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1987-88 NBA Season Summary

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League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Click column headers to sort
Eastern Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Atlantic Division         
Boston Celtics* 57 25 .695 — 113.6 107.7 56 26 6.15
Washington Bullets* 38 44 .463 19.0 105.5 106.3 39 43 -0.16
New York Knickerbockers* 38 44 .463 19.0 105.5 106.0 40 42 0.14
Philadelphia 76ers 36 46 .439 21.0 105.7 107.1 37 45 -0.79
New Jersey Nets 19 63 .232 38.0 100.4 108.5 21 61 -6.98
Central Division         
Detroit Pistons* 54 28 .659 — 109.2 104.1 54 28 5.46
Atlanta Hawks* 50 32 .610 4.0 107.9 104.3 51 31 4.02
Chicago Bulls* 50 32 .610 4.0 105.0 101.6 50 32 3.76
Cleveland Cavaliers* 42 40 .512 12.0 104.5 103.7 43 39 1.28
Milwaukee Bucks* 42 40 .512 12.0 106.1 105.5 42 40 1.21
Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 16.0 104.6 105.4 39 43 -0.18
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
Denver Nuggets* 54 28 .659 — 116.7 112.7 51 31 3.32
Dallas Mavericks* 53 29 .646 1.0 109.3 104.9 52 30 3.59
Utah Jazz* 47 35 .573 7.0 108.5 104.8 51 31 2.96
Houston Rockets* 46 36 .561 8.0 109.0 107.6 45 37 0.82
San Antonio Spurs* 31 51 .378 23.0 113.6 118.5 29 53 -5.02
Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 30.0 108.0 113.7 27 55 -5.84
Pacific Division         
Los Angeles Lakers* 62 20 .756 — 112.8 107.0 56 26 4.81
Portland Trail Blazers* 53 29 .646 9.0 116.1 111.5 52 30 3.59
Seattle Supersonics* 44 38 .537 18.0 111.4 109.3 46 36 1.29
Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34.0 108.5 113.0 30 52 -4.80
Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42.0 107.0 115.3 21 61 -8.38
Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45.0 98.8 109.1 16 66 -10.24

League Playoffs

Finals (4-3): Los Angeles Lakers over Detroit Pistons
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-2): Detroit Pistons over Boston Celtics
 
Western Conference Finals (4-3): Los Angeles Lakers over Dallas Mavericks
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3): Boston Celtics over Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-1): Detroit Pistons over Chicago Bulls
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-2): Dallas Mavericks over Denver Nuggets
Western Conference Semifinals (4-3): Los Angeles Lakers over Utah Jazz
 
Eastern Conference First Round (3-2): Atlanta Hawks over Milwaukee Bucks
Eastern Conference First Round (3-1): Boston Celtics over New York Knickerbockers
Eastern Conference First Round (3-2): Chicago Bulls over Cleveland Cavaliers
Eastern Conference First Round (3-2): Detroit Pistons over Washington Bullets
 
Western Conference First Round (3-1): Dallas Mavericks over Houston Rockets
Western Conference First Round (3-2): Denver Nuggets over Seattle Supersonics
Western Conference First Round (3-0): Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference First Round (3-1): Utah Jazz over Portland Trail Blazers

