1976β77 Portland Trail Blazers season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Head coach | Jack Ramsay |
General manager | Harry Glickman |
Owner(s) | Larry Weinberg |
Arena | Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 49–33 (.598) |
Place | Division: 2nd (
Pacific) Conference: 3rd ( Western) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated 76ers 4β2) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KOIN |
Radio | KYTE |
The 1976β77 season was the Portland Trail Blazers' 7th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The revamped Blazers would end up getting off to a terrific start winning 22 of their first 31 games. The Blazers won their last 5 games to post a record of 49β33. [1] The Blazers made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and proceeded to stampede through the postseason. By the time the Blazers had made it to the 1977 NBA Finals, the city of Portland was truly in the grips of "Blazermania". [1] After losing the first two games of the championship series at Philadelphia, the Trail Blazers won four in a row to bring the trophy to Portland. The championship capped the team's first winning season. The Blazers had a remarkable 45β6 record at home, which included a perfect 10β0 mark in the playoffs. [2]
As of 2024 [update], this remains the only NBA championship in Blazers franchise history, though they made NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, losing to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively.
Note: This is not a complete list; only the first three rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Wally Walker | F | United States | Virginia |
2 | 20 | Major Jones | F | United States | Albany State |
2 | 22 | Johnny Davis | G | United States | University of Dayton |
3 | 39 | Jeff Tyson | F | United States | Western Michigan University |
= All-Star | |
= Hall of Fame |
The American Basketball Association joined the NBA with the ABAβNBA merger in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The two teams, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis, which folded had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.
Pick | Player | Nationality | NBA Team | ABA Team | Purchase Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Maurice Lucas (PF) | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Spirits of St. Louis | $300,000 |
5 | Moses Malone (C) | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Spirits of St. Louis | $350,000 |
1976β77 Portland Trail Blazers roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Just months earlier, the American Basketball Association had ended its ninth and last campaign and the two leagues combined. Despite the changes, it would become the season of Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers. Walton's college performance led to predictions that Walton would be pro basketball's next great player. Yet those dreams went largely unfulfilled because of a series of foot injuries that hampered him. But in the 1977 playoffs, a healthy Walton and his teammates found a chemistry that enabled them to beat one of the most talented pro teams ever assembled. [3] For Walton, it wasn't a question of wanting to play but of being able to. Injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress as a pro player. On the court, when he was healthy, he was a key contributor. He missed 17 games over the 1976β77 season; the Blazers lost 12 of them. With Walton in the lineup, the Blazers were 44β21, and their .677 winning percentage during those games was the best in the league. [3] The dispersal of ABA players had been particularly beneficial to the Blazers. Maurice Lucas was simply the most dominating power forward in the game, and his arrival only boosted Walton's effectiveness in the frontcourt. Lucas led the team in scoring at 20.2 points per game and averaged better than 11 rebounds. Coming over with Lucas from the ABA was lead guard Dave Twardzik. He had four pro seasons with the Virginia Squires of the ABA and was a starter in Ramsay's system. Another key contributor was Lionel Hollins, a second-year player out of Arizona State who averaged nearly 15 points per game. [3]
The Blazers set a team record on November 2, 1976, when they scored 45 points in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in their 129-116 win. [4]
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | β | 37β4 | 16β25 | 11β5 |
x- Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 | 35β6 | 14β27 | 10β6 |
x- Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 | 29β12 | 17β24 | 8β8 |
Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 | 27β14 | 13β28 | 6β10 |
Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 | 26β15 | 8β33 | 5β11 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z- Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | β |
2 | y- Denver Nuggets | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3 |
3 | x- Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 |
4 | x- Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 |
5 | x- Detroit Pistons | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
