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1980-81 NBA Season Summary

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League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Click column headers to sort
Eastern Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Atlantic Division         
Boston Celtics* 62 20 .756 — 109.9 104.0 56 26 6.05
Philadelphia 76ers* 62 20 .756 — 111.7 103.8 60 22 7.76
New York Knickerbockers* 50 32 .610 12.0 107.9 106.3 45 37 2.00
Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 23.0 105.6 105.6 41 41 0.42
New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 38.0 106.9 113.0 26 56 -5.15
Central Division         
Milwaukee Bucks* 60 22 .732 — 113.1 105.9 59 23 7.14
Chicago Bulls* 45 37 .549 15.0 109.0 107.0 46 36 2.34
Indiana Pacers* 44 38 .537 16.0 107.6 106.2 45 37 1.72
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 29.0 104.9 108.0 33 49 -2.37
Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 32.0 105.7 110.6 29 53 -4.15
Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 39.0 99.7 106.0 24 58 -5.58
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
San Antonio Spurs* 52 30 .634 — 112.3 109.4 48 34 2.18
Houston Rockets* 40 42 .488 12.0 108.3 107.9 42 40 -0.20
Kansas City Kings* 40 42 .488 12.0 106.9 106.9 41 41 -0.49
Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 15.0 121.8 122.3 40 42 -0.95
Utah Jazz 28 54 .341 24.0 101.2 107.1 26 56 -5.99
Dallas Mavericks 15 67 .183 37.0 101.5 109.9 20 62 -8.33
Pacific Division         
Phoenix Suns* 57 25 .695 — 110.0 104.5 55 27 4.83
Los Angeles Lakers* 54 28 .659 3.0 111.2 107.3 51 31 3.27
Portland Trail Blazers* 45 37 .549 12.0 110.7 109.8 43 39 0.52
Golden State Warriors 39 43 .476 18.0 109.8 111.0 38 44 -1.41
San Diego Clippers 36 46 .439 21.0 106.5 108.1 37 45 -1.78
Seattle Supersonics 34 48 .415 23.0 104.0 105.7 37 45 -1.84

League Playoffs

Finals (4-2): Boston Celtics over Houston Rockets
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-3): Boston Celtics over Philadelphia 76ers
 
Western Conference Finals (4-1): Houston Rockets over Kansas City Kings
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-0): Boston Celtics over Chicago Bulls
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3): Philadelphia 76ers over Milwaukee Bucks
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-3): Houston Rockets over San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference Semifinals (4-3): Kansas City Kings over Phoenix Suns
 
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Chicago Bulls over New York Knickerbockers
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Philadelphia 76ers over Indiana Pacers
 
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Houston Rockets over Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Kansas City Kings over Portland Trail Blazers

