1987–88 Chicago Bulls season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1987–88 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachDoug Collins
General managerJerry Krause
Owner(s)Jerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Pistons 1–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFLD
Sportsvision
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
RadioWMAQ
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 Chicago Bulls season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bulls finished second in the Central Division with a solid 50–32 record. Michael Jordan was named the league's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the All-Star Game MVP and Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend, which was held in Chicago. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, but lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the semifinals. Following the season, Charles Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks.

NBA Draft[]

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and notable post-first round picks.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Olden Polynice (traded to Seattle) C  Haiti Virginia
1 10 Horace Grant PF  United States Clemson
2 28 Rickie Winslow F  United States Houston
4 79 Jack Haley C  United States UCLA

Roster[]

1987–88 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
C 17 Brown, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1963–07–19 George Washington
C 40 Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1956–04–25 DePaul
F 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson
G 23 Jordan, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 1963–02–17 North Carolina
F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 5 Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–09–29 Notre Dame
F 33 Pippen, Scottie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas
F 6 Sellers, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–17 Ohio State
G 2 Sparrow, Rory 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–06–12 Villanova
F 21 Turner, Elston 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–06–10 Mississippi
G 11 Vincent, Sam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–05–18 Michigan State
C 31 Waiters, Granville 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–01–08 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 25, 1988

Regular season[]

Jordan was indisputably great, and Oakley, who led the league in total rebounds (1,066), was outstanding. Still, the Bulls lacked a quality supporting cast. They took a major step toward alleviating that problem at the 1987 NBA Draft, when Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause acquired two players who would be vital cogs in Chicago's future championship machine. With two picks in the top 10, Krause selected Olden Polynice at No. 8 and Horace Grant at No. 10. He then traded Polynice and draft considerations to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen, whom the Sonics had grabbed with the fifth pick.

With Grant and Pippen on board the Bulls began to show their stuff in 1987-88, forging a 50-32 record, their best mark since 1973-74. Chicago finished in a second-place tie with Atlanta in a competitive Central Division won by the surging Detroit Pistons. The Bulls made some noise in the playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game first-round series, but then fell to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Oakley and the Los Angeles Clippers' Michael Cage engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league's rebounding title, which came down to the last day of the regular season. On April 22 against Cleveland, Oakley put the pressure on Cage by pulling down 35 rebounds, the second-highest total in Bulls history behind Tom Boerwinkle's 37 in 1970. Two days later, however, Cage grabbed 30 boards in a game against Seattle, just enough to edge Oakley by the slimmest of margins, 13.03 per game to 13.00. Cage played in 10 fewer games than Oakley, however, so Oakley led the NBA in total rebounds for the second consecutive year, with 1,066.

Jordan led the league in scoring (35.0 ppg) and steals (3.16 per game). He won almost every major award, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team Honors and NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors. However, the finals and most important prizes eluded him until the 1990-1991 season.

Season standings[]

Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 34–7 20–21 20–10
x-Chicago Bulls 50 32 .610 4 30–11 20–21 16–13
x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 4 30-11 20-21 16–13
x-Milwaukee Bucks 42 40 .512 12 30–11 12–29 13–17
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 12 31–10 11–30 11–19
Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 16 25–16 13–28 13–17
# 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: 50–32 (Home: 30–11; Road: 20–21)
November: 10–3 (Home: 4–2; Road: 6–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 November 7, 1987 Philadelphia W 104–94 Chicago Stadium 1–0
2 November 10, 1987 @ Atlanta W 105–95 The Omni 2–0
3 November 11, 1987 @ New Jersey W 105–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 3–0
4 November 13, 1987 New Jersey W 117–103 Chicago Stadium 4–0
5 November 14, 1987 Indiana L 110–101 Chicago Stadium 4–1
6 November 17, 1987 Washington W 105–101 Chicago Stadium 5–1
7 November 18, 1987 @ Washington W 84–82 Capital Centre 6–1
8 November 20, 1987 Atlanta W 94–92 Chicago Stadium 7–1
9 November 21, 1987
7:30 PM CST
Detroit L 132–144 (OT) Chicago Stadium
18,466
7–2
10 November 23, 1987
6:30 PM CST
@ Boston W 107–102 Hartford Civic Center 8–2
11 November 25, 1987 @ Milwaukee W 103–101 The MECCA 9–2
12 November 27, 1987
7:00 PM CST
@ Dallas L 93–94 Reunion Arena
17,007
9–3
13 November 28, 1987 @ Houston W 98–86 The Summit 10–3
December: 5–9 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
14 December 1, 1987 @ Golden State W 98–97 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–3
15 December 2, 1987 @ Utah W 105–101 Salt Palace 12–3
16 December 4, 1987 @ Denver L 89–105 McNichols Sports Arena 12–4
17 December 5, 1987 @ San Antonio L 101–110 HemisFair Arena 12–5
18 December 8, 1987 Philadelphia L 96–109 Chicago Stadium 12–6
19 December 10, 1987 Milwaukee W 111–105 Chicago Stadium 13–6
20 December 12, 1987 Houston W 112–103 Chicago Stadium 14–6
21 December 15, 1987
7:00 PM CST
@ Detroit L 123–127 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome
23,729
14–7
22 December 17, 1987 Cleveland W 111–100 Chicago Stadium 15–7
23 December 19, 1987 @ Washington L 96–109 Capital Centre 15–8
24 December 22, 1987
7:00 PM CST
Dallas L 100–111 Chicago Stadium
18,103
15–9
25 December 23, 1987 @ New York L 89–90 Madison Square Garden 15–10
26 December 26, 1987 @ Indiana L 92–106 Market Square Arena 15–11
27 December 29, 1987 Atlanta L 98–108 Chicago Stadium 15–12
January: 11–4 (Home: 10–1; Road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
28 January 2, 1988 New Jersey W 116–93 Chicago Stadium 16–12
29 January 5, 1988 Indiana W 93–77 Chicago Stadium 17–12
30 January 7, 1988 Denver W 100–96 Chicago Stadium 18–12
31 January 9, 1988 Utah W 113–91 Chicago Stadium 19–12
32 January 12, 1988
7:00 PM CST
Boston L 97–104 Chicago Stadium 19–13
33 January 14, 1988 @ Cleveland L 88–91 (OT) Richfield Coliseum 19–14
34 January 16, 1988
7:30 PM CST
Detroit W 115–99 Chicago Stadium
18,676
20–14
35 January 18, 1988 Washington W 117–103 Chicago Stadium 21–14
36 January 19, 1988 @ Atlanta L 94–106 The Omni 21–15
37 January 22, 1988 Phoenix W 118–108 Chicago Stadium 22–15
38 January 23, 1988 Golden State W 121–94 Chicago Stadium 23–15
39 January 26, 1988 @ Indiana L 93–97 Market Square Arena 23–16
40 January 27, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 119–109 (OT) The Spectrum 24–16
41 January 29, 1988 New Jersey W 120–93 Chicago Stadium 25–16
42 January 30, 1988 New York W 97–95 (OT) Chicago Stadium 26–16
February: 5–9 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
43 February 1, 1988 @ Sacramento L 95–97 ARCO Arena 26–17
44 February 2, 1988
9:30 PM CST
@ L.A. Lakers L 101–110 Michael Jordan (39) The Forum
17,505
26–18
45 February 4, 1988 @ Phoenix W 113–101 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 27–18
46 February 9, 1988
7:30 PM CST
Detroit L 74–89 Chicago Stadium
17,846
27–19
47 February 10, 1988 @ New Jersey L 84–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 27–20
48 February 12, 1988 @ Milwaukee W 95–93 The MECCA 28–20
49 February 13, 1988
6:30 PM CST
@ Detroit L 73–82 Pontiac Silverdome
40,369
28–21
50 February 15, 1988 Atlanta W 126–107 Chicago Stadium 29–21
51 February 19, 1988 Sacramento W 116–101 Chicago Stadium 30–21
52 February 21, 1988 @ Cleveland L 111–113 Richfield Coliseum 30–22
53 February 23, 1988 Seattle W 104–97 (OT) Chicago Stadium 31–22
54 February 26, 1988 Portland L 96–104 Chicago Stadium 33–21
55 February 27, 1988 Milwaukee L 91–94 Chicago Stadium 33–22
56 February 29, 1988 @ Philadelphia L 101–102 The Spectrum 33–23
March: 10–4 (Home: 7–0; Road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
57 March 3, 1988 Philadelphia W 97–93 Chicago Stadium 33–24
58 March 5, 1988 L.A. Clippers W 100–76 Chicago Stadium 34–24
59 March 7, 1988 @ New York L 98–110 Madison Square Garden 34–25
60 March 10, 1988
7:30 PM CST
L.A. Lakers W 128–107 Michael Jordan (38) Grant, Oakley (11) Sam Vincent (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676
35–25
61 March 12, 1988 San Antonio W 112–92 Chicago Stadium 36–25
62 March 15, 1988 Cleveland W 108–89 Chicago Stadium 37–25
63 March 16, 1988 @ Washington L 103–106 Capital Centre 37–26
64 March 18, 1988
7:30 PM CST
Boston W 113–103 Chicago Stadium 38–26
65 March 20, 1988
12 Noon PM CST
@ Boston L 107–137 Boston Garden 38–27
66 March 23, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 118–102 The Spectrum 39–27
67 March 25, 1988 @ Cleveland W 111–110 (OT) Richfield Coliseum 40–27
68 March 26, 1988 Indiana W 109–100 Chicago Stadium 41–27
69 March 29, 1988 @ Seattle L 103–106 Seattle Center Coliseum 41–28
70 March 30, 1988 @ L.A. Clippers W 111–94 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 41–29
April: 9–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 6–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
71 April 1, 1988 @ Portland W 116–101 Memorial Coliseum 42–29
72 April 3, 1988
12:30 PM CDT
@ Detroit W 112–110 Pontiac Silverdome
23,712
43–29
73 April 5, 1988 Washington L 94–105 Chicago Stadium 44–29
74 April 6, 1988 @ Milwaukee W 119–110 The MECCA 44–30
75 April 8, 1988 New York W 131–122 Chicago Stadium 45–30
76 April 14, 1988 @ Indiana W 116–110 Market Square Arena 46–30
77 April 15, 1988 @ New Jersey W 100–99 Brendan Byrne Arena 47–30
78 April 17, 1988 Milwaukee W 105–97 Chicago Stadium 48–30
79 April 19, 1988 @ New York W 121–118 Madison Square Garden 49–30
80 April 21, 1988
6:30 PM CDT
@ Boston L 119–126 Boston Garden 49–31
81 April 22, 1988 Cleveland L 103–107 Chicago Stadium 49–32
82 April 24, 1988
2:30 PM CDT
Boston W 115–108 Chicago Stadium 50–32
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs[]