6 | x- Chicago Bulls | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
7 | Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
8 | Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
9 | Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 17 |
10 | Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 |
11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 23 |
1976β77 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
Atlanta | β | 0β4 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 1β2 | 1β3 |
Boston | 4β0 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 0β4 |
Buffalo | 0β4 | 1β3 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 0β4 |
Chicago | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | β | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 |
Cleveland | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 |
Denver | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 |
Detroit | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
Golden State | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 2β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 |
Houston | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 0β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | β | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 |
Indiana | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 |
Kansas City | 2β1 | 1β3 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 |
Los Angeles | 2β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | β | 3β1 | 3β0 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 |
Milwaukee | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 1β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
New Orleans | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 2β1 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 |
N.Y. Knicks | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 2β2 |
N.Y. Nets | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
Philadelphia | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | β | 1β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 |
Phoenix | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β1 | β | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 |
Portland | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | β | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β2 |
San Antonio | 0β4 | 0β4 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 |
Seattle | 2β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | β | 3β1 |
Washington | 3β1 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β |
Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record | Streak | Scoring Leader |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 23, 1976 | New York Nets | 114β104 | Win | 1β0 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
October 26, 1976 | Golden State Warriors | 110β96 | Win | 2β0 | Won 2 | Walton 21 |
October 28, 1976 | at Golden State Warriors | 92β112 | Loss | 2β1 | Lost 1 | Walton 21 |
October 30, 1976 | Detroit Pistons | 131β97 | Win | 3β1 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
November 2, 1976 | Atlanta Hawks | 129β116 | Win | 4β1 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
November 5, 1976 | Philadelphia 76ers | 146β104 | Win | 5β1 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
November 7, 1976 | New York Knicks | 119β93 | Win | 6β1 | Won 4 | Gross 22 |
November 9, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 119β102 | Win | 7β1 | Won 5 | Hollins 22 |
November 11, 1976 | at Atlanta Hawks | 105β107 | Loss | 7β2 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
November 13, 1976 | at San Antonio Spurs | 101β113 | Loss | 7β3 | Lost 2 | Walton 18 |
November 16, 1976 | at New Orleans Jazz | 98β100 | Loss | 7β4 | Lost 3 | Walton 21 |
November 19, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 124β111 | Win | 8β4 | Won 1 | Walton 27 |
November 21, 1976 | Buffalo Braves | 121β98 | Win | 9β4 | Won 2 | Twardzik 19 |
November 24, 1976 | Chicago Bulls | 117β115 (OT) | Win | 10β4 | Won 3 | Lucas 25 |
November 26, 1976 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 96β99 | Loss | 10β5 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
November 27, 1976 | Washington Bullets | 103β95 | Win | 11β5 | Won 1 | Lucas 30 |
November 28, 1976 | Indiana Pacers | 145β115 | Win | 12β5 | Won 2 | Lucas 25 |
November 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 106β115 | Loss | 12β6 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
December 1, 1976 | at Indiana Pacers | 101β100 | Win | 13β6 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
December 3, 1976 | at Phoenix Suns | 113β99 | Win | 14β6 | Won 2 | Walton 24 |
December 4, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 112β108 | Win | 15β6 | Won 3 | Walton 25 |
December 5, 1976 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 93β89 | Win | 16β6 | Won 4 | Lucas 22 |
December 7, 1976 | at New York Knicks | 111β94 | Win | 17β6 | Won 5 | Lucas 22 |
December 8, 1976 | at Boston Celtics | 95β104 | Loss | 17β7 | Lost 1 | Lucas 25 |
December 10, 1976 | at Buffalo Braves | 103β102 | Win | 18β7 | Won 1 | Walton 18 |
