1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season
1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Bill Fitch |
Owners | Donald Sterling |
Arena | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Arrowhead Pond |
Results | |
Record | 17–65 (.207) |
Place | Division: 7th (Pacific) Conference: 13th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KCAL-TV Fox Sports West 2 (Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton) |
Radio | KXTA (Rory Markas) |
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Clippers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 4th season in Anaheim.[1] During the off-season, the Clippers signed free agent James Robinson. With Loy Vaught going down early into the season with a back injury after only playing just ten games, averaging just 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game,[2] the Clippers struggled losing 14 of their first 16 games. After holding a 5–24 start, the team managed to win four of their next five games, but then lost 12 of their next 13 games afterwards. Midway through the season, Brent Barry was traded to the Miami Heat for last year's Most Improved Player Isaac Austin.[3] The Clippers lost 15 of their final 17 games, including a 10-game losing streak between March and April, finishing last place in the Pacific Division with a 17–65 record.[4]
Lamond Murray showed improvement leading the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game, while Rodney Rogers averaged 15.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and top draft pick Maurice Taylor averaged 11.5 points per game off the bench, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Three-point specialist Eric Piatkowski contributed 11.3 points per game, while Darrick Martin provided the team with 10.3 points and 4.0 assists per game, and second-year center Lorenzen Wright provided with 9.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.[5]
Following the season, Austin signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, while Vaught signed with the Detroit Pistons after eight seasons with the Clippers,[6] and head coach Bill Fitch was fired. Fitch's most losses record in NBA history with 1,106 losses stood for five years, until Lenny Wilkens broke his mark during the 2002–03 season while coaching for the Toronto Raptors.[citation needed]
Draft picks[]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 | Maurice Taylor | PF | United States | Michigan |
Roster[]
Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Roster Notes[]
- Rookie center Keith Closs played for the Lakers during the pre-season and had a strong performance. When he was released, the Clippers quickly signed him to their roster.
Regular season[]
Season standings[]
Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 35–6 | 26–15 | 19–5 |
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 33–8 | 28–13 | 16–8 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5 | 30–11 | 26–15 | 17–7 |
x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 15 | 26–15 | 20–21 | 14–10 |
Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34 | 21–20 | 6–35 | 6–18 |
Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 42 | 12–29 | 7–34 | 6–18 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 44 | 11–30 | 6–35 | 6–18 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
7 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
9 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
10 | Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
11 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
11 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
14 | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents[]
1997-98 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
Atlanta | – | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Boston | 1–2 | – | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | – | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
Game log[]
Player statistics[]
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 |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lamond Murray | 79 | 65 | 32.6 | 48.1 | 35.3 | 74.8 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 15.4 |
Isaac Austin | 26 | 25 | 34.4 | 45.4 | 0.0 | 65.2 | 8.7 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 15.2 |
Rodney Rogers | 76 | 70 | 32.9 | 45.6 | 34.0 | 68.6 | 5.6 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 15.1 |
Brent Barry | 41 | 36 | 32.7 | 42.8 | 40.0 | 84.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 13.7 |
Maurice Taylor | 71 | 3 | 21.3 | 47.6 | 0.0 | 70.9 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 11.5 |
Eric Piatkowski | 67 | 35 | 26.0 | 45.2 | 40.9 | 82.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 11.3 |
Darrick Martin | 82 | 63 | 28.0 | 37.7 | 36.5 | 84.8 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
Lorenzen Wright | 69 | 38 | 30.0 | 44.5 | 0.0 | 65.9 | 8.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 9.0 |
James Robinson | 70 | 13 | 17.6 | 38.9 | 32.9 | 72.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 7.7 |
Loy Vaught | 10 | 6 | 26.5 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 37.5 | 6.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 7.5 |
Charles Smith | 23 | 0 | 11.3 | 42.1 | 31.8 | 55.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
Pooh Richardson | 69 | 17 | 18.1 | 37.2 | 19.3 | 69.8 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4.2 |
Keith Closs | 58 | 1 | 12.8 | 44.9 | 0.0 | 59.7 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 4.0 |
Stojko Vrankovic | 65 | 38 | 15.3 | 42.5 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
James Collins | 23 | 0 | 4.5 | 38.2 | 45.0 | 57.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
Player Statistics Citation:[5]
Awards and records[]
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Transactions[]
The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997-98 season.
Trades[]
June 25, 1997 | To Los Angeles Clippers
|
To Minnesota Timberwolves |
June 25, 1997 | To Los Angeles Clippers
|
To Philadelphia 76ers
|
February 19, 1998 | To Los Angeles Clippers
|
To Miami Heat |
Free agents[]
Additions[]
|
Subtractions[]
|
Player Transactions Citation:[7]
See also[]
- 1997-98 NBA season
References[]
- ^ 1997-98 Los Angeles Clippers
- ^ "Vaught placed on injured list; may need surgery". AP News. December 4, 1997. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ "N.B.A.: TRADES; Miami Acquires Brent Barry". New York Times. February 20, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; The Business Of Basketball Now Begins In Earnest". New York Times. January 21, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- Los Angeles Clippers seasons