1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season

1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season
Conference champions
Head coach	Billy Cunningham
General manager	Pat Williams
Arena	The Spectrum
Results
Record	59–23 (.720)
Place	Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (lost to Lakers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WKBS-TV PRISM
Radio	WCAU

The 1979–80 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.

Overview

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 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  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 Maynard Evans HS (FL) 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 Billy Cunningham Assistant coach(es) Chuck Daly Jack McMahon Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended 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, 1979 @ Washington W 93–92 Capital Centre 1–0 2 October 13, 1979 Houston W 113–105 The Spectrum 2–0 3 October 17, 1979 @ New Jersey W 113–88 Rutgers Athletic Center 3–0 4 October 19, 1979 Detroit W 112–104 The Spectrum 4–0 5 October 20, 1979 @ New York W 136–111 Madison Square Garden 5–0 6 October 24, 1979 Indiana W 132–110 The Spectrum 6–0 7 October 26, 1979 New York W 127–116 TheSpectrum 7–0 8 October 27, 1979 @ Cleveland W 112–106 Richfield Coliseum 8–0 9 October 31, 1979 @ Atlanta L 97–102 The Omni 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, 1979 Atlanta L 81–85 The Spectrum 8–2 11 November 3, 1979 @ Indiana W 120–114 (2OT) Market Square Arena 9–2 12 November 6, 1979 @ Milwaukee W 118–117 (OT) MECCA Arena 10–2 13 November 7, 1979 Kansas City W 110–102 The Spectrum 11–2 14 November 9, 1979 @ Detroit L 98–106 Pontiac Silverdome 11–3 15 November 10, 1979 Boston W 95–94 The Spectrum 12–3 16 November 13, 1979 @ Kansas City L 103–110 Municipal Auditorium 12–4 17 November 16, 1979 San Antonio L 105–106 The Spectrum 12–5 18 November 17, 1979 @ Chicago L 103–106 (OT) Chicago Stadium 12–6 19 November 20, 1979 @ San Antonio W 118–114 HemisFair Arena 13–6 20 November 21, 1979 @ Houston L 94–97 The Summit 13–7 21 November 23, 1979 Houston W 113–102 The Spectrum 14–7 22 November 24, 1979 New Jersey W 91–82 The Spectrum 15–7 23 November 26, 1979 Indiana W 113–112 The Spectrum 16–7 24 November 28, 1979 Washington W 120–102 The Spectrum 17–7 25 November 30, 1979 San Diego W 104–101 The 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, 1979 Cleveland W 117–105 The Spectrum 19–7 27 December 5, 1979 San Antonio W 132–120 The Spectrum 20–7 28 December 8, 1979 Phoenix W 117–96 The Spectrum 21–7 29 December 12, 1979 Milwaukee W 112–91 The Spectrum 22–7 30 December 14, 1979 Atlanta L 98–103 The Spectrum 22–8 31 December 15, 1979 @ Atlanta L 96–112 The Omni 22–9 32 December 18, 1979 @ Detroit W 114–102 Pontiac Silverdome 23–9 33 December 19, 1979 @ Boston L 89–112 Boston Garden 23–10 34 December 21, 1979 Houston W 117–106 The Spectrum 24–10 35 December 22, 1979 Boston W 126–113 The Spectrum 25–10 36 December 25, 1979 @ Washington W 93–92 Capital Centre 26–10 37 December 27, 1979 @ San Antonio W 118–114 HemisFair Arena 27–10 38 December 29, 1979 @ 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, 1980 @ Cleveland W 109–108 Richfield Coliseum 28–11 40 January 8, 1980 @ New York W 111–108 Madison Square Garden 29–11 41 January 9, 1980 New Jersey W 108–105 The Spectrum 30–11 42 January 11, 1980 Washington W 119–106 The Spectrum 31–11 43 January 13, 1980 New York W 126–112 The Spectrum 32–11 44 January 16, 1980 Portland W 121–110 The Spectrum 33–11 45 January 18, 1980 @ New Jersey W 112–105 Rutgers Athletic Center 34–11 46 January 19, 1980 Cleveland W 111–107 The Spectrum 35–11 47 January 23, 1980 @ Denver W 118–93 McNichols Sports Arena 36–11 48 January 25, 1980 @ Los Angeles L 103–124 The Forum 36–12 49 January 27, 1980 @ Phoenix L 118–125 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 36–13 50 January 28, 1980 @ Utah L 101–107 Salt Palace 36–14 51 January 30, 1980 Detroit W 121–108 The Spectrum 37–14 52 January 31, 1980 @ 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 All-Star Break 53 February 5, 1980 @ Indiana W 109–108 Market Square