December 11, 1976 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 107β108 | Loss | 18β8 | Lost 1 | Walton 30 |
December 14, 1976 | Houston Rockets | 104β84 | Win | 19β8 | Won 1 | Gross 22 |
December 17, 1976 | Denver Nuggets | 127β105 | Win | 20β8 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
December 18, 1976 | Los Angeles Lakers | 111β115 (OT) | Loss | 20β9 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
December 21, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 99β94 | Win | 21β9 | Won 1 | Walton 24 |
December 25, 1976 | Seattle SuperSonics | 110β95 | Win | 22β9 | Won 2 | Walton 26 |
December 26, 1976 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 87β89 | Loss | 22β10 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
December 28, 1976 | at Chicago Bulls | 84β79 | Win | 23β10 | Won 1 | Walton 29 |
December 29, 1976 | at Detroit Pistons | 111β120 | Loss | 23β11 | Lost 1 | Hollins 20 |
December 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 107β127 | Loss | 23β12 | Lost 2 | Davis 20 |
January 1, 1977 | Chicago Bulls | 89β82 | Win | 24β12 | Won 1 | Neal 20 |
January 2, 1977 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 99β104 | Loss | 24β13 | Lost 1 | Lucas 31 |
January 4, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 128β84 | Win | 25β13 | Won 1 | Hollins 21 |
January 7, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 130β118 | Win | 26β13 | Won 2 | Lucas, Davis 19 |
January 9, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 150β113 | Win | 27β13 | Won 3 | Twardzik 22 |
January 11, 1977 | New York Knicks | 131β111 | Win | 28β13 | Won 4 | Lucas 36 |
January 14, 1977 | at Boston Celtics | 107β92 | Win | 29β13 | Won 5 | Walton, Gross 16 |
January 15, 1977 | at Washington Bullets | 107β113 | Loss | 29β14 | Lost 1 | Walton 18 |
January 16, 1977 | at Atlanta Hawks | 120β125 | Loss | 29β15 | Lost 2 | Steele 28 |
January 18, 1977 | at New York Nets | 109β94 | Win | 30β15 | Won 1 | Lucas 21 |
January 20, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 99β91 | Win | 31β15 | Won 2 | Lucas 32 |
January 22, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 107β110 | Loss | 31β16 | Lost 1 | Lucas 22 |
January 23, 1977 | at San Antonio Spurs | 118β123 | Loss | 31β17 | Lost 2 | Walton 28 |
January 26, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 107β102 | Win | 32β17 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
January 27, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 112β104 | Win | 33β17 | Won 2 | Lucas 23 |
January 30, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 97β91 | Win | 34β17 | Won 3 | Lucas 21 |
February 2, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 107β119 | Loss | 34β18 | Lost 1 | Lucas 24 |
February 3, 1977 | at Indiana Pacers | 107β98 | Win | 35β18 | Won 1 | Lucas 35 |
February 5, 1977 | Washington Bullets | 104β116 | Loss | 35β19 | Lost 1 | Lucas 21 |
February 8, 1977 | Denver Nuggets | 111β119 | Loss | 35β20 | Lost 2 | Hollins 28 |
February 11, 1977 | Atlanta Hawks | 108β121 | Loss | 35β21 | Lost 3 | Lucas 41 |
February 15, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 96β117 | Loss | 35β22 | Lost 4 | Lucas 25 |
February 16, 1977 | at Detroit Pistons | 118β125 | Loss | 35β23 | Lost 5 | Lucas 25 |
February 18, 1977 | at Chicago Bulls | 90β87 | Win | 36β23 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
February 19, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 124β133 | Loss | 36β24 | Lost 1 | Lucas 35 |
February 22, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 113β111 | Win | 37β24 | Won 1 | Hollins 43 |
February 25, 1977 | Houston Rockets | 106β123 | Loss | 37β25 | Lost 1 | Lucas 27 |
March 1, 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers | 108β107 | Win | 38β25 | Won 1 | Lucas 34 |
March 4, 1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 101β113 | Loss | 38β26 | Lost 1 | Gross 17 |
March 5, 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics | 134β104 | Win | 39β26 | Won 1 | Twardzik 28 |
March 8, 1977 | at Buffalo Braves | 95β102 | Loss | 39β27 | Lost 1 | Lucas 26 |
March 10, 1977 | at New York Knicks | 104β108 | Loss | 39β28 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
March 11, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 112β114 | Loss | 39β29 | Lost 3 | Lucas, Hollins 26 |
March 15, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 131β104 | Win | 40β29 | Won 1 | Hollins 22 |
March 17, 1977 | at Golden State Warriors | 115β106 | Win | 41β29 | Won 2 | Steele 27 |
March 18, 1977 | Indiana Pacers | 134β110 | Win | 42β29 | Won 3 | Hollins 28 |
March 20, 1977 | at Phoenix Suns | 106β126 | Loss | 42β30 | Lost 1 | Lucas, Walton 16 |
March 22, 1977 | at New Orleans Jazz | 95β106 | Loss | 42β31 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
March 23, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 104β109 | Loss | 42β32 | Lost 3 | Walton 26 |
March 25, 1977 | at New York Nets | 131β103 | Win | 43β32 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
March 27, 1977 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 116β128 | Loss | 43β33 | Lost 1 | Lucas 30 |
