NBA basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team 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.
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Draft picks
Roster
1987–88 Boston Celtics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
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
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 (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
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended 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
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 8:00 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 125–108
Bird (28)
Bird (15)
Bird ,Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
November 7, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
W 140–139 (2 OT)
Bird (47)
Parish (13)
Johnson (17)
Capital Centre 19,643
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 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 128–114
Bird (34)
Parish (16)
Johnson (13)
Boston Garden 14,890
5–0
6
November 15, 1987
@ Indiana
W 103–98
Market Square Arena
6–0
7
November 17, 1987 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 88–109
Johnson (16)
Acres (8)
Bird (4)
Richfield Coliseum 14,621
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 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago (at Hartford, Connecticut )
L 102–107
Johnson (23)
Lohaus ,Parish (9)
Johnson (7)
Hartford Civic Center 15,134
8–3
12
November 25, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 117–102
Daye (26)
Parish (13)
Ainge (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
9–3
13
November 27, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Seattle
W 117–112
Daye (27)
Bird (10)
Bird (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
10–3
14
November 28, 1987 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 97–112
Bird (28)
Parish (13)
Johnson (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
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 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 106–120
McHale (22)
Bird ,Lohaus (8)
Johnson (8)
The Omni 16,451
10–5
16
December 2, 1987
New Jersey
W 130–99
Boston Garden
11–5
17
December 4, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 105–128
Bird (27)
Parish (11)
Johnson (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 34,523
11–6
18
December 9, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Denver
L 119–124
Bird (40)
Parish (14)
Johnson (15)
Boston Garden 14,890
11–7
19
8:00 p.m. EST
L.A. Lakers
L 114–115
Bird (35)
Bird ,Parish (9)
Bird (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
11–8
20
December 15, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
W 122–102
Bird (27)
McHale (8)
Johnson (8)
Capital Centre 15,890
12–8
21
December 16, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Utah
W 121–111
Bird (38)
Parish (14)
Johnson (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
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 10:30 p.m. EST
@ Seattle
L 105–111
Bird (36)
Bird (15)
Bird (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
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 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Utah
W 107–99
Bird (28)
Parish (10)
Johnson (12)
Salt Palace 12,212
19–9
29
January 6, 1988
New York
W 117–108
Boston Garden
20–9
30
January 8, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 125–109
Bird (35)
Bird (11)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
21–9
31
January 9, 1988
@ New York
L 98–106
Madison Square Garden
21–10
32
January 12, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
W 104–97
Bird (38)
Parish (16)
Ainge ,Minniefield (9)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
22–10
33
January 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 143–105
McHale (31)
Bird ,McHale (7)
Bird (13)
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 8:00 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 124–106
Bird (25)
Parish (12)
Ainge (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
28–10
39
January 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 100–119
Bird (32)
McHale (17)
Johnson (5)
Richfield Coliseum 20,900
28–11
40
January 26, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
W 102–97
McHale (21)
Parish (14)
Ainge (10)
The Omni 16,451
29–11
41
January 27, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 106–100
Bird (49)
Parish (12)
Ainge (13)
Boston Garden 14,890
30–11
42
January 29, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 108–125
Bird (25)
Bird (11)
Bird (8)
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 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 101–111
McHale (25)
Bird (12)
Johnson (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
32–13
All-Star Break
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 p.m. EST
@ Dallas
W 105–104
Bird (39)
McHale ,Parish (15)
Johnson (11)
Reunion Arena 17,007
34–14
49
3:30 p.m. 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 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Denver
L 125–138
McHale (33)
McHale (11)
Minniefield (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
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 7:30 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 132–96
Bird (32)
McHale (8)
Bird ,Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
39–16
56
February 28, 1988 12 Noon EST
@ Detroit
L 101–106
McHale (33)
McHale (11)
Bird (9)
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 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 116–117
Bird (31)
Bird ,McHale (7)
Ainge (10)
MECCA Arena 11,052
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 1:00 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 127–98
Bird (31)
McHale (8)
Ainge ,Johnson (6)
Boston Garden 14,890
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 12 Noon EST
Atlanta
W 117–100
Bird (28)
Acres (11)
Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
44–19
64
March 15, 1988
@ Indiana
W 119–113
Market Square Arena
45–19
65
March 18, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 103–113
McHale (33)
Bird ,McHale (10)
Ainge (9)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
45–20
66
March 20, 1988 1:00 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 137–107
Bird (33)
McHale (10)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
46–20
67
March 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 104–89
Bird (37)
Bird (14)
Bird (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
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 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 121–110
Bird (32)
Bird ,McHale (11)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
51–21
73
April 3, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
Dallas
W 110–101
Bird (32)
McHale (7)
McHale (10)
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 7:30 p.m. EDT
Milwaukee
W 123–104
Bird (26)
Bird McHale (10)
Bird (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
55–21
77
April 15, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Cleveland
L 109–120
Bird (30)
Parish (9)
Bird (8)
Richfield Coliseum 20,149
55–22
78
April 17, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Washington
L 92–98
Bird (23)
Bird (7)
Ainge (9)
Capital Centre 18,643
55–23
79
April 19, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 121–110
McHale (33)
Parish (12)
Bird (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
56–23
80
April 21, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Chicago
W 126–119
Bird (44)
Bird ,Parish (10)
Johson (15)
Boston Garden 14,890
57–23
81
April 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 106–133
Ainge (25)
Parish (7)
Ainge ,Johnson , ,Parish ,Roberts (4)
The Omni 16,451
57–24
82
April 24, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Chicago
L 108–115
Ainge (20)
Acres (9)
Ainge (11)
Chicago Stadium 18,636
57–25
1987–88 schedule
Playoffs
1988 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
May 11, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 110–101
Bird (38)
Parish (14)
Ainge (12)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
May 13, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 108–97
McHale (32)
Parish (14)
Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–0
3
May 15, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 92–110
Bird (22)
Parish (13)
Bird (8)
The Omni 16,451
2–1
4
May 16, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 109–118
Bird (30)
McHale (12)
Johnson (10)
The Omni 16,451
2–2
5
May 18, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
L 104–112
Parish (24)
Parish (13)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
May 20, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
W 102–100
McHale (26)
Bird (11)
Ainge (14)
The Omni 16,451
3–3
7
May 22, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 118–116
Bird (34)
McHale (13)
Ainge (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
4–3
Eastern 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 p.m. EDT
Detroit
L 96–104
McHale (31)
Parish (13)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
May 26, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 119–115 (2OT)
Parish (26)
Bird (12)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–1
3
May 28, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
L 94–98
McHale (32)
Bird (11)
Bird (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,481
1–2
4
May 30, 1988 3:00 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
W 79–78
Bird (20)
Bird (10)
Bird ,Johnson (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,625
2–2
5
June 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
L 96–102 (OT)
Bird (27)
Bird (17)
Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
June 3, 1988 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 90–95
McHale (33)
Bird (14)
Johnson (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 38,912
2–4
1988 schedule
Player statistics
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 led by Isiah Thomas . This also marked that franchise's "Bad Boy" era, noted for the team's penchant for fighting and rough, physical play. This would be the first time in five 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
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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This page was last edited on 28 May 2024, at 09:24