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1994–95 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1994–95 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 25th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association.[1]

Head coachMike Fratello
ArenaGund Arena
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Quick facts Cleveland Cavaliers season, Head coach ...
1994–95 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachMike Fratello
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Knicks 1–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel Ohio · WUAB
RadioWWWE
< 1993–94 1995–96 >
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Season summary

Off-season

This was the Cavaliers' first season in which they played their home games at their new arena, the Gund Arena.[2] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Michael Cage,[3][4][5] and Tony Campbell.[6][7] However, before the regular season began, the Cavaliers lost Brad Daugherty to a back injury, and Gerald Wilkins to a ruptured Achilles tendon, as both players were out for the entire season.[8][9][10]

For the season, the Cavaliers redesigned their primary logo, replacing the color blue with black and light blue to their color scheme of orange and white; the team's primary logo featured an orange basketball going into a white net on a black square, above the team nickname "Cavs" in light blue letters with black inlines.[11] The team also redesigned their home and road uniforms, adding a light blue splash across their jerseys and shorts, a black and light blue trim, and the team's primary logo on the right leg of their shorts. The white home uniforms featured the word "Cavs" in orange letters with black inlines on the front of their jerseys, while the road uniforms were changed from blue to black, and featured the city name "Cleveland" in orange letters with black inlines.[12][13]

However, the Cavaliers' new uniforms were criticized and disliked by many fans and critics, and were even considered "ugly".[14][15] The team's new primary logo would remain in use until 2003, while the new uniforms would be slightly redesigned in 1997, where they would alter the light blue splash from the right leg of their shorts.

Regular season

With the addition of Cage, and despite losing both Daugherty and Wilkins, the Cavaliers got off to a 9–8 start to the regular season, and then posted an 11-game winning streak in December, which led them to a 20–8 record. However, the team played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, as Mark Price only played just 48 games due to a broken wrist injury;[16][17][18] the team later on held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break.[19] Price eventually returned, as the Cavaliers finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a 43–39 record, and earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.[20]

Price averaged 15.8 points and 7.0 assists per game, and led the Cavaliers with 103 three-point field goals, while Tyrone Hill averaged 13.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, and backup point guard Terrell Brandon, who stepped up in Price's absence, provided the team with 13.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, second-year forward Chris Mills became the team's starting small forward, averaging 12.3 points per game, while Hot Rod Williams provided with 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Bobby Phills contributed 11.0 points and 1.4 steals per game. Meanwhile, Cage averaged 5.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while off the bench, Danny Ferry contributed 7.5 points per game, and Campbell contributed 6.0 points per game.[21]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Hill was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance.[22][23][24] Hill also finished tied in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting,[25][26] while head coach Mike Fratello finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting, behind Del Harris of the Los Angeles Lakers.[27][26]

During this season, the Cavaliers were known as a low-scoring, defensive team, as Fratello switched to a slow-paced, defensive coaching style;[15][28] the team finished last in the NBA in scoring averaging 90.5 points per game, while allowing 89.8 points per game from their opponents, which was the best in the league, and also had the third best team defensive rating.[29][30] The Cavaliers also finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 833,850 at the Gund Arena during the regular season.[21][29]

NBA playoffs

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers faced off against the 3rd–seeded New York Knicks, who were led by All-Star center Patrick Ewing, All-Star guard John Starks, and Sixth Man of the Year, Anthony Mason. However, the Cavaliers were without Brandon, who suffered a leg injury during the final month of the regular season.[31][32] The Cavaliers lost Game 1 to the Knicks on the road, 103–79 at Madison Square Garden, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 90–84 to even the series.[33][34] However, the Cavaliers lost the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 loss to the Knicks at the Gund Arena, 93–80, thus losing the series in four games.[35][36][37]

Aftermath

Following the season, Price was traded to the Washington Bullets after nine seasons with the Cavaliers,[38][39][40] while Williams was dealt to the Phoenix Suns,[41][42][43] Wilkins was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies expansion team,[44][45][46] Campbell was released to free agency, and John Battle retired.