March 29, 1977 | Buffalo Braves | 127β101 | Win | 44β33 | Won 1 | Hollins 26 |
April 1, 1977 | Golden State Warriors | 109β98 | Win | 45β33 | Won 2 | Walton 30 |
April 3, 1977 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 119β104 | Win | 46β33 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
April 5, 1977 | Detroit Pistons | 110β105 | Win | 47β33 | Won 4 | Neal 18 |
April 9, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 122β111 | Win | 48β33 | Won 5 | Walton, Gilliam 18 |
April 10, 1977 | Los Angeles Lakers | 145β116 | Win | 49β33 | Won 6 | Hollins 27 |
1977 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First round: 2β1 (home: 2β0; road: 0β1)
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Conference Semi-finals: 4β2 (home: 3β0; road: 1β2)
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Conference Finals: 4β0 (home: 2β0; road: 2β0)
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NBA Finals: 4β2 (home: 3β0; road: 1β2)
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1977 schedule |
The Finals opened in the Spectrum on Sunday, May 22. The 76ers seemed unbeatable after the first two games. Erving opened Game 1 with a stupendous dunk off the opening tip. He finished with 33 points and Collins had 30 as Philadelphia won 107β101. The Blazers were rattled enough to commit 34 turnovers. Walton finished with 28 points and 20 rebounds. [3]
In Game 2 four nights later, the Sixers won handily, 107β89. Jones and Dawkins handled Walton easily, while the Sixers dominated in the second quarter, scoring 14 points in one three-minute stretch on their way to a 61β43 halftime lead. The game became very physical with about five minutes left. First, Portland's Lloyd Neal and McGinnis squared off, followed by Lucas and Erving trading elbows. [3]
In Game 3, played on Sunday, May 29, Lucas strode directly to the Philadelphia bench, then startled everybody, including Dawkins, by sticking out his hand for a shake. The Blazers had a high scoring attack to win the game. Lucas contributed 27 points and 12 rebounds. Walton had nine assists, 20 points, and 18 rebounds. Twardzik, too, had returned to speed, driving the Portland offense along to a 42-point fourth quarter. They won 129β107, closing the series gap to 2β1. [3]
In Game 4, Portland opened up a quick 17-point lead, then cruised to a 130β98 win. Walton was sent to the bench with five fouls in the third. With a little more than eight minutes left in Game 5, Portland led 91β69 and the crowd was headed home. Erving rallied the Sixers to make it respectable at the end, 110β104. He had managed 37 points in the game. Gross scored 25 points to lead the Blazers, while Lucas had 20 with 13 rebounds. Walton finished with 24 rebounds and 14 points. [3]
In the sixth and deciding game, Walton had 20 points, 23 rebounds, eight blocks and seven assists. The Portland lead was still 12 with half of the fourth quarter left when Erving led his teammates on one final run. At the four-minute mark, the lead was cut to four, 102β98. McGinnis hit a jumper, and the lead was only two points with 18 seconds left. The Sixers needed a turnover, and they finally got it from McGinnis, who was able to force a jump ball with Gross. With eight seconds remaining, Erving put up a jumper in the lane but missed. Free got the ball and lofted a baseline shot and missed too. With a second left, McGinnis tried to force a seventh and deciding game but he missed. Walton knocked the loose ball away and ripped off his jersey, and hurled it into the crowd. [3]
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 |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|
1976β77 Portland Trail Blazers season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Head coach | Jack Ramsay |
General manager | Harry Glickman |
Owner(s) | Larry Weinberg |
Arena | Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 49–33 (.598) |
Place | Division: 2nd (
Pacific) Conference: 3rd ( Western) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated 76ers 4β2) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KOIN |
Radio | KYTE |
The 1976β77 season was the Portland Trail Blazers' 7th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The revamped Blazers would end up getting off to a terrific start winning 22 of their first 31 games. The Blazers won their last 5 games to post a record of 49β33. [1] The Blazers made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and proceeded to stampede through the postseason. By the time the Blazers had made it to the 1977 NBA Finals, the city of Portland was truly in the grips of "Blazermania". [1] After losing the first two games of the championship series at Philadelphia, the Trail Blazers won four in a row to bring the trophy to Portland. The championship capped the team's first winning season. The Blazers had a remarkable 45β6 record at home, which included a perfect 10β0 mark in the playoffs. [2]
As of 2024 [update], this remains the only NBA championship in Blazers franchise history, though they made NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, losing to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively.
