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The Hawks' Ascent: Charting the 1986-87 Season

An analytical exploration of the Atlanta Hawks' successful 1986-87 NBA season, marked by division dominance and playoff intensity.

Season Overview 📊 Key Players 👥

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Season Overview

Franchise Milestone

The 1986-87 season marked a significant period for the Atlanta Hawks, their 38th in the NBA and 19th in Atlanta. Under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Fratello, the team achieved a franchise-best record of 57 wins against 25 losses, securing first place in the Central Division and second place in the Eastern Conference. This stellar performance was highlighted by Dominique Wilkins' selection to the All-NBA Second Team and his participation in the 1987 NBA All-Star Game. In the postseason, the Hawks advanced past the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs but were ultimately defeated by the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Semifinals.

Performance Metrics

The Hawks' 57-25 record (.695 winning percentage) represented a substantial improvement, showcasing their dominance within the Central Division. Their home record was particularly formidable, with a 35-6 standing at the Omni Coliseum, complemented by a solid 22-19 record on the road. This consistent performance across different environments underscored their status as a top-tier team in the league.

Key Personnel

The team's leadership was anchored by General Manager Stan Kasten, who was recognized with the NBA Executive of the Year Award. On the court, Head Coach Mike Fratello orchestrated the team's strategy, while star player Dominique Wilkins led the offensive charge, earning accolades for his exceptional skill and contribution to the team's success.

NBA Draft Selections

1986 Draft Class

The Atlanta Hawks made several selections in the 1986 NBA Draft, aiming to bolster their roster for the upcoming season and beyond. The team focused on acquiring talent across various positions, including forwards and centers, with a mix of domestic and international prospects.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 19 Billy Thompson SF United States Louisville
2 32 Cedric Henderson PF/SF United States Georgia
2 40 Augusto Binelli C Italy
2 42 Ron Kellogg SF United States Kansas
3 65 Dave Hoppen C/PF United States Nebraska
3 70 Jim Les G United States Bradley
4 88 Efrem Winters PF United States Illinois
5 111 Nicky Jones United States Virginia Commonwealth
6 134 Alexander Volkov PF Ukraine
7 157 Valerie Tikhonenko Russia

Team Roster

Player Lineup

The Atlanta Hawks roster for the 1986-87 season featured a blend of established stars and emerging talent, managed by Head Coach Mike Fratello and his staff.

1986–87 Atlanta Hawks roster
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
SG 12 John Battle 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1962-11-09 Rutgers
PF 33 Antoine Carr 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961-07-23 Wichita State
PF 44 Scott Hastings 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1960-06-03 Arkansas
C 32 Jon Koncak 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1963-05-17 SMU
PF 53 Cliff Levingston 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-01-04 Wichita State
SF 40 Mike McGee 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959-07-29 Michigan
PG 25 Doc Rivers 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961-10-13 Marquette
C 30 Tree Rollins 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1955-06-16 Clemson
PG 4 Spud Webb 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 133 lb (60 kg) 1963-07-13 NC State
SF 21 Dominique Wilkins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1960-01-12 Georgia
SG 1 Gus Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953-10-10 USC
PF 42 Kevin Willis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962-09-06 Michigan State
SG 10 Randy Wittman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959-10-28 Indiana

Player Statistics

Regular Season Performance

The statistical output from the 1986-87 regular season highlights the offensive prowess and balanced contribution across the roster. Dominique Wilkins led the team in scoring, while Kevin Willis anchored the frontcourt with strong rebounding numbers. Doc Rivers orchestrated the offense as the primary playmaker.

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dominique Wilkins 79 79 37.6 46.3 29.2 81.8 6.3 3.3 1.5 0.6 29.0
Kevin Willis 81 81 32.4 53.6 25.0 70.9 10.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 16.1
Doc Rivers 82 82 31.6 45.1 19.0 82.8 3.6 10.0 2.1 0.4 12.8
Randy Wittman 71 65 28.9 50.3 33.3 78.7 1.7 3.0 0.5 0.2 12.7
Mike McGee 76 6 18.7 45.9 37.6 58.4 2.1 2.0 0.8 0.0 10.4
Cliff Levingston 82 10 22.5 50.6 0.0 73.1 6.5 0.5 0.6 0.8 8.0
Spud Webb 33 0 16.1 43.8 16.7 76.2 1.8 5.1 1.0 0.1 6.8
John Battle 64 8 12.6 45.7 0.0 73.8 0.9 1.9 0.5 0.1 6.0
Jon Koncak 82 19 20.5 48.0 0.0 65.4 6.0 0.4 0.6 0.9 5.6
Tree Rollins 75 58 23.5 54.6 0.0 72.4 6.5 0.3 0.6 1.9 5.4
Antoine Carr 65 2 10.7 50.6 33.3 70.9 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.7 5.3
Scott Hastings 40 0 6.4 33.8 16.7 79.3 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.2 1.8
Cedric Henderson 6 0 1.7 40.0 0.0 100.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8
Michael Wilson 2 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

Playoff Performance

The Hawks' playoff journey saw them face tough competition. Dominique Wilkins continued to be a primary offensive threat, while other players stepped up in crucial moments. The team's performance in the postseason, though ending in the Conference Semifinals, demonstrated their competitive spirit.

