1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season
Appearance
(Redirected from 1977-78 Seattle SuperSonics season)
1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season | |
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Conference champions | |
Head coach | Bob Hopkins, Lenny Wilkens |
General manager | Zollie Volchok |
Owners | Sam Schulman |
Arena | Seattle Center Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 47–35 (.573) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Bullets 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Local media | |
Television | KTNT-TV |
Radio | KOMO |
The 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a disappointing 5–17 start, the Sonics replaced coach Bob Hopkins with future Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to a 47–35 finish. In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then upset the defending NBA champions Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, before finally defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games in the conference finals, making their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, where they lost the series to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.
Draft picks
[edit]Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
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1 | 8 | Jack Sikma | Forward/Center | ![]() |
Illinois Wesleyan |
3 | 52 | Joe Hassett | Guard | ![]() |
Providence |
Roster
[edit]Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head coach
Legend
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Regular season
[edit]Standings
[edit]W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y-Portland Trail Blazers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 36–5 | 22–19 | 13–3 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 9 | 34–7 | 15–26 | 8–8 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 8–8 |
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 6–10 |
Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 | 30–11 | 13–28 | 5–11 |
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Portland Trail Blazers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 |
3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 9 |
4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 |
5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 14 |
7 | Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
8 | Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 18 |
9 | Detroit Pistons | 38 | 44 | .463 | 20 |
10 | Indiana Pacers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
11 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
Record vs. opponents
[edit]1977–78 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 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 | — |
Game log
[edit]1977–78 game log Total: 47–35 (home: 31–10; road: 16–25) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1–6 (home: 1–2; road: 0–4)
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November: 5–11 (home: 3–5; road: 2–6)
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December: 11–3 (home: 7–1; road: 4–2)
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January: 10–2 (home: 8–1; road: 2–1)
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February: 7–5 (home: 3–1; road: 4–4)
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March: 9–7 (home: 5–0; road: 4–7)
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April: 4–1 (home: 4–0; road: 0–1)
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1977–78 season schedule |
Playoffs
[edit]1978 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
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Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
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Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
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NBA Finals: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
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1978 schedule |

Awards and honors
[edit]Player statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | RPG | Rebounds per game | BPG | Blocks per game |
MIN | Minutes played | APG | Assists per game | TPG | Turnovers per game |
PPG | Points per game | SPG | Steals per game | FPG | Field goals per game |
Regular season
[edit]Seattle SuperSonics Stats - 1977-78 | |||||||||
Player | GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FPG |
Fred Brown | 72 | 27.3 | 16.6 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 7.1 |
Al Fleming | 20 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
Joe Hassett | 48 | 8.4 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 |
Dennis Johnson | 81 | 27.3 | 12.7 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
John Johnson | 76 | 23.8 | 10.7 | 4.0 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 4.5 |
Bruce Seals | 73 | 18.1 | 7.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 3.2 |
Jack Sikma | 82 | 27.3 | 10.7 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 4.2 |
Paul Silas | 82 | 26.5 | 5.8 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
Wally Walker | 68 | 14.8 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.7 |
Marvin Webster | 82 | 35.5 | 14.0 | 12.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 5.2 |
Gus Williams | 79 | 32.6 | 18.1 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 7.6 |
Playoffs
[edit]Seattle SuperSonics Stats - 1977-78 | |||||||||
Player | GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FPG |
Fred Brown | 22 | 26.1 | 17.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 7.0 |
Al Fleming | 5 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Joe Hassett | 8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 |
Dennis Johnson | 22 | 37.6 | 16.1 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 5.5 |
John Johnson | 22 | 27.1 | 10.1 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 4.3 |
Bruce Seals | 9 | 10.2 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
Jack Sikma | 22 | 31.9 | 13.7 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 5.2 |
Paul Silas | 22 | 27.5 | 4.9 | 8.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
Wally Walker | 20 | 13.1 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 |
Marvin Webster | 22 | 41.1 | 16.1 | 13.1 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 6.2 |
Gus Williams | 22 | 31.9 | 18.3 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 7.4 |