NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season was the eighth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[ 1] Fresh off their first NBA Championship win the previous season , the Blazers led the league with a franchise-best 58–24 record, earning a first-round bye in the 1978 NBA Playoffs . However, they were defeated by the eventual Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics four games to two.
The team started with 50 wins in their first 60 games, but due to Bill Walton's foot injury they managed to go 8–14 the rest of the way.[ 2] This would be Walton's last season with the club, as he sat out the 1979 season and then was signed by the San Diego Clippers.
The Blazers eventually eclipsed their franchise-record win total from this season with a 59–23 showing in 1989–90 .
Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.
1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SF
10
Calhoun, Corky
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Penn
G
16
Davis, Johnny
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Dayton
SG
23
Dunn, T.R.
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
Alabama
F
30
Gross, Bob
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Long Beach State
G
14
Hollins, Lionel
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Arizona State
F
20
Lucas, Maurice
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Marquette
F
36
Neal, Lloyd
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Tennessee State
F/C
25
Owens, Tom
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
South Carolina
F
15
Steele, Larry
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Kentucky
G
13
Twardzik, Dave
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Old Dominion
C
32
Walton, Bill
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
UCLA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1977–78 NBA Records
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
2–1
1–3
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
—
1978 playoff game log
Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
1978 schedule
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s