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dominique Wilkins 9 9 40.0 41.0 30.0 89.2 7.8 2.8 1.8 0.9 26.8
Randy Wittman 9 9 33.3 55.4 0.0 82.4 2.0 3.3 0.4 0.4 16.4
Kevin Willis 9 9 39.6 52.2 0.0 67.7 9.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 15.7
Antoine Carr 9 0 18.0 69.6 0.0 81.3 3.0 1.4 0.3 0.9 11.6
Doc Rivers 8 8 30.6 38.3 0.0 50.0 3.4 11.3 1.1 0.4 7.8
John Battle 8 0 9.8 44.1 40.0 91.3 1.3 1.0 0.1 0.0 6.6
Tree Rollins 9 9 24.6 53.6 0.0 71.4 5.9 0.3 0.3 1.8 4.4
Spud Webb 8 1 15.3 47.4 0.0 76.5 1.0 4.8 0.8 0.0 3.9
Mike McGee 8 0 12.6 25.6 14.3 50.0 2.5 1.9 0.5 0.0 3.4
Cliff Levingston 9 0 12.0 38.9 0.0 77.8 3.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 3.1
Jon Koncak 8 0 10.8 53.8 0.0 75.0 3.1 0.4 0.4 0.5 2.5
Scott Hastings 4 0 5.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 1.5 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.5

Playoff Journey

First Round Victory

The Hawks opened their playoff campaign against the Indiana Pacers. They secured a 3-1 series victory, demonstrating resilience and clutch performance, particularly in close games on the road.

Game Date Team Score High Points High Rebounds High Assists Location Series
1 April 24 Indiana W 110–94 Dominique Wilkins (35) Tree Rollins (11) Spud Webb (9) Omni Coliseum 0–1
2 April 26 Indiana W 94–93 Dominique Wilkins (43) Kevin Willis (10) Spud Webb (14) Omni Coliseum 0–2
3 April 29 @ Indiana L 87–96 Dominique Wilkins (22) Kevin Willis (7) Doc Rivers (10) Market Square Arena 2–1
4 May 1 @ Indiana W 101–97 Dominique Wilkins (30) Dominique Wilkins (9) Doc Rivers (15) Market Square Arena 3–1

Conference Semifinals Exit

The Hawks' playoff run concluded in the Conference Semifinals against the formidable Detroit Pistons. Despite a hard-fought series, including a notable home victory, the Hawks ultimately fell 1-4.

Game Date Team Score High Points High Rebounds High Assists Location Series
1 May 3 Detroit L 111–112 Kevin Willis (22) Kevin Willis (10) Doc Rivers (14) Omni Coliseum 0–1
2 May 5 Detroit W 115–102 Randy Wittman (34) Kevin Willis (10) Doc Rivers (14) Omni Coliseum 1–1
3 May 8 @ Detroit L 99–108 Kevin Willis (26) Kevin Willis (12) Doc Rivers (8) Pontiac Silverdome 1–2
4 May 10 @ Detroit L 88–89 Wilkins, Battle (19) Dominique Wilkins (12) Doc Rivers (7) Pontiac Silverdome 1–3
5 May 13 Detroit L 96–104 Dominique Wilkins (26) Dominique Wilkins (12) Doc Rivers (15) Omni Coliseum 1–4

Awards and Recognition

Individual and Front Office Accolades

The success of the 1986-87 season was recognized through significant individual and front office achievements, highlighting the team's strong leadership and star player performance.

  • NBA Executive of the Year Award: Stan Kasten
  • All-NBA Second Team: Dominique Wilkins

Team Transactions

Roster Movements

Information regarding specific player transactions, trades, or signings for the 1986-87 season is not detailed in the provided source material for this section.

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References

References

  1.  1986-87 Atlanta Hawks
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1986–87 Atlanta Hawks season Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official NBA records or seeking expert opinions on basketball history and team performance. Always refer to official sources for the most current and comprehensive data.

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