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

Main article: 1994 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team
2 42 Gary Collier Forward  United States Tulsa
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1994–95 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 10 John Battle 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1962–11–09 Rutgers
G 11 Terrell Brandon 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon
C 44 Michael Cage 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1962–01–28 San Diego State
F 9 Tony Campbell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–05–07 Ohio State
G 5 Steve Colter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1962–07–24 New Mexico State
C 43 Brad Daugherty (IN) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–10–19 North Carolina
C 30 Greg Dreiling 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962–11–07 Kansas
F 35 Danny Ferry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–10–17 Duke
C 32 Tyrone Hill 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–03–19 Xavier
F 24 Chris Mills 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–01–25 Arizona
G 14 Bobby Phills 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–12–20 Southern
G 25 Mark Price 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech
F 31 Fred Roberts 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1960–08–14 BYU
G/F 21 Gerald Wilkins (IN) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga
F/C 18 Hot Rod Williams 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–08–09 Tulane
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: March 16, 1995

Close

Roster notes

  • Center Brad Daugherty was on the injured reserve list due to a back injury, and missed the entire regular season.
  • Guard/forward Gerald Wilkins was on the injured reserve list due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, and missed the entire regular season.

Regular season

Season standings

More information W, L ...
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 5230.634–33–819–2218–10
x-Charlotte Hornets 5032.610229–1221–2017–11
x-Chicago Bulls 4735.573528–1319–2216–12
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.524926–1517–2417–11
x-Atlanta Hawks 4240.5121024–1718–239–19
Milwaukee Bucks 3448.4151822–1912–2913–15
Detroit Pistons 2854.3412422–196–358–20
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More information #, Team ...
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Orlando Magic5725.695–
2 y-Indiana Pacers5230.6345
3 x-New York Knicks5527.6712
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5032.6107
5 x-Chicago Bulls4735.57310
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4339.52414
7 x-Atlanta Hawks4240.51215
8 x-Boston Celtics3547.42722
9 Milwaukee Bucks3448.41523
10 Miami Heat3250.39025
11 New Jersey Nets3052.36627
12 Detroit Pistons2854.34129
13 Philadelphia 76ers2458.29333
14 Washington Bullets2161.25636
Close

