1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season
1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	Mike Fratello
Arena	Gund Arena
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 5th (Central); Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did Not Qualify
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	SportsChannel Ohio · WUAB
Radio	WTAM
< 1995–96	1997–98 >

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.^[1] The Cavaliers started their season winning nine of their first twelve games, but later on lost six straight in January. The team played above .500 for the entire season, but started to struggle down the stretch. On the final day of the regular season, the Cavaliers faced the Washington Bullets at the Gund Arena. Both teams were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bullets won 85–81 as the Cavs missed the playoffs, finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.^[2] Terrell Brandon led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which Cleveland hosted.

Following the season, Brandon and Tyrone Hill were both traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in an offseason three-team trade, Chris Mills signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, who then traded him to the New York Knicks two months later, and Bobby Phills signed with the Charlotte Hornets.

Key Dates:

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	12^*	Vitaly Potapenko	Center	Ukraine	Wright State
1	20	Zydrunas Ilgauskas	Center	Lithuania	Atletas
2	56^**	Reggie Geary	Guard	United States	Arizona

^*1st round pick acquired from Washington in Mark Price deal.^[3]
^**2nd round pick acquired from Orlando in Steve Kerr deal.^[4]

2nd round pick (#50) traded to Houston in Keith Hughes deal. Used to draft Terrell Bell.

Roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Height	Weight	DOB
PG	1	Brandon, Terrell	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Oregon
PF	35	Ferry, Danny	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Duke
PG	2	Geary, Reggie	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	187 lb (85 kg)	Arizona
PF	32	Hill, Tyrone	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Xavier
C	11	Ilgauskas, Zydrunas (IN)	7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)	238 lb (108 kg)	Lithuania
SF	21	Lang, Antonio	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Duke
SF	33	Marshall, Donny	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Connecticut
SF	24	Mills, Chris	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Arizona
SG	14	Phills, Bobby	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Southern
C	52	Potapenko, Vitaly	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	280 lb (127 kg)	Wright State
C	44	Scott, Shawnelle	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	250 lb (113 kg)	St. John's
SG	3	Sura, Bob	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Florida State
SG	23	Thomas, Carl	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Eastern Michigan
C	41	West, Mark	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Old Dominion

Head coach

Mike Fratello (Montclair State)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Roster Notes

Rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the entire season due to a foot injury.^[5]

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	69	13	.841	–	39–2	30–11	24–4
x-Atlanta Hawks	56	26	.683	13	36–5	20–21	17–11
x-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	15	30–11	24–17	17–11
x-Charlotte Hornets	54	28	.659	15	30–11	24–17	14–14
Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	27	25–16	17–24	13–15
Indiana Pacers	39	43	.476	30	21–20	18–23	11–17
Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	36	20–21	13–28	10–18
Toronto Raptors	30	52	.366	39	18–23	12–29	6–22

1996–97 NBA East standings
#	Eastern Conference v t e
#	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

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

1996–97 game log
Total: 42–40 (home: 25–16; road: 17–24)

November: 9–5 (home: 5–3; road: 4–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

December : 10–5 (home: 8–1; road: 2–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

January : 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

February : 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

March : 6–10 (home: 4–2; road: 2–8)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

April : 5–6 (home: 2–3; road: 3–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

1996–97 schedule

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; GS = Games started; MIN= Minutes; FG% = field goal %, FT% = free throw %, 3FG% = 3 point % STL= Steals; BLK = Blocks; AST = Assists; REB = Rebounds; PTS = Points

Regular Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

^ 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers
^ "Bullets Beat Cavs, Earn Playoff Berth". Eugene Register-Guard. 21 April 1997. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
^ O'Dell, Larry. "Price, William Mark (1964- )". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
^ "Trail Blazers Obtain Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr". Portland Trail Blazers. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
^ "Strong Start Has Wadkins Hoping His Day Has Come". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017.

External links

[1] 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers

[eug211997-2] "Bullets Beat Cavs, Earn Playoff Berth". Eugene Register-Guard. 21 April 1997. Retrieved 15 June 2011.

[3] O'Dell, Larry. "Price, William Mark (1964- )". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

[4] "Trail Blazers Obtain Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr". Portland Trail Blazers. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

[5] "Strong Start Has Wadkins Hoping His Day Has Come". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017.

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