1980–81 Cleveland Cavaliers season

Last updated

1980–81   Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach
General managerDon Delaney
Owner(s) Ted Stepien
Arena Coliseum at Richfield
Results
Record2854 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WUAB
Radio WWWE
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980-81 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contents

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Club Team

Roster

1980–81 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 52 Batton, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) Notre Dame
G 23 Bratz, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg) Stanford
F 32 Carr, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) NC State
G 21 Calvin, Mack 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg) USC
F 35 Ford, Don 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) UC Santa Barbara
G 20 Huston, Geoff 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) Texas Tech
F 40 Jordan, Walter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)198 lb (90 kg) Purdue
C 41 Laimbeer, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)245 lb (111 kg) Notre Dame
F 30 Mitchell, Mike 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) Auburn
G 15 Phegley, Roger 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) Bradley
G 9 Smith, Randy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) Buffalo State
F 31 Washington, Richard 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)220 lb (100 kg) UCLA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 6022.73234–726–1523–7
x-Chicago Bulls 4537.54915.026–1519–2220–9
x-Indiana Pacers 4438.53716.027–1417–2417–12
Atlanta Hawks 3151.37829.020–2111–309–21
Cleveland Cavaliers 2854.34132.020–218–339–21
Detroit Pistons 2161.25639.014–277–349–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Boston Celtics 6220.756 
2y-Milwaukee Bucks 6022.7322
3x-Philadelphia 76ers 6220.756
4x-New York Knicks 5032.61012
5x-Chicago Bulls 4537.54917
6x-Indiana Pacers 4438.53718
7 Washington Bullets 3943.47623
8 Atlanta Hawks 3151.37831
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 2854.34134
10 New Jersey Nets 2458.29338
11 Detroit Pistons 2161.25641

Notes

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNJNNYKPHIPHOPORSASSDCSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta 2–42–41–52–01–14–22–01–11–51–10–21–53–22–41–50–21–11–11–11–12–01–4
Boston 4–25–14–12–02–04–11–12–03–31–12–03–36–05–13–32–02–02–02–01–11–15–1
Chicago 4–21–55–11–11–15–11–11–13–22–01–13–33–23–32–40–20–20–21–11–12–05–1
Cleveland5–11–41–52–01–13–31–10–22–40–20–20–63–30–50–61–11–11–11–10–21–14–2
Dallas 0–20–21–10–23–30–22–30–60–20–60–50–21–11–10–21–41–41–52–31–41–50–2
Denver 1–10–21–11–13–32–03–22–41–14–23–21–11–10–21–11–42–32–43–23–22–40–2
Detroit 2–41–41–53–32–00–20–21–12–41–10–21–53–31–51–40–20–20–21–10–20–21–5
Golden State 0–21–11–11–13–22–32–03–21–15–01–51–11–12–00–22–42–41–42–43–34–11–1
Houston 1–10–21–12–06–04–21–12–31–12–42–30–22–00–20–21–43–23–31–44–14–20–2
Indiana 5–13–32–34–22–01–14–21–11–12–00–22–45–13–20–61–10–22–01–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 1–11–10–22–06–02–41–10–54–20–20–51–12–01–10–23–23–22–43–22–35–11–1
Los Angeles 2–00–21–12–05–02–32–05–13–22–05–00–22–02–01–12–43–32–33–36–03–21–1
Milwaukee 5–13–33–36–02–01–15–11–12–04–21–12–05–13–33–21–12–01–12–02–02–04–1
New Jersey 2–30–62–33–31–11–13–31–10–21–50–20–21–50–61–51–12–00–20–21–11–13–3
New York 4–21–53–35–01–12–05–10–22–02–31–10–23–36–03–31–11–10–22–02–02–04–2
Philadelphia 5–13–34–26–02–01–14–12–02–06–02–01–12–35–13–31–11–12–02–02–02–04–2
Phoenix 2–00–22–01–14–14–12–04–24–11–12–34–21–11–11–11–13–33–26–05–15–01–1
Portland 1–10–22–01–14–13–22–04–22–32–02–33–30–20–21–11–13–32–34–24–22–32–0
San Antonio 1–10–22–01–15–14–22–04–13–30–24–23–21–12–02–00–22–33–24–13–25–11–1
San Diego 1–10–21–11–13–22–31–14–24–11–12–33–30–22–00–20–20–62–41–45–13–20–2
Seattle 1–11–11–12–04–12–32–03–31–42–03–20–60–21–10–20–21–52–42–31–54–11–1
Utah 0–21–10–21–15–14–22–01–42–41–11–52–30–21–10–20–20–53–21–52–31–40–2
Washington 4–11–51–52–42–02–05–11–12–02–41–11–11–43–32–42–41–10–21–12–01–12–0

