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
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
WLVI, WTXX, WTIC-TV
(Gil Santos, Bob Cousy)
RadioWEEI, WTIC Radio
(Johnny Most, Glenn Ordway)

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.

Draft picks

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
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
3November 9, 1987@ New York W 96–87 Madison Square Garden 3–0
4November 11, 1987Indiana 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
6November 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
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
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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
16December 2, 1987New 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, 1987
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
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
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27January 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
29January 6, 1988New 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
31January 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
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
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
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
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
46February 9, 1988@ Houston L 120–129 The Summit 32–14
47February 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, 1988
3:30 p.m. 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
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
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
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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
58March 2, 1988New Jersey L 107–117 Boston Garden 39–19
59March 4, 1988L.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
61March 9, 1988San Antonio W 117–116 Boston Garden 42–19
62March 11, 1988Indiana 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
64March 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
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
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
74April 8, 1988New Jersey W 127–90 Boston Garden 53–21
75April 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)
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
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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. 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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