Arena 39–14 54 February 6, 1980 @ Boston L 110–129 Boston Garden 39–15 55 February 8, 1980 Seattle L 94–109 The Spectrum 39–16 56 February 10, 1980 Los Angeles W 105–104 The Spectrum 40–16 57 February 13, 1980 Utah W 107–85 The Spectrum 41–16 58 February 15, 1980 @ Detroit W 114–104 Pontiac Silverdome 42–16 59 February 16, 1980 Chicago W 100–92 The Spectrum 43–16 60 February 17, 1980 Cleveland W 115–100 The Spectrum 44–16 61 February 21, 1980 @ San Diego L 99–104 San Diego Sports Arena 44–17 62 February 24, 1980 @ Golden State W 103–100 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 45–17 63 February 26, 1980 @ Portland W 98–96 Memorial Coliseum 46–17 64 February 27, 1980 @ Seattle W 101–98 (OT) Kingdome 47–17 65 February 29, 1980 Denver W 104–103 The 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, 1980 Golden State W 144–99 The Spectrum 48–18 67 March 5, 1980 Indiana W 120–113 The Spectrum 49–18 68 March 7, 1980 @ Boston L 92–111 Boston Garden 50–18 69 March 9, 1980 @ San Antonio W 134–118 HemisFair Arena 51–18 70 March 11, 1980 @ Atlanta W 102–97 (OT) The Omni 52–18 71 March 12, 1980 Washington W 105–98 The Spectrum 53–18 72 March 14, 1980 @ Indiana L 94–104 Market Square Arena 53–19 73 March 16, 1980 @ Cleveland L 109–123 Richfield Coliseum 53–20 74 March 17, 1980 Detroit W 123–109 The Spectrum 54–20 75 March 19, 1980 San Antonio L 99–105 The Spectrum 54–21 76 March 20, 1980 @ Washington L 113–119 (OT) Capital Centre 54–22 77 March 21, 1980 New Jersey W 108–99 The Spectrum 55–22 78 March 23, 1980 New York W 112–108 The Spectrum 56–22 79 March 26, 1980 Atlanta W 84–81 The Spectrum 57–22 80 March 27, 1980 @ New York W 103–101 Madison Square Garden 58–22 81 March 28, 1980 @ New Jersey L 92–99 Rutgers Athletic Center 58–23 82 March 30, 1980 Boston W 116–110 The 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, 1980 Washington W 111–96 Lionel Hollins (21) Caldwell Jones (26) Maurice Cheeks (6) The Spectrum 12,567 1–0 2 April 4, 1980 @ 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, 1980 Atlanta W 107–104 Julius Erving (28) Caldwell Jones (13) Maurice Cheeks (9) The Spectrum 10,561 1–0 2 April 9, 1980 Atlanta W 99–92 Darryl Dawkins (22) Bobby Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (7) The Spectrum 18,276 2–0 3 April 10, 1980 @ Atlanta L 93–105 Julius Erving (26) Caldwell Jones (16) Caldwell Jones (4) The Omni 15,617 2–1 4 April 13, 1980 @ Atlanta W 107–83 Hollins, B. Jones (20) Caldwell Jones (11) Maurice Cheeks (5) The Omni 15,617 3–1 5 April 15, 1980 Atlanta W 105–100 Dawkins, Erving (30) Caldwell Jones (13) Lionel Hollins (7) The 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, 1980 @ Boston W 96–93 Julius Erving (29) Darryl Dawkins (10) Cheeks, Hollins (6) Boston Garden 15,320 1–0 2 April 20, 1980 @ Boston L 90–96 Julius Erving (24) Darryl Dawkins (11) Lionel Hollins (5) Boston Garden 15,320 1–1 3 April 23, 1980 Boston W 99–97 Julius Erving (28) Julius Erving (11) Lionel Hollins (9) The Spectrum 18,276 2–1 4 April 25, 1980 Boston W 102–90 Julius Erving (30) Julius Erving (10) Maurice Cheeks (10) The Spectrum 18,276 3–1 5 April 27, 1980 @ 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, 1980 @ Los Angeles L 102–109 Julius Erving (20) Bobby Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (8) The Forum 17,505 0–1 2 May 7, 1980 @ Los Angeles W 107–104 Darryl Dawkins (25) Julius Erving (10) Maurice Cheeks (10) The Forum 17,505 1–1 3 May 10, 1980 Los Angeles L 101–111 Julius Erving (24) Caldwell Jones (11) Lionel Hollins (9) The Spectrum 18,726 1–2 4 May 11, 1980 Los Angeles W 105–102 Darryl Dawkins (26) Caldwell Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (13) The Spectrum 18,726 2–2 5 May 14, 1980 @ Los Angeles L 103–108 Julius Erving (36) Caldwell Jones (10) Lionel Hollins (10) The Forum 17,505 2–3 6 May 16, 1980 Los Angeles L 107–123 Julius Erving (27) Bobby Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (8) The Spectrum 18,726 2–4
1980 schedule

Awards and records

• Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team
• Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team

References

• Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference