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1987–88 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

FieldValue
teamCleveland Cavaliers
end_year1988
wins42
losses40
divisionCentral
division_place5
conf_place6
coachLenny Wilkens
gmWayne Embry
arenaRichfield Coliseum
playoffs[First round](1988-nba-playoffs-bracket)
(lost to [Bulls](1987-88-chicago-bulls-season) 2–3)
bbr_teamCLE
televisionWUAB
radioWWWE
  • Gordon Gund
  • George Gund III (lost to Bulls 2–3)

The 1987–88 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 18th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association. The Cavaliers received the seventh overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected point guard Kevin Johnson from the University of California, and acquired second-year guard Dell Curry from the Utah Jazz during the off-season.

The Cavaliers struggled with a 3–8 start to the regular season, but recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, and held a 23–22 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Johnson along with Tyrone Corbin, and Mark West to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for All-Star forward Larry Nance, and Mike Sanders. Despite a six-game losing streak between February and March, the Cavaliers won 11 of their final 13 games of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 42–40 record, and earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Second-year star Brad Daugherty averaged 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, while Nance averaged 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 27 games with the Cavaliers after the trade, and second-year guard Mark Price showed improvement becoming the team's starting point guard, averaging 16.0 points and 6.0 assists per game. In addition, second-year guard Ron Harper contributed 15.4 points, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game, but only played 57 games due to injury, and second-year forward Hot Rod Williams provided the team with 10.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Off the bench, Curry contributed 10.0 points and 1.2 steals per game, while starting small forward Phil Hubbard averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, and Craig Ehlo provided with 7.1 points and 2.6 assists per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Daugherty was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Price participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout, and Harper was selected to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but withdrew due to injury. Price also finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting, while head coach Lenny Wilkens finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers lost in five games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Following the season, Curry was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets expansion team.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
17Kevin JohnsonGuardCalifornia
241*Kannard JohnsonForwardWestern Kentucky
352Donald RoyalForwardNotre Dame
475Chris DudleyCenterYale
480**Carven HolcombeGuardTCU
598Carl LottGuardTCU
6121Harold JensenGuardVillanova
7144Michael Foster (basketball)Michael FosterGuardSouth Carolina
  • 2nd round pick (#29) traded to Portland in Linton Townes deal. Used to draft Lester Fonville.

*2nd round pick acquired from Milwaukee in Paul Thompson deal.