1988 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 28, 1988 Cleveland W 104–93 Michael Jordan (50) Charles Oakley (15) John Paxson (7) Chicago Stadium
18,676
1–0
2 May 1, 1988 Cleveland W 106–101 Michael Jordan (55) Charles Oakley (12) Sam Vincent (14) Chicago Stadium
18,645
2–0
3 May 3, 1988 @ Cleveland L 102–110 Michael Jordan (38) Charles Oakley (9) Michael Jordan (9) Richfield Coliseum
20,068
2–1
4 May 5, 1988 @ Cleveland L 91–97 Michael Jordan (44) Charles Oakley (10) Sam Vincent (5) Richfield Coliseum
20,026
2–2
5 May 8, 1988 Cleveland W 107–101 Michael Jordan (39) Charles Oakley (20) Rory Sparrow (7) Chicago Stadium
18,008
3–2
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 10, 1988
7:30 PM CDT
@ Detroit L 82–93 Michael Jordan (29) Charles Oakley (13) Michael Jordan (6) Pontiac Silverdome
18,312
0–1
2 May 12, 1988
7:00 PM CDT
@ Detroit W 105–95 Michael Jordan (36) Charles Oakley (12) Vincent, Pippen (5) Pontiac Silverdome
20,281
1–1
3 May 14, 1988
12 Noon CDT
Detroit L 79–101 Michael Jordan (24) Charles Oakley (12) Sam Vincent (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676
1–2
4 May 15, 1988
2:30 PM CDT
Detroit L 77–96 Michael Jordan (23) Charles Oakley (10) Michael Jordan (5) Chicago Stadium
18,676
1–3
5 May 18, 1988
7:00 PM CDT
@ Detroit L 95–102 Michael Jordan (25) Charles Oakley (15) Jordan, Paxson (8) Pontiac Silverdome
21,371
1–4
1988 schedule

Player statistics[]

Season[]

Playoffs[]

Charles Oakley 14.3 ppg 15.6 reb 1.3 stl 2.4 blk 2.3 to

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

References[]

See also[]

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