1986–87 Indiana Pacers season

1986–87 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachJack Ramsay
General managerDonnie Walsh
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record41–41 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost to Atlanta Hawks in East First Round (1-3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWTTV–TV 4
(Eddie Doucette, Bobby "Slick" Leonard)
RadioWIBC–AM 1070
(Greg Papa)
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

The 1986–87 NBA season was Indiana's 11th season in the NBA and 20th season as a franchise.[1]

Offseason[edit]

Draft picks[edit]

Main article: 1986 NBA draft

This table only lists picks through the second round.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 Chuck Person SF  United States Auburn
2 26 Greg Dreiling C  United States Kansas

Roster[edit]

Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 15 Anderson, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fresno State
C 54 Dreiling, Greg 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kansas
PG 10 Fleming, Vern 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Georgia
C 55 Gray, Stuart 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) UCLA
PF 33 Kellogg, Clark Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Ohio State
SG 25 Long, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Detroit Mercy
G 44 Macy, Kyle 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Kentucky
SF 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Auburn
SG 4 Richardson, Clint 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Seattle
PG 31 Russell, Walker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Western Michigan
C 40 Stipanovich, Steve 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Missouri
PF 23 Tisdale, Wayman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Oklahoma
PF 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695 – 35–6 22–19 17–13
x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 5 32–9 20–21 17–13
x-Milwaukee Bucks 50 32 .610 7 32–9 18–23 17–13
x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 16 28–13 13–28 13–16
x-Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 17 29–12 11–30 17–12
Cleveland Cavaliers 31 51 .378 26 25–16 6–35 8–22
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics 59 23 .720 –
2 y-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695 2
3 x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 7
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks 50 32 .610 9
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers 45 37 .549 14
6 x-Washington Bullets 42 40 .512 17
7 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 18
8 x-Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 19
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 31 51 .378 28
10 New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 35
11 New York Knicks 24 58 .293 35
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1986-87 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 — 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Boston 3–3 — 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–6 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3
Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 — 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 — 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 — 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1
Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 — 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 — 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1
Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 — 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 — 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 — 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 — 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2
Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 — 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 — 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 — 1–4 2–4 0–2
Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 — 3–2 1–1
Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 — 1–1
Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —

Game log[edit]

Regular season[edit]

1986–87 game log
Total: 41–41 (Home: 28–13; Road: 13–28)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 31 @ Philadelphia L 104–108 The Spectrum 0–1
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
2 November 1
7:30 p.m. EST 		Detroit W 92–89 Long (23) Williams (10) Williams (14) Market Square Arena
16,912 		1–1
3 November 4 Philadelphia W 125–121 (2OT) Market Square Arena 2–1
4 November 5
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Boston L 102–133 Russell (16) Williams (10) Long,
Russell (4) 		Boston Garden
14,890 		2–2
5 November 8 San Antonio W 130–97 Market Square Arena 3–2
6 November 11 @ Milwaukee L 94–102 MECCA Arena 3–3
7 November 13 @ New Jersey W 120–117 Brendan Byrne Arena 4–3
8 November 15 Milwaukee W 104–103 Market Square Arena 5–3
9 November 16 @ Washington L 111–124 Capital Centre 5–4
10 November 18 @ L.A. Clippers W 98–93 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6–4
11 November 20 @ Sacramento L 83–92 ARCO Arena 6–5
12 November 22
10:30 p.m. EST 		@ Seattle L 111–121 Williams (32) Person (9) Fleming (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,399 		6–6
13 November 23 @ Portland L 95–108 Memorial Coliseum 6–7
14 November 26 Houston L 88–92 Market Square Arena 6–8
15 November 28 Denver W 126–102 Market Square Arena 7–8
16 November 30 Portland L 101–118 Market Square Arena 7–9
December: 7–6 (home: 6–1; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 December 2 @ Milwaukee L 88–95 MECCA Arena 7–10
18 December 3 Washington W 116–103 Market Square Arena 8–10
19 December 5 Atlanta W 119–113 Market Square Arena 9–10
20 December 10 @ Philadelphia L 112–122 The Spectrum 9–11
21 December 11 Cleveland W 115–94 Market Square Arena 10–11
22 December 13 New Jersey W 95–91 Market Square Arena 11–11
23 December 17
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Boston L 101–113 Fleming.
Person (21) 		Williams (10) Fleming,
Person,
Stipanovich (6) 		Boston Garden
14,890 		11–12
24 December 18 Chicago L 88–97 Market Square Arena 11–13
25 December 20 @ New York W 123–99 Madison Square Garden 12–13
26 December 21 @ Cleveland L 94–104 Richfield Coliseum 12–14
27 December 23
5:30 p.m. EST 		Detroit W 111–98 Stipanovich (29) Stipanovich (10) Fleming (11) Market Square Arena
11,860 		13–14
28 December 27 @ Chicago L 93–105 Chicago Stadium 13–15
29 December 30 Cleveland W 111–99 Market Square Arena 14–15
January: 6–9 (home: 4–4; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
30 January 2 L.A. Clippers W 116–106 Market Square Arena 15–15
31 January 5 @ Dallas W 144–135 Reunion Arena 15–16
32 January 6 @ San Antonio W 101–99 HemisFair Arena 16–16
33 January 8 @ Houston L 96–110 The Summit 17–16
34 January 10 @ Utah L 96–105 Salt Palace 17–17
35 January 13 Philadelphia L 94–101 Market Square Arena 17–18
36 January 15 Washington W 113–105 Market Square Arena 18–18
37 January 17 Dallas W 119–115 (2OT) Market Square Arena 19–18
38 January 19 Chicago W 109–95 Market Square Arena 20–18
39 January 21
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Boston L 100–130 Williams (17) Williams (10) Fleming (7) Boston Garden
14,890 		20–19
40 January 22
8:00 p.m. EST 		L.A. Lakers L 108–118 Stipanovich (25) Williams (15) Fleming (6) Market Square Arena
16,912 		20–20
41 January 24 Phoenix L 103–104 Market Square Arena 20–21
42 January 27 @ Atlanta L 98–114 The Omni 20–22
43 January 30
7:30 p.m. EST 		Boston L 94–100 Person (26) Williams (12) Fleming (8) Market Square Arena
16,912 		20–23
44 January 31 @ Cleveland L 100–102 Richfield Coliseum 20–24
February: 7–6 (home: 3–1; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
45 February 3 Philadelphia L 94–99 Market Square Arena 20–25
46 February 5
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Detroit W 98–93 Fleming (24) Tisdale (13) Fleming,
Person (4) 		Pontiac Silverdome
13,410 		21–25
All-Star Break
47 February 10 @ Golden State W 126–125 (OT) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 22–25
48 February 11 @ Phoenix W 121–105 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 23–25
49 February 13
10:30 p.m. EST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 108–113 Fleming (19) Person (9) Fleming (7) The Forum
17,505 		23–26
50 February 14 @ Denver L 113–129 McNichols Sports Arena 23–27
51 February 16 Golden State W 112–93 Market Square Arena 24–27
52 February 18
7:30 p.m. EST 		Seattle W 105–88 Long (29) Person (9) Person (6) Market Square Arena
9,077 		25–27
53 February 20 @ Atlanta W 107–105 The Omni 26–27
54 February 22 Sacramento W 103–101 Market Square Arena 27–27
55 February 24 @ Milwaukee L 114–120 (2OT) MECCA Arena 27–28
56 February 26 @ Washington L 94–100 Capital Centre 27–29
57 February 27 @ New Jersey L 115–125 Brendan Byrne Arena 27–30
March: 9–5 (home: 8–3; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
58 March 1 New York W 122–115 (OT) Market Square Arena 28–30
59 March 3 Atlanta L 108–109 Market Square Arena 28–31
60 March 7 Milwaukee L 120–124 Market Square Arena 28–32
61 March 9 Utah W 107–102 Market Square Arena 29–32
62 March 11
7:30 p.m. EST 		Detroit L 98–107 Long,
Tisdale (15) 		Stipanoich,
Tisdale (8) 		Richardson (7) Market Square Arena
9,063 		29–33
63 March 13
7:30 p.m. EST 		Boston W 116–109 Person (24) Stipanovich (12) Fleming (8) Market Square Arena
16,912 		30–33
64 March 15 New Jersey W 123–99 Market Square Arena 31–33
65 March 16
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Detroit L 95–115 Long (17) Person (10) Fleming,
Russell (5) 		Pontiac Silverdome
15,348 		31–34
66 March 19 @ New York L 105–111 (OT) Madison Square Garden 31–35
67 March 21 Cleveland W 77–76 Market Square Arena 32–35
68 March 23 Washington W 101–92 Market Square Arena 33–35
69 March 25 Milwaukee W 125–108 Market Square Arena 34–35
70 March 27 New York W 100–91 Market Square Arena 35–35
71 March 28 @ Atlanta W 120–114 The Omni 36–35
April: 5–6 (home: 2–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 1 Chicago W 99–94 Market Square Arena 37–35
73 April 2
7:30 p.m. EST 		@ Detroit L 73–119 Stipanovich (12) Stipanovich (8) Fleming (6) Pontiac Silverdome
25,778 		37–36
74 April 4 @ New York L 108–112 Madison Square Garden 37–37
75 April 7 New Jersey W 128–114 Market Square Arena 38–37
76 April 9 @ Cleveland L 99–111 Richfield Coliseum 38–38
77 April 10 @ Washington W 115–101 Capital Centre 39–38
78 April 12 @ Chicago L 95–116 Chicago Stadium 39–39
79 April 13 Atlanta L 101–102 Market Square Arena 39–40
80 April 15
7:30 p.m. EST 		Boston L 85–108 Long (23) Stipanovich (9) Fleming (7) Market Square Arena
16,912 		39–41
81 April 17 @ Philadelphia W 115–111 The Spectrum 40–41
82 April 18 @ New Jersey W 112–103 Brendan Byrne Arena 41–41
1986–87 schedule

Playoffs[edit]

1987 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 24 @ Atlanta L 94–110 Steve Stipanovich (22) Steve Stipanovich (13) Vern Fleming (6) The Omni
16,522 		0–1
2 April 26 @ Atlanta L 93–94 Chuck Person (24) Herb Williams (8) Williams, Fleming (4) The Omni
16,522 		0–2
3 April 29 Atlanta W 96–87 Chuck Person (23) Chuck Person (17) Chuck Person (7) Market Square Arena
12,303 		1–2
4 May 1 Atlanta L 97–101 Chuck Person (40) Vern Fleming (11) Vern Fleming (8) Market Square Arena
14,039 		1–3
1987 schedule

Player statistics[edit]

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[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chuck Person 82 78 36.0 46.8 35.5 74.7 8.3 3.6 1.1 0.2 18.8
John Long 80 68 28.3 41.9 28.4 89.0 2.7 3.2 1.2 0.1 15.2
Herb Williams 74 67 34.1 48.0 0.0 74.0 7.3 2.4 0.8 1.3 14.9
Wayman Tisdale 81 15 26.7 51.3 0.0 70.9 5.9 1.4 0.6 0.3 14.5
Steve Stipanovich 81 81 34.1 50.3 25.0 83.7 8.3 2.2 1.3 1.2 13.2
Vern Fleming 82 82 31.1 50.9 20.0 78.8 4.1 5.8 1.3 0.2 12.0
Clint Richardson 78 14 17.9 46.7 35.3 79.7 1.8 3.1 0.6 0.1 6.4
Ron Anderson 63 0 11.4 47.3 0.0 78.7 2.4 0.9 0.5 0.0 5.8
Clark Kellogg 4 4 15.0 36.4 50.0 75.0 2.8 1.5 1.3 0.0 5.0
Kyle Macy 76 0 16.4 48.1 30.4 82.9 1.5 2.6 0.8 0.1 4.9
Michael Brooks 10 0 14.8 35.1 0.0 70.0 2.8 1.1 0.9 0.0 3.3
Walker Russell 48 0 10.6 38.8 12.5 73.0 1.1 2.7 0.4 0.1 3.3
Pete Verhoeven 5 0 8.8 35.7 0.0 0.0 1.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 2.0
Stuart Gray 55 1 8.3 40.6 0.0 71.8 2.3 0.5 0.2 0.5 2.0
Greg Dreiling 24 0 5.3 43.2 0.0 83.3 1.8 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.8

Playoffs[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chuck Person 4 4 39.8 51.4 25.0 76.9 8.3 5.0 1.3 0.5 27.0
Steve Stipanovich 4 4 37.3 55.3 0.0 68.4 7.5 0.8 0.8 0.5 13.8
Wayman Tisdale 4 0 27.0 61.3 0.0 56.5 4.0 2.3 0.3 0.0 12.8
Vern Fleming 4 4 35.3 36.1 0.0 76.7 6.5 6.0 1.0 0.3 12.3
Herb Williams 4 4 33.5 58.8 0.0 53.8 5.0 1.8 0.0 0.3 11.8
John Long 4 4 27.3 30.8 16.7 84.6 1.5 2.3 1.5 0.0 11.0
Clint Richardson 4 0 18.3 58.3 0.0 50.0 2.5 2.0 0.0 0.0 4.0
Kyle Macy 4 0 12.3 33.3 0.0 0.0 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.0
Ron Anderson 4 0 6.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Stuart Gray 3 0 4.7 0.0 0.0 50.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7

Player Statistics Citation:[2]

Awards and records[edit]

Transactions[edit]

Main article: List of 1986–87 NBA season transactions

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1986-87 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "1986-87 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.

See also[edit]

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