Game log

1980–81 game log
Total: 28–54 (Home: 20–21; Road: 8–33)
October: 4–8 (home: 3–3; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
November: 4–10 (home: 4–3; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
19November 13, 1980 Atlanta W 114–111 Coliseum at Richfield
3,987
5–14
December: 5–9 (home: 4–5; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
January: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
43January 9, 1981@ Atlanta W 108–107 (OT) The Omni
9,398
16–27
51January 23, 1981@ Atlanta W 106–98 The Omni
9,820
20–31
February: 3–9 (home: 3–4; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
All-Star Break
64February 21, 1981 Atlanta L 105–118 Coliseum at Richfield
8,231
25–39
March: 3–13 (home: 1–4; road: 2–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
73March 14, 1981@ Atlanta W 112–110 (OT) The Omni
7,368
26–47
75March 17, 1981 Atlanta W 122–107 Coliseum at Richfield
4,288
28–47
1980–81 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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
PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Mike Mitchell 8239.047.644.478.46.11.70.80.624.5
Kenny Carr 8132.351.10.071.410.32.40.90.515.2
Randy Smith 8226.846.63.681.52.44.41.40.214.6
Roger Phegley 8227.749.128.683.93.02.20.80.214.4
Mike Bratz 8032.439.033.781.12.55.71.70.210.0
Richard Washington 6921.845.950.075.05.31.60.60.89.9
Bill Laimbeer 8130.450.30.076.58.62.70.71.09.8
Dave Robisch 1133.837.80.080.67.74.00.60.59.4
Robert Smith 120.040.00.0100.03.03.00.00.08.0
Geoff Huston 2521.749.70.081.51.64.70.50.07.0
Bill Robinzine 810.543.80.062.51.60.60.50.04.1
Don Ford 6415.644.60.091.72.61.30.20.23.5
Chad Kinch 298.539.60.080.00.81.20.30.22.8
Mack Calvin 216.133.320.071.40.61.30.20.02.5
Walter Jordan 306.938.70.058.81.40.40.40.22.3
John Lambert 32.760.00.00.01.01.00.00.02.0
Jerome Whitehead 32.733.30.00.01.00.00.30.00.7

Player Statistics Citation: [1]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions
PlayerDate signedNew team
Austin Carr Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 Dallas Mavericks

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Cavaliers</span> National Basketball Association team in Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland Cavaliers are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team began play as an expansion team in 1970, along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves. Home games were first held at Cleveland Arena from 1970 to 1974, followed by the Richfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1994. Since 1994, the Cavs have played home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland, which is shared with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Dan Gilbert has owned the team since March 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Carr</span> American basketball player (born 1948)

Austin George Carr is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Bullets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier". He was part of the Notre Dame team which defeated the UCLA Bruins on January 19, 1971, which was UCLA's last defeat until being beaten by Notre Dame exactly three years later, breaking the Bruins' NCAA men's basketball record 88-game winning streak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bingo Smith</span> American basketball player (1946–2023)

Robert "Bingo" Smith was an American professional basketball player. He played for the San Diego Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the San Diego Clippers.

Benedict Jay Poquette is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he graduated from East Lansing High School and Central Michigan University. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 1977 NBA draft, and played for them from 1978–79. He also played for the Utah Jazz in 1980–83, the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1984–87, and the Chicago Bulls in 1987.

Don Delaney was an American professional basketball coach, who served as head coach and general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Tait</span> American sports broadcaster (1937–2021)

Joseph Tait was an American sports broadcaster who was the play-by-play announcer on radio for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and both TV and radio for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. With the exception of two seasons in the early 1980s and illness during his final season, he was the Cavaliers' radio announcer from the team's inception in 1970 through the 2010–11 season. He won the Basketball Hall of Fame 2010 Curt Gowdy Media Award.

Keith DeWayne Lee is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. A 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) forward–center from Memphis State University, Lee played in three NBA seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets.

