1986–87 Indiana Pacers season

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

1986–87 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Jack Ramsay
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	41–41 (.500)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Lost to Atlanta Hawks in East First Round (1-3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV–TV 4 (Eddie Doucette, Bobby "Slick" Leonard)
Radio	WIBC–AM 1070 (Greg Papa)
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

The Pacers would finish with only their second .500 or better season in the NBA (at 41–41) and make their second-ever postseason appearance as an NBA franchise, losing the opening round 3–1 in a five-game series to the Atlanta Hawks.

Offseason

Draft picks

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

Indiana Pacers roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

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

Head coach Jack Ramsay Assistant(s) Mel Daniels Dick Harter Dave Twardzik Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	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 v t e
	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

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

Regular season

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

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

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Vern Fleming	PG	82	82	2,549	334	473	109	18	980	31.1	4.1	5.8	1.3	.2	12.0
Chuck Person	SF	82	78	2,956	677	295	90	16	1,541	36.0	8.3	3.6	1.1	.2	18.8
Steve Stipanovich	C	81	81	2,761	670	180	106	97	1,072	34.1	8.3	2.2	1.3	1.2	13.2
Wayman Tisdale	PF	81	15	2,159	475	117	50	26	1,174	26.7	5.9	1.4	.6	.3	14.5
John Long	SG	80	68	2,265	217	258	96	8	1,218	28.3	2.7	3.2	1.2	.1	15.2
Clint Richardson	SG	78	14	1,396	143	241	49	7	501	17.9	1.8	3.1	.6	.1	6.4
Kyle Macy	PG	76	0	1,250	113	197	59	7	376	16.4	1.5	2.6	.8	.1	4.9
Herb Williams	PF	74	67	2,526	543	174	59	93	1,101	34.1	7.3	2.4	.8	1.3	14.9
Ron Anderson	SF	63	0	721	151	54	31	3	363	11.4	2.4	.9	.5	.0	5.8
Stuart Gray	C	55	1	456	129	26	10	28	110	8.3	2.3	.5	.2	.5	2.0
Walker Russell	PG	48	0	511	55	129	20	5	157	10.6	1.1	2.7	.4	.1	3.3
Greg Dreiling	C	24	0	128	43	7	2	2	42	5.3	1.8	.3	.1	.1	1.8
Michael Brooks	SF	10	0	148	28	11	9	0	33	14.8	2.8	1.1	.9	.0	3.3
Peter Verhoeven	PF	5	0	44	7	2	2	1	10	8.8	1.4	.4	.4	.2	2.0
Clark Kellogg	PF	4	4	60	11	6	5	0	20	15.0	2.8	1.5	1.3	.0	5.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Chuck Person	SF	4	4	159	33	20	5	2	108	39.8	8.3	5.0	1.3	.5	27.0
Steve Stipanovich	C	4	4	149	30	3	3	2	55	37.3	7.5	.8	.8	.5	13.8
Vern Fleming	PG	4	4	141	26	24	4	1	49	35.3	6.5	6.0	1.0	.3	12.3
Herb Williams	PF	4	4	134	20	7	0	1	47	33.5	5.0	1.8	.0	.3	11.8
John Long	SG	4	4	109	6	9	6	0	44	27.3	1.5	2.3	1.5	.0	11.0
Wayman Tisdale	PF	4	0	108	16	9	1	0	51	27.0	4.0	2.3	.3	.0	12.8
Clint Richardson	SG	4	0	73	10	8	0	0	16	18.3	2.5	2.0	.0	.0	4.0
Kyle Macy	PG	4	0	49	3	5	1	0	4	12.3	.8	1.3	.3	.0	1.0
Ron Anderson	SF	4	0	24	3	0	0	0	4	6.0	.8	.0	.0	.0	1.0
Stuart Gray	C	3	0	14	7	0	0	0	2	4.7	2.3	.0	.0	.0	.7

Awards and records

• Chuck Person, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
• Chuck Person, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions

Main article: List of 1986–87 NBA season transactions