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1987–88 Chicago Bulls season

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1987–88 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachDoug Collins
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Semifinals
(Lost to Pistons 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFLD
Sportsvision
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
RadioWMAQ
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 Chicago Bulls season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bulls finished second in the Central Division with a solid 50–32 record. Michael Jordan was named Most Valuable Player of The Year and Defensive Player of The Year. He also won the All-Star Game MVP and Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend, which was held in Chicago. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, but lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the semifinals. Following the season, Charles Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks.

NBA Draft

Main article: 1987 NBA Draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and notable post-first round picks.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Olden Polynice C  Haiti Virginia
1 10 Horace Grant PF  United States Clemson
2 28 Rickie Winslow F  United States Houston
4 79 Jack Haley C  United States UCLA

Roster

Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 17 United States Brown, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) George Washington
C 40 United States Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) DePaul
PF 54 United States Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Clemson
SG 23 United States Jordan, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) North Carolina
PF 34 United States Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Virginia Union
PG 5 United States Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame
SF 33 United States Pippen, Scottie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Central Arkansas
SF 6 United States Sellers, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Ohio State
PG 2 United States Sparrow, Rory 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Villanova
SF 21 United States Turner, Elston 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Mississippi
PG 11 United States Vincent, Sam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Michigan State
C 31 United States Waiters, Granville 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Jordan was indisputably great, and Oakley, who led the league in total rebounds (1,066), was outstanding. Still, the Bulls lacked a quality supporting cast. They took a major step toward alleviating that problem at the 1987 NBA Draft, when Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause acquired two players who would be vital cogs in Chicago's future championship machine. With two picks in the top 10, Krause selected Olden Polynice at No. 8 and Horace Grant at No. 10. He then traded Polynice and draft considerations to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen, whom the Sonics had grabbed with the fifth pick.

With Grant and Pippen on board the Bulls began to show their stuff in 1987-88, forging a 50-32 record, their best mark since 1973-74. Chicago finished in a second-place tie with Atlanta in a competitive Central Division won by the surging Detroit Pistons. The Bulls made some noise in the playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game first-round series, but then fell to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Oakley and the Los Angeles Clippers' Michael Cage engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league's rebounding title, which came down to the last day of the regular season. On April 22 against Cleveland, Oakley put the pressure on Cage by pulling down 35 rebounds, the second-highest total in Bulls history behind Tom Boerwinkle's 37 in 1970. Two days later, however, Cage grabbed 30 boards in a game against Seattle, just enough to edge Oakley by the slimmest of margins, 13.03 per game to 13.00. Cage played in 10 fewer games than Oakley, however, so Oakley led the NBA in total rebounds for the second consecutive year, with 1,066.

Jordan led the league in scoring (35.0 ppg) and steals (3.16 per game). He won almost every major award, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team Honors and NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors. However, the finals and most important prizes eluded him until the 1990-1991 season.

Season standings

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: 50–32 (Home: 30–11; Road: 20–21)
November: 10–3 (home: 4–2; road: 6–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 November 7 Philadelphia Chicago Stadium 1–0
2 November 10 @ Atlanta The Omni 2–0
3 November 11 @ New Jersey Brendan Byrne Arena 3–0
4 November 13 New Jersey Chicago Stadium 4–0
5 November 14 Indiana Chicago Stadium
6 November 17 Washington Chicago Stadium
7 November 18 @ Washington Capital Centre
8 November 20 Atlanta Chicago Stadium
9 November 21 Detroit Chicago Stadium
10 November 23 @ Boston Hartford Civic Center
11 November 25 @ Milwaukee The MECCA
12 November 27 @ Dallas Reunion Arena
13 November 28 @ Houston The Summit
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
14 December 1 @ Golden State Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15 December 2 @ Utah Salt Palace
16 December 4 @ Denver McNichols Sports Arena
17 December 5 @ San Antonio HemisFair Arena
18 December 8 Philadelphia Chicago Stadium
19 December 10 Milwaukee Chicago Stadium
20 December 12 Houston Chicago Stadium
21 December 15 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome
22 December 17 Cleveland Chicago Stadium
23 December 19 @ Washington Capital Centre
24 December 22 Dallas Chicago Stadium
25 December 23 @ New York Madison Square Garden
26 December 26 @ Indiana Market Square Arena
27 December 29 Atlanta Chicago Stadium
January: 11–4 (home: 10–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 January 2 New Jersey Chicago Stadium
29 January 5 Indiana Chicago Stadium
30 January 7 Denver Chicago Stadium
31 January 9 Utah Chicago Stadium
32 January 12 Boston Chicago Stadium
33 January 14 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum
34 January 16 Detroit Chicago Stadium
35 January 18 Washington Chicago Stadium
36 January 19 @ Atlanta The Omni
37 January 22 Phoenix Chicago Stadium
38 January 23 Golden State Chicago Stadium
39 January 26 @ Indiana Market Square Arena
40 January 27 @ Philadelphia The Spectrum
41 January 29 New Jersey Chicago Stadium
42 January 30 New York Chicago Stadium
February: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
43 February 1 @ Sacramento ARCO Arena
44 February 2 @ L.A. Lakers The Forum
45 February 4 @ Phoenix Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
46 February 9 Detroit Chicago Stadium
47 February 10 @ New Jersey Brendan Byrne Arena
48 February 12 @ Milwaukee The MECCA
49 February 13 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome
50 February 15 Atlanta Chicago Stadium
51 February 19 Sacramento Chicago Stadium
52 February 21 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum
53 February 23 Seattle Chicago Stadium
54 February 26 Portland Chicago Stadium
55 February 27 Milwaukee Chicago Stadium
56 February 29 @ Philadelphia The Spectrum 33–23
March: 10–4 (home: 7–0; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
57 March 3 Philadelphia Chicago Stadium 33–24
58 March 5 L.A. Clippers Chicago Stadium 34–24
59 March 7 @ New York Madison Square Garden 34–25
60 March 10 L.A. Lakers Chicago Stadium 35–25
61 March 12 San Antonio Chicago Stadium 36–25
62 March 15 Cleveland Chicago Stadium 37–25
63 March 16 @ Washington Capital Centre 37–26
64 March 18 Boston Chicago Stadium 38–26
65 March 20 @ Boston Boston Garden 38–27
66 March 23 @ Philadelphia The Spectrum 39–27
67 March 25 @ Cleveland Richfield Coliseum 40–27
68 March 26 Indiana Chicago Stadium 41–27
69 March 29 @ Seattle Seattle Center Coliseum 41–28
70 March 30 @ L.A. Clippers Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 41–29
April: 9–3 (home: 3–2; road: 6–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
71 April 1 @ Portland Memorial Coliseum 42–29
72 April 3 @ Detroit Pontiac Silverdome 43–29
73 April 5 Washington Chicago Stadium 44–29
74 April 6 @ Milwaukee The MECCA 44–30
75 April 8 New York Chicago Stadium 45–30
76 April 14 @ Indiana Market Square Arena 46–30
77 April 15 @ New Jersey Brendan Byrne Arena 47–30
78 April 17 Milwaukee Chicago Stadium 48–30
79 April 19 @ New York Madison Square Garden 49–30
80 April 21 @ Boston Boston Garden 49–31
81 April 22 Cleveland Chicago Stadium 49–32
82 April 24 Boston Chicago Stadium 50–32
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–2)
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–2)
1988 playoff schedule

Playoffs

East First Round

(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls win series 3-2

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

East Conference Semifinals

(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4-1

Last Playoff Meeting: 1974 Western Conference Semifinals (Chicago won 4-3)

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

See also

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