1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers season

1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers season
Division Champions
Head coach	Billy Cunningham
General manager	Pat Williams
Arena	The Spectrum
Results
Record	55–27 (.671)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Conference Finals (eliminated 2-4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

The 1977-78 NBA season was the 76ers 29th season in the NBA and 15th season in Philadelphia.The team finished the regular season with a record of 55-27. Head coach Gene Shue was replaced only 6 games into to season, by former Sixer player Billy Cunningham, who was only 33 years old at the time he replaced Shue. In the playoffs, the Sixers would sweep the New York Knicks, but lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Washington Bullets, a team with 11 fewer wins, four games to two.

Offseason

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers	55	27	.671	–	37–4	18–23	14–2
x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	12	29–12	14–27	7–9
Boston Celtics	32	50	.390	23	24–17	8–33	8–8
Buffalo Braves	27	55	.329	28	20–21	7–34	7–9
New Jersey Nets	24	58	.293	31	18–23	6–35	4–12

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Philadelphia 76ers	55	27	.671	–
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	52	30	.634	3
3	x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	11
4	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	12
5	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	12
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	14
7	New Orleans Jazz	39	43	.476	16
8	Boston Celtics	32	50	.390	23
9	Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	27
10	Buffalo Braves	27	55	.329	28
11	New Jersey Nets	24	58	.293	31

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

East First Round

The 76ers had a first round bye.

East Conference Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) New York Knicks: 76ers win series 4-0

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 130, New York 90
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 119, New York 100
• Game 3 @ New York: Philadelphia 137, New York 126
• Game 4 @ New York: Philadelphia 112, New York 107

East Conference Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Washington Bullets: Bullets win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Washington 122, Philadelphia 117 (OT)
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 110, Washington 104
• Game 3 @ Washington: Washington 123, Philadelphia 108
• Game 4 @ Washington: Washington 121, Philadelphia 105
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 107, Washington 94
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 101, Philadelphia 99

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

Awards and records

• Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team

References

See also

• 1977-78 NBA season