**5th round pick acquired from Indiana in Ron Anderson deal.

Roster

  • Lenny Wilkens
  • Dick Helm
  • Brian Winters

Regular season

Season standings

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 7, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 105–113 | Harper (20) | Corbin (10) | Price (6) | The Omni 11,455 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 11, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 101–107 | Daugherty (24) | Daugherty (13) | Daugherty, Price (6) | Richfield Coliseum 12,145 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 13, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 114–128 | Curry (25) | Hubbard (9) | Price (9) | Boston Garden 14,890 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 14, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | Detroit | L 113–128 | Daugherty (22) | West (6) | Price (10) | Richfield Coliseum 10,157 | 1–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 17, 1987 8:00p.m. EST | Boston | W 109–88 | Hubbard (17) | Curry, Daugherty, West (8) | Price (6) | Richfield Coliseum 14,621 | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | December 5, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | L.A. Lakers | W 97–95 | Hubbard (19) | Daugherty (9) | Price (8) | Richfield Coliseum 20,015 | 6–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 13, 1987 10:30p.m. EST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 89–90 | Daugherty | Corbin, Daugherty, Williams (7) | Ehlo (7) | The Forum 17,505 | 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 15, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | Dallas | W 106–93 | Daugherty (21) | Ehlo (14) | Johnson (6) | Richfield Coliseum 6,852 | 8–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | December 17, 1987 8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 100–111 | Daugherty (2) | Daugherty, Johnson, Williams (6) | Johnson (8) | Chicago Stadium 17,650 | 8–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 22, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | @ Washington | W 106–102 | Price (22) | Ehlo (10) | Price (7) | Capital Centre 4,464 | 11–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 23, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | Utah | L 83–91 | Price (26) | Williams (10) | Daugherty (9) | Richfield Coliseum 9,202 | 11–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 30, 1987 7:30p.m. EST | Atlanta | L 110–117 | Curry (25) | Daugherty (9) | Daugherty, Price (7) | Richfield Coliseum 19,029 | 12–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 4, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Denver | W 122–101 | Daugherty (25) | West, Williams (9) | Harper (9) | Richfield Coliseum 6,448 | 14–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 8, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 97–101 | Hubbard (17) | Daugherty (13) | Daugherty, Price (4) | The Omni 11,408 | 23–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 14, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Chicago | W 91–88 (OT) | Daugherty, Harper (16) | Ehlo (8) | Price (6) | Richfield Coliseum 16,648 | 17–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 15, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Detroit | L 93–97 | Daugherty (20) | Daugherty (10) | Johnson (7) | Pontiac Silverdome 19,622 | 17–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 17, 1988 2:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 93–111 | Daugherty (19) | Daugherty (8) | Harper (6) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 17–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 21, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Atlanta | L 93–101 | Daugherty (25) | Williams (12) | Curry, Daugherty (4) | Richfield Coliseum 10,129 | 17–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 23, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Boston | W 119–100 | Curry (23) | Williams (9) | Harper, Johnson (6) | Richfield Coliseum 20,900 | 18–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 25, 1988 9:30p.m. EST | @ Utah | L 96–119 | Daugherty, Price, West (14) | Daugherty, West (8) | Johnson (8) | Salt Palace 12,212 | 18–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 30, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Washington | W 128–126 (OT) | Daugherty (29) | Williams (14) | Harper, Price (9) | Richfield Coliseum 18,749 | 21–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 1, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Detroit | W 94–83 | Harper (23) | Williams (15) | Price (10) | Richfield Coliseum 10,636 | 22–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | February 3, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Washington | W 107–106 | Williams (23) | Daugherty (10) | Daugherty (11) | Capital Centre 6,806 | 23–21 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 9, 1988 8:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 104–112 | Daugherty (19) | Daugherty (10) | Harper (10) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 23–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 10, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Washington | W 118–102 | Williams (23) | Daugherty (13) | Daugherty (6) | Richfield Coliseum 9,179 | 24–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 21, 1988 1:00p.m. EST | Chicago | W 113–111 | Daugherty (29) | Daugherty (8) | Price (11) | Richfield Coliseum 20,089 | 28–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 24, 1988 8:30p.m. EST | @ Dallas | L 89–93 | West (16) | West (11) | Harper (6) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 28–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | March 2, 1988 9:30p.m. EST | @ Denver | L 81–99 | Daugherty, Nance (15) | Williams (10) | Harper (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 9,178 | 28–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 6, 1988 1:00p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 98–127 | Harper (25) | Williams (8) | Daugherty, Ehlo, Price (4) | Boston Garden 14,890 | 28–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 9, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 117–91 | Harper (23) | Nance, Williams (9) | Price (8) | Richfield Coliseum 11,641 | 29–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 12, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Detroit | L 100–104 | Daugherty (24) | Daugherty, Williams (9) | Daugherty (10) | Pontiac Silverdome 33,854 | 30–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 15, 1988 8:00p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 89–108 | Harper (20) | Nacne (9) | Harper (9) | Chicago Stadium 17,752 | 30–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 17, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Detroit | L 99–102 | Daugherty (21) | Daugherty (8) | Price (7) | Richfield Coliseum 13,261 | 30–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 19, 1988 9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 100–101 | Price (24) | Daugherty (10) | Price (7) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 30–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 25, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | Chicago | L 110–111 (OT) | Nance (29) | Nance (11) | Curry (6) | Richfield Coliseum 19,876 | 31–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 26, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 102–109 | Daugherty (25) | Nance (8) | Harper (8) | The Omni 16,418 | 31–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | March 30, 1988 7:30p.m. EST | @ Washington | W 107–96 | Nance (22) | Daugherty (14) | Harper, Price (6) | Capital Centre 8,387 | 33–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 6, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT | Washington | W 98–87 | Price (20) | Nance (9) | Harper (7) | Richfield Coliseum 10,165 | 35–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 8, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT | Milwaukee | W 104–85 | Daugherty (22) | Daugherty, Harper (8) | Harper (6) | Richfield Coliseum 16,475 | 36–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 12, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT | Atlanta | W 116–103 | Harper (25) | Daugherty (7) | Price (14) | Richfield Coliseum 12,418 | 38–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 13, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT | @ Detroit | L 98–115 | Nance (20) | Nance (12) | Ehlo (4) | Pontiac Silverdome 18,808 | 38–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 15, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT | Boston | W 120–109 | Daugherty (44) | Daugherty (9) | Harper (6) | Richfield Coliseum 20,149 | 39–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 22, 1988 8:30p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | W 107–103 | Price (26) | Daugherty (10) | Price (11) | Chicago Stadium 17,726 | 41–40