Note: This is not a complete list; only the first three rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Wally Walker | F | United States | Virginia |
2 | 20 | Major Jones | F | United States | Albany State |
2 | 22 | Johnny Davis | G | United States | University of Dayton |
3 | 39 | Jeff Tyson | F | United States | Western Michigan University |
= All-Star | |
= Hall of Fame |
The American Basketball Association joined the NBA with the ABAβNBA merger in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The two teams, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis, which folded had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.
Pick | Player | Nationality | NBA Team | ABA Team | Purchase Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Maurice Lucas (PF) | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Spirits of St. Louis | $300,000 |
5 | Moses Malone (C) | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Spirits of St. Louis | $350,000 |
1976β77 Portland Trail Blazers roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Just months earlier, the American Basketball Association had ended its ninth and last campaign and the two leagues combined. Despite the changes, it would become the season of Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers. Walton's college performance led to predictions that Walton would be pro basketball's next great player. Yet those dreams went largely unfulfilled because of a series of foot injuries that hampered him. But in the 1977 playoffs, a healthy Walton and his teammates found a chemistry that enabled them to beat one of the most talented pro teams ever assembled. [3] For Walton, it wasn't a question of wanting to play but of being able to. Injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress as a pro player. On the court, when he was healthy, he was a key contributor. He missed 17 games over the 1976β77 season; the Blazers lost 12 of them. With Walton in the lineup, the Blazers were 44β21, and their .677 winning percentage during those games was the best in the league. [3] The dispersal of ABA players had been particularly beneficial to the Blazers. Maurice Lucas was simply the most dominating power forward in the game, and his arrival only boosted Walton's effectiveness in the frontcourt. Lucas led the team in scoring at 20.2 points per game and averaged better than 11 rebounds. Coming over with Lucas from the ABA was lead guard Dave Twardzik. He had four pro seasons with the Virginia Squires of the ABA and was a starter in Ramsay's system. Another key contributor was Lionel Hollins, a second-year player out of Arizona State who averaged nearly 15 points per game. [3]
The Blazers set a team record on November 2, 1976, when they scored 45 points in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in their 129-116 win. [4]
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y- Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | β | 37β4 | 16β25 | 11β5 |
x- Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 | 35β6 | 14β27 | 10β6 |
x- Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 | 29β12 | 17β24 | 8β8 |
Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 | 27β14 | 13β28 | 6β10 |
Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 | 26β15 | 8β33 | 5β11 |
# | |||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z- Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | β |
2 | y- Denver Nuggets | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3 |
3 | x- Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 |
4 | x- Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 |
5 | x- Detroit Pistons | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
6 | x- Chicago Bulls | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
7 | Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
8 | Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
9 | Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 17 |
10 | Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 |
11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 23 |
1976β77 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
Atlanta | β | 0β4 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 1β2 | 1β3 |
Boston | 4β0 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 0β4 |
Buffalo | 0β4 | 1β3 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 0β4 |
Chicago | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | β | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 |
