NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
1977–78 Buffalo Braves season |
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Head coach | Cotton Fitzsimmons |
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General manager | Norm Sonju |
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President | Norm Sonju |
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Owners | |
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Arena | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
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Results |
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Record | 27–55 (.329) |
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Place | Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 10th (Eastern) |
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Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com |
Local media |
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Television | WIVB-TV |
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Radio | WBEN |
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The 1977–78 NBA season was the Braves' eighth and final season in the NBA. Entering the season, the Braves were allowed an escape clause in their lease, because season ticket sales did not reach the set goal of 4,500. The Braves suffered another disappointment as Tiny Archibald (whom they acquired from the New Jersey Nets for George Johnson) was lost for the year due to an Achilles tendon injury in the preseason.[1][2]
The Braves played competitively in November with a respectable .500 record at 10–10. Despite the promising start, the Braves won just nine games over the next three months.[1] While the Braves were struggling on the court, owner John Y. Brown was brokering a deal to take over the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move the historic franchise to California. However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston.[1]
NBA Lawyer David Stern offered a comprise in which Levin and Brown would swap franchises. The concept was that Levin would take over the Braves and move them to San Diego.[3] The Braves finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 27–55 (.329) record, and played their last game on April 9, ironically, in Boston.[1] Owners voted 21–1 to approve the deal, and the Braves moved from Buffalo to San Diego; the team was renamed the San Diego Clippers for the 1978–79 season.[1]
The deal also included a seven-player trade in which the Celtics acquired Archibald, Billy Knight, and Marvin Barnes.[1] The San Diego-bound Braves received Freeman Williams, back-up center Kevin Kunnert, and power forwards Kermit Washington and Sidney Wicks.[3] The team would not request a draft pick in the deal, allowing the Celtics to retain the draft rights to Larry Bird in 1979.
Offseason
NBA draft
Roster
Buffalo Braves 1977–78 roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | # | Name | Ht. | Wt. | From | G | 1 | Archibald, Nate (IN) | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | | UTEP | G | 15 | Averitt, Bird | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | | Pepperdine | F | 8 | Barnes, Marvin | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | | Providence | G | 7 | Brokaw, Gary | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | | Notre Dame | F | 22 | Gerard, Gus (to DET) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | | Virginia | G | 14 | Glenn, Mike | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | | Southern Illinois | G | 10 | Johnson, Larry | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | | Kentucky | F | 24 | Jones, Wil | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | | Albany State | G | 25 | Knight, Billy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | | Pittsburgh | C | 45 | Lloyd, Scott | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 230 lb (104 kg) | | Arizona State | G | 12 | McClain, Ted | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | | Tennessee State | C | 44 | McDaniels, Jim | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 240 lb (109 kg) | | Western Kentucky | F | 43 | McNeil, Larry | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | | Marquette | C | 31 | Nater, Swen | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | 240 lb (109 kg) | | UCLA | F | 40 | Owens, Eddie | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | | UNLV | F | 34 | Shumate, John | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | | Notre Dame | G | 9 | Smith, Randy | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | | Buffalo State | G | 11 | Williams, Chuck | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | | Colorado | F | 32 | Willoughby, Bill | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | | Dwight Morrow HS (NJ) | | - Head coach
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
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Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
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 | — |
Player stats
Legend GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG | Field-goals per game | FGA | Field-goals attempted per Game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | FT | Free-throws per game | FTA | Free-throws attempted per Game | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
ORPG | Offensive rebounds per game | DRPG | Defensive rebounds per game | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PFPG | Personal fouls per game | PPG | Points per game |
Player | GP | MPG | FG | FGA | FG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORPG | DRPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PFPG | PPG |
Billy Knight | 53 | 40.7 | 8.6 | 17.5 | 0.494 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 0.809 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 22.9 |
Randy Smith | 82 | 40.4 | 9.6 | 20.7 | 0.465 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 0.800 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 24.6 |
Swen Nater | 78 | 35.6 | 6.4 | 12.7 | 0.504 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.765 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 13.2 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 15.5 |
John Shumate | 18 | 32.8 | 4.2 | 8.4 | 0.497 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 0.747 | 1.8 | 5.3 | 7.1 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 12.4 |
Marvin Barnes | 48 | 28.7 | 4.7 | 11.3 | 0.416 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 0.745 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 11.8 |
Chuck Williams | 73 | 27.4 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 0.477 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.826 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 7.3 |
Larry McNeill | 37 | 23.6 | 4.2 | 9.1 | 0.462 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 0.833 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 11.9 |
Wil Jones | 79 | 21.7 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 0.440 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.706 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 6.8 |
Bird Averitt | 34 | 19.9 | 3.8 | 8.7 | 0.436 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.667 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
Bill Willoughby | 56 | 19.3 | 2.8 | 6.5 | 0.430 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.800 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 6.7 |
Ted McClain | 41 | 17.7 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 0.440 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.794 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
Mike Glenn | 56 | 16.9 | 3.5 | 6.6 | 0.527 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.785 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 7.9 |
Jim McDaniels | 42 | 16.5 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 0.427 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.857 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 5.6 |
Scott Lloyd | 56 | 10.1 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.425 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.741 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 3.2 |
Gary Brokaw | 13 | 10.0 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.419 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.750 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.2 |
Larry Johnson | 4 | 9.5 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.231 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.000 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
Gus Gerard | 10 | 8.5 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.400 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.733 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
Eddie Owens | 8 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.429 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.500 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
Awards and honors
Transactions
The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.
Coaching Change
Offseason |
Outgoing Coach | Date Removed | 1976-77 Record | Incoming Coach |
Joe Mullaney (interim) | Fired, August 5, 1977 | 11–18 | Cotton Fitzsimmons |
Trades
June 7, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Milwaukee Bucks - The 3rd pick in the 1977 NBA Draft
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June 10, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves - A 1977 2nd round draft pick
| To Chicago Bulls - The 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft
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June 10, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Los Angeles Lakers - A 1977 3rd round draft pick
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August 5, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves - A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation
| To Detroit Pistons - The right to sign Don Adams as a veteran free agent
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September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To New Jersey Nets - George Johnson, a 1978 1st round draft pick & a 1979 1st round draft pick.
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September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To New Jersey Nets - A future 4th round draft pick as compensation
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September 1, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Indiana Pacers |
September 2, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves - A 1979 1st round draft pick
| To Milwaukee Bucks |
September 7, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Los Angeles Lakers |
September 13, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Atlanta Hawks - A 1978 2nd round draft pick
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October 3, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves - The right to sign Wil Jones as a veteran free agent
| To Indiana Pacers - A 1980 2nd round draft pick as compensation
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October 6, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Denver Nuggets - A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation
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October 17, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Cleveland Cavaliers |
October 18, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves - A 1978 3rd round draft pick
| To Indiana Pacers |
November 23, 1977 | To Buffalo Braves | To Detroit Pistons |
January 31, 1978 | To Buffalo Braves - A 1978 3rd round draft pick
| To Philadelphia 76ers |
Free agents
References
- ^ a b c d e f Buffalo Braves (1970-1978)
- ^ "Archibald may be out for season". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. October 15, 1977. p. 7C.
- ^ a b "Celts, Buffalo swap owners; Braves move". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 8, 1978. p. 15.
- Braves on Database Basketball
- Braves on Basketball Reference
Buffalo Braves seasons |
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1970s | |
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