Steve Colter is an American former professional basketball player who played in eight NBA seasons for six different teams. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. A 6'3" guard from New Mexico State, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 1984 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Chones</span> American basketball player (born 1949)

James Bernett “Bunny” Chones is an American former professional basketball player, and current radio analyst for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Theodore John Stepien was an American businessman who owned the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1980 to 1983. Born in Pittsburgh in 1925, he became wealthy as the founder of Nationwide Advertising Service and purchased an interest in the Cavaliers on April 12, 1980. His tenure as owner of the Cavs was highly controversial, resulting in multiple coaching changes and poor performances by the team, and his management decisions ultimately led the NBA to create what is known as the "Ted Stepien rule" to restrict how teams can trade draft picks. A December 6, 1982 article in The New York Times described the Cavaliers during Stepien's ownership as "the worst club and most poorly run franchise in professional basketball." After selling his interest in the Cavaliers in 1983, he continued to be involved in professional basketball, owning teams in the Continental Basketball Association and the Global Basketball Association. Later in life he founded the United Pro Basketball League, along other business ventures in the Cleveland area. He died in 2007.

Chadwick Oliver Kinch was an American professional basketball player. He was a 6'4" 190 lb (86 kg) shooting guard and played collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte after starring at Perth Amboy High School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, his place of birth.

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. In the 1996 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Ukrainian center Vitaly Potapenko out of Wright State University with the 12th overall pick, and Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick. However, Ilgauskas would miss the entire season with a broken bone in his right foot. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Mark West. The Cavaliers started their season winning nine of their first twelve games, but after a 21–10 start, they lost six straight games in January while losing 11 of their next 14 games. The team played above .500 for the entire season, holding a 25–22 record at the All-Star break, but started to struggle down the stretch, losing 10 of their 16 games in March. On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Cavaliers faced the Washington Bullets at the Gund Arena, as both teams were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bullets won 85–81 as the Cavs missed the playoffs, finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record. The Cavaliers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star guard, and three-point specialist Dan Majerle from the Phoenix Suns, and acquired 2-time Slam Dunk champion Harold Miner from the Miami Heat. After the first two games, Tyrone Hill was seriously injured in a car accident and missed 38 games, as the Cavs struggled losing their first seven games of the season. However, Hill returned in the second half of the season playing off the bench, being replaced by Michael Cage as the team's starting center. The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break, posting a 10–2 record in February, and finishing 3rd in the Central Division with a 47–35 record.

The 1991–92 NBA season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the Cavaliers signed free agent John Battle, then later on re-signed former Cavs forward Mike Sanders in March after being released by the Indiana Pacers. After two straight seasons of injuries, the Cavaliers would finally play the entire season without any significant loss of manpower. After a 13–9 start to the season, the team posted an 11-game winning streak, and held a 31–14 record at the All-Star break. The Cavaliers finished the season 2nd in the Central Division with a 57–25 record, and tying the franchise high set in the 1988–89 season. On December 17, 1991, the Cavaliers set an NBA record by winning with the second largest margin of victory of any game defeating the Miami Heat at home, 148–80.

Kenneth Lee Higgs Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. He is a 6'0" (183 cm) 180 lb (81.5 kg) point guard and he played collegiately at Louisiana State University. Higgs was selected by the Cavaliers with the 13th pick in the third round in the 1978 NBA draft. He shares the Southeastern Conference single-game assists record.

Bruce Flowers is an American former professional basketball player. At a height of 2.04 m tall, he played as a power forward. Flowers is one of the few American players to have won all three of the different major European titles during his playing era, meaning the EuroLeague, as well as the now defunct FIBA Saporta Cup and FIBA Korać Cup competitions.

Edmund Lawrence was an American professional basketball player. He played as a center for one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Detroit Pistons during the 1980–81 season. He attended McNeese State University where he was selected in the fifth round of the 1976 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was waived by them before seeing playing time. Lawrence signed with the San Antonio Spurs after being placed on waivers by Cleveland. His tenure in San Antonio did not last long as he was again waived before the start of the 1980–81 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry</span> National Basketball Association rivalry

The Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The teams have played each other since the Cavaliers joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1970, but the rivalry didn't begin in earnest until the Bulls drafted Michael Jordan with the third overall pick in 1984. After Jordan would go on to the Washington Wizards and eventually retire, the rivalry died down, but when Cleveland picked LeBron James with the first selection in 2003, the rivalry heated up again.

References

  1. "1980-81 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2021.