NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season Division champions
Head coach Jack Ramsay General manager Harry Glickman Owner(s) Larry Weinberg Arena Memorial Coliseum Results Record 58–24 (.707) Place Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western) Playoff finish Conference Semi-finals(lost to SuperSonics 2–4) Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Local media Television KOIN Radio KYTE
The 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season was the eighth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[ 1] Fresh off their first NBA Championship win the previous season , the Blazers led the league with a franchise-best 58–24 record, earning a first-round bye in the 1978 NBA Playoffs. However, they were defeated by the eventual Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics four games to two.
The team started with 50 wins in their first 60 games, but due to Bill Walton's foot injury they managed to go 8–14 the rest of the way.[ 2] This would be Walton's last season with the club, as he sat out the 1979 season and then was signed by the San Diego Clippers.
The Blazers eventually eclipsed their franchise-record win total from this season with a 59–23 showing in 1989–90 .
Draft picks Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.
Roster 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From SF 10 Calhoun, Corky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Penn G 16 Davis, Johnny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Dayton SG 23 Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Alabama F 30 Gross, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Long Beach State G 14 Hollins, Lionel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Arizona State F 20 Lucas, Maurice 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Marquette F 36 Neal, Lloyd 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Tennessee State F/C 25 Owens, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) South Carolina F 15 Steele, Larry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Kentucky G 13 Twardzik, Dave 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Old Dominion C 32 Walton, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) UCLA
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Season standings z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents 1977–78 NBA Records Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS Atlanta – 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–1 1–3 Boston 2–2 – 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–3 Buffalo 1–3 1–3 – 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–3 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 Chicago 3–1 3–1 1–3 – 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–2 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 Cleveland 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 – 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 2–2 Denver 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 – 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–3 3–1 Detroit 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 Golden State 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 – 2–1 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 Houston 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 – 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 Indiana 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 – 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1 Kansas City 1–2 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 Los Angeles 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 – 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 1–3 – 3–1 2–1 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 New Jersey 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 – 0–4 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–2 4–0 – 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 0–4 New York 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 – 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–2 Philadelphia 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 – 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 Phoenix 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–2 – 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 Portland 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 3–1 – 2–2 3–1 2–1 San Antonio 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 – 2–2 2–2 Seattle 1–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 – 1–3 Washington 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–2 3–1 —
Playoffs 1978 playoff game log Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
1978 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
Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Awards and honors
References ^ 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers ^ Off on a Wrong Foot - Sports Illustrated
Portland Trail Blazers seasons
Franchise History Seasons 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Bold indicates NBA Finals victory