Team Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3599 6905 .521 271 705 .384 1846 2300 .803 930 2440 3370 2448 620 415 1304 1804 9315 97.9 115.4
2 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3576 7078 .505 142 478 .297 1956 2480 .789 1073 2491 3564 2347 672 404 1318 1715 9250 99.1 113.1
3 Dallas Mavericks* 82 19755 3413 7191 .475 154 526 .293 1980 2510 .789 1341 2495 3836 1984 645 446 1257 1734 8960 97.0 112.2
4 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19730 3661 7460 .491 117 380 .308 2079 2701 .770 1251 2491 3742 2307 726 347 1351 2091 9518 103.6 111.8
5 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19780 3443 7102 .485 85 282 .301 1873 2441 .767 1228 2379 3607 2062 635 537 1225 2050 8844 96.4 111.3
6 Detroit Pistons* 82 19780 3461 7018 .493 58 202 .287 1977 2612 .757 1181 2482 3663 2011 588 394 1348 1957 8957 98.3 110.5
7 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19855 3544 7443 .476 221 638 .346 1826 2442 .748 1313 2314 3627 2146 775 447 1376 2380 9135 100.2 110.2
8 Denver Nuggets* 82 19780 3770 7961 .474 192 562 .342 1841 2289 .804 1163 2442 3605 2300 832 401 1186 1982 9573 105.5 110.1
9 Chicago Bulls* 82 19855 3434 7015 .490 56 243 .230 1685 2221 .759 1170 2459 3629 2149 712 475 1263 1849 8609 95.5 109.0
10 Philadelphia 76ers 82 19905 3214 6785 .474 152 471 .323 2087 2731 .764 1219 2307 3526 1897 672 465 1433 1866 8667 96.0 108.8
11 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19805 3706 7559 .490 133 412 .323 1769 2412 .733 1184 2335 3519 2344 739 468 1418 1991 9314 104.4 108.2
12 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19780 3366 7079 .475 133 410 .324 1832 2364 .775 1117 2335 3452 2194 671 380 1275 1989 8697 97.6 108.2
13 Houston Rockets* 82 19680 3465 7354 .471 69 291 .237 1936 2483 .780 1239 2530 3769 1936 712 502 1367 1865 8935 101.8 107.1
14 Phoenix Suns 82 19730 3551 7302 .486 118 357 .331 1681 2200 .764 1113 2379 3492 2332 675 353 1413 2045 8901 101.2 107.0
15 Utah Jazz* 82 19705 3484 7092 .491 129 404 .319 1802 2404 .750 1066 2553 3619 2407 771 627 1481 1986 8899 101.5 106.8
16 Cleveland Cavaliers* 82 19780 3313 6755 .490 127 336 .378 1813 2438 .744 1015 2289 3304 2070 733 526 1439 1836 8566 97.3 106.8
17 Indiana Pacers 82 19705 3436 7154 .480 163 485 .336 1546 1982 .780 1078 2457 3535 1977 619 345 1318 2038 8581 98.0 106.6
18 Sacramento Kings 82 19780 3458 7337 .471 144 450 .320 1795 2324 .772 1232 2461 3693 2116 582 493 1457 1895 8855 100.9 106.5
19 Washington Bullets* 82 19880 3355 7164 .468 29 138 .210 1914 2476 .773 1229 2297 3526 1875 698 502 1384 1922 8653 98.1 106.5
20 New York Knickerbockers* 82 19805 3363 7232 .465 179 567 .316 1750 2306 .759 1286 2194 3480 2012 789 445 1518 2361 8655 99.1 105.9
21 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3463 7404 .468 91 312 .292 1754 2204 .796 1140 2252 3392 2005 741 283 1395 2155 8771 101.6 104.7
22 New Jersey Nets 82 19780 3208 6857 .468 137 455 .301 1682 2308 .729 1075 2262 3337 1795 727 385 1503 2042 8235 98.6 101.4
23 Los Angeles Clippers 82 19805 3190 7194 .443 79 317 .249 1644 2305 .713 1191 2350 3541 1885 721 520 1534 1908 8103 100.8 97.4
League Average 82 19784 3455 7193 .480 130 410 .316 1829 2388 .766 1167 2391 3558 2113 698 442 1372 1977 8869 99.6 108.0

