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1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season

NBA professional basketball team season

(lost to Jazz 1–3)

The 1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 18th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. During the first month of the regular season in November, the Trail Blazers signed free agent, former Trail Blazers and All-Star forward Maurice Lucas, and later on in December signed Richard Anderson, who was previously released by the Houston Rockets. The team began their season without Sam Bowie, who was out due to a preseason right leg injury, and would miss the entire season.

After winning their first two games of the regular season, the Trail Blazers posted a five-game losing streak, but then posted a 9-game winning streak between November and December, and held a 26–16 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Jim Paxson to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jerry Sichting. The Trail Blazers posted another 9-game winning streak between February and March, and won 10 of their final 13 games of the season, finishing in second place in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record, earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

Clyde Drexler averaged 27.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Kiki Vandeweghe contributed 20.2 points per game off the bench, but only played just 37 games due to injury, and Jerome Kersey provided the team with 19.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, second-year center Kevin Duckworth averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year, while Steve Johnson provided with 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but only appeared in just 43 games also due to injury, and Terry Porter contributed 14.9 points, 10.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Off the bench, Anderson averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Lucas provided with 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Mike Holton contributed 5.3 points and 2.6 assists per game, and starting power forward Caldwell Jones averaged 4.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Drexler and Johnson were both selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, although Johnson did not participate due to injury; it was his final All-Star selection. In addition, Drexler and Kersey both participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest; it was the fourth appearance for Drexler, and the third appearance for Kersey.

Drexler finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Kersey finished in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, and head coach Mike Schuler finished tied in third place in Coach of the Year voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the opening round for the third consecutive year, this time losing to the 5th-seeded Utah Jazz, three games to one in the best-of-five series. Following the season, Lucas retired, and Holton 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

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

Roster

Mike Schuler
Rick Adelman
Jack Schalow

Roster notes

Center Sam Bowie was on the injured reserve list due to a right leg injury sustained during the preseason, and missed the entire regular season.

Regular season

Season standings

:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

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

Playoffs

1–3

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

Clyde Drexler, All-NBA Second Team
Kevin Duckworth, NBA Most Improved Player

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1988.html 1987-88 Portland Trail Blazers]
(November 10, 1987). "Blazers Host Rockets; No Lucas Yet". The Register-Guard.
(November 11, 1987). "Basketball". The Washington Post.
(November 12, 1987). "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times.
(December 10, 1987). "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times.
(October 18, 1987). "Bowie Breaks Leg Again--in Same Place--Before Exhibition". Los Angeles Times.
(October 19, 1987). "Bowie Refractures Leg Before Game". The New York Times.
(October 19, 1987). "Portland Trail Blazers Center Sam Bowie, Who Fractured His...". United Press International.
"NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference.
(February 23, 1988). "Jim Paxson Traded to Boston". The Washington Post.
(February 23, 1988). "The Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday Traded Guard Jim Paxson,...". United Press International.
(February 24, 1988). "Sports People; Paxson Traded". The New York Times.
"1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
(May 13, 1988). "SPORTS PEOPLE; Duckworth Honored". The New York Times.
(May 13, 1988). "Blazer Wins Improved Award". The Register-Guard.
"NBA Most Improved Player (George Mikan Trophy) Award Winners". Basketball-Reference.
"1987–88 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
Barnard, Bill. (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times.
(September 13, 2021). "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
"1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference.
(January 13, 1988). "Field Set for NBA Dunk Contest". The Daily Record.
"NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
"1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
(May 16, 1988). "Moe Named NBA Coach of Year". Los Angeles Times.
"1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: Jazz vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference.
Goldaper, Sam. (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times.
Edes, Gordon. (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times.
"1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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