1986–87 Boston Celtics season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

NBA Draft

Thanks to the 1984 trade of Gerald Henderson

Gerald Henderson

Jerome McKinley "Gerald" Henderson, Sr. is a retired American basketball player. He was a shooting guard who had a 13-year career in the NBA from 1979 until 1992. He played for the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and...

and the subsequent fall of the Seattle SuperSonics

Seattle SuperSonics

The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...

, at the end of the 1985-86

1985-86 NBA season

-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...

the Celtics owned not only the best team in the NBA but also the second pick in the 1986 NBA Draft

1986 NBA Draft

-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...

. The Celtics drafted Len Bias

Len Bias

Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...

with the pick and had high hopes for the young University of Maryland

University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...

star. Fans believed Bias had superstar potential, and that he would be the perfect complement to the aging, but still strong, Celtics. The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale and Parish retired. Unfortunately, Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing. It would be the first in a long string of bad luck for the Celtics.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School/Club Team
1	2	Len Bias Len Bias Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...	Forward	Maryland Maryland Terrapins men's basketball The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
4	93	Tony Bedford	N/A	Texas Tech Texas Tech University Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
5	116	Dave Colbert	N/A	Dayton
6	139	Greg Wendt	N/A	Detroit
7	162	Tom Ivey	N/A	Boston Boston University Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...

Game Log

1986-87 Game Log







1986-87 Schedule

Roster

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Reserve	Inactive
C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...	Robert Parish Robert Parish Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...		Greg Kite Greg Kite Gregory Fuller Kite is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA. A 6'11" center from Brigham Young University, he was selected 21st overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1983 NBA Draft. As a Celtic, he won two championship rings in 1984 and 1986 before being waived by the team... Bill Walton Bill Walton William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...	Kevin McHale Kevin McHale Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...	Fred Roberts Fred Roberts Frederick Clark Roberts is a retired American basketball player who played power forward in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons, a career spanning from 1983 to 1997, becoming one of the more successful journeymen to play in the league...
SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...	Larry Bird Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...	Darren Daye Darren Daye Darren Keefe Daye is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'8", 220 lb guard-forward played high-school basketball for Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, CA, and attended UCLA...		"color:#008040;">Scott Wedman Scott Wedman Scott Dean Wedman is a former NBA basketball player. He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the first round in the 1974 NBA Draft.-Kansas City Kings:...
SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...	Danny Ainge Danny Ainge Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....		Conner Henry Conner Henry Conner Henry is a retired American basketball player. He was a 6'7" 195 lb shooting guard and from 1982–86 played college basketball with the University of California, Santa Barbara, where, as of 2004, he ranks eighth all-time in points scored.He was selected by the Houston Rockets...	Rick Carlisle Rick Carlisle Richard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...
PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...	Dennis Johnson Dennis Johnson Dennis Wayne Johnson nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers...	Jerry Sichting Jerry Sichting Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.-1972-1975:Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, Indiana...	Sam Vincent Sam Vincent (basketball) James Samuel "Sam" Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player and the former head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2008 Sam was named the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Developmental league.Vincent won the State of Michigan "Mr. Basketball" award in 1981, the...

