1987–88 Boston Celtics season

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.

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 finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel New England, WLVI, WTXX, WTIC-TV
RadioWEEI, WTIC Radio

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 Tom Sheehey  United States Virginia
4 91 Darryl Kennedy  United States Oklahoma
5 114 David Butler  United States California
6 137 Tim Naegeli  United States Wisconsin–Stevens Point
7 160 Jerry Corcoran  United States Northeastern

Roster
1987–88 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 42 Acres, Mark 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–11–15 Oral Roberts
G 44 Ainge, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU
F 33 Bird, Larry (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
C 53 Gilmore, Artis 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1949–09–21 Jacksonville
G 3 Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
G/F 35 Lewis, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–11–21 Northeastern
F/C 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa
F/C 32 McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota
G 11 Minniefield, Dirk 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–01–17 Kentucky
C 00 Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary
G 4 Paxson, Jim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1957–07–09 Dayton
C 5 Walton, Bill Injured (IN) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1952–11–05 UCLA
F 31 Roberts, Fred 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1960–08–10 BYU
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

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 5725.695–36–521–2019–5
x-Washington Bullets 3844.4631925–1613–2813–11
x-New York Knicks 3844.4631929–129–3210–14
Philadelphia 76ers 3646.4392127–149–3212–12
New Jersey Nets 1963.2323816–253–386–18
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics5725.695–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5428.6593
3 x-Chicago Bulls5032.6107
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.6107
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks4240.51215
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51215
7 x-Washington Bullets3844.46319
8 x-New York Knicks3844.46319
9 Indiana Pacers3844.46319
10 Philadelphia 76ers3646.43921
11 New Jersey Nets1963.23238

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 –2–42–35–12–01–12–42–01–14–22–00–23–35–03–36–01–10–21–12–02–01–13–3
Boston 4–2–3–32–32–00–23–32–01–15–02–00–23–35–15–14–22–02–02–02–01–12–05–1
Chicago 3–23–3–3–30–21–12–42–02–03–32–01–15–15–13–24–22–01–11–11–11–12–03–3
Cleveland 1–53–23–3–1–11–11–50–21–14–21–11–12–45–12–43–21–11–12–02–01–10–26–0
Dallas 0–20–22–01–1–3–31–14–14–22–05–01–42–01–11–11–15–03–25–15–13–23–31–1
Denver 1–12–01–11–13–3–1–14–14–21–15–03–21–12–01–12–03–22–34–25–14–12–42–0
Detroit 4–23–34–25–11–11–1–2–01–13–31–10–24–25–14–24–12–01–12–01–11–12–03–2
Golden State 0–20–20–22–01–41–40–2–0–50–23–30–60–22–00–21–12–41–52–33–21–51–40–2
Houston 1–11–10–21–12–42–41–15–0–2–03–21–42–01–11–11–14–14–14–22–43–23–32–0
Indiana 2–40–53–32–40–21–13–32–00–2–1–11–13–36–02–32–42–00–22–02–01–11–12–4
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–21–10–50–51–13–32–31–1–1–50–20–20–21–12–40–63–20–51–51–40–2
L.A. Lakers 2–02–01–11–14–12–32–06–04–11–15–1–0–22–02–02–05–13–34–15–04–24–11–1
Milwaukee 3–33–31–54–20–21–12–42–00–23–32–02–0–3–23–32–41–11–12–01–11–11–14–1
New Jersey 0–51–51–51–51–10–21–50–21–10–62–00–22–3–3–32–41–10–21–11–10–21–10–6
New York 3–31–52–34–21–11–12–42–01–13–22–00–23–33–3–3–30–21–11–11–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 0–62–42–42–31–10–21–41–11–14–21–10–24–24–23–3–1–11–11–11–11–12–03–3
Phoenix 1–10–20–21–10–52–30–24–21–40–24–21–51–11–12–01–1–0–63–22–32–42–30–2
Portland 2–00–21–11–12–33–21–15–11–42–06–03–31–12–01–11–16–0–4–15–03–31–42–0
Sacramento 1–10–21–10–21–52–40–23–22–40–22–31–40–21–11–11–12–31–4–3–31–41–50–2
San Antonio 0–20–21–10–21–51–51–12–34–20–25–00–51–11–11–11–13–20–53–3–3–23–30–2
Seattle 0–21–11–11–12–31–41–15–12–31–15–12–41–12–02–01–14–23–34–12–3–1–42–0
Utah 1–10–20–22–03–34–20–24–13–31–14–11–41–11–11–10–23–24–15–13–34–1–2–0
Washington 3–31–53–30–61–10–22–32–00–24–22–01–11–46–03–33–32–00–22–02–00–20–2—

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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1November 6, 1987Milwaukee W 125–108 Boston Garden 1–0
2November 7, 1987@ Washington W 140–139 (2 OT) Capital Centre 2–0
3November 9, 1987@ New York W 96–87 Madison Square Garden 3–0
4November 11, 1987Indiana W 120–106 Boston Garden 4–0
5November 13, 1987Cleveland W 128–114 Boston Garden 5–0
6November 15, 1987@ Indiana W 103–98 Market Square Arena 6–0
7November 17, 1987@ Cleveland L 88–109 Richfield Coliseum 6–1
8November 18, 1987New York W 111–109 (2OT) Boston Garden 7–1
9November 20, 1987@ Philadelphia L 85–116 The Spectrum 7–2
10November 21, 1987@ New Jersey W 107–97 Brendan Byrne Arena 8–2
11November 23, 1987Chicago L 102–107 Hartford Civic Center 8–3
12November 25, 1987Atlanta W 117–102 Boston Garden 9–3
13November 27, 1987Seattle W 117–112 Boston Garden 10–3
14November 28, 1987@ Milwaukee L 97–112 MECCA Arena 10–4
December: 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
15December 1, 1987@ Atlanta L 106–120 The Omni 10–5
16December 2, 1987New Jersey W 130–99 Boston Garden 11–5
17December 4, 1987
7:30 PM EST		@ Detroit L 105–128 Pontiac Silverdome
34,523		 11–6
18December 9, 1987Denver L 119–124 Boston Garden 11–7
19December 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
20December 15, 1987@ Washington W 122–102 Capital Centre 12–8
21December 16, 1987Utah W 121–111 Boston Garden 13–8
22December 20, 1987Philadelphia W 124–87 Boston Garden 14–8
23December 22, 1987@ Philadelphia W 118–115 The Spectrum 15–8
24December 26, 1987@ L.A. Clippers W 106–97 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 16–8
25December 27, 1987@ Sacramento W 114–102 ARCO Arena 17–8
26December 30, 1987@ Seattle L 105–111 Seattle Center Coliseum 17–9
January: 14–3 (home: 9–0; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27January 2, 1988@ Golden State W 115–110 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 18–9
28January 4, 1988@ Utah W 107–99 Salt Palace 19–9
29January 6, 1988New York W 117–108 Boston Garden 20–9
30January 8, 1988Washington W 125–109 Boston Garden 21–9
31January 9, 1988@ New York L 98–106 Madison Square Garden 21–10
32January 12, 1988@ Chicago W 104–97 Chicago Stadium 22–10
33January 13, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Detroit W 143–105 Boston Garden
14,890		 23–10
34January 15, 1988Sacramento W 122–86 Boston Garden 24–10
35January 16, 1988@ New Jersey W 103–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 25–10
36January 18, 1988Golden State W 121–101 Boston Garden 26–10
37January 20, 1988Phoenix W 131–115 Boston Garden 27–10
38January 22, 1988Atlanta W 124–106 Boston Garden 28–10
39January 23, 1988@ Cleveland L 100–119 Richfield Coliseum 28–11
40January 26, 1988@ Atlanta W 102–97 The Omni 29–11
41January 27, 1988Washington W 106–100 Boston Garden 30–11
42January 29, 1988
8:00 PM EST		@ Detroit L 108–125 Pontiac Silverdome
61,983		 30–12
43January 31, 1988Philadelphia W 100–85 Boston Garden 31–12
February: 9–5 (home: 5–0; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
44February 3, 1988Indiana W 118–103 Boston Garden 32–12
45February 4, 1988@ Milwaukee L 101–111 MECCA Arena 32–13
46February 9, 1988@ Houston L 120–129 The Summit 32–14
47February 10, 1988@ San Antonio W 139–120 HemisFair Arena 33–14
48February 12, 1988
8:30 PM EST		@ Dallas W 105–104 Reunion Arena
17,007		 34–14
49February 14, 1988
3:30 PM EST		@ L.A. Lakers L 106–115 Bird (25) Bird (17) Johnson (10) The Forum
17,505		 34–15
50February 15, 1988@ Phoenix W 107–106 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 35–15
