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1996–97 Washington Bullets season

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1996–97 Washington Bullets season
Head coachJim Lynam
Bernie Bickerstaff
ArenaUS Airways Arena
Baltimore Arena
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast First Round
(eliminated 0-3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
Home Team Sports
RadioWTOP
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Bullets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Bullets acquired Rod Strickland from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agent Tracy Murray. Despite a stellar season last year, Juwan Howard signed a 7-year $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. However, the deal was voided claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap. The Bullets quickly re-signed Howard, but would lose their first round draft pick next year.[2]

With a record of 22–24 at midseason, the Bullets fired head coach Jim Lynam, then after playing one game under assistant Bob Staak, they hired Bernie Bickerstaff as their new coach. Under Bickerstaff, the Bullets finished the season winning 16 of their final 21 games. On the final day of the regular season, the Bullets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 85–81 at the Gund Arena to capture the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record, ending an eight-year playoff drought. Chris Webber led the team in scoring, rebounding and block shots. He was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Bullets were swept by the defending champion Chicago Bulls in three straight games. This would be their final playoff appearance until 2005. Game 3 of that series at US Airways Arena was officially their final game as the "Bullets". Following the season, the team changed its name to the "Wizards".[3]

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 55 Ronnie Henderson  United States LSU

Roster

Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 40 United States Cheaney, Calbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Indiana
PF 44 United States Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Oklahoma
SF 5 United States Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Michigan
SG 32 United States Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgetown
SG 23 United States Legler, Tim 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) La Salle
C 77 Romania Mureșan, Gheorghe 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 303 lb (137 kg) Romania
SF 35 United States Murray, Tracy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) UCLA
PG 1 United States Strickland, Rod 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) DePaul
PF 30 United States Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Virginia Union
PF 4 United States Webber, Chris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Michigan
PG 12 United States Whitney, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) Clemson
C 43 United States Williams, Lorenzo 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Stetson
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 – 29–12 32–9 16–8
x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 4 31–10 26–15 19–6
x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 16 26–15 19–22 13–11
x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 17 25–16 19–22 14–10
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35 16–25 10–31 11–13
Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 39 11–30 11–30 11–14
Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 46 11–30 4–37 1–23
1996–97 NBA East standings
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841 –
2 y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 8
3 x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 12
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13
5 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15
6 x-Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15
7 x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 24
8 x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27
10 Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30
11 Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36
12 Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39
13 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 43
14 Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 47
15 Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 54
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996–97 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–1
Boston 1–3 — 0–4 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte 3–1 4–0 — 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Chicago 3–1 4–0 4–0 — 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1
Cleveland 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Dallas 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1
Detroit 3–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 — 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 1–3 4–0 0–4 2–0 0–4 3–1 0–2
Houston 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0
Indiana 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 4–0 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 2–0
Miami 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 — 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Milwaukee 0–4 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 — 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 — 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
Orlando 1–3 4–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3
Philadelphia 0–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 — 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 — 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 — 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Toronto 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 — 4–0 2–0
Vancouver 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–4 — 1–1
Washington 1–2 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 —

