1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1987–88 season was the 18th season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] The Blazers finished 53–29, fourth in the Western Conference, qualifying for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. It was a four-game improvement over the previous season. In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Blazers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year, this time falling to the Utah Jazz three games to one in the best-of-five series.

1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coachMike Schuler
General managerJon Spoelstra
Owner(s)Larry Weinberg
ArenaMemorial Coliseum
Results
Record53–29 (.646)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Jazz 1–3)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

Kevin Duckworth averaged 15.8 points per game and was named Most Improved Player of The Year, while Clyde Drexler was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. Steve Johnson was also selected, but did not play due to injury.

Draft picks edit

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 17 Ronnie Murphy F   United States Jacksonville
2 29 Lester Fonville   United States Jackson State
2 30 Nikita Wilson PF   United States Louisiana State
3 63 Kevin Gamble SF/SG   United States Iowa
4 86 Norwood Barber   United States Florida State
5 109 David Moss   United States Tulsa
6 132 Bernard Jackson   United States Loyola (IL)
7 155 Kenny Stone   United States George Fox

Roster edit

1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 35 Anderson, Richard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1960–11–19 California
G 22 Drexler, Clyde (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston
C 00 Duckworth, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1964–04–01 Eastern Illinois
G 6 Holton, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–08–04 UCLA
C 33 Johnson, Steve 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1957–11–03 Oregon State
C 27 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950–08–04 Albany State
F 25 Kersey, Jerome 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–06–26 Longwood
F 20 Lucas, Maurice 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952–02–18 Marquette
G 4 Paxson, Jim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1957–07–09 Dayton
G 30 Porter, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 Wisconsin
G 14 Sichting, Jerry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue
F 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 23, 1988

Regular season edit

 
The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season standings edit

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 36–5 26–15 23–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers 53 29 .646 9 33–8 20–21 23–7
x-Seattle SuperSonics 44 38 .537 18 32–9 12–29 19–11
Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34 22–19 6–35 11–19
Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42 16–25 4–37 7–23
Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45 14–27 3–38 7–23
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756
2 y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 8
3 x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 9
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 53 29 .646 9
5 x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 15
6 x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 16
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 44 38 .537 18
8 x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 31
9 Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34
10 Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 38
11 Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42
12 Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents edit

