3–3 6–0 2–3 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 0–5 1–1 3–3 2–3 1–1 – 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 0–6 3–2 0–5 1–5 1–4 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 2–0 6–0 4–1 1–1 5–1 – 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–2 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 1–5 4–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 – 3–2 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–3 – 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–6
New York 3–3 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 – 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 4–2 3–3 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 0–2 4–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 – 0–6 3–2 2–3 2–4 2–3 0–2
Portland 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 1–1 5–1 1–4 2–0 6–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 – 4–1 5–0 3–3 1–4 2–0
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 0–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 – 3–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–5 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 5–0 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–5 3–3 – 3–2 3–3 0–2
Seattle 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–1 2–3 – 1–4 2–0
Utah 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 4–1 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 4–1 5–1 3–3 4–1 – 2–0
Washington 3–3 1–5 3–3 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–4 6–0 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 —

Game log[]

Regular season[]

1987–88 game log
Total: 57-25 (Home: 36-5; Away: 21-20)
November: 10–4 (Home: 6–1; Road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 November 6, 1987 Milwaukee W 125–108 Boston Garden 1–0
2 November 7, 1987 @ Washington W 140–139 (2 OT) Capital Centre 2–0
3 November 9, 1987 @ New York W 96–87 Madison Square Garden 3–0
4 November 11, 1987 Indiana W 120–106 Boston Garden 4–0
5 November 13, 1987 Cleveland W 128–114 Boston Garden 5–0
6 November 15, 1987 @ Indiana W 103–98 Market Square Arena 6–0
7 November 17, 1987 @ Cleveland L 88–109 Richfield Coliseum 6–1
8 November 18, 1987 New York W 111–109 (2OT) Boston Garden 7–1
9 November 20, 1987 @ Philadelphia L 85–116 The Spectrum 7–2
10 November 21, 1987 @ New Jersey W 107–97 Brendan Byrne Arena 8–2
11 November 23, 1987 Chicago L 102–107 Hartford Civic Center 8–3
12 November 25, 1987 Atlanta W 117–102 Boston Garden 9–3
13 November 27, 1987 Seattle W 117–112 Boston Garden 10–3
14 November 28, 1987 @ Milwaukee L 97–112 MECCA Arena 10–4
December: 7–5 (Home: 3–2; Road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
15 December 1, 1987 @ Atlanta L 106–120 The Omni 10–5
16 December 2, 1987 New Jersey W 130–99 Boston Garden 11–5
17 December 4, 1987
7:30 PM EST		 @ Detroit L 105–128 Pontiac Silverdome
34,523 		11–6
18 December 9, 1987 Denver L 119–124 Boston Garden 11–7
19 December 11, 1987
8:00 PM EST		 L.A. Lakers L 114–115 Bird (35) Bird & Parish (9) Bird (8) Boston Garden
14,890 		11–8
20 December 15, 1987 @ Washington W 122–102 Capital Centre 12–8
21 December 16, 1987 Utah W 121–111 Boston Garden 13–8
22 December 20, 1987 Philadelphia W 124–87 Boston Garden 14–8
23 December 22, 1987 @ Philadelphia W 118–115 The Spectrum 15–8
24 December 26, 1987 @ L.A. Clippers W 106–97 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 16–8
25 December 27, 1987 @ Sacramento W 114–102 ARCO Arena 17–8
26 December 30, 1987 @ Seattle L 105–111 Seattle Center Coliseum 17–9
January: 14–3 (Home: 9–0; Road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 January 2, 1988 @ Golden State W 115–110 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 18–9
28 January 4, 1988 @ Utah W 107–99 Salt Palace 19–9
29 January 6, 1988 New York W 117–108 Boston Garden 20–9
30 January 8, 1988 Washington W 125–109 Boston Garden 21–9
31 January 9, 1988 @ New York L 98–106 Madison Square Garden 21–10
32 January 12, 1988 @ Chicago W 104–97 Chicago Stadium 22–10
33 January 13, 1988
7:30 PM EST		 Detroit W 143–105 Boston Garden
14,890 		23–10
34 January 15, 1988 Sacramento W 122–86 Boston Garden 24–10
35 January 16, 1988 @ New Jersey W 103–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 25–10
36 January 18, 1988 Golden State W 121–101 Boston Garden 26–10
37 January 20, 1988 Phoenix W 131–115 Boston Garden 27–10
38 January 22, 1988 Atlanta W 124–106 Boston Garden 28–10
39 January 23, 1988 @ Cleveland L 100–119 Richfield Coliseum 28–11
40 January 26, 1988 @ Atlanta W 102–97 The Omni 29–11
41 January 27, 1988 Washington W 106–100 Boston Garden 30–11
42 January 29, 1988
8:00 PM EST		 @ Detroit L 108–125 Pontiac Silverdome
61,983 		30–12
43 January 31, 1988 Philadelphia W 100–85 Boston Garden 31–12
February: 9–5 (Home: 5–0; Road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
44 February 3, 1988 Indiana W 118–103 Boston Garden 32–12
45 February 4, 1988 @ Milwaukee L 101–111 MECCA Arena 32–13
46 February 9, 1988 @ Houston L 120–129 The Summit 32–14
47 February 10, 1988 @ San Antonio W 139–120 HemisFair Arena 33–14
48 February 12, 1988
8:30 PM EST		 @ Dallas W 105–104 Reunion Arena
17,007 		34–14
49 February 14, 1988
3:30 PM EST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 106–115 Bird (25) Bird (17) Johnson (10) The Forum
17,505 		34–15
50 February 15, 1988 @ Phoenix W 107–106 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 35–15
51 February 17, 1988 @ Denver L 125–138 McNichols Sports Arena 35–16
52 February 19, 1988 @ Portland W 124–104 Memorial Coliseum 36–16
53 February 22, 1988 New York W 95–93 Hartford Civic Center 37–16
54 February 24, 1988 Portland W 113–112 Boston Garden 38–16
55 February 26, 1988 Milwaukee W 132–96 Boston Garden 39–16
56 February 28, 1988
12 Noon PM EST		 @ Detroit L 101–106 Pontiac Silverdome
37,462 		39–17
March: 11–4 (Home: 8–2; Road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
57 March 1, 1988 @ Milwaukee L 116–117 MECCA Arena 39–18
58 March 2, 1988 New Jersey L 107–117 Boston Garden 39–19
59 March 4, 1988 L.A. Clippers W 121–90 Boston Garden 40–19
60 March 6, 1988 Cleveland W 127–98 Boston Garden 41–19
61 March 9, 1988 San Antonio W 117–116 Boston Garden 42–19
62 March 11, 1988 Indiana W 122–112 Hartford Civic Center 43–19
63 March 13, 1988 Atlanta W 117–100 Boston Garden 44–19
64 March 15, 1988 @ Indiana W 119–113 Market Square Arena 45–19
65 March 18, 1988 @ Chicago L 103–113 Chicago Stadium 45–20
66 March 20, 1988 Chicago W 137–107 Boston Garden 46–20
67 March 23, 1988 Washington W 104–89 Boston Garden 47–20
68 March 25, 1988 Philadelphia L 93–97 Boston Garden 47–21
69 March 26, 1988 @ New York W 118–106 Madison Square Garden 48–21
70 March 28, 1988 @ New Jersey W 106–105 Brendan Byrne Arena 49–21
71 March 30, 1988 Houston W 117–110 Boston Garden 50–21
April: 7–4 (Home: 6–0; Road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 1, 1988
8:00 PM EST		 Detroit W 121–110 Boston Garden
14,890 		51–21
73 April 3, 1988
1:00 PM EDT		 Dallas W 110–101 Boston Garden
14,890 		52–21
74 April 8, 1988 New Jersey W 127–90 Boston Garden 53–21
75 April 10, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 117–108 The Spectrum 54–21
76 April 13, 1988 Milwaukee W 123–104 Boston Garden 55–21
77 April 15, 1988 @ Cleveland L 109–120 Richfield Coliseum 55–22
78 April 17, 1988 @ Washington L 92–98 Capital Centre 55–23
79 April 19, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		 Detroit W 121–110 Boston Garden
14,890 		56–23
80 April 21, 1988 Chicago W 126–119 Boston Garden 57–23
81 April 22, 1988 @ Atlanta L 106–133 The Omni 57–24
82 April 24, 1988 @ Chicago L 108–115 Chicago Stadium 57–25
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs[]

