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1979–80 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach | John MacLeod |
General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch |
Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 55–27 (.671) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Conference semifinals (lost to Lakers 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KPNX |
Radio | KTAR |
The 1979–80 Phoenix Suns season was the 12th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and at 55–27, the team's best regular season record since the franchise's inception. The Suns defeated Western Conference foe Kansas City in the opening round of the playoffs, marking the first time the Suns had won a playoff series in back-to-back seasons. In the Western Conference semifinals, the Suns would lose to the Pacific-winning Los Angeles Lakers, who later went on to win the season's championship. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod, his seventh season with the team, and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Paul Westphal led the Suns in scoring with a 21.9 point-per-game average and earned All-NBA First Team honors, while Walter Davis was second in team scoring with a 21.5 average. Both Westphal and Davis would return as selections to the All-Star Game. Truck Robinson and Alvan Adams provided an inside presence, averaging 17 and 15 points per game to go with nine and eight rebounds each. Robinson would play in just three of the eight Suns' playoff games, however.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | Kyle Macy | Guard | United States | Kentucky |
2 | 24 | Johnny High | Guard | United States | Nevada |
3 | 64 | Al Green | Guard | United States | Louisiana State |
4 | 86 | Malcolm Cesare | Forward | United States | Florida |
5 | 107 | Mark Eaton | Center | United States | Cypress JC |
6 | 127 | Dale Shackelford | Forward | United States | Syracuse |
7 | 147 | Ollie Matson | Forward | United States | Pepperdine |
8 | 165 | Charles Jones | Center | United States | Albany State |
9 | 183 | Hosea Champine | Guard | United States | Robert Morris |
10 | 201 | Korky Nelson | Center | United States | Santa Clara |
1979–80 Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 37–4 | 23–18 | 19–11 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 | 33–8 | 23–18 | 18–12 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 | 37–5 | 18–22 | 19–11 |
x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 | 26–15 | 12–29 | 13–17 |
San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 | 24–17 | 11–30 | 13–17 |
Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 8–22 |
# | |||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11 |
3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 |
4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 |
5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 |
6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 |
7 | San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 |
8 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
9 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
10 | Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
11 | Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
1979–80 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | — |
1979–80 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 36–5; road: 19–22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 7–4 (home: 4–1; road: 3–3)
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November: 9–5 (home: 6–2; road: 3–3)
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December: 10–5 (home: 6–0; road: 4–5)
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January: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 8–5 (home: 4–1; road: 4–4)
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March: 12–3 (home: 9–0; road: 3–3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1979 schedule |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvan Adams | 75 | 63 | 28.9 | .531 | .000 | .797 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .7+ | 14.9 |
Mike Bratz | 82 | 1 | 19.4 | .392 | .244 | .870 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .1 | 8.5 |
Don Buse | 81 | 81 | 30.9 | .443 | .241 | .664 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .1 | 7.7 |
Jeff Cook | 66 | 14 | 13.7 | .469 | .000 | .806 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .4 | .3 | 5.5 |
Walter Davis | 75 | 73 | 30.8 | .563 | .000 | .819 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .3 | 21.5 |
Garfield Heard | 82 | 5 | 17.1 | .417 | .000 | .744 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | .6 | 5.0 |
Johnny High | 82 | 0 | 13.7 | .446 | .143 | .674 | 2.1 | 1.5 | .9 | .2 | 5.0 |
Rich Kelley * | 23 | 0 | 16.2 | .506 | . | .783 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .7+ | 5.8 |
Joel Kramer | 54 | 6 | 13.2 | .469 | .000 | .800 | 2.8 | 1.4 | .5 | .1 | 3.5 |
Truck Robinson | 82 | 82 | 33.0 | .512 | . | .667 | 9.4 | 1.7 | .7 | .7 | 17.3 |
Alvin Scott | 79 | 3 | 16.5 | .422 | .333† | .779 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .6 | .7 | 4.4 |
Paul Westphal | 82 | 82 | 32.5 | .525 | .280† | .862 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 1.5 | .4 | 21.9 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 25 three-pointers made.