Game log

Regular season

More information 1994–95 game log Total: 43–39 (home: 26–15; road: 17–24), Game ...
1994–95 game log
Total: 43–39 (home: 26–15; road: 17–24)
November: 8–5 (home: 5–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 5 @ Charlotte W 115–107 Price (27) Charlotte Coliseum
23,698		 1–0
2 November 8, 1994
8:00 p.m. EST		 Houston L 98–100 Brandon (19) Williams (10) Brandon, Phills, Price (7) Gund Arena
20,562		 1–1
3 November 10 Milwaukee W 108–88 Price (18) Gund Arena
19,203		 2–1
4 November 12 Indiana L 86–93 Price (15) Gund Arena
20,401		 2–2
5 November 15 Charlotte W 89–86 (OT) Hill (22) Gund Arena
19,959		 3–2
6 November 17 @ Portland W 81–80 Price (30) Memorial Coliseum
12,888		 4–2
7 November 18 @ L.A. Lakers L 80–82 Williams (16) Great Western Forum
10,177		 4–3
8 November 20 @ Sacramento L 88–96 Williams (17) ARCO Arena
17,317		 4–4
9 November 22 Minnesota W 112–79 Price (17) Gund Arena
19,125		 5–4
10 November 23 @ Miami L 87–100 Mills, Price (17) Miami Arena
14,498		 5–5
11 November 25 @ Washington W 96–94 Hill (25) USAir Arena
12,756		 6–5
12 November 26 Golden State W 101–87 Price (31) Gund Arena
20,562		 7–5
13 November 30 L.A. Lakers W 117–79 Brandon, Campbell, Price (16) Gund Arena
19,014		 8–5
December: 12–3 (home: 6–2; road: 6–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
14 December 1 @ Milwaukee W 93–87 Price (17) Bradley Center
13,648		 9–5
15 December 3 Philadelphia L 78–83 Price (18) Gund Arena
20,089		 9–6
16 December 6 Orlando L 97–114 Brandon, Williams (14) Gund Arena
20,562		 9–7
17 December 7 @ Orlando L 75–90 Mills (14) Orlando Arena
16,010		 9–8
18 December 9 @ Boston W 96–89 Williams (20) Boston Garden
14,890		 10–8
19 December 10 Detroit W 97–89 Mills (17) Gund Arena
19,129		 11–8
20 December 13 Indiana W 90–83 Mills (17) Gund Arena
19,191		 12–8
21 December 14 @ New Jersey W 95–88 (2OT) Williams (20) Brendan Byrne Arena
9,027		 13–8
22 December 16 @ Philadelphia W 84–80 Brandon (15) CoreStates Spectrum
9,830		 14–8
23 December 19 @ Chicago W 77–63 Williams (18) United Center
22,301		 15–8
24 December 22 @ New York W 93–90 Phills (24) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 16–8
25 December 23 New Jersey W 80–75 Hill (18) Gund Arena
20,562		 17–8
26 December 26 Boston W 123–102 Price (36) Gund Arena
20,562		 18–8
27 December 28 Washington W 91–75 Phills (22) Gund Arena
20,562		 19–8
28 December 30 Atlanta W 87–85 Price (30) Gund Arena
20,562		 20–8
January: 6–8 (home: 2–5; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
29 January 4 Seattle L 85–116 Williams (17) Gund Arena
20,562		 20–9
30 January 6 New York L 93–103 Hill (26) Gund Arena
20,562		 20–10
31 January 7 Chicago W 92–78 Brandon (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 21–10
32 January 10 Charlotte L 108–116 (OT) Hill (23) Gund Arena
20,562		 21–11
33 January 12 @ Phoenix W 107–96 Brandon (30) America West Arena
19,023		 22–11
34 January 14 @ Golden State W 103–97 (OT) Hill (20) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025		 23–11
35 January 17 @ Seattle L 91–115 Brandon (20) Tacoma Dome
12,914		 23–12
36 January 18 @ L.A. Clippers L 83–92 Mills (19) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
6,695		 23–13
37 January 20 @ Utah L 84–94 Brandon (24) Delta Center
19,911		 23–14
38 January 21 @ Denver W 101–100 (2OT) Mills (20) McNichols Sports Arena
17,171		 24–14
39 January 23 L.A. Clippers W 90–68 Hill (26) Gund Arena
20,187		 25–14
40 January 26 @ Atlanta W 77–68 Hill, Mills (14) The Omni
10,760		 26–14
41 January 27 Portland L 77–87 Williams (14) Gund Arena
20,562		 26–15
42 January 30 Phoenix L 82–89 Brandon (20) Gund Arena
20,562		 26–16
February: 7–6 (home: 4–1; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
43 February 1 @ Indiana L 82–101 Williams (14) Market Square Arena
13,972		 26–17
44 February 2 @ Detroit L 83–85 Brandon (15) The Palace of Auburn Hills
13,286		 26–18
45 February 4 Indiana W 82–73 Williams (19) Gund Arena
20,562		 27–18
46 February 7 Philadelphia W 90–84 Hill, Williams (16) Gund Arena
20,130		 28–18
47 February 8 @ Boston L 67–75 Brandon (19) Boston Garden
14,890		 28–19
All-Star Break
48 February 15 Orlando W 100–99 (OT) Brandon (31) Gund Arena
20,562		 29–19
49 February 16 @ Milwaukee W 106–85 Mills (23) Bradley Center
13,498		 30–19
50 February 18 @ New Jersey W 82–75 Mills (23) Brendan Byrne Arena
15,652		 31–19
51 February 20 Miami L 96–103 Williams (20) Gund Arena
20,562		 31–20
52 February 21 @ New York W 99–91 Ferry (20) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 32–20
53 February 25 New Jersey W 105–102 Ferry (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 33–20
54 February 27, 1995
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Houston L 78–86 Brandon (26) Cage (10) Brandon (4) The Summit
14,253		 33–21
55 February 28 @ San Antonio L 83–100 Brandon (17) Alamodome
15,546		 33–22
March: 6–9 (home: 5–3; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
56 March 2 @ Dallas L 84–90 Mills (16) Reunion Arena
12,194		 33–23
57 March 4 New York L 76–89 Williams (20) Gund Arena
20,562		 33–24
58 March 7 Detroit W 89–81 Mills (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 34–24
59 March 9 San Antonio L 98–100 Brandon (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 34–25
60 March 10 @ Chicago L 76–99 Hill (13) United Center
22,362		 34–26
61 March 12 @ Philadelphia W 92–72 Brandon, Ferry, Mills (14) CoreStates Spectrum
10,221		 35–26
62 March 16 Utah W 93–85 Phills (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 36–26
63 March 17 @ Minnesota L 77–80 Price (18) Target Center
14,222		 36–27
64 March 19 @ Washington L 90–96 Price (16) USAir Arena
17,110		 36–28
65 March 20 Dallas L 100–102 (2OT) Hill (29) Gund Arena
20,562		 36–29
66 March 22 Sacramento W 101–89 Price (23) Gund Arena
20,562		 37–29
67 March 24 Atlanta W 75–74 Hill (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 38–29
68 March 25 @ Charlotte L 97–105 Mills (26) Charlotte Coliseum
23,698		 38–30
69 March 29 @ Indiana L 96–107 Mills (22) Market Square Arena
16,619		 38–31
70 March 31 Washington W 98–88 Mills (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 39–31
April: 4–8 (home: 4–2; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 April 2 Denver L 101–104 Price (21) Gund Arena
20,562		 39–32
72 April 4 Boston L 92–97 Phills (17) Gund Arena
20,562		 39–33
73 April 5 @ Atlanta L 87–96 Williams (14) The Omni
12,539		 39–34
74 April 7 @ Chicago L 88–97 Phills (22) United Center
23,664		 39–35
75 April 9 Chicago W 79–78 Price (20) Gund Arena
20,562		 40–35
76 April 11 @ Orlando L 90–107 Hill (24) Orlando Arena
16,010		 40–36
77 April 13 @ Miami L 84–85 Price (20) Miami Arena
14,311		 40–37
78 April 14 Atlanta W 83–70 Hill, Williams (16) Gund Arena
20,562		 41–37
79 April 18 @ Detroit L 76–85 Phills (17) The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,203		 41–38
80 April 19 Miami W 103–82 Hill (21) Gund Arena
20,562		 42–38
81 April 21 Milwaukee W 103–82 Williams (24) Gund Arena
20,562		 42–38
82 April 23 @ Charlotte L 72–97 Phills (13) Charlotte Coliseum
23,698		 43–39
1994–95 schedule
Close

