1977–78 Indiana Pacers season

1977–78 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachBobby Leonard
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record31–51 (.378)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWTTV
RadioWIBC
< 1976–77 1978–79 >

The 1977–78 NBA season was Indiana's second season in the National Basketball Association and 11th season as a franchise.[1]

Draft picks

Main article: 1977 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 29 Alonzo Bradley SF  United States Texas Southern
3 51 Stan Mayhew  United States Weber State
4 73 George Pendleton  United States Georgia State
5 95 Marvin Jackson  United States Prairie View A&M
6 117 Tom Scheffler C  United States Purdue

Roster

1977–78 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 42 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Saint Joseph's
PF 1 Behagen, Ron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Minnesota
PF 9 Bennett, Mel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Pittsburgh
SG 30 Carrington, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Boston College
C 40 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Washington
C 41 Elmore, Len 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Maryland
PG 44 Flynn, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Kentucky
SF 24 Green, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Indiana
PF 32 Roundfield, Dan 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Central Michigan
PG 14 Sobers, Ricky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) UNLV
SG 43 Tatum, Earl 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Marquette
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 – 33–8 15–26 11–9
x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 4 28–13 16–25 14–6
Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 8 29–12 11–30 8–12
Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 10 24–17 14–27 8–12
Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 17 21–20 10–31 8–12
Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 17 22–19 9–32 11–9
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 10
3 x-Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 9
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 11
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 13
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 14
7 Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 15
8 Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 18
9 Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 20
10 Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 27
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 27
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
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 —

Game log

Regular season

1977–78 game log
Total: 31–51 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
October: 3–2 (home: 3–1; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
5 October 28, 1977
7:05 p.m. EST 		Washington W 136–127 Market Square Arena
12,542 		3–2
November: 4–11 (home: 2–3; road: 2–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
December: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
January: 5–11 (home: 4–3; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
34 January 6, 1978
8:05 p.m. EST 		@ Washington L 114–146 
Capital Centre
9,215
15–19
February: 3–11 (home: 2–5; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
57 February 17, 1978
8:05 p.m. EST 		Washington W 123–111 Market Square Arena
10,637 		21–36
March: 7–10 (home: 5–4; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
69 March 17, 1978
8:05 p.m. EST 		@ Washington W 105–99 Capital Centre
8,196 		27–42
April: 2–2 (home: 0–2; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1977–78 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mike Bantom SF 82 2,775 610 238 100 50 1,258 33.8 7.4 2.9 1.2 .6 15.3
Ricky Sobers PG 79 3,019 327 584 170 23 1,436 38.2 4.1 7.4 2.2 .3 18.2
Dan Roundfield PF 79 2,423 802 196 81 149 1,060 30.7 10.2 2.5 1.0 1.9 13.4
Mike Flynn PG 71 955 117 142 41 10 295 13.5 1.6 2.0 .6 .1 4.2
Len Elmore C 69 1,327 420 80 74 71 372 19.2 6.1 1.2 1.1 1.0 5.4
James Edwards† C 58 1,682 435 56 37 50 892 29.0 7.5 1.0 .6 .9 15.4
Earl Tatum† SG 57 1,859 205 226 103 30 822 32.6 3.6 4.0 1.8 .5 14.4
Ron Behagen† PF 51 1,131 333 65 32 19 572 22.2 6.5 1.3 .6 .4 11.2
Steve Green SF 44 449 71 30 14 2 151 10.2 1.6 .7 .3 .0 3.4
John Williamson† SG 42 1,449 120 132 47 0 804 34.5 2.9 3.1 1.1 .0 19.1
Bob Carrington† SG 35 621 62 62 22 11 250 17.7 1.8 1.8 .6 .3 7.1
Mel Bennett PF 31 285 93 22 11 7 74 9.2 3.0 .7 .4 .2 2.4
Adrian Dantley† SF 23 948 216 65 48 17 609 41.2 9.4 2.8 2.1 .7 26.5
Dave Robisch† C 23 598 173 48 20 15 196 26.0 7.5 2.1 .9 .7 8.5
Johnny Neumann SG 20 216 14 27 6 1 83 10.8 .7 1.4 .3 .1 4.2
Bobby Wilson SG 12 86 12 8 2 1 30 7.2 1.0 .7 .2 .1 2.5
Willie Smith PG 1 7 0 1 0 0 0 7.0 .0 1.0 .0 .0 .0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1977–78 Indiana Pacers