Opponent Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Utah Jazz* 82 19705 3273 7283 .449 146 464 .315 1905 2475 .770 1277 2444 3721 1991 771 472 1467 2013 8597 101.5 103.1
2 Detroit Pistons* 82 19780 3334 7134 .467 114 394 .289 1751 2298 .762 1144 2276 3420 1964 649 406 1328 2164 8533 98.3 105.3
3 Chicago Bulls* 82 19855 3276 6967 .470 108 368 .293 1670 2205 .757 1023 2268 3291 2079 597 415 1244 1880 8330 95.5 105.5
4 Houston Rockets* 82 19680 3454 7420 .465 108 393 .275 1805 2352 .767 1261 2506 3767 1951 737 365 1405 2012 8821 101.8 105.7
5 Cleveland Cavaliers* 82 19780 3383 7101 .476 127 400 .318 1611 2044 .788 1159 2255 3414 1989 692 449 1439 2021 8504 97.3 106.0
6 Denver Nuggets* 82 19780 3608 7356 .490 113 377 .300 1910 2508 .762 1179 2748 3927 2171 621 510 1606 1989 9239 105.5 106.3
7 New York Knickerbockers* 82 19805 3202 6710 .477 114 375 .304 2177 2806 .776 1155 2284 3439 2005 705 447 1631 1969 8695 99.1 106.4
8 Washington Bullets* 82 19880 3459 7235 .478 128 390 .328 1670 2246 .744 1228 2364 3592 2134 690 527 1384 1966 8716 98.1 107.2
9 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3551 7467 .476 131 439 .298 1538 2020 .761 1175 2249 3424 2200 732 390 1246 1940 8771 99.1 107.3
10 Indiana Pacers 82 19705 3335 7060 .472 118 368 .321 1858 2446 .760 1160 2500 3660 1933 700 407 1269 1859 8646 98.0 107.4
11 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19730 3492 7341 .476 141 462 .305 2022 2632 .768 1153 2400 3553 2154 648 376 1443 2135 9147 103.6 107.4
12 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19780 3243 6885 .471 136 406 .335 1927 2480 .777 1156 2353 3509 1976 640 353 1322 2008 8549 96.4 107.6
13 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19780 3344 7063 .473 133 442 .301 1832 2410 .760 1172 2400 3572 2135 621 449 1346 1952 8653 97.6 107.6
14 Los Angeles Clippers 82 19805 3513 7360 .477 124 363 .342 1799 2309 .779 1241 2666 3907 2300 842 483 1452 1912 8949 100.8 107.6
15 Dallas Mavericks* 82 19755 3468 7385 .470 167 517 .323 1499 1957 .766 1200 2233 3433 2240 612 436 1228 1997 8602 97.0 107.7
16 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19855 3298 6798 .485 130 400 .325 2240 2992 .749 1128 2306 3434 1964 606 423 1533 1963 8966 100.2 108.1
17 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3497 7260 .482 110 366 .301 1724 2249 .767 1122 2194 3316 2061 734 346 1176 1989 8828 97.9 109.4
18 New Jersey Nets 82 19780 3437 6918 .497 131 363 .361 1895 2419 .783 1034 2461 3495 1993 809 522 1433 1942 8900 98.6 109.6
19 Philadelphia 76ers 82 19905 3501 7063 .496 143 423 .338 1640 2163 .758 1109 2225 3334 2217 718 441 1280 2118 8785 96.0 110.3
20 Phoenix Suns 82 19730 3609 7248 .498 128 421 .304 1922 2506 .767 1104 2416 3520 2225 710 441 1296 1901 9268 101.2 111.4
21 Sacramento Kings 82 19780 3718 7465 .498 120 370 .324 1771 2326 .761 1153 2424 3577 2176 784 533 1195 1951 9327 100.9 112.1
22 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19805 3851 7678 .502 157 450 .349 1855 2390 .776 1292 2513 3805 2470 690 537 1427 1969 9714 104.4 112.8
23 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3627 7244 .501 152 470 .323 2047 2700 .758 1209 2509 3718 2271 747 432 1413 1811 9453 101.6 112.9
League Average 82 19784 3455 7193 .480 130 410 .316 1829 2388 .766 1167 2391 3558 2113 698 442 1372 1977 8869 99.6 108.0

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Michael Jordan
Rookie of the Year:Mark Jackson
Defensive Player of the Year:Michael Jordan
Most Improved Player:Kevin Duckworth
Sixth Man of the Year:Roy Tarpley

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Michael Jordan-CHI3311
2.Mark Jackson-NYK3249
3.Karl Malone-UTA3198
4.Charles Barkley*-PHI3170
5.Otis Thorpe-SAC3072

Field Goals

1.Michael Jordan-CHI1069
2.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL909
3.Larry Bird*-BOS881
4.Karl Malone-UTA858
5.Clyde Drexler*-POR849

Field Goal Attempts

1.Michael Jordan-CHI1998
2.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL1957
3.Alex English*-DEN1704
4.Clyde Drexler*-POR1679
5.Larry Bird*-BOS1672

Field Goal Pct

1.Kevin McHale*-BOS.604
2.Robert Parish*-BOS.589
3.Charles Barkley*-PHI.587
4.John Stockton-UTA.574
5.Walter Berry-SAS.562

3-Pt Field Goals

1.Danny Ainge-BOS148
2.Michael Adams-DEN139
3.Dale Ellis-SEA107
4.Larry Bird*-BOS98
5.Craig Hodges-TOT86

3-Pt Field Goal Attempts

1.Michael Adams-DEN379
2.Danny Ainge-BOS357
3.Dale Ellis-SEA259
4.Larry Bird*-BOS237
5.Derek Harper-DAL192

