1986–87 Boston Celtics season
1986–87 Boston Celtics season | |
---|---|
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
Head coach | K. C. Jones |
Owner(s) | Don Gaston Alan N. Cohen Paul Dupee |
Arena | Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center |
Results | |
Record | 59–23 (.720) |
Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | NBA Finals (Lost to Lakers 2–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WLVI (Gil Santos, Bob Cousy) SportsChannel New England (Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn) |
Radio | WRKO (Johnny Most, Glenn Ordway) |
The 1986–87 Boston Celtics season was the 41st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season as the defending NBA Champions, having defeated the Houston Rockets in the 1986 NBA Finals in six games, winning their sixteenth NBA championship.
In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in the First Round in three games, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Semifinals in seven games, and the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Finals in seven games to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth time in the 1980s. In the Finals, the Celtics faced off against their long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, in their third and final matchup in the NBA Finals in the 1980s. The Celtics would lose in six games to the Lakers, and it marked the last time the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals until 2008.
Contents
1 NBA Draft
2 Regular season
2.1 Season standings
2.2 Record vs. opponents
2.3 Game Log
3 Roster
4 Player stats
5 Playoffs
5.1 East First Round
5.2 East Conference Semifinals
5.3 East Conference Finals
5.4 NBA finals
6 Award winners
7 References
NBA Draft
Thanks to the 1984 trade of Gerald Henderson and the subsequent fall of the Seattle SuperSonics, at the end of the 1985–86 season the Celtics owned not only the best team in the NBA but also the second pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. The Celtics drafted Len Bias with the pick and had high hopes for the young Maryland Terrapins star. The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale, and Parish retired. Unfortunately, Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing.[1]
Unlike the prior year, the Celtics were forced to endure major injuries to several key players including Bill Walton, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. With a road record of 20–21, the Celtics were a sub-.500 road team for the first time in the Larry Bird era and the first time since the 1978–79 season. However, they continued with the previous season's historic dominance at home with a record of 39–2 at Boston Garden.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Len Bias | Forward | United States | Maryland |
4 | 93 | Tony Bedford | N/A | United States | Texas Tech |
5 | 116 | Dave Colbert | N/A | United States | Dayton |
6 | 139 | Greg Wendt | N/A | United States | Detroit |
7 | 162 | Tom Ivey | N/A | United States | Boston University |
Regular season
Season standings
Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Boston Celtics | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 39–2 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
x-Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 | 28–13 | 17–24 | 12–12 |
x-Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 13–11 |
New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 | 19–22 | 5–36 | 12–12 |
New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 | 18–23 | 6–35 | 8–16 |
# | Eastern Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Boston Celtics | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2 |
3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9 |
5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
6 | x-Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 |
9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
11 | New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
Record vs. opponents
1986-87 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
Boston | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Chicago | 2–4 | 0–6 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 0–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
New York | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
Philadelphia | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
Game Log
1986-87 Game Log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October
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November
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December
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1986-87 Schedule |
Roster
Boston Celtics roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
[2]
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average
Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Larry Bird | 74 | 682 | 566 | 135 | 70 | 2076 | 28.1 |
Kevin McHale | 77 | 763 | 198 | 38 | 172 | 2008 | 26.1 |
Robert Parish | 80 | 851 | 173 | 64 | 144 | 1403 | 17.5 |
Dennis Johnson | 79 | 261 | 594 | 87 | 38 | 1062 | 13.4 |
Danny Ainge | 71 | 242 | 400 | 101 | 14 | 1053 | 14.8 |
Jerry Sichting | 78 | 91 | 187 | 40 | 1 | 448 | 5.7 |
Fred Roberts | 73 | 190 | 62 | 22 | 20 | 402 | 5.5 |
Darren Daye | 61 | 124 | 75 | 25 | 7 | 236 | 3.9 |
Sam Vincent | 46 | 27 | 59 | 13 | 1 | 171 | 3.7 |
Greg Kite | 74 | 169 | 27 | 17 | 46 | 123 | 1.7 |
Conner Henry | 36 | 27 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 98 | 2.7 |
Rick Carlisle | 42 | 30 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 80 | 1.9 |
Bill Walton | 10 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 2.8 |
David Thirdkill | 17 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 1.5 |
Scott Wedman | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 3.3 |
Andre Turner | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.3 |
Playoffs
East First Round
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls:
Celtics win series 3–0
Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 108, Chicago 104
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 105, Chicago 96
Game 3 @ Chicago: Boston 105, Chicago 94
East Conference Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Milwaukee Bucks
Celtics win series 4–3
Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 111, Milwaukee 98
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 126, Milwaukee 124
Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 126, Boston 121
Game 4 @ Milwaukee: Boston 138, Milwaukee 137
Game 5 @ Boston: Milwaukee 129, Boston 124
Game 6 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 121, Boston 111
Game 7 @ Boston: Boston 119, Milwaukee 113
East Conference Finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
Celtics win series 4–3
Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 104, Detroit 91
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 110, Detroit 101
Game 3 @ Detroit: Detroit 122, Boston 104
Game 4 @ Detroit: Detroit 145, Boston 119
Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 108, Detroit 107
Game 6 @ Detroit: Detroit 113, Boston 105
Game 7 @ Boston: Boston 117, Detroit 114
NBA finals
Despite the loss of Bias, the Celtics remained competitive in 1986–87, going 59–23 and again winning the Eastern Conference Championship.[editorializing] Celtics ran into perhaps the best Los Angeles Lakers team of the "Showtime" era. The biggest injury was yet another foot injury for Bill Walton, who only played 10 regular season games in 1986–87 after playing 80 games the year before. Walton fought through the injury, playing 12 games (out of 23) in the playoffs, but was not the same player as he was the year before. Kevin McHale played on a broken foot through the playoffs. This combined with injuries to Parish and Ainge forced reserves Darren Daye and Fred Roberts to play larger roles in the series, which the Celtics would lose 4 games to 2.
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (1) Boston Celtics
Lakers win series 4–2
Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 126, Boston 113
Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 141, Boston 122
Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 109, Los Angeles 103
Game 4 @ Boston: Los Angeles 107, Boston 106
Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 123, Los Angeles 108
Game 6 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 106, Boston 93
Award winners
- Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
- Kevin McHale, All-NBA First Team
- Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team
References
^ "All-American Basketball Star, Celtic Choice, Dies Suddenly". The New York Times. June 20, 1986..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1987.html
- Celtics on Database Basketball
- Celtics on Basketball Reference