1988 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 29 New York W 112–92 McHale, Bird (29) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–0
2 May 1 New York W 128–102 Larry Bird (36) Kevin McHale (12) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–0
3 May 4 @ New York L 100–109 Kevin McHale (24) Robert Parish (11) Larry Bird (12) Madison Square Garden
19,591 		2–1
4 May 6 @ New York W 102–94 Larry Bird (28) Robert Parish (12) Dennis Johnson (12) Madison Square Garden
19,591 		3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 11 Atlanta W 110–101 Larry Bird (38) Robert Parish (14) Danny Ainge (12) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–0
2 May 13 Atlanta W 108–97 Kevin McHale (32) Robert Parish (14) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–0
3 May 15 @ Atlanta L 92–110 Larry Bird (22) Robert Parish (13) Larry Bird (8) Omni Coliseum
16,451 		2–1
4 May 16 @ Atlanta L 109–118 Larry Bird (30) Kevin McHale (12) Dennis Johnson (10) Omni Coliseum
16,451 		2–2
5 May 18 Atlanta L 104–112 Robert Parish (24) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–3
6 May 20 @ Atlanta W 102–100 Kevin McHale (26) Larry Bird (11) Danny Ainge (14) Omni Coliseum
16,451 		3–3
7 May 22 Atlanta W 118–116 Larry Bird (34) Kevin McHale (13) Danny Ainge (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		4–3
Conference Finals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 25, 1988
8:00 PM EDT		 Detroit L 96–104 Kevin McHale (31) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		0–1
2 May 26, 1988
8:00 PM EDT		 Detroit W 119–115 (2OT) Robert Parish (26) Larry Bird (12) Dennis Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–1
3 May 28, 1988
3:30 PM EDT		 @ Detroit L 94–98 Kevin McHale (32) Larry Bird (11) Larry Bird (8) Pontiac Silverdome
26,481 		1–2
4 May 30, 1988
3:00 PM EDT		 @ Detroit W 79–78 Larry Bird (20) Larry Bird (10) Johnson, Bird (6) Pontiac Silverdome
26,625 		2–2
5 June 1, 1988
8:00 PM EDT		 Detroit L 96–102 (OT) Larry Bird (27) Larry Bird (17) Dennis Johnson (8) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–3
6 June 3, 1988
9:00 PM EST		 @ Detroit L 90–95 Kevin McHale (33) Larry Bird (14) Dennis Johnson (9) Pontiac Silverdome
38,912 		2–4
1988 schedule

Player statistics[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season[]

Playoffs[]

The Celtics would end up losing to the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals as an aging Celtics team was beginning to falter against a younger and fresher pistons team. This would be the first time in 5 years that the Celtics would not make it to the finals and would not return to another finals until 2008.

Awards and records[]

  • Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
  • Kevin McHale, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Transactions[]

References[]

See also[]

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