1980–81 Indiana Pacers season

1980–81 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Jack McKinney
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	44–38 (.537)
Place	Division: 3rd (Central) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Lost to Philadelphia 76ers in East First Round (0-2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WTTV–TV 4 (Bob Lamey)
Radio	WIBC–AM 1070 (Bob Lamey)
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise.

Offseason[]

NBA Draft[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team

Roster[]

1980-81 Indiana Pacers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From F 5 Abernethy, Tom 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1954–05–6 Indiana F 42 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–3 Saint Joseph's G/F 7 Bradley, Dudley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957–3–19 North Carolina G 10 Buse, Don 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–8–10 Evansville G 16 Davis, Johnny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton C 40 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington F/C 45 Johnson, Clemon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M F 24 Johnson, George 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956–12–8 St. John's G/F 25 Knight, Billy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–9 Pittsburgh F 30 McGinnis, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana F 44 Miller, Dick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–04–26 Toledo G 3 Natt, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–10–5 Northeast Louisiana F 55 Orr, Louis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–05–7 Syracuse G 14 Sichting, Jerry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue	Head coach Jack McKinney Assistant coach(es) George Irvine Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: 2012–10–10

Regular season[]

Central Division v t	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	60	22	.732	–	34–7	26–15	23–7
x-Chicago Bulls	45	37	.549	15.0	26–15	19–22	20–9
x-Indiana Pacers	44	38	.537	16.0	27–14	17–24	17–12
Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	29.0	20–21	11–30	9–21
Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	32.0	20–21	8–33	9–21
Detroit Pistons	21	61	.256	39.0	14–27	7–34	9–21

#	Eastern Conference v t
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	60	22	.732	2
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	62	20	.756	–
4	x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	12
5	x-Chicago Bulls	45	37	.549	17
6	x-Indiana Pacers	44	38	.537	18
7	Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	23
8	Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	31
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	34
10	New Jersey Nets	24	58	.293	38
11	Detroit Pistons	21	61	.256	41

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[]

1980-81 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–4	1–5	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–2	2–4	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–4
Boston	4–2	—	5–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	3–3	6–0	5–1	3–3	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–1
Chicago	4–2	1–5	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	3–3	3–2	3–3	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1
Cleveland	5–1	1–4	1–5	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–6	3–3	0–5	0–6	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Dallas	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	3–3	0–2	2–3	0–6	0–2	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–4	1–5	2–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
Denver	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	2–0	3–2	2–4	1–1	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	2–3	2–4	3–2	3–2	2–4	0–2
Detroit	2–4	1–4	1–5	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–3	1–5	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–0	—	3–2	1–1	5–0	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	2–4	3–3	4–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	2–3	—	1–1	2–4	2–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–4	3–2	3–3	1–4	4–1	4–2	0–2
Indiana	5–1	3–3	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	0–2	2–4	5–1	3–2	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	6–0	2–4	1–1	0–5	4–2	0–2	—	0–5	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–2	3–2	2–4	3–2	2–3	5–1	1–1
Los Angeles	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–3	2–0	5–1	3–2	2–0	5–0	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	2–3	3–3	6–0	3–2	1–1
Milwaukee	5–1	3–3	3–3	6–0	2–0	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	—	5–1	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–1
New Jersey	2–3	0–6	2–3	3–3	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–5	—	0–6	1–5	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	4–2	1–5	3–3	5–0	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–2	3–3	6–0	—	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	5–1	3–3	4–2	6–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–3	5–1	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	3–3	3–2	6–0	5–1	5–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	2–0	4–2	2–3	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	2–3	4–2	4–2	2–3	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	4–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–3	3–2	—	4–1	3–2	5–1	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	3–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	2–4	1–4	—	5–1	3–2	0–2
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	2–3	2–0	3–3	1–4	2–0	3–2	0–6	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–4	2–3	1–5	—	4–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	1–4	2–4	1–1	1–5	2–3	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	3–2	1–5	2–3	1–4	—	0–2
Washington	4–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–0	5–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—

Game log[]

Regular season[]

