1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season

1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season
1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coach	Mike Schuler
General manager	Jon Spoelstra
Owner(s)	Larry Weinberg
Arena	Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record	53–29 (.646)
Place	Division: 2nd (Pacific); Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round; (lost to Jazz 1–3)
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1986–87	1988–89 >

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.

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

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

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	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

Mike Schuler

Assistant coach(es)

Rick Adelman
Jack Schalow

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 23, 1988

Regular season

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

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	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

#	Western Conference v t e
#	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

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: 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	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	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	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	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	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

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

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

Awards and honors

Transactions

References

^ 1987-88 Portland Trail Blazers

[1] 1987-88 Portland Trail Blazers

[1]