1987–88 Boston Celtics season

1987–88 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachK. C. Jones
General managerJan Volk
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
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
WLVI, WTXX, WTIC-TV
(Gil Santos, Bob Cousy)
RadioWEEI, WTIC Radio
(Johnny Most, Glenn Ordway)

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 42nd season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. The Celtics had the 22nd overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Reggie Lewis out of Northeastern University.[1][2][3][4]

Coming from an NBA Finals defeat to their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, the Celtics won their first six games of the regular season, then later on posted a 7-game winning streak in January, and held a 32–13 record at the All-Star break.[5] At mid-season, the team traded Jerry Sichting to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jim Paxson.[6][7][8] The Celtics posted an 8-game winning streak between March and April, but then lost four of their final six games of the season afterwards, winning the Atlantic Division title with a 57–25 record, and earning the first seed in the Eastern Conference.[9]

Larry Bird averaged 29.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game, contributed 98 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Kevin McHale averaged 22.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, led the league with .604 in field-goal percentage, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and Danny Ainge provided the team with 15.7 points, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and also led them with 148 three-point field goals. In addition, Robert Parish provided with 14.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while Dennis Johnson contributed 12.6 points and 7.8 assists per game. Off the bench, Paxson contributed 8.7 points per game in 28 games with the Celtics after the trade, while Fred Roberts provided with 6.1 points per game, and Mark Acres averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[10]

During the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, Illinois, Bird, McHale and Ainge were all selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game,[11][12][13][14] and Bird won the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the third consecutive year.[12][13][15] Bird also finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls,[16][17][18][19] and head coach K.C. Jones finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.[19]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the New York Knicks in four games.[20] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team trailed 3–2 to Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks, but won the final two games, thus winning the series in seven games.[21] The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive year, 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; this was the first time since the 1982–83 season that the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals.[22] The Pistons would lose in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1988 NBA Finals.[23]

Following the season, Roberts was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Miami Heat.[24]

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. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 42 Mark Acres 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–11–15 Oral Roberts
G 44 Danny Ainge 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU
F 33 Larry Bird 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
C 53 Artis Gilmore 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1949–09–21 Jacksonville
G 3 Dennis Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
G/F 35 Reggie Lewis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–11–21 Northeastern
F/C 54 Brad Lohaus 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa
F/C 32 Kevin McHale 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota
G 11 Dirk Minniefield 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–01–17 Kentucky
C 00 Robert Parish 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary
G 4 Jim Paxson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1957–07–09 Dayton
C 5 Bill Walton (IN) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1952–11–05 UCLA
F 31 Fred Roberts 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1960–08–10 BYU
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- 57 25 .695 – 36–5 21–20 19–5
x-Washington Bullets 38 44 .463 19 25–16 13–28 13–11
x-New York Knicks 38 44 .463 19 29–12 9–32 10–14
Philadelphia 76ers 36 46 .439 21 27–14 9–32 12–12
New Jersey Nets 19 63 .232 38 16–25 3–38 6–18
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c- 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: 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 December 11
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 February 14
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 29 New York W 112–92 McHale, Bird (29) Robert Parish (13) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–0
2 May 1 New York W 128–102 Larry Bird (36) Kevin McHale (12) Dennis Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–0
3 May 4 @ New York L 100–109 Kevin McHale (24) Robert Parish (11) Larry Bird (12) Madison Square Garden
19,591 		2–1
4 May 6 @ New York W 102–94 Larry Bird (28) Robert Parish (12) Dennis Johnson (12) Madison Square Garden
19,591 		3–1
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

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

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

  1. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  2. ^ Edes, Gordon (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Barnard, Bill (June 23, 1987). "NBA's Class of 1987 Gets Mixed Grade". Portsmouth Daily Times. p. 9. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  4. ^ "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  5. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  6. ^ "Jim Paxson Traded to Boston". The Washington Post. Associated Press. February 23, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  7. ^ "The Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday Traded Guard Jim Paxson,..." United Press International. February 23, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  8. ^ "Sports People; Paxson Traded". The New York Times. February 24, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  9. ^ "1987–88 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  10. ^ "1987–88 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  11. ^ Barnard, Bill (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Barnard, Bill (February 7, 1988). "NBA All-Star Game to Be Made Homecoming". The Press-Courier. p. 15. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  14. ^ "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  15. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  16. ^ "Michael Jordan Is NBA's MVP". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. May 25, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  17. ^ "Jordan Soars to MVP Award". Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  18. ^ "Jordan Named M.V.P." The New York Times. May 26, 1988. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  20. ^ "1988 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Knicks vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  21. ^ "1988 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Hawks vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  22. ^ "1988 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pistons vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  23. ^ "1988 NBA Finals: Pistons vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  24. ^ "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2025.

See also

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