1980–81 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
October: 7–3 (Home: 4–2; Road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 10, 1980 @ New Jersey W 110–91 Rutgers Athletic Center 1–0 2 October 11, 1980 Detroit W 100–87 Market Square Arena 2–0 3 October 15, 1980 Chicago L 97–108 Market Square Arena 2–1 4 October 18, 1980 Boston W 103–99 Market Square Arena 3–1 5 October 21, 1980 @ Atlanta W 121–116 The Omni 4–1 6 October 22, 1980 Milwaukee L 105–119 Market Square Arena 4–2 7 October 24, 1980 Atlanta W 104–97 Market Square Arena 5–2 8 October 25, 1980 @ Cleveland L 100–118 Richfield Coliseum 5–3 9 October 29, 1980 New York W 102–95 Market Square Arena 6–3 10 October 31, 1980 @ Chicago W 121–114 Chicago Stadium 7–3
November: 7–8 (Home: 5–2; Road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 11 November 1, 1980 New Jersey W 113–100 Market Square Arena 8–3 12 November 2, 1980 @ Milwaukee L 121–135 MECCA Arena 8–4 13 November 4, 1980 @ Phoenix L 108–109 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–5 14 November 8, 1980 @ Golden State L 111–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–6 15 November 10, 1980 @ Utah L 106–108 Salt Palace Acord Arena 8–7 16 November 11, 1980 @ San Antonio W 119–113 HemisFair Arena 9–7 17 November 13, 1980 Philadelphia L 103–130 Market Square Arena 9–8 18 November 14, 1980 Washington W 118–108 Market Square Arena 10–8 18 November 18, 1980 @ Detroit W 102–97 Pontiac Silverdome 11–8 20 November 19, 1980 Boston L 91–103 Market Square Arena 11–9 21 November 21, 1980 @ Philadelphia L 88–97 The Spectrum 11–10 22 November 22, 1980 Houston W 129–120 Market Square Arena 12–10 23 November 26, 1980 Atlanta W 110–89 Market Square Arena 13–10 24 November 27, 1980 @ Washington L 108–123 Capital Centre 13–11 25 November 29, 1980 Cleveland W 117–101 Market Square Arena 14–11
December: 7–7 (Home: 4–1; Road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 December 2, 1980 @ New York W 113–96 Madison Square Garden 15–11 27 December 3, 1980 Washington W 128–115 Market Square Arena 16–11 28 December 5, 1980 @ Milwaukee L 100–102 MECCA Arena 16–12 29 December 6, 1980 Kansas City W 107–88 Market Square Arena 17–12 30 December 10, 1980 Phoenix W 102–90 Market Square Arena 18–12 31 December 11, 1980 @ Cleveland W 103–100 Richfield Coliseum 19–12 32 December 13, 1980 @ Washington L 105–114 Capital Centre 19–13 33 December 16, 1980 Philadelphia L 107–109 Market Square Arena 19–14 34 December 19, 1980 @ Detroit L 106–109 Pontiac Silverdome 19–15 35 December 20, 1980 @ Kansas City W 107–103 Kemper Arena 20–15 36 December 23, 1980 New Jersey W 125–109 Market Square Arena 21–15 37 December 26, 1980 @ Los Angeles L 115–116 The Forum 21–16 38 December 27, 1980 @ San Diego L 109–121 San Diego Sports Arena 21–17 39 December 30, 1980 @ Denver L 110–127 McNichols Sports Arena 21–18
January: 10–5 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 40 January 2, 1981 @ Atlanta W 109–106 The Omni 22–18 41 January 3, 1981 San Diego W 128–104 Market Square Arena 23–18 42 January 4, 1981 @ New Jersey W 113–104 Rutgers Athletic Center 24–18 43 January 7, 1981 New Jersey W 112–103 Market Square Arena 25–18 44 January 8, 1981 @ New York W 117–116 (OT) Madison Square Garden 26–18 45 January 10, 1981 Milwaukee W 106–102 Market Square Arena 27–18 46 January 14, 1981 Detroit W 101–99 Market Square Arena 28–18 47 January 16, 1981 Seattle L 94–95 Market Square Arena 28–19 48 January 18, 1981 Utah W 110–89 Market Square Arena 29–19 49 January 20, 1981 @ Chicago L 105–121 Chicago Stadium 29–20 50 January 21, 1981 @ Philadelphia L 104–118 The Spectrum 29–21 51 January 23, 1981 @ Boston L 103–104 Boston Garden 29–22 52 January 24, 1981 Dallas W 107–89 Market Square Arena 30–22 53 January 27, 1981 @ Cleveland L 109–114 Richfield Coliseum 30–23 54 January 28, 1981 Golden State W 108–102 Market Square Arena 31–23
February: 6–7 (Home: 3–4; Road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 February 3, 1981 @ Milwaukee W 108–99 MECCA Arena 32–23 56 February 4, 1981 Los Angeles L 96–102 Market Square Arena 32–24 57 February 6, 1981 @ Boston L 98–111 Boston Garden 32–25 58 February 7, 1981 Cleveland W 99–96 Market Square Arena 33–25 59 February 8, 1981 @ Detroit W 124–101 Pontiac Silverdome 34–25 60 February 11, 1981 Milwaukee L 101–107 Market Square Arena 34–26 61 February 13, 1981 @ New Jersey L 100–103 Rutgers Athletic Center 34–27 62 February 15, 1981 Chicago W 113–107 Market Square Arena 35–27 63 February 18, 1981 Atlanta L 96–99 Market Square Arena 35–28 64 February 20, 1981 San Antonio W 109–106 Market Square Arena 36–28 65 February 22, 1981 Portland L 109–113 (OT) Market Square Arena 36–29 66 February 25, 1981 @ Houston L 100–101 The Summit 36–30 67 February 27, 1981 @ Dallas W 118–111 Reunion Arena 37–30
March: 7–8 (Home: 4–4; Road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 68 March 3, 1981 @ Portland L 112–117 Memorial Coliseum 37–31 69 March 4, 1981 @ Seattle L 93–105 Kingdome 37–32 70 March 6, 1981 Boston W 110–104 Market Square Arena 38–32 71 March 8, 1981 Denver W 129–119 Market Square Arena 39–32 72 March 10, 1981 Philadelphia L 102–103 Market Square Arena 39–33 73 March 12, 1981 @ Washington W 114–107 Capital Centre 40–33 74 March 13, 1981 @ Boston W 101–94 Hartford Civic Center 41–33 75 March 14, 1981 Detroit L 94–101 Market Square Arena 41–34 76 March 17, 1981 @ New York L 89–114 Madison Square Garden 41–35 77 March 18, 1981 @ Philadelphia L 95–107 The Spectrum 41–36 78 March 20, 1981 New York L 107–110 Market Square Arena 41–37 79 March 22, 1981 Cleveland W 107–101 Market Square Arena 42–37 80 March 26, 1981 @ Atlanta W 115–107 The Omni 43–37 81 March 27, 1981 Washington W 122–107 Market Square Arena 44–37 82 March 29, 1981 Chicago L 97–101 Market Square Arena 44–38
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs[]