Playoffs

More information 1995 playoff game log, Game ...
1995 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 27 @ New York L 79–103 Danny Ferry (20) Tyrone Hill (8) Mark Price (4) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 0–1
2 April 29 @ New York W 90–84 Mills, Phills (21) Hot Rod Williams (6) Mark Price (7) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 1–1
3 May 1 New York L 81–83 Mark Price (21) Michael Cage (8) Mark Price (6) Gund Arena
19,352		 1–2
4 May 4 New York L 80–93 Bobby Phills (20) Hot Rod Williams (7) Mark Price (9) Gund Arena
18,575		 1–3
1995 schedule
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Player stats

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

Regular season

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mark Price 48 34 28.6 41.3 40.7 91.4 2.3 7.0 0.7 0.1 15.8
Tyrone Hill 70 67 34.2 50.4 0.0 66.2 10.9 0.8 0.8 0.6 13.8
Terrell Brandon 67 41 29.3 44.8 39.7 85.5 2.8 5.4 1.6 0.2 13.3
Hot Rod Williams 74 73 35.7 45.2 20.0 68.5 6.9 2.6 1.1 1.4 12.6
Chris Mills 80 79 35.2 42.0 39.2 81.7 4.6 1.9 0.7 0.4 12.3
Bobby Phills 80 79 31.3 41.4 34.5 77.9 3.3 2.3 1.4 0.3 11.0
Danny Ferry 82 6 15.7 44.6 40.3 88.1 1.7 1.2 0.3 0.3 7.5
Tony Campbell 78 0 14.5 41.1 35.7 83.0 2.0 0.9 0.4 0.1 6.0
Michael Cage 82 21 24.9 52.1 0.0 60.2 6.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 5.0
John Battle 28 0 10.0 37.7 35.5 73.1 0.4 1.3 0.3 0.0 4.1
Fred Roberts 21 0 10.6 38.9 36.4 76.9 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 3.8
Elmer Bennett 4 0 4.5 54.5 0.0 75.0 0.3 0.8 1.0 0.0 3.8
Steve Colter 57 7 13.2 39.6 22.9 76.1 1.0 1.8 0.5 0.1 3.4
Greg Dreiling 58 3 8.3 41.2 0.0 63.4 2.0 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.9
Gerald Madkins 7 0 4.0 33.3 50.0 75.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 1.1
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Playoffs

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mark Price 4 4 35.8 30.0 23.5 97.0 3.0 6.5 1.5 0.0 15.0
Bobby Phills 4 4 36.5 44.2 57.1 75.0 3.0 1.5 2.3 0.0 14.3
Chris Mills 4 4 34.8 54.1 57.1 100.0 4.0 2.8 0.8 0.5 13.3
Danny Ferry 4 0 16.8 52.0 53.3 66.7 0.8 1.5 0.5 0.0 9.5
Tyrone Hill 4 4 34.8 31.0 0.0 64.0 5.8 0.8 1.8 0.3 8.5
Hot Rod Williams 4 4 36.0 28.6 0.0 37.5 6.3 2.8 2.3 0.8 6.8
Fred Roberts 1 0 7.0 75.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0
Tony Campbell 4 0 9.3 42.9 50.0 83.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 5.8
Michael Cage 4 0 20.3 44.4 0.0 0.0 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.0 4.0
Steve Colter 4 0 10.8 50.0 0.0 50.0 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.0 3.0
John Battle 2 0 3.5 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0
Greg Dreiling 1 0 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
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Player statistics citation:[21]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

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