1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachBill Fitch
ArenaColiseum at Richfield
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast First Round
(eliminated 1–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWJW-TV
RadioWWWE
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

The 1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the seventh season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Draft picks

Main article: 1976 NBA draft

Roster

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PF 52 Brewer, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota
G 25 Brokaw, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1954–01–11 Notre Dame
SG 34 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1948-03-10 Notre Dame
C 22 Chones, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1949-11-30 Marquette
PG 35 Cleamons, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949-09-13 Ohio State
PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1953-01-14 USC
SF 20 Russell, Campy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952-01-12 Michigan
G/F 7 Smith, Bingo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1946-02-26 Tulsa
G/F 10 Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944-02-01 Davidson
C 42 Thurmond, Nate 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-07-25 Bowling Green
PG 14 Walker, Foots 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1951-05-21 West Georgia
G 15 Williams, Chuckie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1953–12–31 Kansas State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 – 34–7 15–26 13–7
x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 1 32–9 16–25 11–9
x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 5 31–10 13–28 9–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 6 29–12 14–27 8–12
New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 14 26–15 9–32 10–10
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 18 19–22 12–29 9–11
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers 50 32 .610 –
2 y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 1
3 x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 2
4 x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 6
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 7
7 New York Knicks 40 42 .488 10
8 New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 15
9 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 19
10 Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20
11 New York Nets 22 60 .268 28

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

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 —

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 – 34–7 15–26 13–7
x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 1 32–9 16–25 11–9
x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 5 31–10 13–28 9–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 6 29–12 14–27 8–12
New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 14 26–15 9–32 10–10
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 18 19–22 12–29 9–11
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers 50 32 .610 –
2 y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 1
3 x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 2
4 x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 6
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 7
7 New York Knicks 40 42 .488 10
8 New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 15
9 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 19
10 Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20
11 New York Nets 22 60 .268 28

Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta — 0–4 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 4–0 1–2 1–3
Boston 4–0 — 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4
Buffalo 0–4 1–3 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–4
Chicago 2–2 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–2
Cleveland 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Denver 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3
Golden State 4–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 2–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
Houston 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–2 — 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1
Indiana 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Kansas City 2–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 3–1 3–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 1–2 1–3 3–1 1–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3
New Orleans 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 2–1 — 3–1 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–2
N.Y. Nets 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Philadelphia 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 — 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1
Phoenix 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 — 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3
Portland 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–2 3–1 1–2
San Antonio 0–4 0–4 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2
Seattle 2–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 — 3–1
Washington 3–1 4–0 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 —

Game log

1976–77 game log
Total: 43–39 (Home: 29–12; Road: 14–27)
October: 5–0 (home: 4–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
November: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
9 November 7, 1976 @ Atlanta L 97–107 The Omni
2,750 		8–1
December: 5–9 (home: 4–3; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 December 11, 1976 Atlanta L 94–95 Coliseum at Richfield
12,739 		16–9
January: 6–7 (home: 5–2; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 5–7 (home: 4–2; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
March: 9–8 (home: 5–3; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
59 March 2, 1977 @ Seattle W 105-85 Austin Carr (25) Jim Brewers (12) Campy Russell (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,622 		32–27
60 March 4, 1977 @ Portland W 113-101 Campy Russell (26) Elmore Smith (13) Campy Russell (5) Memorial Coliseum
10,135 		33–27
61 March 6, 1977 @ Los Angeles L 99-104 Campy Russell (22) Jim Brewer (11) Foots Walker (5) The Forum
9,842 		33–28
62 March 8, 1977 @ Golden State L 102-112 Campy Russell (17) Jim Brewer (11) Gary Brokaw (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
10,846 		33–29
63 March 10, 1977 @ San Antonio L 100-106 Austin Carr (14) Jim Chones (11) Bingo Smith (8) HemisFair Arena
9,924 		33–30
64 March 13, 1977 @ Atlanta W 115–113 Elmore Smith (30) Elmore Smith (13) Austin Carr (8) Omni Coliseum
10,525 		34–30
65 March 15, 1977 Philadelphia L 102-133 Jim Chones (22) Jim Chones (14) Foots Walker (4) Coliseum at Richfield
9,717 		34–31
66 March 17, 1977 Houston L 87-88 Bingo Smith (15) Jim Brewer (10) Jim Cleamons (5) Coliseum at Richfield
9,724 		34–32
67 March 18, 1977 @ New York W 101-88 Jim Chones (24) Jim Chones (12) Austin Carr (6) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,743 		35–32
68 March 19, 1977 San Antonio W 94-89 Jim Chones (23) Jim Chones (9) Foots Walker (7) Coliseum at Richfield
10,368 		36–32
69 March 20, 1977 Buffalo W 115-108 Austin Carr (22) Jim Chones (14) Foots Walker (11) Coliseum at Richfield
9,156 		37–32
70 March 22, 1977 Seattle W 108-104 Austin Carr (16) Jim Brewer (15) Austin Carr (7) Coliseum at Richfield
9,258 		38–32
71 March 23, 1977 @ Washington L 90-95 Dick Snyder (16) Jim Chones (16) Foots Walker (6) Capital Centre
7,629 		38–33
72 March 24, 1977 New Orleans L 87-92 Austin Carr (26) Jim Chones (10) Foots Walker (9) Coliseum at Richfield
11,626 		38–34
73 March 26, 1977 Atlanta W 99–94 Foots Walker (23) Jim Brewer (7) Foots Walker (10) Coliseum at Richfield
12,344 		39–34
74 March 27, 1977 @ Chicago L 90–95 Bingo Smith (22) Jim Brewer (14) Foots Walker (5) Chicago Stadium
9,271 		39–35
75 March 29, 1977 Boston W 110–82 Austin Carr (24) Jim Brewer (10) Gary Brokaw (5) Coliseum at Richfield
9,732 		40–35
April: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1976–77 schedule

Playoffs

1977 playoff game log
First Round: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 13 @ Washington L 100–109 Foots Walker (20) Jim Brewer (12) Gary Brokaw (5) Capital Centre
11,240 		0–1
2 April 15 Washington W 91–83 Campy Russell (22) Jim Chones (12) Foots Walker (6) Richfield Coliseum
19,545 		1–1
3 April 17 @ Washington L 98–104 Elmore Smith (20) Jim Brewer (13) Foots Walker (11) Capital Centre
10,488 		1–2
1977 schedule

Awards and records

References