1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers season
1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers season | |
---|---|
NBA Champions | |
Conference Champions | |
First NBA Championship | |
Head coach | Jack Ramsay |
Arena | Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 49–33 (.598) |
Place |
Division: 2nd Conference: 3rd |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated 76ers 4-2) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KOIN |
Radio | KYTE |
The 1976–77 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 29 games.[1] The Blazers won their last 5 games to post a record of 49–33.[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 45-6 record at home, which included a perfect 10-0 mark in the playoffs.[2]
As of 2016, this remains the only NBA Championship in Blazers franchise history, though they did make Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, but lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively.
Offseason
NBA Draft
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 |
ABA Dispersal Draft
= All-Star | |
= Hall of Fame |
The American Basketball Association joined the NBA with the ABA-NBA 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 |
Roster
1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Depth chart
Pos. | Starter | Bench | Reserve | Inactive |
---|---|---|---|---|
C | Bill Walton | Robin Jones | ||
PF | Maurice Lucas | Lloyd Neal | Wally Walker | |
SF | Bob Gross | Larry Steele | Corky Calhoun | |
SG | Dave Twardzik | Herm Gilliam | ||
PG | Lionel Hollins | Johnny Davis |
Regular season
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 1976–77 season; the Blazers lost 12 of them. With Walton in the lineup, the Blazers were 44–21, 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]
Season standings
Team | W | L | PCT. | GB |
---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – |
Portland Trail Blazers C | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 |
Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 |
Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 |
C – NBA Champions
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – |
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 |
7 | 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 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1976-77 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 | — | 0–4 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 |
Boston | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
Buffalo | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 |
Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
Cleveland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
Denver | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
Detroit | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
Golden State | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
Houston | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 |
Indiana | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
Kansas City | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
Los Angeles | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 |
Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
New Orleans | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
N.Y. Knicks | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 |
N.Y. Nets | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 |
Phoenix | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
Portland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 |
San Antonio | 0–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 |
Seattle | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 |
Washington | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |
Season schedule
Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record | Streak | Scoring Leader |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 23, 1976 | New York Nets | 114–104 | Win | 1–0 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
Oct 26, 1976 | Golden State Warriors | 110-96 | Win | 2-0 | Won 2 | Walton 21 |
Oct 28, 1976 | at Golden State Warriors | 92-112 | Loss | 2-1 | Lost 1 | Walton 21 |
Oct 30, 1976 | Detroit Pistons | 131-97 | Win | 3-1 | Won 1 | Lucas 24 |
Nov 2, 1976 | Atlanta Hawks | 129-116 | Win | 4-1 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
Nov 5, 1976 | Philadelphia 76ers | 146-104 | Win | 5-1 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
Nov 7, 1976 | New York Knicks | 119-93 | Win | 6-1 | Won 4 | Gross 22 |
Nov 9, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 119-102 | Win | 7-1 | Won 5 | Hollins 22 |
Nov 11, 1976 | at Atlanta Hawks | 105-107 | Loss | 7-2 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
Nov 13, 1976 | at San Antonio Spurs | 101-113 | Loss | 7-3 | Lost 2 | Walton 18 |
