1979–80 Detroit Pistons season

1979–80 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach	Dick Vitale Richie Adubato
General manager	Jack McCloskey
Owners	William Davidson
Arena	Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record	16–66 (.195)
Place	Division: 6th (Central) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WKBD-TV
Radio	WJR

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 32nd season in the NBA and 23rd season in the city of Detroit. The Pistons were coming off a 30–52 (.366) record from their first season in the Eastern Conference, and aiming to halt declines of six and eight wins from their previous two seasons, but by finishing 16–66 (.195) they had the worst record in franchise history at the time, and the worst NBA record since the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers won only nine games.

Coach Dick Vitale, who was also in charge of player personnel, was fired 12 games into the season, having pushed for a disastrous trade with the Boston Celtics for Bob McAdoo when Pistons free agent M.L. Carr signed with Boston that would eventually net the Celtics key championship components Carr, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale in a series of exchanges. Injuries to McAdoo and center Bob Lanier, who was traded during the season, left the Pistons a depleted roster and the team finished with fourteen consecutive defeats. Second year players John Long (19.4 ppg) and Terry Tyler (12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) had solid seasons to lead the overwhelmed Pistons.

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Greg Kelser	SF	United States	Michigan State
1	10	Roy Hamilton	PG	United States	UCLA
1	15	Phil Hubbard	PF	United States	Michigan
3	48	Terry Duerod	SG	United States	Detroit

Roster

1979–80 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 54 Benson, Kent 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana C 13 Douglas, Leon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Alabama G/F 42 Duerod, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Detroit Mercy F 21 Evans, Earl 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 202 lb (92 kg) UNLV G 24 Hamilton, Roy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) UCLA SF 35 Hubbard, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan F 32 Kelser, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Michigan State G 30 Lee, Ron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oregon SG 25 Long, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Detroit Mercy PF 44 Malovic, Steve 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) San Diego State C 11 McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) North Carolina G 14 Money, Eric 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Arizona F 9 Robinson, Jackie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) UNLV G/F 41 Tyler, Terry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy

Head coach Dick Vitale Richie Adubato Assistant coach(es) Herman Kull Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	–	32–9	18–23	21–9
x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	9	29–12	12–29	20–10
x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	9	27–14	14–27	14–16
Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	13	28–13	9–32	16–14
Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	13	26–15	11–30	15–15
Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	34	13–28	3–38	4–26

