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1978–79 Washington Bullets season

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1978–79 Washington Bullets season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachDick Motta
ArenaCapital Centre
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to SuperSonics 1–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
RadioWTOP
< 1977–78 1979–80 >

The 1978–79 Washington Bullets won their second consecutive Eastern Conference Championship, making it to the NBA Finals before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics. They finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, at 54–28.

Coming off of their NBA Championship the previous season, the Bullets were transferred to the Atlantic Division.[1] The Bullets would continue to remain one of the top teams in the league, as they captured the Atlantic Division championship with a league best record of 54–28. The Bullets ended the regular season losing 8 of their last 11 games, but rebounded in the playoffs with victories in both the Eastern Conference semifinals and Eastern Conference finals over the Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. The Bullets would proceed to have a 38-year drought without a division title until 2017; by then they had been renamed the Washington Wizards. This is the most recent appearance in the conference finals or NBA Finals for the franchise.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 42 Ballard, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon
C 40 Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) DePaul
G 45 Chenier, Phil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) California
SF 10 Dandridge, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Norfolk State
F 35 Grevey, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kentucky
G 14 Henderson, Tom 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Hawaiʻi
C 11 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston
PF 25 Kupchak, Mitch 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
G 15 Johnson, Charles 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) California
G 22 Phegley, Roger 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Bradley
F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville
G 32 Wright, Larry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

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Season standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Washington Bullets 54 28 .659 31–10 23–18 11–5
x-Philadelphia 76ers 47 35 .573 7 31–10 16–25 9–7
x-New Jersey Nets 37 45 .451 17 25–16 12–29 7–9
New York Knicks 31 51 .378 23 23–18 8–33 7–9
Boston Celtics 29 53 .354 25 21–20 8–33 6–10
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Washington Bullets 54 28 .659
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585 6
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 47 35 .573 7
4 x-Houston Rockets 47 35 .573 7
5 x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 8
6 x-New Jersey Nets 37 45 .451 17
7 New York Knicks 31 51 .378 23
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 30 52 .366 24
8 Detroit Pistons 30 52 .366 24
10 Boston Celtics 29 53 .354 25
11 New Orleans Jazz 26 56 .317 28

Record vs. opponents

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1978-79 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA WAS
Atlanta 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2
Boston 2–2 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–4
Chicago 1–3 2–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 0–3 0–4 0–4 1–3
Cleveland 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Denver 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 0–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3
Detroit 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3
Golden State 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2
Houston 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 0–4 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2
Indiana 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3
Kansas City 2–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–0
Los Angeles 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2
Milwaukee 0–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3
New Jersey 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 4–0 3–1 1–3 2–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–4 1–3
New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–3 0–4
New York 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 0–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1
Phoenix 1–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3
Portland 2–2 3–1 0–4 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 1–3 3–1
San Antonio 1–3 4–0 3–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–3
San Diego 1–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–3
Seattle 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 3–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2
Washington 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2

