1979–80 New York Knicks season

1979–80 New York Knicks season
Head coach Red Holzman
General manager Eddie Donovan
Arena Madison Square Garden
Results
Record 39–43 (.476)
Place Division: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish DNQ

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

The 1979–80 New York Knicks season was the 34th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in a tie for third place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 win–loss record, and did not qualify for the 1980 NBA Playoffs. Bill Cartwright led the team in scoring (21.7 points per game) and rebounding, while Micheal Ray Richardson led the NBA in assists (10.2 per game) and steals (3.23 per game).[1]

New York had three first-round picks in the 1979 NBA Draft, and selected Cartwright, Larry Demic, and Sly Williams.[2] At the end of the season, the Knicks lost five of their last six games; they followed a three-game losing streak with a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers,[3] but then lost to the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.[4][5] In the game against the 76ers, Julius Erving made the winning basket with one second remaining, after the Knicks had committed a turnover on an inbounds pass five seconds earlier with the score tied at 101–101.[5] The Washington Bullets gained the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference over the Knicks because of a better record against other teams in the conference; the teams' overall win–loss records were identical.[6]

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 – 35–6 26–15 17–7
x-Philadelphia 76ers 59 23 .720 2 36–5 23–18 19–5
x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 22 24–17 15–26 9–15
New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22 25–16 14–27 8–16
New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27 22–19 12–29 7–17
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 –
2 y-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 11
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 59 23 .720 2
4 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 20
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 22
7 New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 37 45 .451 24
8 Indiana Pacers 37 45 .451 24
10 New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27
11 Detroit Pistons 16 66 .195 44
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

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

References

  1. ↑ The Sporting News 2001–2002 Official NBA Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: Sporting News. 2001. pp. 517–526. ISBN 0-89204-656-2.
  2. ↑ "Complete First Round Results – 1970–79". National Basketball Association. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Knicks Snap Cavs' Winning Streak". The Press-Courier. Associated Press. March 26, 1980. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Celtics Nick Knicks' Hopes". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. March 27, 1980. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Blown throw-in could cost Knicks". The Leader-Post. Canadian Press. March 28, 1980. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Bullets win to gain final playoff spot". St. Petersburg Times. March 31, 1980. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  7. ↑ "NBA & ABA All-Rookie Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
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