#	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

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

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: 16–66 (Home: 13–28; Road: 3–38)
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 12 Indiana W 114–105 Pontiac Silverdome 1–0 2 October 13 @ San Antonio W 112–110 HemisFair Arena 2–0 3 October 16 @ Cleveland L 117–137 Richfield Coliseum 2–1 4 October 18 New York W 129–115 Pontiac Silverdome 3–1 5 October 19 @ Philadelphia L 104–112 The Spectrum 3–2 6 October 20 @ Washington L 106–117 Capital Centre 3–3 7 October 24 Washington W 104–103 Pontiac Silverdome 4–3 8 October 26 San Antonio L 113–129 Pontiac Silverdome 4–4 9 October 27 @ Milwaukee L 118–132 MECCA Arena 4–5
November: 3–11 (home: 3–5; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 10 November 1 Cleveland L 125–127 Pontiac Silverdome 4–6 11 November 3 Houston L 111–114 Pontiac Silverdome 4–7 12 November 7 Atlanta L 107–115 Pontiac Silverdome 4–8 13 November 9 Philadelphia W 106–98 Pontiac Silverdome 5–8 14 November 10 @ Houston L 104–112 The Summit 5–9 15 November 14 @ Boston L 111–115 Boston Garden 5–10 16 November 17 New Jersey L 93–98 Pontiac Silverdome 5–11 17 November 20 @ Atlanta L 105–109 The Omni 5–12 18 November 21 Utah W 98–93 Pontiac Silverdome 6–12 19 November 23 Milwaukee W 119–100 Pontiac Silverdome 7–12 20 November 24 @ Indiana L 97–115 Market Square Arena 7–13 21 November 27 @ New York L 114–116 (OT) Madison Square Garden 7–14 22 November 28 @ New Jersey L 89–98 Rutgers Athletic Center 7–15 23 November 29 Kansas City L 95–105 Pontiac Silverdome 7–16
December: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 24 December 1 San Antonio W 134–124 Pontiac Silverdome 8–16 25 December 4 Boston L 114–118 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 8–17 26 December 5 @ Kansas City L 93–109 Municipal Auditorium 8–18 27 December 7 @ Houston L 109–124 The Summit 8–19 28 December 8 @ Indiana L 102–103 Market Square Arena 8–20 29 December 12 @ Golden State W 114–96 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9–20 30 December 14 @ Los Angeles L 122–138 The Forum 9–21 31 December 15 @ Phoenix L 105–126 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9–22 32 December 16 @ San Diego L 126–133 San Diego Sports Arena 9–23 33 December 18 Philadelphia L 102–114 Pontiac Silverdome 9–24 34 December 20 Atlanta L 103–122 Pontiac Silverdome 9–25 35 December 22 @ San Antonio L 112–141 HemisFair Arena 9–26 36 December 25 @ Cleveland L 101–111 Richfield Coliseum 9–27 37 December 26 Indiana L 97–98 Pontiac Silverdome 9–28 38 December 28 Denver W 114–98 Pontiac Silverdome 10–28 39 December 29 @ Atlanta L 104–115 The Omni 10–29
January: 4–11 (home: 3–4; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 40 January 2 @ Denver L 116–135 McNichols Sports Arena 10–30 41 January 4 @ Seattle L 105–123 Kingdome 10–31 42 January 6 @ Portland L 102–119 Memorial Coliseum 10–32 43 January 8 @ Utah L 110–124 Salt Palace 10–33 44 January 11 Los Angeles L 100–123 Pontiac Silverdome 10–34 45 January 12 @ Indiana L 109–122 Market Square Arena 10–35 46 January 13 Chicago W 107–102 Pontiac Silverdome 11–35 47 January 17 Washington W 110–107 Pontiac Silverdome 12–35 48 January 19 Houston W 122–110 Pontiac Silverdome 13–35 49 January 22 @ Chicago L 131–145 Chicago Stadium 13–36 50 January 23 Boston L 104–131 Pontiac Silverdome 13–37 51 January 25 @ New Jersey W 119–116 Rutgers Athletic Center 14–37 52 January 27 New York L 93–98 Pontiac Silverdome 14–38 53 January 29 Golden State L 100–111 Pontiac Silverdome 14–39 54 January 30 @ Philadelphia L 108–121 The Spectrum 14–40
February: 1–10 (home: 1–7; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 February 7 Seattle L 102–119 Pontiac Silverdome 14–41 56 February 9 @ New York L 107–114 Madison Square Garden 14–42 57 February 10 @ Boston L 111–128 Boston Garden 14–43 58 February 13 Cleveland L 102–107 Pontiac Silverdome 14–44 59 February 15 Philadelphia L 104–114 Pontiac Silverdome 14–45 60 February 16 @ Cleveland L 104–123 Richfield Coliseum 14–46 61 February 17 Atlanta L 99–108 Pontiac Silverdome 14–47 62 February 21 Phoenix L 116–125 Pontiac Silverdome 14–48 63 February 23 Portland L 107–130 Pontiac Silverdome 14–49 64 February 27 San Diego L 113–129 Pontiac Silverdome 14–50 65 February 29 New Jersey W 137–128 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 15–50
March: 1–16 (home: 1–7; road: 0–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 66 March 2 @ Boston L 115–118 Boston Garden 15–51 67 March 4 @ Washington L 107–135 Capital Centre 15–52 68 March 5 New York W 120–113 Pontiac Silverdome 16–52 69 March 7 Washington L 105–106 Pontiac Silverdome 16–53 70 March 8 @ New York L 104–110 Madison Square Garden 16–54 71 March 9 @ New Jersey L 100–140 Rutgers Athletic Center 16–55 72 March 12 New Jersey L 119–137 Pontiac Silverdome 16–56 73 March 14 San Antonio L 102–113 Pontiac Silverdome 16–57 74 March 16 Houston L 99–102 Pontiac Silverdome 16–58 75 March 17 @ Philadelphia L 109–123 The Spectrum 16–59 76 March 18 Cleveland L 107–108 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 16–60 77 March 20 Boston L 106–124 Pontiac Silverdome 16–61 78 March 21 @ Atlanta L 95–108 The Omni 16–62 79 March 23 @ Washington L 114–119 Capital Centre 16–63 80 March 26 Indiana L 114–124 Pontiac Silverdome 16–64 81 March 28 @ Houston L 112–128 The Summit 16–65 82 March 30 @ San Antonio L 124–144 HemisFair Arena 16–66
1979–80 schedule

See also

• 1980 in Michigan

See also

• 1979–80 NBA season