1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season
Conference champions
Head coachBilly Cunningham
General managerPat Williams
ArenaThe Spectrum
Results
Record59–23 (.720)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(Lost to Lakers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKBS-TV
PRISM
RadioWCAU
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

The 1979–1980 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 76ers 31st season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 17th season in Philadelphia. They finished with a record of 59–23, their best since the 1967–68 season. The team had acquired guard Lionel Hollins from the Portland Trail Blazers after their effort to obtain Pete Maravich failed as he signed with the Boston Celtics. In the playoffs, they won the 1980 Eastern Conference Championship over the Boston Celtics 4–1. In the 1980 NBA Finals they would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2. The series was memorable for Julius Erving's baseline move in Game 4, and Magic Johnson's 42-point effort in Game 6 starting the game at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Offseason[]

NBA Draft[]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 16 Jim Spanarkel SG  United States Duke
2 36 Clint Richardson SG  United States Seattle
2 37 Bernard Toone PF  United States Marquette
3 58 Earl Cureton PF  United States Detroit
4 83 Mike Niles SF  United States Cal State Fullerton

Roster[]

1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 14 Bibby, Henry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949–11–24 UCLA
G 10 Cheeks, Maurice 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956–09–08 West Texas A&M
G 20 Collins, Doug Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1951-07-28 Illinois State
C 53 Dawkins, Darryl 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1957-01-11 Evans High School
F 6 Erving, Julius 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-02-22 UMass
G 9 Hollins, Lionel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1953–10–19 Arizona State
F 24 Jones, Bobby 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951–12–18 North Carolina
C 11 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950–08–04 Albany State
G 4 Richardson, Clint 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1956–08–07 Seattle
F 50 Mix, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1947–12–30 Toledo
G 34 Spanarkel, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1957-06-28 Duke
F 3 Toone, Bernard 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956-07-14 Marquette
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 – 35–6 26–15 17–7
x-Philadelphia 76ers 59 23 .720 2 36–5 23–18 19–5
x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 22 24–17 15–26 9–15
New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22 25–16 14–27 8–16
New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27 22–19 12–29 7–17


# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 –
2 y-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 11
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 59 23 .720 2
4 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 20
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 22
7 New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 37 45 .451 24
8 Indiana Pacers 37 45 .451 24
10 New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27
11 Detroit Pistons 16 66 .195 44



Record vs. opponents[]

1979-80 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 4–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 4–2 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3
Boston 4–2 — 2–0 4–2 2–0 6–0 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 5–1 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2
Chicago 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–4 2–4 0–2
Cleveland 2–4 2–4 0–2 — 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 2–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–5 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Denver 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 — 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–6 1–5 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–1 3–3 1–5 3–3 1–1
Detroit 0–6 0–6 1–1 0–6 1–1 — 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
Golden State 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 3–3 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–5 0–6 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 0–2 3–3 0–6 3–3 0–2
Houston 4–2 0–6 1–1 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 — 4–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–3 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–4
Indiana 2–4 2–4 2–0 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–4 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–4 4–2 1–5 0–2 2–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
Kansas City 2–0 1–1 3–3 0–2 6–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 2–4 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 1–1 5–1 3–3 6–0 2–0
Los Angeles 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 4–2 — 3–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–4 2–0 5–1 4–2 6–0 1–1
Milwaukee 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 4–2 1–1
New Jersey 2–4 1–5 1–1 3–3 1–1 4–2 0–2 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
New York 2–4 1–5 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 — 0–6 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 2–4 3–3 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 — 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 6–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 6–0 2–0
Portland 0–2 0–2 3–3 2–0 4–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 4–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 — 1–1 4–2 1–5 3–3 1–1
San Antonio 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
San Diego 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 3–3 2–0 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 — 3–3 5–1 1–1
Seattle 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 5–1 2–0 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 5–1 1–1 3–3 — 5–1 1–1
Utah 0–2 0–2 4–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 0–6 0–6 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 3–3 1–1 1–5 1–5 — 0–2
Washington 3–3 2–4 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 4–2 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 3–3 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 —

Game log[]

Regular season[]