Cleveland | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 |
Denver | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 |
Detroit | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
Golden State | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 2β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 |
Houston | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 0β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | β | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 |
Indiana | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 |
Kansas City | 2β1 | 1β3 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 |
Los Angeles | 2β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | β | 3β1 | 3β0 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 |
Milwaukee | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β | 1β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
New Orleans | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 2β1 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 |
N.Y. Knicks | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 2β2 |
N.Y. Nets | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | β | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 |
Philadelphia | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | β | 1β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 |
Phoenix | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β1 | β | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β3 |
Portland | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | β | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β2 |
San Antonio | 0β4 | 0β4 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β1 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 2β2 |
Seattle | 2β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β3 | β | 3β1 |
Washington | 3β1 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | β |
Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record | Streak | Scoring Leader |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 23, 1976 | New York Nets | 114β104 | Win | 1β0 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
October 26, 1976 | Golden State Warriors | 110β96 | Win | 2β0 | Won 2 | Walton 21 |
October 28, 1976 | at Golden State Warriors | 92β112 | Loss | 2β1 | Lost 1 | Walton 21 |
October 30, 1976 | Detroit Pistons | 131β97 | Win | 3β1 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
November 2, 1976 | Atlanta Hawks | 129β116 | Win | 4β1 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
November 5, 1976 | Philadelphia 76ers | 146β104 | Win | 5β1 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
November 7, 1976 | New York Knicks | 119β93 | Win | 6β1 | Won 4 | Gross 22 |
November 9, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 119β102 | Win | 7β1 | Won 5 | Hollins 22 |
November 11, 1976 | at Atlanta Hawks | 105β107 | Loss | 7β2 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
November 13, 1976 | at San Antonio Spurs | 101β113 | Loss | 7β3 | Lost 2 | Walton 18 |
November 16, 1976 | at New Orleans Jazz | 98β100 | Loss | 7β4 | Lost 3 | Walton 21 |
November 19, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 124β111 | Win | 8β4 | Won 1 | Walton 27 |
November 21, 1976 | Buffalo Braves | 121β98 | Win | 9β4 | Won 2 | Twardzik 19 |
November 24, 1976 | Chicago Bulls | 117β115 (OT) | Win | 10β4 | Won 3 | Lucas 25 |
November 26, 1976 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 96β99 | Loss | 10β5 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
November 27, 1976 | Washington Bullets | 103β95 | Win | 11β5 | Won 1 | Lucas 30 |
November 28, 1976 | Indiana Pacers | 145β115 | Win | 12β5 | Won 2 | Lucas 25 |
November 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 106β115 | Loss | 12β6 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
December 1, 1976 | at Indiana Pacers | 101β100 | Win | 13β6 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
December 3, 1976 | at Phoenix Suns | 113β99 | Win | 14β6 | Won 2 | Walton 24 |
December 4, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 112β108 | Win | 15β6 | Won 3 | Walton 25 |
December 5, 1976 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 93β89 | Win | 16β6 | Won 4 | Lucas 22 |
December 7, 1976 | at New York Knicks | 111β94 | Win | 17β6 | Won 5 | Lucas 22 |
December 8, 1976 | at Boston Celtics | 95β104 | Loss | 17β7 | Lost 1 | Lucas 25 |