Nov 16, 1976 | at New Orleans Jazz | 98-100 | Loss | 7-4 | Lost 3 | Walton 21 |
Nov 19, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 124-111 | Win | 8-4 | Won 1 | Walton 27 |
Nov 21, 1976 | Buffalo Braves | 121-98 | Win | 9-4 | Won 2 | Twardzik 19 |
Nov 24, 1976 | Chicago Bulls | 117-115 (OT) | Win | 10-4 | Won 3 | Lucas 25 |
Nov 26, 1976 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 96-99 | Loss | 10-5 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
Nov 27, 1976 | Washington Bullets | 103-95 | Win | 11-5 | Won 1 | Lucas 30 |
Nov 28, 1976 | Indiana Pacers | 145-115 | Win | 12-5 | Won 2 | Lucas 25 |
Nov 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 106-115 | Loss | 12-6 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
Dec 1, 1976 | at Indiana Pacers | 101-100 | Win | 13-6 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
Dec 3, 1976 | at Phoenix Suns | 113-99 | Win | 14-6 | Won 2 | Walton 24 |
Dec 4, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | 112-108 | Win | 15-6 | Won 3 | Walton 25 |
Dec 5, 1976 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 93-89 | Win | 16-6 | Won 4 | Lucas 22 |
Dec 7, 1976 | at New York Knicks | 111-94 | Win | 17-6 | Won 5 | Lucas 22 |
Dec 8, 1976 | at Boston Celtics | 95-104 | Loss | 17-7 | Lost 1 | Lucas 25 |
Dec 10, 1976 | at Buffalo Braves | 103-102 | Win | 18-7 | Won 1 | Walton 18 |
Dec 11, 1976 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 107-108 | Loss | 18-8 | Lost 1 | Walton 30 |
Dec 14, 1976 | Houston Rockets | 104-84 | Win | 19-8 | Won 1 | Gross 22 |
Dec 17, 1976 | Denver Nuggets | 127-105 | Win | 20-8 | Won 2 | Walton 22 |
Dec 18, 1976 | Los Angeles Lakers | 111-115 (OT) | Loss | 20-9 | Lost 1 | Walton 28 |
Dec 21, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | 99-94 | Win | 21-9 | Won 1 | Walton 24 |
Dec 25, 1976 | Seattle SuperSonics | 110-95 | Win | 22-9 | Won 2 | Walton 26 |
Dec 26, 1976 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 87-89 | Loss | 22-10 | Lost 1 | Walton 26 |
Dec 28, 1976 | at Chicago Bulls | 84-79 | Win | 23-10 | Won 1 | Walton 29 |
Dec 29, 1976 | at Detroit Pistons | 111-120 | Loss | 23-11 | Lost 1 | Hollins 20 |
Dec 30, 1976 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 107-127 | Loss | 23-12 | Lost 2 | Davis 20 |
Jan 1, 1977 | Chicago Bulls | 89-82 | Win | 24-12 | Won 1 | Neal 20 |
Jan 2, 1977 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 99-104 | Loss | 24-13 | Lost 1 | Lucas 31 |
Jan 4, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 128-84 | Win | 25-13 | Won 1 | Hollins 21 |
Jan 7, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 130-118 | Win | 26-13 | Won 2 | Lucas, Davis 19 |
Jan 9, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 150-113 | Win | 27-13 | Won 3 | Twardzik 22 |
Jan 11, 1977 | New York Knicks | 131-111 | Win | 28-13 | Won 4 | Lucas 36 |
Jan 14, 1977 | at Boston Celtics | 107-92 | Win | 29-13 | Won 5 | Walton, Gross 16 |
Jan 15, 1977 | at Washington Bullets | 107-113 | Loss | 29-14 | Lost 1 | Walton 18 |
Jan 16, 1977 | at Atlanta Hawks | 120-125 | Loss | 29-15 | Lost 2 | Steele 28 |
Jan 18, 1977 | at New York Nets | 109-94 | Win | 30-15 | Won 1 | Lucas 21 |
Jan 20, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 99-91 | Win | 31-15 | Won 2 | Lucas 32 |
Jan 22, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 107-110 | Loss | 31-16 | Lost 1 | Lucas 22 |
Jan 23, 1977 | at San Antonio Spurs | 118-123 | Loss | 31-17 | Lost 2 | Walton 28 |
Jan 26, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 107-102 | Win | 32-17 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
Jan 27, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | 112-104 | Win | 33-17 | Won 2 | Lucas 23 |
Jan 30, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 97-91 | Win | 34-17 | Won 3 | Lucas 21 |
Feb 2, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 107-119 | Loss | 34-18 | Lost 1 | Lucas 24 |
Feb 3, 1977 | at Indiana Pacers | 107-98 | Win | 35-18 | Won 1 | Lucas 35 |
Feb 5, 1977 | Washington Bullets | 104-116 | Loss | 35-19 | Lost 1 | Lucas 21 |
Feb 8, 1977 | Denver Nuggets | 111-119 | Loss | 35-20 | Lost 2 | Hollins 28 |
Feb 11, 1977 | Atlanta Hawks | 108-121 | Loss | 35-21 | Lost 3 | Lucas 41 |
Feb 15, 1977 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 96-117 | Loss | 35-22 | Lost 4 | Lucas 25 |
Feb 16, 1977 | at Detroit Pistons | 118-125 | Loss | 35-23 | Lost 5 | Lucas 25 |
Feb 18, 1977 | at Chicago Bulls | 90-87 | Win | 36-23 | Won 1 | Lucas 23 |
Feb 19, 1977 | at Denver Nuggets | 124-133 | Loss | 36-24 | Lost 1 | Lucas 35 |
Feb 22, 1977 | Boston Celtics | 113-111 | Win | 37-24 | Won 1 | Hollins 43 |
Feb 25, 1977 | Houston Rockets | 106-123 | Loss | 37-25 | Lost 1 | Lucas 27 |
Mar 1, 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers | 108-107 | Win | 38-25 | Won 1 | Lucas 34 |