3-Pt Field Goal Pct

1.Craig Hodges-TOT.491
2.Mark Price-CLE.486
3.John Long-IND.442
4.Gerald Henderson-TOT.423
5.Kelly Tripucka-UTA.419

Free Throws

1.Michael Jordan-CHI723
2.Charles Barkley*-PHI714
3.Karl Malone-UTA552
4.Moses Malone*-WSB543
5.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL541

Free Throw Attempts

1.Charles Barkley*-PHI951
2.Michael Jordan-CHI860
3.Karl Malone-UTA789
4.Moses Malone*-WSB689
5.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL655

Free Throw Pct

1.Jack Sikma-MIL.922
2.Larry Bird*-BOS.916
3.John Long-IND.907
4.Mike Gminski-TOT.906
5.Johnny Dawkins-SAS.896

Offensive Rebounds

1.Charles Barkley*-PHI385
2.Moses Malone*-WSB372
3.Michael Cage-LAC371
4.Roy Tarpley-DAL360
5.Charles Oakley-CHI326

Defensive Rebounds

1.Charles Oakley-CHI740
2.Karl Malone-UTA709
3.Bill Laimbeer-DET667
4.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU657
5.Roy Tarpley-DAL599

Total Rebounds

1.Charles Oakley-CHI1066
2.Karl Malone-UTA986
3.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU959
 Roy Tarpley-DAL959
5.Charles Barkley*-PHI951

Assists

1.John Stockton-UTA1128
2.Mark Jackson-NYK868
3.Magic Johnson*-LAL858
4.Terry Porter-POR831
5.Doc Rivers-ATL747

Steals

1.Michael Jordan-CHI259
2.Alvin Robertson-SAS243
3.John Stockton-UTA242
4.Fat Lever-DEN223
5.Mark Jackson-NYK205

Blocks

1.Mark Eaton-UTA304
2.Patrick Ewing*-NYK245
3.Benoit Benjamin-LAC225
4.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU214
5.Manute Bol-WSB208

Turnovers

1.Karl Malone-UTA325
2.Charles Barkley*-PHI304
3.Patrick Ewing*-NYK287
4.Isiah Thomas*-DET273
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL269

Personal Fouls

1.Patrick Ewing*-NYK332
2.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU324
3.Danny Schayes-DEN323
4.Mark Eaton-UTA320
5.Alton Lister-SEA319

Points

1.Michael Jordan-CHI2868
2.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL2397
3.Larry Bird*-BOS2275
4.Karl Malone-UTA2268
5.Charles Barkley*-PHI2264

Minutes Per Game

1.Michael Jordan-CHI40.4
2.Charles Barkley*-PHI39.6
3.Mark Jackson-NYK39.6
4.Larry Bird*-BOS39.0
5.Karl Malone-UTA39.0

Points Per Game

1.Michael Jordan-CHI35.0
2.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL30.7
3.Larry Bird*-BOS29.9
4.Charles Barkley*-PHI28.3
5.Karl Malone-UTA27.7

Rebounds Per Game

1.Michael Cage-LAC13.0
2.Charles Oakley-CHI13.0
3.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU12.1
4.Karl Malone-UTA12.0
5.Buck Williams-NJN11.9

Assists Per Game

1.John Stockton-UTA13.8
2.Magic Johnson*-LAL11.9
3.Mark Jackson-NYK10.6
4.Terry Porter-POR10.1
5.Doc Rivers-ATL9.3

Steals Per Game

1.Michael Jordan-CHI3.2
2.Alvin Robertson-SAS3.0
3.John Stockton-UTA3.0
4.Fat Lever-DEN2.7
5.Clyde Drexler*-POR2.5

Blocks Per Game

1.Mark Eaton-UTA3.7
2.Benoit Benjamin-LAC3.4
3.Patrick Ewing*-NYK3.0
4.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU2.7
5.Manute Bol-WSB2.7

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Michael Jordan-CHI31.7
2.Larry Bird*-BOS27.8
3.Charles Barkley*-PHI27.6
4.Clyde Drexler*-POR24.1
5.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL23.7

True Shooting Pct

1.Charles Barkley*-PHI.665
2.Kevin McHale*-BOS.656
3.John Stockton-UTA.645
4.Danny Schayes-DEN.640
5.Bill Cartwright-NYK.639