51February 17, 1988@ Denver L 125–138 McNichols Sports Arena 35–16
52February 19, 1988@ Portland W 124–104 Memorial Coliseum 36–16
53February 22, 1988New York W 95–93 Hartford Civic Center 37–16
54February 24, 1988Portland W 113–112 Boston Garden 38–16
55February 26, 1988Milwaukee W 132–96 Boston Garden 39–16
56February 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57March 1, 1988@ Milwaukee L 116–117 MECCA Arena 39–18
58March 2, 1988New Jersey L 107–117 Boston Garden 39–19
59March 4, 1988L.A. Clippers W 121–90 Boston Garden 40–19
60March 6, 1988Cleveland W 127–98 Boston Garden 41–19
61March 9, 1988San Antonio W 117–116 Boston Garden 42–19
62March 11, 1988Indiana W 122–112 Hartford Civic Center 43–19
63March 13, 1988Atlanta W 117–100 Boston Garden 44–19
64March 15, 1988@ Indiana W 119–113 Market Square Arena 45–19
65March 18, 1988@ Chicago L 103–113 Chicago Stadium 45–20
66March 20, 1988Chicago W 137–107 Boston Garden 46–20
67March 23, 1988Washington W 104–89 Boston Garden 47–20
68March 25, 1988Philadelphia L 93–97 Boston Garden 47–21
69March 26, 1988@ New York W 118–106 Madison Square Garden 48–21
70March 28, 1988@ New Jersey W 106–105 Brendan Byrne Arena 49–21
71March 30, 1988Houston W 117–110 Boston Garden 50–21
April: 7–4 (home: 6–0; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
72April 1, 1988
8:00 PM EST		Detroit W 121–110 Boston Garden
14,890		 51–21
73April 3, 1988
1:00 PM EDT		Dallas W 110–101 Boston Garden
14,890		 52–21
74April 8, 1988New Jersey W 127–90 Boston Garden 53–21
75April 10, 1988@ Philadelphia W 117–108 The Spectrum 54–21
76April 13, 1988Milwaukee W 123–104 Boston Garden 55–21
77April 15, 1988@ Cleveland L 109–120 Richfield Coliseum 55–22
78April 17, 1988@ Washington L 92–98 Capital Centre 55–23
79April 19, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		Detroit W 121–110 Boston Garden
14,890		 56–23
80April 21, 1988Chicago W 126–119 Boston Garden 57–23
81April 22, 1988@ Atlanta L 106–133 The Omni 57–24
82April 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 29New York W 112–92 McHale, Bird (29) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–0
2May 1New York W 128–102 Larry Bird (36) Kevin McHale (12) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–0
3May 4@ New York L 100–109 Kevin McHale (24) Robert Parish (11) Larry Bird (12) Madison Square Garden
19,591		 2–1
4May 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 11Atlanta W 110–101 Larry Bird (38) Robert Parish (14) Danny Ainge (12) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–0
2May 13Atlanta W 108–97 Kevin McHale (32) Robert Parish (14) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–0
3May 15@ Atlanta L 92–110 Larry Bird (22) Robert Parish (13) Larry Bird (8) Omni Coliseum
16,451		 2–1
4May 16@ Atlanta L 109–118 Larry Bird (30) Kevin McHale (12) Dennis Johnson (10) Omni Coliseum
16,451		 2–2
5May 18Atlanta L 104–112 Robert Parish (24) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–3
6May 20@ Atlanta W 102–100 Kevin McHale (26) Larry Bird (11) Danny Ainge (14) Omni Coliseum
16,451		 3–3
7May 22Atlanta 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 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
2May 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
3May 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
4May 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
5June 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
6June 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

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

Transactions

References

    See also
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