+ – Minimum 50 games played.
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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Alvan Adams | 8 | 8 | 31.4 | .566† | . | .895^ | 9.6 | 5.8 | .9 | 1.3 | 16.1 |
Mike Bratz | 8 | 0 | 21.1 | .512 | .391 | .900^ | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.1 | .0 | 13.0 |
Don Buse | 8 | 8 | 29.5 | .438 | .385 | .636 | 2.6 | 5.5 | .8 | .0 | 8.5 |
Jeff Cook | 7 | 0 | 14.0 | .667† | . | .846 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 7.7 |
Walter Davis | 8 | 8 | 30.6 | .504 | .000 | .737 | 2.9 | 4.4 | .5 | .1 | 20.8 |
Garfield Heard | 8 | 6 | 27.9 | .393 | . | .733 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 6.9 |
Johnny High | 8 | 0 | 15.0 | .387 | .000 | .500 | 3.1 | 2.5 | .8 | .3 | 4.0 |
Rich Kelley | 8 | 0 | 18.3 | .432 | .000 | .900^ | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .9 | 5.9 |
Truck Robinson | 3 | 2 | 21.3 | .375 | . | .714 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .7 | 5.7 |
Alvin Scott | 8 | 0 | 17.5 | .515 | .000 | .500 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .5 | .6 | 4.8 |
Paul Westphal | 8 | 8 | 31.6 | .486 | .083 | .875 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 1.4 | .4 | 20.9 |
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.
June 22, 1979 | To Washington Bullets Rights to Steve Malovic | To Phoenix Suns 1979 first-round draft pick ( Kyle Macy)
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August 20, 1979 | To Detroit Pistons 1981 fourth-round draft pick ( Don Koonce) | To Phoenix Suns Andre Wakefield |
February 15, 1980 | To New Jersey Nets 1982 first-round draft pick ( Brook Steppe)
| To Phoenix Suns Rich Kelley |
Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
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May 22, 1979 | Jeff Cook | Undisclosed | Washington Lumberjacks (WBA) |
September 13, 1979 | Greg Griffin | Undisclosed | Phoenix Suns |
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
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September 4, 1979 | Ted McClain | Waived | |
October 1, 1979 | Al Green | Waived | |
October 1, 1979 | Charles Jones | Waived | Maine Lumberjacks (CBA) |
October 1, 1979 | Greg Griffin | Waived | |
October 12, 1979 | Andre Wakefield | Waived | Utah Jazz |
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The 1993–94 NBA season was the 26th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents; A.C. Green, who won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, and also signed Joe Kleine. The Suns were led by Paul Westphal, in his second year as head coach of the Suns. All home games were played at America West Arena. The team got off to a 15–3 start after a 7-game winning streak in December, and held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team signed free agent Elliot Perry. The Suns won their final seven games of the season, finishing second in the Pacific Division with a 56–26 record.
The 1994–95 NBA season was the 27th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents, All-Star forward Danny Manning, Wayman Tisdale, and Danny Schayes. The team was led by Paul Westphal, in his third year as head coach of the Suns. The Suns held the league's best record at 38–10 before the All-Star break, and finished the regular season with 59 wins and 23 losses, the first time in the franchise's history they had ended the season with 55 or more wins for three consecutive seasons. All home games were played at America West Arena.
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 28th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Suns acquired Hot Rod Williams from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and signed free agent Tony Smith. The Suns struggled with a 13–13 start to the season, then lost eight of their next nine games. Head coach Paul Westphal, who had led the Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals, went 14–19 before being replaced by Cotton Fitzsimmons, who would come on to coach in his third stint with the Suns, while Smith was traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for rookie guard Terrence Rencher at midseason. The team played above .500 for the remainder of the season, as they held a 22–24 record at the All-Star break, and finished fourth in the Pacific Division, and seventh in the Western Conference with a 41–41 record. All home games were played at America West Arena. They were also one of the nine teams to defeat the 72–10 Chicago Bulls.