1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers season

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1976–77   Philadelphia 76ers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach Gene Shue
General manager Pat Williams
Arena The Spectrum
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish NBA Finals
(lost to Trail Blazers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WKBS-TV
PRISM
Radio WCAU
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

The 1976–77 NBA season was the 28th season for the Philadelphia 76ers franchise in the NBA. Just months earlier, the American Basketball Association had ended its ninth and final campaign and the two leagues combined. In a special $6 million deal, the Nets sold Julius Erving, the ABA's leading scorer, to the Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million. [1] The other $3 million went to Erving, by way of a new contract. [1] In Philadelphia, Erving joined another scoring machine, George McGinnis, who had come over earlier from the Indiana Pacers. This accumulation of talent brought talk of an immediate championship to Philadelphia.

Contents

The talented 76ers had posted the best record in the Eastern Conference with a record of 50–32. [1] Gene Shue was the coach & his key players were Erving (the esteemed Dr. J), McGinnis & 6-foot-6 shooting guard Doug Collins. Other key contributors included point guard Henry Bibby and World B. Free. Caldwell Jones started at center with 20-year-old Darryl Dawkins, also known as "Chocolate Thunder," in a backup role. The reserve forwards were Steve Mix, Harvey Catchings and Joe Bryant. The Sixers beat the Boston Celtics & the Houston Rockets in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2, after winning the first 2 games. [1]

Offseason

NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
112 Terry Furlow SG/SFFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Michigan State
347 Ron Norwood GFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States DePaul
464 Freeman Blade GFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States MSU Billings
581 Jeff Browne Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Missouri Western
699 Mike Dunleavy GFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States South Carolina
7117 Phil Walker SGFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Millersville
8135 Lee Dixon Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Hardin-Simmons
9152 Fly Williams SGFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Austin Peay
10168 Ed Stefanski Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Penn

Roster

Philadelphia 76ers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
PG 14 Bibby, Henry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)1949-11-24 UCLA
PF 23 Bryant, Joe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)185 lb (84 kg)1954-10-19 La Salle
C 42 Catchings, Harvey 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)218 lb (99 kg)1951-09-02 Hardin–Simmons
SG 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)
PG 10 Dunleavy, Mike 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)1954-03-21 South Carolina
SF 6 Erving, Julius 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg)1950-02-22 UMass
SG 21 Free, Lloyd 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)1953-12-09 Guilford
SG 25 Furlow, Terry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg)1954-10-18 Michigan State
C 11 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)217 lb (98 kg)1950-08-04 Albany State
PF 30 McGinnis, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg)1950-08-12 Indiana
SF 50 Mix, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1947-12-30 Toledo
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers 5032.610–32–918–2311–5
x-Boston Celtics 4438.537628–1316–259–7
New York Knicks 4042.4881026–1514–278–8
Buffalo Braves 3052.3662023–187–346–10
New York Nets 2260.2682810–3112–296–10
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Philadelphia 76ers 5032.610–
2y-Houston Rockets 4933.5981
3x-Washington Bullets 4834.5852
4x-Boston Celtics 4438.5376
5x-San Antonio Spurs 4438.5376
6x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.5247
7 New York Knicks 4042.48810
8 New Orleans Jazz 3547.42715
9 Atlanta Hawks 3151.37819
10 Buffalo Braves 3052.36620
11 New York Nets 2260.26828

Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSBUFCHICLEDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNOJNYKNYNPHIPHOPORSASSEAWAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Season schedule

October

DateOpponentScoreResultRecordStreak
Fri, Oct 22, 1976San Antonio Spurs118–121Loss0–1Lost 1
Sat, Oct 23, 1976@ Buffalo Braves105–108Loss0–2Lost 2
Tue, Oct 26, 1976@ New Orleans Jazz111–101Win1–2Lost 1

[2]

Playoffs

1977 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 17 Boston L 111–113 Julius Erving (36) Caldwell Jones (11) Collins, Erving (5) Spectrum
13,821		0–1
2April 20 Boston W 113–101 Julius Erving (30) George McGinnis (13) Doug Collins (7) Spectrum
18,276		1–1
3April 22@ Boston W 109–100 Julius Erving (27) McGinnis, Jones (15) George McGinnis (5) Boston Garden
15,040		2–1
4April 24@ Boston L 119–124 Doug Collins (36) George McGinnis (9) Doug Collins (5) Boston Garden
15,040		2–2
5April 27 Boston W 110–91 Doug Collins (23) McGinnis, Jones (11) Doug Collins (6) Spectrum
18,276		3–2
6April 29@ Boston L 108–113 Doug Collins (32) George McGinnis (14) George McGinnis (5) Boston Garden
15,040		3–3
7May 1 Boston W 83–77 World B. Free (27) George McGinnis (12) McGinnis, Mix (4) Spectrum
18,276		4–3
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 5 Houston W 128–117 Julius Erving (24) George McGinnis (13) Doug Collins (8) Spectrum
17,507		1–0
2May 8 Houston W 106–97 George McGinnis (21) George McGinnis (8) Julius Erving (10) Spectrum
14,855		2–0
3May 11@ Houston L 94–118 Julius Erving (28) George McGinnis (9) Doug Collins (7) The Summit
15,676		2–1
4May 13@ Houston W 107–95 Doug Collins (36) Caldwell Jones (11) George McGinnis (9) The Summit
15,676		3–1
5May 15 Houston L 115–118 Julius Erving (37) George McGinnis (14) Henry Bibby (8) Spectrum
18,276		3–2
6May 17@ Houston W 112–109 Julius Erving (34) Julius Erving (9) Julius Erving (6) The Summit
15,676		4–2
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 22 Portland W 107–101 Julius Erving (33) Caldwell Jones (11) Doug Collins (6) Spectrum
18,276		1–0
2May 26 Portland W 107–89 Doug Collins (27) Caldwell Jones (14) Henry Bibby (11) Spectrum
18,276		2–0
3May 29@ Portland L 107–129 Julius Erving (28) George McGinnis (12) Julius Erving (5) Memorial Coliseum
12,923		2–1
4May 31@ Portland L 98–130 Julius Erving (24) Darryl Dawkins (11) Steve Mix (4) Memorial Coliseum
12,913		2–2
5June 3 Portland L 104–110 Julius Erving (37) Caldwell Jones (13) Julius Erving (7) Spectrum
18,276		2–3
6June 5@ Portland L 107–109 Julius Erving (40) George McGinnis (16) Julius Erving (8) Memorial Coliseum
12,951		2–4
1977 schedule

Awards and honors

Milestones

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This page details the all-time statistics, records, and other achievements pertaining to the Philadelphia 76ers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'". Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  2. ↑ 1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
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