Game log

Regular season

1996–97 game log
Total: 44–38 (Home: 25–16; Road: 19–22)
November: 7–8 (home: 4–5; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 November 1 @ Orlando W 96–92 Orlando Arena 1–0
2 November 2 Cleveland L 96–98 (OT) US Airways Arena 1–1
3 November 6 San Antonio W 96–86 US Airways Arena 2–1
4 November 8 Charlotte L 87–102 US Airways Arena 2–2
5 November 9 @ Indiana L 100–103 (OT) Market Square Arena 2–3
6 November 12 Detroit L 79–92 US Airways Arena 2–4
7 November 13 @ New Jersey W 106–91 Continental Airlines Arena 3–4
8 November 15 @ Detroit L 84–95 The Palace of Auburn Hills 3–5
9 November 16 Boston W 106–92 US Airways Arena 4–5
10 November 20 Seattle L 110–115 (2OT) US Airways Arena 4–6
11 November 22 Philadelphia W 88–76 US Airways Arena 5–6
12 November 23 @ Milwaukee W 95–90 Bradley Center 6–6
13 November 25 Minnesota W 105–98 US Airways Arena 7–6
14 November 29 @ Atlanta L 81–110 The Omni 7–7
15 November 30 Houston L 99–103 US Airways Arena 7–8
December: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
16 December 5 @ Toronto L 80–82 SkyDome 7–9
17 December 7 Milwaukee L 118–126 US Airways Arena 7–10
18 December 10 @ New York L 73–85 Madison Square Garden 7–11
19 December 11 Cleveland W 106–95 US Airways Arena 8–11
20 December 13 Denver W 108–104 US Airways Arena 9–11
21 December 15 @ Golden State W 110–102 San Jose Arena 10–11
22 December 16 @ Sacramento W 97–89 ARCO Arena 11–11
23 December 18 @ Phoenix L 107–114 America West Arena 11–12
24 December 19 @ L.A. Clippers W 102–93 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12–12
25 December 22 @ Vancouver L 87–91 General Motors Place 12–13
26 December 23 @ Portland W 106–84 Rose Garden Arena 13–13
27 December 27 Toronto W 100–82 US Airways Arena 14–13
28 December 28 Atlanta W 97–86 Baltimore Arena 15–13
29 December 30 Charlotte L 92–101 US Airways Arena 15–14
January: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
30 January 2 New York L 80–92 US Airways Arena 15–15
31 January 4 @ Charlotte W 104–93 Charlotte Coliseum 16–15
32 January 8 Phoenix W 115–113 (OT) US Airways Arena 17–15
33 January 10 L.A. Clippers W 102–98 US Airways Arena 18–15
34 January 11 @ Cleveland W 98–85 Gund Arena 19–15
35 January 13 @ Miami L 95–93 Miami Arena 19–16
36 January 14 @ Chicago L 107–108 United Center 19–17
37 January 17 Miami L 92–103 Baltimore Arena 19–18
38 January 18 @ Boston W 112–106 FleetCenter 20–18
39 January 20 @ New York L 79–95 Madison Square Garden 20–19
40 January 21 @ Orlando L 88–93 Orlando Arena 20–20
41 January 24 @ Atlanta L 105–117 (OT) The Omni 20–21
42 January 25 Sacramento W 113–105 US Airways Arena 21–21
43 January 28 Orlando W 102–82 US Airways Arena 22–21
44 January 31 @ Seattle L 95–97 KeyArena 22–22
February: 3–9 (home: 3–4; road: 0–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
45 February 2 @ L.A. Lakers L 99–129 Great Western Forum 22–23
46 February 3 @ Utah L 89–111 Delta Center 22–24
47 February 5 @ Denver L 104–106 McNichols Sports Arena 22–25
48 February 11 New York L 92–97 US Airways Arena 22–26
49 February 14 New Jersey W 125–107 Baltimore Arena 23–26
50 February 15 @ New Jersey L 86–107 Continental Airlines Arena 23–27
51 February 17 Milwaukee W 95–93 US Airways Arena 24–27
52 February 19 @ Detroit L 85–100 The Palace of Auburn Hills 24–28
53 February 21 Chicago L 99–103 US Airways Arena 24–29
54 February 23 Detroit L 79–85 US Airways Arena 24–30
55 February 25 Indiana W 108–87 US Airways Arena 25–30
56 February 27 L.A. Lakers L 107–122 US Airways Arena 25–31
March: 11–4 (home: 6–3; road: 5–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
57 March 1 Golden State W 118–108 US Airways Arena 26–31
58 March 4 @ Philadelphia W 107–106 CoreStates Center 27–31
59 March 6 @ Miami W 99–95 Miami Arena 28–31
60 March 7 Miami L 105–108 (OT) US Airways Arena 28–32
61 March 9 Philadelphia L 93–99 US Airways Arena 28–33
62 March 12 Vancouver W 104–82 US Airways Arena 29–33
63 March 14 @ Milwaukee W 105–96 Bradley Center 30–33
64 March 15 Utah L 93–100 US Airways Arena 30–34
65 March 17 @ San Antonio W 109–85 Alamodome 31–34
66 March 18 @ Dallas W 86–85 Reunion Arena 32–34
67 March 20 @ Houston L 90–96 The Summit 32–35
68 March 22 Portland W 108–104 US Airways Arena 33–35
69 March 26 Boston W 105–92 US Airways Arena 34–35
70 March 28 Toronto W 113–86 US Airways Arena 35–35
71 March 29 Dallas W 94–87 US Airways Arena 36–35
April: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 1 @ Indiana W 104–100 Market Square Arena 37–35
73 April 3 Chicago W 110–102 US Airways Arena 38–35
74 April 4 @ Minnesota L 95–97 Target Center 38–36
75 April 6 @ Boston W 120–114 FleetCenter 39–36
76 April 8 @ Toronto L 94–100 SkyDome 39–37
77 April 11 New Jersey W 109–90 US Airways Arena 40–37
78 April 12 @ Charlotte L 97–99 Charlotte Coliseum 40–38
79 April 14 @ Philadelphia W 131–110 CoreStates Center 41–38
80 April 16 Indiana W 103–90 US Airways Arena 42–38
81 April 18 Orlando W 104–93 US Airways Arena 43–38
82 April 20 @ Cleveland W 85–81 Gund Arena 44–38
1996–97 schedule

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 @ Chicago L 86–98 United Center 0–1
2 April 27 @ Chicago L 104–109 United Center 0–2
3 April 30 Chicago L 95–96 US Airways Arena 0–3
1997 schedule

Playoffs

East First Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Washington Bullets

  • Last Playoff Meeting: This was the first meeting of the two teams in the playoffs.
Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CHI-WAS)

Venue Recap Television
1 April 25 Chicago 98 Washington 86 1-0 United Center, Chicago 1 TNT
2 April 27 Chicago 109 Washington 104 2-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 NBC
3 April 30 Washington 95 Chicago 96 3-0 US Airways Arena, Landover, Maryland 3 TNT
Chicago wins series 3–0

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 records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1996-97 Washington Bullets
  2. ^ "Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million". New York Times. August 6, 1996. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  3. ^ "For Bullets, 'Wizards' Casts Magic Spell". Washington Post. February 23, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2017.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1996–97_Washington_Bullets_season&oldid=925524715"