December 10, 1976 | at Buffalo Braves | 103β102 | Win | 18β7 | Won 1 | Walton 18 |
December 11, 1976 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 107β108 | Loss | 18β8 | Lost 1 | Walton 30 |
December 14, 1976 | Houston Rockets | 104β84 | Win | 19β8 | Won 1 | Gross 22 |
December 17, 1976 | Denver Nuggets | 127β105 | Win | 20β8 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
December 18, 1976 | Los Angeles Lakers | 111β115 (OT) | Loss | 20β9 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
December 21, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 99β94 | Win | 21β9 | Won 1 | Walton 24 |
December 25, 1976 | Seattle SuperSonics | 110β95 | Win | 22β9 | Won 2 | Walton 26 |
December 26, 1976 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 87β89 | Loss | 22β10 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
December 28, 1976 | at Chicago Bulls | 84β79 | Win | 23β10 | Won 1 | Walton 29 |
December 29, 1976 | at Detroit Pistons | 111β120 | Loss | 23β11 | Lost 1 | Hollins 20 |
December 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 107β127 | Loss | 23β12 | Lost 2 | Davis 20 |
January 1, 1977 | Chicago Bulls | 89β82 | Win | 24β12 | Won 1 | Neal 20 |
January 2, 1977 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 99β104 | Loss | 24β13 | Lost 1 | Lucas 31 |
January 4, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 128β84 | Win | 25β13 | Won 1 | Hollins 21 |
January 7, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 130β118 | Win | 26β13 | Won 2 | Lucas, Davis 19 |
January 9, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 150β113 | Win | 27β13 | Won 3 | Twardzik 22 |
January 11, 1977 | New York Knicks | 131β111 | Win | 28β13 | Won 4 | Lucas 36 |
January 14, 1977 | at Boston Celtics | 107β92 | Win | 29β13 | Won 5 | Walton, Gross 16 |
January 15, 1977 | at Washington Bullets | 107β113 | Loss | 29β14 | Lost 1 | Walton 18 |
January 16, 1977 | at Atlanta Hawks | 120β125 | Loss | 29β15 | Lost 2 | Steele 28 |
January 18, 1977 | at New York Nets | 109β94 | Win | 30β15 | Won 1 | Lucas 21 |
January 20, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 99β91 | Win | 31β15 | Won 2 | Lucas 32 |
January 22, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 107β110 | Loss | 31β16 | Lost 1 | Lucas 22 |
January 23, 1977 | at San Antonio Spurs | 118β123 | Loss | 31β17 | Lost 2 | Walton 28 |
January 26, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 107β102 | Win | 32β17 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
January 27, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 112β104 | Win | 33β17 | Won 2 | Lucas 23 |
January 30, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 97β91 | Win | 34β17 | Won 3 | Lucas 21 |
February 2, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 107β119 | Loss | 34β18 | Lost 1 | Lucas 24 |
February 3, 1977 | at Indiana Pacers | 107β98 | Win | 35β18 | Won 1 | Lucas 35 |
February 5, 1977 | Washington Bullets | 104β116 | Loss | 35β19 | Lost 1 | Lucas 21 |
February 8, 1977 | Denver Nuggets | 111β119 | Loss | 35β20 | Lost 2 | Hollins 28 |
February 11, 1977 | Atlanta Hawks | 108β121 | Loss | 35β21 | Lost 3 | Lucas 41 |
February 15, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 96β117 | Loss | 35β22 | Lost 4 | Lucas 25 |
February 16, 1977 | at Detroit Pistons | 118β125 | Loss | 35β23 | Lost 5 | Lucas 25 |
February 18, 1977 | at Chicago Bulls | 90β87 | Win | 36β23 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
February 19, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 124β133 | Loss | 36β24 | Lost 1 | Lucas 35 |
February 22, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 113β111 | Win | 37β24 | Won 1 | Hollins 43 |
February 25, 1977 | Houston Rockets | 106β123 | Loss | 37β25 | Lost 1 | Lucas 27 |
March 1, 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers | 108β107 | Win | 38β25 | Won 1 | Lucas 34 |
March 4, 1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 101β113 | Loss | 38β26 | Lost 1 | Gross 17 |
March 5, 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics | 134β104 | Win | 39β26 | Won 1 | Twardzik 28 |
March 8, 1977 | at Buffalo Braves | 95β102 | Loss | 39β27 | Lost 1 | Lucas 26 |
March 10, 1977 | at New York Knicks | 104β108 | Loss | 39β28 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
March 11, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 112β114 | Loss | 39β29 | Lost 3 | Lucas, Hollins 26 |