Playoffs

Main article: 1988 NBA Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | L 93–104 | Ehlo (21) | Nance (8) | Price (12) | Chicago Stadium 18,676 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 1, 1988 3:30p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | L 101–106 | Nance (27) | Daugherty (13) | Nance (8) | Chicago Stadium 18,645 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 3, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT | Chicago | W 110–102 | Price (31) | Daugherty (10) | Price (6) | Richfield Coliseum 20,068 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 5, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT | Chicago | W 97–91 | Harper (30) | Daugherty (9) | Price (7) | Richfield Coliseum 20,026 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 8, 1988 1:00p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | L 101–107 | Price (25) | Daugherty (10) | Price (7) | Chicago Stadium 18,008 | 2–3

Player stats

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Brad Daugherty797837.451.00.071.68.44.20.60.718.7
Larry Nance272633.652.60.083.07.93.10.72.316.2
Mark Price807932.850.648.687.72.36.01.20.216.0
Ron Harper575232.146.415.070.53.94.92.10.915.4
Hot Rod Williams775027.447.70.075.66.61.30.81.910.9
Dell Curry79819.045.834.678.22.11.91.20.310.0
Mark West541221.957.60.062.15.20.90.51.58.5
Phil Hubbard785920.948.90.074.93.61.00.60.18.4
Tyrone Corbin54421.349.10.078.64.11.00.80.37.3
Kevin Johnson52320.146.022.282.11.43.71.20.37.3
Craig Ehlo792721.646.634.467.43.52.61.00.47.1
Mike Sanders241117.453.80.087.02.01.10.50.26.8
Chris Dudley5519.347.40.056.32.60.40.20.33.1
Johnny Rogers2407.042.60.076.91.10.10.20.12.6
Kent Benson206.0100.00.050.00.50.00.50.52.5
Kevin Henderson504.040.00.041.70.80.40.00.01.8
Kannard Johnson403.033.30.00.00.00.00.30.00.5

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Mark Price5541.056.741.796.03.67.60.60.021.0
Ron Harper4433.547.60.068.85.03.82.81.017.8
Larry Nance5540.053.10.088.97.23.60.42.216.8
Brad Daugherty5540.846.00.067.79.23.20.41.415.8
Mike Sanders5526.853.80.080.05.01.40.60.412.8
Hot Rod Williams5026.650.00.046.25.80.80.61.49.2
Craig Ehlo5125.642.50.062.53.63.41.00.08.8
Chris Dudley406.050.00.050.01.50.50.00.01.3
Dell Curry208.525.00.00.00.51.00.00.51.0
Phil Hubbard307.016.70.00.01.00.00.00.00.7

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

References

  1. Dyer, Bob. (January 30, 1988). "Cavs End Contract with WWWE". Beacon Journal Publishing Co..
  2. Goldaper, Sam. (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times.
  3. Edes, Gordon. (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  5. (October 8, 1987). "Jazz Trades for Dawkins, Turpin". The Washington Post.
  6. Goldaper, Sam. (October 9, 1987). "Dawkins Joins Jazz in Trade". The New York Times.
  7. (October 9, 1987). "Utah Gets Dawkins and Turpin in a Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times.
  8. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference.
  9. (February 25, 1988). "Suns Revamp in Deals with Cavaliers, Bucks". The Washington Post.
  10. Goldaper, Sam. (February 26, 1988). "Suns Trade Nance to the Cavaliers". The New York Times.
  11. (February 26, 1988). "The Phoenix Suns Traded Veteran Forwards Larry...". Los Angeles Times.
  12. "1987–88 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  13. "1987–88 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  14. Barnard, Bill. (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times.
  15. (September 13, 2021). "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  16. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference.
  17. (January 13, 1988). "Field Set for NBA Dunk Contest". The Daily Record.
  18. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  19. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  20. "1988 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference.
  21. Goldaper, Sam. (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times.
  22. Edes, Gordon. (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times.
  23. "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  24. Blazers traded Linton Townes to Cavaliers for 1987 second round pick (#29-Lester Fonville) on 9/6/83 http://n-c-systems.com/hoops/DraftTrades/1987.html {{Webarchive. link. (2007-11-07)
  25. Cavaliers traded Paul Thompson to Bucks for two-second round picks (1985 #45-John Williams) (1987 #41-Kannard Johnson) on 2/12/85 http://n-c-systems.com/hoops/DraftTrades/1987.html {{Webarchive. link. (2007-11-07)
  26. Traded Ron Anderson to Pacers for 1987 fourth round pick (#80-Carven Holcomb) on 12/10/85 http://n-c-systems.com/hoops/DraftTrades/1987.html {{Webarchive. link. (2007-11-07)
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