Mar 4, 1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 101-113 | Loss | 38-26 | Lost 1 | Gross 17 |
Mar 5, 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics | 134-104 | Win | 39-26 | Won 1 | Twardzik 28 |
Mar 8, 1977 | at Buffalo Braves | 95-102 | Loss | 39-27 | Lost 1 | Lucas 26 |
Mar 10, 1977 | at New York Knicks | 104-108 | Loss | 39-28 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
Mar 11, 1977 | at Kansas City Kings | 112-114 | Loss | 39-29 | Lost 3 | Lucas, Hollins 26 |
Mar 15, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | 131-104 | Win | 40-29 | Won 1 | Hollins 22 |
Mar 17, 1977 | at Golden State Warriors | 115-106 | Win | 41-29 | Won 2 | Steele 27 |
Mar 18, 1977 | Indiana Pacers | 134-110 | Win | 42-29 | Won 3 | Hollins 28 |
Mar 20, 1977 | at Phoenix Suns | 106-126 | Loss | 42-30 | Lost 1 | Lucas, Walton 16 |
Mar 22, 1977 | at New Orleans Jazz | 95-106 | Loss | 42-31 | Lost 2 | Lucas 29 |
Mar 23, 1977 | at Houston Rockets | 104-109 | Loss | 42-32 | Lost 3 | Walton 26 |
Mar 25, 1977 | at New York Nets | 131-103 | Win | 43-32 | Won 1 | Lucas 22 |
Mar 27, 1977 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 116-128 | Loss | 43-33 | Lost 1 | Lucas 30 |
Mar 29, 1977 | Buffalo Braves | 127-101 | Win | 44-33 | Won 1 | Hollins 26 |
Apr 1, 1977 | Golden State Warriors | 109-98 | Win | 45-33 | Won 2 | Walton 30 |
Apr 3, 1977 | at Seattle SuperSonics | 119-104 | Win | 46-33 | Won 3 | Walton 26 |
Apr 5, 1977 | Detroit Pistons | 110-105 | Win | 47-33 | Won 4 | Neal 18 |
Apr 9, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | 122-111 | Win | 48-33 | Won 5 | Walton, Gilliam 18 |
Apr 10, 1977 | Los Angeles Lakers | 145-116 | Win | 49-33 | Won 6 | Hollins 27 |
Playoffs
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Portland Trail Blazers defeated Chicago Bulls (2-1)[6]
Game | Date | Home team | Result | Road team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | April 12 | Portland | 96–83 | Chicago |
Game 2 | April 15 | Chicago | 107–104 | Portland |
Game 3 | April 17 | Portland | 106–98 | Chicago |
Western Conference Semifinals
Portland Trail Blazers defeated Denver Nuggets (4–2)[6]
Game | Date | Home team | Result | Road team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | April 20 | Denver | 100–101 | Portland |
Game 2 | April 22 | Denver | 121–110 | Portland |
Game 3 | April 24 | Portland | 110–106 | Denver |
Game 4 | April 26 | Portland | 105–96 | Denver |
Game 5 | May 1 | Denver | 114–105 (OT) | Portland |
Game 6 | May 2 | Portland | 108–92 | Denver |
Western Conference Finals
Portland Trail Blazers swept Los Angeles Lakers (4–0)[6]
The Western Conference final was ballyhooed as a matchup of two outstanding centers from UCLA: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. Walton, finally healthy after being hampered by foot injuries during his first two NBA seasons, had led the league in rebounds and blocked shots.[2] The match-up turned out to be a mismatch as Portland swept the Lakers in four games.
Game | Date | Home team | Result | Road team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | May 6 | Los Angeles | 109–121 | Portland |
Game 2 | May 8 | Los Angeles | 97–99 | Portland |
Game 3 | May 10 | Portland | 102-97 | Los Angeles |
Game 4 | May 13 | Portland | 105–101 | Los Angeles |
NBA Finals
Portland Trail Blazers defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4–2)[6]
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 107–101. 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, 107–89. 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 61–43 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 129–107, closing the series gap to 2–1.[3]
In Game 4, Portland opened up a quick 17-point lead, then cruised to a 130–98 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 91–69 and the crowd was headed home. Erving rallied the Sixers to make it respectable at the end, 110–104. 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, 102–98. 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]
Game | Date | Home team | Result | Road team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | May 22 | Philadelphia | 107–101 | Portland |
Game 2 | May 26 | Philadelphia | 107–89 | Portland |
Game 3 | May 29 | Portland | 129–107 | Philadelphia |
Game 4 | May 31 | Portland | 130–98 | Philadelphia |
Game 5 | June 3 | Philadelphia | 104–110 | Portland |
Game 6 | June 5 | Portland | 109–107 | Philadelphia |
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 records
References
- 1 2 3 Portland Trail Blazers (1970 – present)
- 1 2 HickokSports.com – History – NBA 1976–77 Season
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'
- ↑ 1970–71 NBA Season Summary – Basketball-Reference.com
- ↑ 1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
- 1 2 3 4 1977 NBA Playoff Summary – Basketball-Reference.com