1981 playoff game log
First Round: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 31, 1981 @ Philadelphia L 108–124 Billy Knight (25) Knight, C. Johnson (7) Johnny Davis (8) Spectrum 7,288 0–1 2 April 2, 1981 Philadelphia L 85–96 Johnny Davis (21) Clemon Johnson (13) Billy Knight (4) Market Square Arena 8,921 0–2
1981 schedule

Player statistics[]

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

Season[]

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Billy Knight	82		29.1	53.3	15.8	83.2	5.0	1.9	1.0	0.1	17.5
James Edwards	81		29.3	50.9	0.0	70.3	7.0	2.6	0.4	1.6	15.6
Johnny Davis	76		33.4	46.5	12.1	79.6	2.2	6.3	1.3	0.2	14.4
Mike Bantom	76		31.3	48.9	0.0	70.8	5.6	3.2	1.1	1.1	14.0
George McGinnis	69		26.7	45.3	0.0	53.8	7.7	3.0	1.4	0.4	13.1
George Johnson	43		21.6	46.2	0.0	76.2	6.5	2.0	1.1	0.5	10.6
Louis Orr	82		21.8	49.1	0.0	80.7	4.4	1.6	0.7	0.3	10.5
Dudley Bradley	82		22.8	47.4	12.5	70.2	2.4	2.3	2.3	0.5	8.0
Clemon Johnson	81		20.3	50.4	0.0	59.3	5.8	1.8	0.5	1.5	7.2
Don Buse	58		18.9	39.7	32.8	76.9	1.4	2.4	1.3	0.1	5.1
Kenny Natt	19		7.8	32.5	25.0	63.6	0.8	0.5	0.3	0.1	3.1
Jerry Sichting	47		9.6	35.8	0.0	78.1	0.9	1.5	0.5	0.0	2.0
Tom Abernethy	29		8.9	42.9	0.0	57.9	1.4	0.6	0.2	0.1	2.0
Dick Miller	5		6.8	33.3	0.0	0.0	0.8	0.8	0.6	0.0	0.8

Playoffs[]

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Johnny Davis	2		37.0	40.0	0.0	92.3	4.0	5.5	1.0	0.0	20.0
Billy Knight	2		35.5	53.3	0.0	62.5	6.0	2.5	0.5	0.0	18.5
Mike Bantom	2		25.5	75.0	0.0	71.4	4.0	0.5	0.5	0.5	14.5
Louis Orr	2		28.0	36.0	0.0	85.7	5.0	2.0	2.5	0.5	12.0
Clemon Johnson	2		27.5	41.7	0.0	50.0	10.0	1.5	2.0	1.0	7.5
James Edwards	2		28.0	29.2	0.0	0.0	7.0	2.5	0.5	0.5	7.0
George McGinnis	2		19.5	20.0	0.0	50.0	5.0	3.5	1.0	0.0	5.0
George Johnson	2		11.5	62.5	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	5.0
Dudley Bradley	2		9.5	33.3	100.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	4.5
Don Buse	2		17.5	12.5	25.0	100.0	2.5	3.5	1.5	0.0	2.5
Jerry Sichting	1		1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0

Player Statistics Citation:^[1]

Awards and records[]

• Jack McKinney, NBA Coach of the Year Award
• Dudley Bradley, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions[]

Free Agents[]

Subtractions
Player	Date signed	New team
Joe Hassett	Expansion Draft May 28, 1980	Dallas Mavericks

References[]