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Roy Tarpley-DAL17.3
2.Dennis Rodman-DET16.9
3.Moses Malone*-WSB15.3
4.Michael Cage-LAC14.3
5.Charles Barkley*-PHI14.0

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Charles Oakley-CHI30.0
2.Roy Tarpley-DAL27.8
3.Bill Laimbeer-DET25.1
4.Buck Williams-NJN24.4
5.Sidney Green-NYK24.3

Total Rebound Pct

1.Roy Tarpley-DAL22.6
2.Charles Oakley-CHI21.7
3.Michael Cage-LAC18.8
4.Dennis Rodman-DET18.6
5.Moses Malone*-WSB18.3

Assist Pct

1.John Stockton-UTA54.8
2.Magic Johnson*-LAL45.4
3.Doc Rivers-ATL42.1
4.Mark Jackson-NYK37.4
5.Terry Porter-POR35.9

Steal Pct

1.John Stockton-UTA4.0
2.Michael Jordan-CHI3.9
3.Muggsy Bogues-WSB3.8
4.Alvin Robertson-SAS3.8
5.Fat Lever-DEN3.3

Block Pct

1.Manute Bol-WSB10.6
2.Jawann Oldham-SAC6.5
3.Mark Eaton-UTA6.4
4.Patrick Ewing*-NYK6.0
5.Benoit Benjamin-LAC5.9

Turnover Pct

1.Alex English*-DEN8.8
2.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL8.9
3.Randy Wittman-ATL9.0
4.Dale Ellis-SEA9.2
5.Kenny Walker-NYK9.3

Usage Pct

1.Dominique Wilkins*-ATL35.2
2.Michael Jordan-CHI34.1
3.Mark Aguirre-DAL31.6
4.Larry Bird*-BOS30.2
5.Karl Malone-UTA29.7

Offensive Rating

1.Kevin McHale*-BOS126.1
2.Charles Barkley*-PHI125.6
3.John Stockton-UTA125.2
4.Adrian Dantley*-DET124.5
5.Cliff Levingston-ATL123.0

Defensive Rating

1.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU98.0
2.Mark Eaton-UTA100.7
3.Karl Malone-UTA100.8
4.Roy Tarpley-DAL101.0
5.Patrick Ewing*-NYK101.3

Offensive Win Shares

1.Michael Jordan-CHI39.6
2.Larry Bird*-BOS34.5
3.Charles Barkley*-PHI32.5
4.Clyde Drexler*-POR27.4
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL25.8

Defensive Win Shares

1.Hakeem Olajuwon*-HOU19.8
2.Michael Jordan-CHI18.3
3.Karl Malone-UTA17.7
4.Fat Lever-DEN16.0
5.Bill Laimbeer-DET15.4

Win Shares

1.Michael Jordan-CHI58
2.Larry Bird*-BOS46
3.Charles Barkley*-PHI42
4.Clyde Drexler*-POR40
5.John Stockton-UTA37

Loss Shares

1.Reggie Theus-SAC29
2.Chuck Person-IND28
3.John Bagley-NJN27
 Gerald Wilkins-NYK27
5.Otis Birdsong-NJN26
 Mike Woodson-LAC26

Win Shares Above Average

1.Michael Jordan-CHI28.0
2.Larry Bird*-BOS20.0
3.John Stockton-UTA17.0
4.Clyde Drexler*-POR16.5
5.Charles Barkley*-PHI16.0
    

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
Charles Barkley
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Hakeem Olajuwon
 2nd Team
Clyde Drexler
Patrick Ewing
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Dominique Wilkins

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Michael Cooper
Michael Jordan
Rodney McCray
Kevin McHale
Hakeem Olajuwon
 2nd Team
Mark Eaton
Patrick Ewing
Fat Lever
Karl Malone
Alvin Robertson
Buck Williams

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Greg Anderson
Armon Gilliam
Mark Jackson
Derrick McKey
Kenny Smith

All-Star Teams

East
Danny Ainge*
Charles Barkley*
Larry Bird*
Maurice Cheeks*
Brad Daugherty*
Patrick Ewing*
Michael Jordan*
Moses Malone*
Kevin McHale*
Doc Rivers*
Isiah Thomas*
Dominique Wilkins*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Mark Aguirre*
James Donaldson*
Clyde Drexler*
Alex English*
Magic Johnson*
Steve Johnson
Fat Lever*
Karl Malone*
Xavier McDaniel*
Hakeem Olajuwon*
Alvin Robertson*
James Worthy*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).