March 15, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 131β104 | Win | 40β29 | Won 1 | Hollins 22 |
March 17, 1977 | at Golden State Warriors | 115β106 | Win | 41β29 | Won 2 | Steele 27 |
March 18, 1977 | Indiana Pacers | 134β110 | Win | 42β29 | Won 3 | Hollins 28 |
March 20, 1977 | at Phoenix Suns | 106β126 | Loss | 42β30 | Lost 1 | Lucas, Walton 16 |
March 22, 1977 | at New Orleans Jazz | 95β106 | Loss | 42β31 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
March 23, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 104β109 | Loss | 42β32 | Lost 3 | Walton 26 |
March 25, 1977 | at New York Nets | 131β103 | Win | 43β32 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
March 27, 1977 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 116β128 | Loss | 43β33 | Lost 1 | Lucas 30 |
March 29, 1977 | Buffalo Braves | 127β101 | Win | 44β33 | Won 1 | Hollins 26 |
April 1, 1977 | Golden State Warriors | 109β98 | Win | 45β33 | Won 2 | Walton 30 |
April 3, 1977 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 119β104 | Win | 46β33 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
April 5, 1977 | Detroit Pistons | 110β105 | Win | 47β33 | Won 4 | Neal 18 |
April 9, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 122β111 | Win | 48β33 | Won 5 | Walton, Gilliam 18 |
April 10, 1977 | Los Angeles Lakers | 145β116 | Win | 49β33 | Won 6 | Hollins 27 |
1977 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First round: 2β1 (home: 2β0; road: 0β1)
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Conference Semi-finals: 4β2 (home: 3β0; road: 1β2)
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Conference Finals: 4β0 (home: 2β0; road: 2β0)
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NBA Finals: 4β2 (home: 3β0; road: 1β2)
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1977 schedule |
The Finals opened in the Spectrum on Sunday, May 22. The 76ers seemed unbeatable after the first two games. Erving opened Game 1 with a stupendous dunk off the opening tip. He finished with 33 points and Collins had 30 as Philadelphia won 107β101. The Blazers were rattled enough to commit 34 turnovers. Walton finished with 28 points and 20 rebounds. [3]
In Game 2 four nights later, the Sixers won handily, 107β89. Jones and Dawkins handled Walton easily, while the Sixers dominated in the second quarter, scoring 14 points in one three-minute stretch on their way to a 61β43 halftime lead. The game became very physical with about five minutes left. First, Portland's Lloyd Neal and McGinnis squared off, followed by Lucas and Erving trading elbows. [3]
In Game 3, played on Sunday, May 29, Lucas strode directly to the Philadelphia bench, then startled everybody, including Dawkins, by sticking out his hand for a shake. The Blazers had a high scoring attack to win the game. Lucas contributed 27 points and 12 rebounds. Walton had nine assists, 20 points, and 18 rebounds. Twardzik, too, had returned to speed, driving the Portland offense along to a 42-point fourth quarter. They won 129β107, closing the series gap to 2β1. [3]
In Game 4, Portland opened up a quick 17-point lead, then cruised to a 130β98 win. Walton was sent to the bench with five fouls in the third. With a little more than eight minutes left in Game 5, Portland led 91β69 and the crowd was headed home. Erving rallied the Sixers to make it respectable at the end, 110β104. He had managed 37 points in the game. Gross scored 25 points to lead the Blazers, while Lucas had 20 with 13 rebounds. Walton finished with 24 rebounds and 14 points. [3]
In the sixth and deciding game, Walton had 20 points, 23 rebounds, eight blocks and seven assists. The Portland lead was still 12 with half of the fourth quarter left when Erving led his teammates on one final run. At the four-minute mark, the lead was cut to four, 102β98. McGinnis hit a jumper, and the lead was only two points with 18 seconds left. The Sixers needed a turnover, and they finally got it from McGinnis, who was able to force a jump ball with Gross. With eight seconds remaining, Erving put up a jumper in the lane but missed. Free got the ball and lofted a baseline shot and missed too. With a second left, McGinnis tried to force a seventh and deciding game but he missed. Walton knocked the loose ball away and ripped off his jersey, and hurled it into the crowd. [3]
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 |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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