1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season

NBA season
team = Los Angeles Lakers
misc = NBA Champions
end_year = 1987
wins = 65
losses = 17
division = Pacific
division_place = 1
conf_place = 1
coach = Pat Riley
arena = Great Western Forum
owners = Jerry Buss
television =
radio =
playoffs = NBA Champions
bbr_team = LAL

The highlight of the Los Angeles Lakers season was winning the NBA Title over the defending champions, the Boston Celtics.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Regular season

eason standings

Player stats

"Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; STL = Steals; REB = Rebounds; ASST = Assists; BLK = Blocks; PPG = Points per Game"

Playoffs

1st Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets:"Lakers win series 3-0"
*Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 128, Denver 95
*Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 139, Denver 127
*Game 3 @ Denver: Los Angeles 140, Denver 103

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Golden State Warriors:"Lakers win series 4-1"
*Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 125, Golden State 116
*Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 116, Golden State 101
*Game 3 @ Golden State: Los Angeles 133, Golden State 108
*Game 4 @ Golden State: Golden State 129, Los Angeles 121
*Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 118, Golden State 106

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics:"Lakers win series 4-0"
*Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 92, Seattle 87
*Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 112, Seattle 104
*Game 3 @ Seattle: Los Angeles 122, Seattle 121
*Game 4 @ Seattle: Los Angeles 133, Seattle 102

NBA Finals

Despite the loss of Bias, the Celtics remained competitive in 1986-87, 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 team of the decade. The biggest injury was yet another foot injury for Bill Walton, 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 and Fred Roberts to play larger roles in the series, which the Celtics would lose 4 games to 2. (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (1) Boston Celtics"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

* Magic Johnson, NBA Most Valuable Player
* Magic Johnson, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player

References

* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=1986&tm=LAL&lg=N Lakers on Database Basketball]
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1987.html Lakers on Basketball Reference]