Game log

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Regular season

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1978–79 game log
Total: 54–28 (home: 31–10; road: 23–18)
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
3 October 18 @ Philadelphia W 121–111 Johnson (19) Unseld (11) Henderson,
Unseld (6)
The Spectrum
12,065
3–0
6 October 25 @ Seattle L 92–121 Dandridge (16) Ballard (9) Dandridge (6) Kingdome
15,089
4–2
9 October 31 Atlanta L 108–110 Dandridge (26) Kupchak (10) Unseld (10) Capital Centre
5,487
4–5
November: 11–2 (home: 6–1; road: 5–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
11 November 4 San Antonio W 124–119 Hayes (28) Hayes (14) Henderson (11) Capital Centre
12,619
6–5
13 November 10 Philadelphia L 122–123 Hayes (36) Unseld (17) Dandridge,
Grevey,
Henderson (5)
Capital Centre
14,697
7–6
14 November 11 @ San Antonio L 124–143 Kupchak (27) Hayes (11) Henderson (8) HemisFair Arena
12,363
7–7
December: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
24 December 2 Kansas City L 109–110 Capital Centre
14,297
16–8
28 December 9 Phoenix W 101–98 Dandridge (23) Unseld (20) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
17,438
19–9
32 December 20 @ Phoenix W 137–129 Dandridge (36) Hayes (11) Henderson (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,789
23–9
January: 10–3 (home: 7–1; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
38 January 5 Phoenix W 104–94 Kupchak (25) Hayes (26) Henderson (10) Capital Centre
14,929
26–12
39 January 6 @ Atlanta W 106–102 Hayes (26) Hayes (13) Wright (6) The Omni
9,105
27–12
45 January 23 Seattle L 100–103 Dandridge (23) Unseld (13) Dandridge (7) Capital Centre
15,232
31–14
47 January 26 @ Kansas City L 128–142 Kemper Arena
10,301
32–15
49 January 30 Atlanta W 109–105 Hayes (23) Hayes (18) Dandridge (6) Capital Centre
14,398
34–15
February: 8–4 (home: 3–1; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
50 February 1 @ San Antonio W 123–122 Dandridge (36) Unseld (19) Henderson (10) HemisFair Arena
12,516
35–15
All-Star Break
53 February 11 @ Philadelphia L 99–107 Dandridge (29) Dandridge (17) Dandridge (6) The Spectrum
15,151
37–16
55 February 15 @ Phoenix L 108–119 Dandridge (30) Hayes (13) Henderson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660
38–17
57 February 18 @ Seattle W 105–94 Hayes (33) Hayes (16) Dandridge (7) Kingdome
21,935
39–18
59 February 23 Seattle W 132–110 Hayes (32) Unseld (13) Henderson,
Unseld (7)
Capital Centre
19,035
40–19
March: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
62 March 4 San Antonio W 129–128 Hayes (32) Hayes (20) Henderson (10) Capital Centre
17,181
43–19
64 March 9 @ Kansas City L 116–121 Kemper Arena
13,681
43–21
74 March 27 Philadelphia L 97–100 Hayes (23) Unseld (16) Unseld (7) Capital Centre
18,741
50–24
April: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
81 April 7 @ Atlanta L 102–103 Hayes (29) Unseld (15) Unseld (7) The Omni
15,641
54–27
1978–79 schedule

Playoffs

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1979 playoff game log
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 15 Atlanta W 103–89 Hayes (31) Hayes (15) Wright (6) Capital Centre
15,721
1–0
2 April 17 Atlanta L 99–107 Dandridge (36) Unseld (10) Henderson (8) Capital Centre
19,035
1–1
3 April 20 @ Atlanta W 89–77 Hayes (19) Unseld (16) Unseld (8) The Omni
15,798
2–1
4 April 22 @ Atlanta W 120–115 (OT) Hayes (29) Hayes (17) Dandridge (5) The Omni
15,798
3–1
5 April 24 Atlanta L 103–107 Hayes (26) Hayes (14) Henderson (11) Capital Centre
19,035
3–2
6 April 26 @ Atlanta L 86–104 Hayes (24) Unseld (12) Unseld (6) The Omni
15,978
3–3
7 April 29 Atlanta W 100–94 Hayes (39) Hayes (15) Dandridge (8) Capital Centre
19,035
4–3
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 4 San Antonio L 97–118 Dandridge (25) Hayes (20) Henderson (5) Capital Centre
19,035
0–1
2 May 6 San Antonio W 115–95 Unseld (26) Unseld (22) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
19,035
1–1
3 May 9 @ San Antonio L 114–116 Dandridge (28) Hayes (23) Unseld (8) HemisFair Arena
15,318
1–2
4 May 11 @ San Antonio L 102–118 Hayes (23) Unseld (21) Dandridge (9) HemisFair Arena
16,055
1–3
5 May 13 San Antonio W 107–103 Hayes (24) Hayes (22) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
19,035
2–3
6 May 16 @ San Antonio W 108–100 Hayes (25) Hayes (14) Dandridge,
Henderson (8)
HemisFair Arena
16,055
3–3
7 May 18 San Antonio W 107–105 Dandridge (37) Hayes (15) Wright (7) Capital Centre
19,035
4–3
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 20 Seattle W 99–97 Wright (26) Unseld (12) Henderson (6) Capital Centre
19,035
1–0
2 May 24 Seattle L 82–92 Dandridge (21) Hayes (14) Dandridge (5) Capital Centre
19,035
1–1
3 May 27 @ Seattle L 95–105 Dandridge (28) Hayes,
Unseld (14)
Dandridge (5) Kingdome
35,928
1–2
4 May 29 @ Seattle L 112–114 (OT) Grevey,
Hayes,
Johnson (18)
Unseld (16) Henderson (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098
1–3
5 June 1 Seattle L 93–97 Hayes (29) Hayes (14) Dandridge (7) Capital Centre
19,035
1–4
1979 schedule

Awards and honors

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References

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