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Larry Bird Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...	74	682	566	135	70	2076	28.1
Kevin McHale Kevin McHale Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...	77	763	198	38	172	2008	26.1
Robert Parish Robert Parish Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...	80	851	173	64	144	1403	17.5
Dennis Johnson Dennis Johnson Dennis Wayne Johnson nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers...	79	261	594	87	38	1062	13.4
Danny Ainge Danny Ainge Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....	71	242	400	101	14	1053	14.8
Jerry Sichting Jerry Sichting Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.-1972-1975:Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, Indiana...	78	91	187	40	1	448	5.7
Fred Roberts Fred Roberts Frederick Clark Roberts is a retired American basketball player who played power forward in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons, a career spanning from 1983 to 1997, becoming one of the more successful journeymen to play in the league...	73	190	62	22	20	402	5.5
Darren Daye Darren Daye Darren Keefe Daye is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'8", 220 lb guard-forward played high-school basketball for Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, CA, and attended UCLA...	61	124	75	25	7	236	3.9
Sam Vincent	46	27	59	13	1	171	3.7
Greg Kite Greg Kite Gregory Fuller Kite is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA. A 6'11" center from Brigham Young University, he was selected 21st overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1983 NBA Draft. As a Celtic, he won two championship rings in 1984 and 1986 before being waived by the team...	74	169	27	17	46	123	1.7
Conner Henry Conner Henry Conner Henry is a retired American basketball player. He was a 6'7" 195 lb shooting guard and from 1982–86 played college basketball with the University of California, Santa Barbara, where, as of 2004, he ranks eighth all-time in points scored.He was selected by the Houston Rockets...	36	27	27	6	1	98	2.7
Rick Carlisle Rick Carlisle Richard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...	42	30	35	8	0	80	1.9
Bill Walton Bill Walton William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...	10	31	9	1	10	28	2.8
David Thirdkill David Thirdkill David Thirdkill is a retired American basketball player who was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1st round of the 1982 NBA Draft. A small forward from the College of Southern Idaho and Bradley University, Thirdkill played in five NBA seasons from 1982 to 1987...	17	19	2	2	0	25	1.5
Scott Wedman Scott Wedman Scott Dean Wedman is a former NBA basketball player. He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the first round in the 1974 NBA Draft.-Kansas City Kings:...	6	9	6	2	2	20	3.3
Andre Turner Andre Turner Andre Devalle Turner is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. A 5'11", . point guard, he played collegiately at Memphis State University...	3	2	1	0	0	4	1.3

1st Round

(1) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

vs. (8) Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

:
Celtics win series 3-0

Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 108, Chicago 104
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 105, Chicago 96
Game 3 @ Chicago: Boston 105, Chicago 94

Conference Semifinals

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....

Celtics win series 4-3

Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 111, Milwaukee 98
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 126, Milwaukee 124
Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 126, Boston 121
Game 4 @ Milwaukee: Boston 138, Milwaukee 137
Game 5 @ Boston: Milwaukee 129, Boston 124
Game 6 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 121, Boston 111
Game 7 @ Boston: Boston 119, Milwaukee 113

Conference finals

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

Celtics win series 4-3

Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 104, Detroit 91
Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 110, Detroit 101
Game 3 @ Detroit: Detroit 122, Boston 104
Game 4 @ Detroit: Detroit 145, Boston 119
Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 108, Detroit 107
Game 6 @ Detroit: Detroit 113, Boston 105
Game 7 @ Boston: Boston 117, Detroit 114

NBA finals

Despite the loss of Bias, the Celtics remained competitive in 1986-87

1986-87 NBA season

-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:* Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers* Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers* Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers...

, going 59-23 and again winning the Eastern Conference Championship. Unfortunately, in the Finals the tired, aging, and injured Celtics ran into perhaps the best Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

team of the decade. The biggest injury was yet another foot injury for Bill Walton

Bill Walton

William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...

, who only played 10 regular season games in 1986-87 after playing 80 games the year before. Walton fought through the injury, playing 12 games (out of 23) in the playoffs, but was not the same player as he was the year before. McHale, Parish and Ainge were also fighting injuries, forcing reserves Darren Daye

Darren Daye

Darren Keefe Daye is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'8", 220 lb guard-forward played high-school basketball for Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, CA, and attended UCLA...

and Fred Roberts

Fred Roberts

Frederick Clark Roberts is a retired American basketball player who played power forward in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons, a career spanning from 1983 to 1997, becoming one of the more successful journeymen to play in the league...

to play larger roles in the series, which the Celtics would lose 4 games to 2.

(1) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (1) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

Lakers win series 4-2

Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 126, Boston 113
Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 141, Boston 122
Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 109, Los Angeles 103
Game 4 @ Boston: Los Angeles 107, Boston 106
Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 123, Los Angeles 108
Game 6 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 106, Boston 93

Award winners

Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
Kevin McHale, All-NBA First Team
Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team

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