1979–80 game log
Total: 59–23 (Home: 36–5; Road: 23–18)
October: 8–1 (Home: 4–0; Road: 4–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 12 @ Washington W 93–92 Capital Centre 1–0
2 October 13 Houston W 113–105 Spectrum 2–0
3 October 17 @ New Jersey W 113–88 Rutgers Athletic Center 3–0
4 October 19 Detroit W 112–104 Spectrum 4–0
5 October 20 @ New York W 136–111 Madison Square Garden 5–0
6 October 24 Indiana W 132–110 Spectrum 6–0
7 October 26 New York W 127–116 Spectrum 7–0
8 October 27 @ Cleveland W 112–106 Richfield Coliseum 8–0
9 October 31 @ Atlanta L 97–102 Omni Coliseum 8–1
November: 10–6 (Home: 7–2; Road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
10 November 2 Atlanta L 81–85 Spectrum 8–2
11 November 3 @ Indiana W 120–114 (2OT) Market Square Arena 9–2
12 November 6 @ Milwaukee W 118–117 (OT) The MECCA 10–2
13 November 7 Kansas City W 110–102 Spectrum 11–2
14 November 9 @ Detroit L 98–106 Pontiac Silverdome 11–3
15 November 10 Boston W 95–94 Spectrum 12–3
16 November 13 @ Kansas City L 103–110 Municipal Auditorium 12–4
17 November 16 San Antonio L 105–106 Spectrum 12–5
18 November 17 @ Chicago L 103–106 (OT) Chicago Stadium 12–6
19 November 20 @ San Antonio W 118–114 HemisFair Arena 13–6
20 November 21 @ Houston L 94–97 The Summit 13–7
21 November 23 Houston W 113–102 Spectrum 14–7
22 November 24 New Jersey W 91–82 Spectrum 15–7
23 November 26 Indiana W 113–112 Spectrum 16–7
24 November 28 Washington W 120–102 Spectrum 17–7
25 November 30 San Diego W 104–101 Spectrum 18–7
December: 9–4 (Home: 6–1; Road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 December 1 Cleveland W 117–105 Spectrum 19–7
27 December 5 San Antonio W 132–120 Spectrum 20–7
28 December 8 Phoenix W 117–96 Spectrum 21–7
29 December 12 Milwaukee W 112–91 Spectrum 22–7
30 December 14 Atlanta L 98–103 Spectrum 22–8
31 December 15 @ Atlanta L 96–112 Omni Coliseum 22–9
32 December 18 @ Detroit W 114–102 Pontiac Silverdome 23–9
33 December 19 @ Boston L 89–112 Boston Garden 23–10
34 December 21 Houston W 117–106 Spectrum 24–10
35 December 22 Boston W 126–113 Spectrum 25–10
36 December 25 @ Washington W 93–92 Capital Centre 26–10
37 December 27 @ San Antonio W 118–114 HemisFair Arena 27–10
38 December 29 @ Houston L 100–104 The Summit 27–11
January: 11–3 (Home: 6–0; Road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
39 January 3 @ Cleveland W 109–108 Richfield Coliseum 28–11
40 January 8 @ New York W 111–108 Madison Square Garden 29–11
41 January 9 New Jersey W 108–105 Spectrum 30–11
42 January 11 Washington W 119–106 Spectrum 31–11
43 January 13 New York W 126–112 Spectrum 32–11
44 January 16 Portland W 121–110 Spectrum 33–11
45 January 18 @ New Jersey W 112–105 Rutgers Athletic Center 34–11
46 January 19 Cleveland W 111–107 Spectrum 35–11
47 January 23 @ Denver W 118–93 McNichols Sports Arena 36–11
48 January 25 @ Los Angeles L 103–124 The Forum 36–12
49 January 27 @ Phoenix L 118–125 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 36–13
50 January 28 @ Utah L 101–107 Salt Palace 36–14
51 January 30 Detroit W 121–108 Spectrum 37–14
52 January 31 @ Houston W 110–105 The Summit 38–14
February: 10–3 (Home: 5–1; Road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
53 February 5 @ Indiana W 109–108 Market Square Arena 39–14
54 February 6 @ Boston L 110–129 Boston Garden 39–15
55 February 8 Seattle L 94–109 Spectrum 39–16
56 February 10 Los Angeles W 105–104 Spectrum 40–16
57 February 13 Utah W 107–85 Spectrum 41–16
58 February 15 @ Detroit W 114–104 Pontiac Silverdome 42–16
59 February 16 Chicago W 100–92 Spectrum 43–16
60 February 17 Cleveland W 115–100 Spectrum 44–16
61 February 21 @ San Diego L 99–104 San Diego Sports Arena 44–17
62 February 24 @ Golden State W 103–100 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 45–17
63 February 26 @ Portland W 98–96 Memorial Coliseum 46–17
64 February 27 @ Seattle W 101–98 (OT) Kingdome 47–17
65 February 29 Denver W 104–103 Spectrum 48–17
March: 11–6 (Home: 8–1; Road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
66 March 2 Golden State W 144–99 Spectrum 48–18
67 March 5 Indiana W 120–113 Spectrum 49–18
68 March 7 @ Boston L 92–111 Boston Garden 50–18
69 March 9 @ San Antonio W 134–118 HemisFair Arena 51–18
70 March 11 @ Atlanta W 102–97 (OT) Omni Coliseum 52–18
71 March 12 Washington W 105–98 Spectrum 53–18
72 March 14 @ Indiana L 94–104 Market Square Arena 53–19
73 March 16 @ Cleveland L 109–123 Richfield Coliseum 53–20
74 March 17 Detroit W 123–109 Spectrum 54–20
75 March 19 San Antonio L 99–105 Spectrum 54–21
76 March 20 @ Washington L 113–119 (OT) Capital Centre 54–22
77 March 21 New Jersey W 108–99 Spectrum 55–22
78 March 23 New York W 112–108 Spectrum 56–22
79 March 26 Atlanta W 84–81 Spectrum 57–22
80 March 27 @ New York W 103–101 Madison Square Garden 58–22
81 March 28 @ New Jersey L 92–99 Rutgers Athletic Center 58–23
82 March 30 Boston W 116–110 Spectrum 59–23
1979–80 schedule