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 edit

Regular season edit

1987–88 game log
Total: 53–29 (home: 33–8; road: 20–21)
November: 7–5 (home: 6–1; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 November 6 Phoenix W 118–104 Memorial Coliseum 1–0
2 November 7 @ L.A. Clippers W 124–99 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 2–0
3 November 10 Houston L 111–118 Memorial Coliseum 2–1
4 November 12 @ Denver L 113–126 McNichols Sports Arena 2–2
5 November 14 @ Dallas L 116–127 Reunion Arena 2–3
6 November 17
7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers L 115–142 VanDeWeghe (24) Kersey (9) Lucas,
Porter (5)
The Forum
16,347
2–4
7 November 18 @ Seattle L 114–120 Seattle Center Coliseum 2–5
8 November 20 Washington W 120–101 Memorial Coliseum 3–5
9 November 22 Indiana W 120–110 Memorial Coliseum 4–5
10 November 24 Sacramento W 98–94 Memorial Coliseum 5–5
11 November 27 L.A. Clippers W 97–87 Memorial Coliseum 6–5
12 November 29 New Jersey W 125–104 Memorial Coliseum 7–5
December: 10–5 (home: 5–0; road: 5–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
13 December 1 Phoenix W 102–100 Memorial Coliseum 8–5
14 December 2, 1987
7:30 pm PST
@ L.A. Lakers W 117–104 The Forum
17,505
9–5
15 December 5 @ Phoenix W 133–115 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10–5
16 December 6 New York W 117–99 Memorial Coliseum 11–5
17 December 8, 1987
4:30 pm PST
@ Detroit L 117–127 Pontiac Silverdome
17,126
11–6
18 December 9 @ Philadelphia L 86–94 The Spectrum 11–7
19 December 11 @ Milwaukee L 112–125 MECCA Arena 11–8
20 December 12 @ Indiana W 108–101 Market Square Arena 12–8
21 December 15 Seattle W 128–109 Memorial Coliseum 13–8
22 December 18 @ Phoenix W 129–114 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14–8
23 December 20 San Antonio W 148–126 Memorial Coliseum 15–8
24 December 22 Golden State W 136–91 Memorial Coliseum 16–8
25 December 26 @ Cleveland L 117–120 Richfield Coliseum 16–9
26 December 29 @ New York L 110–123 Madison Square Garden 16–10
27 December 30 @ Washington W 117–112 Capital Centre 17–10
January: 8–5 (home: 7–2; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
28 January 1 Philadelphia W 127–125 Memorial Coliseum 18–10
29 January 3, 1988
5:00 pm PST
L.A. Lakers L 81–98 Memorial Coliseum
12,666
18–11
30 January 5 Seattle W 126–114 Memorial Coliseum 19–11
31 January 8 Sacramento W 98–91 Memorial Coliseum 20–11
32 January 13 @ Utah L 104–116 Salt Palace 20–12
33 January 14 @ Houston L 98–103 The Summit 20–13
34 January 16 @ San Antonio W 121–120 HemisFair Arena 21–13
35 January 19 Dallas L 116–120 Memorial Coliseum 21–14
36 January 22 Denver W 126–106 Memorial Coliseum 22–14
37 January 24, 1988
7:00 pm PST
Detroit W 119–111 Memorial Coliseum
12,666
23–14
38 January 26 Milwaukee W 112–106 Memorial Coliseum 24–14
39 January 27 @ Golden State L 110–115 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 24–15
40 January 29 Phoenix W 128–119 Memorial Coliseum 25–15
February: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
41 February 2 Atlanta W 121–118 Memorial Coliseum 26–15
42 February 4 Utah L 123–126 Memorial Coliseum 26–16
43 February 9 Seattle W 139–123 Memorial Coliseum 27–16
44 February 11 @ Sacramento L 113–123 ARCO Arena 27–17
45 February 12 Denver W 120–105 Memorial Coliseum 28–17
46 February 14 Houston L 103–115 Memorial Coliseum 28–18
47 February 15 @ Utah L 94–112 Salt Palace 28–19
48 February 17 @ L.A. Clippers W 110–96 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 29–19
49 February 19 Boston L 104–124 Memorial Coliseum 29–20
50 February 21 San Antonio W 117–112 Memorial Coliseum 30–20
51 February 23 @ New Jersey W 114–102 Brendan Byrne Arena 31–20
52 February 24 @ Boston L 112–113 Boston Garden 31–21
53 February 26 @ Chicago W 104–96 Chicago Stadium 32–21
54 February 27 @ Atlanta W 123–120 The Omni 33–21
55 February 29 Cleveland W 107–94 Memorial Coliseum 34–21
March: 9–4 (home: 4–0; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
56 March 3 @ Phoenix W 135–112 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 35–21
57 March 5 Golden State W 123–117 Memorial Coliseum 36–21
58 March 8 @ Dallas W 112–110 Reunion Arena 37–21
59 March 10 @ Houston W 112–109 The Summit 38–21
60 March 13 L.A. Clippers W 121–100 Memorial Coliseum 39–21
61 March 15, 1988
7:30 pm PST
L.A. Lakers W 112–95 Memorial Coliseum 40–21
62 March 17 @ Denver L 115–116 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 40–22
63 March 18 @ Golden State W 121–116 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 41–22
64 March 20 Dallas W 105–99 Memorial Coliseum 42–22
65 March 23 @ Seattle L 108–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 42–23
66 March 25 @ Dallas L 101–106 Reunion Arena 42–24
67 March 26 @ Houston L 109–115 The Summit 42–25
68 March 29 @ San Antonio W 136–113 HemisFair Arena 43–25
April: 10–4 (home: 6–2; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
69 April 1 Chicago L 101–116 Memorial Coliseum 43–26
70 April 3 San Antonio W 110–107 Memorial Coliseum 44–26
71 April 5 L.A. Clippers W 141–119 Memorial Coliseum 45–26
72 April 6 @ L.A. Clippers W 111–103 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 46–26
73 April 8 @ Seattle L 100–114 Seattle Center Coliseum 46–27
74 April 9, 1988
7:30 pm PDT
L.A. Lakers W 119–109 Memorial Coliseum
12,666
47–27
75 April 12, 1988
7:30 pm PDT
@ L.A. Lakers L 103–109 The Forum
17,505
47–28
76 April 14 @ Utah W 128–123 Salt Palace 48–28
77 April 15 Golden State W 147–113 Memorial Coliseum 49–28
78 April 17 Sacramento W 112–102 Memorial Coliseum 50–28
79 April 19 Utah L 122–129 Memorial Coliseum 50–29
80 April 20 @ Golden State W 131–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 51–29
81 April 22 Denver W 141–135 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 52–29
82 April 23 @ Sacramento W 124–110 ARCO Arena 53–29
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs edit

1988 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 28 Utah W 108–96 Clyde Drexler (26) Clyde Drexler (13) Terry Porter (12) Memorial Coliseum
12,666
1–0
2 April 30 Utah L 105–114 Clyde Drexler (25) Maurice Lucas (14) Terry Porter (7) Memorial Coliseum
12,666
1–1
3 May 4 @ Utah L 108–113 Jerome Kersey (23) Kevin Duckworth (16) Drexler, Porter (4) Salt Palace
12,444
1–2
4 May 6 @ Utah L 96–111 Kevin Duckworth (33) Kersey, Duckworth (10) Clyde Drexler (6) Salt Palace
12,444
1–3
1988 schedule

Player statistics edit

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 edit

Playoffs edit

Awards and honors edit

Transactions edit

References edit