Playoffs[]

1980 playoff game log
First Round: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 2 Washington W 111–96 Lionel Hollins (21) Caldwell Jones (26) Maurice Cheeks (6) Spectrum
12,567 		1–0
2 April 4 @ Washington W 112–104 Julius Erving (31) Lionel Hollins (9) Maurice Cheeks (7) Capital Centre
18,397 		2–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 6 Atlanta W 107–104 Julius Erving (28) Caldwell Jones (13) Maurice Cheeks (9) Spectrum
10,561 		1–0
2 April 9 Atlanta W 99–92 Darryl Dawkins (22) Bobby Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (7) Spectrum
18,276 		2–0
3 April 10 @ Atlanta L 93–105 Julius Erving (26) Caldwell Jones (16) Caldwell Jones (4) Omni Coliseum
15,617 		2–1
4 April 13 @ Atlanta W 107–83 Hollins, B. Jones (20) Caldwell Jones (11) Maurice Cheeks (5) Omni Coliseum
15,617 		3–1
5 April 15 Atlanta W 105–100 Dawkins, Erving (30) Caldwell Jones (13) Lionel Hollins (7) Spectrum
18,276 		4–1
Conference Finals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18 @ Boston W 96–93 Julius Erving (29) Darryl Dawkins (10) Cheeks, Hollins (6) Boston Garden
15,320 		1–0
2 April 20 @ Boston L 90–96 Julius Erving (24) Darryl Dawkins (11) Lionel Hollins (5) Boston Garden
15,320 		1–1
3 April 23 Boston W 99–97 Julius Erving (28) Julius Erving (11) Lionel Hollins (9) Spectrum
18,276 		2–1
4 April 25 Boston W 102–90 Julius Erving (30) Julius Erving (10) Maurice Cheeks (10) Spectrum
18,276 		3–1
5 April 27 @ Boston W 105–94 Lionel Hollins (24) three players tied (9) Lionel Hollins (7) Boston Garden
15,320 		4–1
NBA Finals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 4 @ Los Angeles L 102–109 Julius Erving (20) Bobby Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (8) The Forum
17,505 		0–1
2 May 7 @ Los Angeles W 107–104 Darryl Dawkins (25) Julius Erving (10) Maurice Cheeks (10) The Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 May 10 Los Angeles L 101–111 Julius Erving (24) Caldwell Jones (11) Lionel Hollins (9) Spectrum
18,726 		1–2
4 May 11 Los Angeles W 105–102 Darryl Dawkins (26) Caldwell Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (13) Spectrum
18,726 		2–2
5 May 14 @ Los Angeles L 103–108 Julius Erving (36) Caldwell Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (10) The Forum
17,505 		2–3
6 May 16 Los Angeles L 107–123 Julius Erving (27) Bobby Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (8) Spectrum
18,726 		2–4
1980 schedule

Awards and records[]

References[]

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