Team Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Denver Nuggets 82 19955 3784 7960 .475 30 145 .207 2388 3051 .783 1325 2497 3822 2030 720 380 1444 2108 9986 109.8 109.4
2 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19755 3722 7472 .498 30 131 .229 1802 2340 .770 1261 2408 3669 2319 862 530 1581 2198 9276 103.6 108.7
3 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19805 3571 7276 .491 15 85 .176 2052 2668 .769 1304 2582 3886 2048 685 643 1533 2114 9209 102.9 108.5
4 Golden State Warriors 82 19730 3560 7284 .489 60 210 .286 1826 2513 .727 1403 2366 3769 2026 611 301 1547 2158 9006 101.0 108.5
5 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3581 7099 .504 65 241 .270 1781 2369 .752 1155 2424 3579 2202 683 594 1577 1990 9008 100.8 108.4
6 Chicago Bulls* 82 19780 3457 6903 .501 38 179 .212 1985 2563 .774 1227 2475 3702 1925 729 514 1672 2058 8937 100.6 107.8
7 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3780 7382 .512 17 94 .181 1540 2113 .729 1165 2491 3656 2363 808 551 1557 1955 9117 102.7 107.6
8 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3636 7073 .514 19 84 .226 1865 2427 .768 1091 2618 3709 2369 857 591 1702 2061 9156 103.4 107.0
9 Houston Rockets* 82 19805 3573 7335 .487 21 118 .178 1711 2223 .770 1216 2347 3563 2099 705 390 1451 1901 8878 100.5 107.0
10 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19855 3741 7535 .496 25 148 .169 1573 2191 .718 1243 2388 3631 2244 769 480 1518 2034 9080 103.0 106.5
11 Indiana Pacers* 82 19730 3491 7245 .482 30 169 .178 1815 2540 .715 1325 2267 3592 2091 833 484 1491 2006 8827 100.9 106.4
12 New York Knickerbockers* 82 19830 3505 7255 .483 56 236 .237 1783 2386 .747 1137 2205 3342 1976 861 314 1461 1917 8849 101.0 106.0
13 San Diego Clippers 82 19730 3477 7283 .477 132 407 .324 1651 2246 .735 1169 2144 3313 2098 764 292 1407 2078 8737 100.2 106.0
14 Kansas City Kings* 82 19830 3572 7151 .500 49 168 .292 1576 2206 .714 1037 2450 3487 2271 719 385 1448 2092 8769 101.3 104.7
15 Phoenix Suns* 82 19755 3587 7326 .490 35 161 .217 1810 2430 .745 1234 2490 3724 2205 876 416 1733 1996 9019 104.7 104.6
16 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19780 3556 7609 .467 72 249 .289 1486 1909 .778 1258 2243 3501 2007 632 322 1396 1995 8670 100.8 104.3
17 Atlanta Hawks 82 19930 3291 6866 .479 10 82 .122 2012 2590 .777 1201 2224 3425 1846 749 469 1605 2276 8604 99.4 104.3
18 Utah Jazz 82 19730 3332 6825 .488 42 163 .258 1595 2080 .767 962 2325 3287 1948 637 386 1423 2110 8301 97.7 103.4
19 Seattle Supersonics 82 19780 3343 7145 .468 32 117 .274 1813 2376 .763 1167 2434 3601 1945 628 438 1524 1986 8531 100.3 103.2
20 Washington Bullets 82 19780 3549 7517 .472 65 241 .270 1499 2072 .723 1155 2533 3688 2151 641 392 1422 1895 8662 102.4 102.7
21 Dallas Mavericks 82 19780 3204 6928 .462 46 165 .279 1868 2487 .751 1109 2177 3286 1984 561 214 1439 2008 8322 98.6 102.4
22 New Jersey Nets 82 19805 3477 7314 .475 34 138 .246 1780 2371 .751 1092 2374 3466 2068 750 458 1664 2204 8768 105.2 101.0
23 Detroit Pistons 82 19755 3236 6986 .463 13 84 .155 1689 2330 .725 1201 2111 3312 1819 884 492 1759 2125 8174 101.2 98.1
League Average 82 19797 3523 7251 .486 41 166 .245 1778 2369 .751 1193 2373 3566 2088 738 436 1537 2055 8865 101.8 105.5

Opponent Statistics

Glossary / Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) / Convert to CSV / Convert to PRE / Click column headers to sort
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS Pace Rtg
1 Phoenix Suns* 82 19755 3368 7221 .466 69 209 .330 1762 2383 .739 1160 2284 3444 1970 912 401 1752 2116 8567 104.7 99.4
2 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3307 7337 .451 48 200 .240 1850 2487 .744 1286 2287 3573 2033 818 379 1642 2044 8512 103.4 99.5
3 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19755 3311 7220 .459 35 199 .176 2023 2701 .749 1265 2209 3474 2033 735 400 1670 2050 8680 103.6 101.8
4 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3372 7296 .462 30 139 .216 1752 2277 .769 1192 2174 3366 1890 736 351 1473 2059 8526 100.8 102.6
5 Washington Bullets 82 19780 3518 7491 .470 37 176 .210 1588 2161 .735 1204 2638 3842 2060 739 469 1410 1888 8661 102.4 102.7
6 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19805 3581 7701 .465 42 184 .228 1598 2158 .741 1378 2274 3652 2280 754 357 1473 1869 8802 102.7 103.9
7 Detroit Pistons 82 19755 3499 6869 .509 31 127 .244 1663 2217 .750 1090 2396 3486 2033 793 585 1797 2095 8692 101.2 104.3
8 New York Knickerbockers* 82 19830 3555 7092 .501 43 172 .250 1563 2082 .751 1147 2457 3604 2088 689 452 1660 1994 8716 101.0 104.4
9 Kansas City Kings* 82 19830 3424 7117 .481 31 153 .203 1889 2500 .756 1138 2510 3648 1857 717 383 1520 2015 8768 101.3 104.7
10 Seattle Supersonics 82 19780 3453 7421 .465 42 157 .268 1718 2323 .740 1247 2357 3604 2044 747 387 1348 2044 8666 100.3 104.8
11 Indiana Pacers* 82 19730 3457 7071 .489 41 179 .229 1757 2290 .767 1246 2407 3653 2113 695 439 1655 2064 8712 100.9 105.0
12 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19805 3581 7582 .472 45 168 .268 1766 2387 .740 1214 2177 3391 2206 700 481 1422 2198 8973 102.9 105.7
13 Portland Trail Blazers* 82 19855 3584 7351 .488 34 149 .228 1805 2377 .759 1249 2419 3668 2109 802 422 1575 1932 9007 103.0 105.7
14 Chicago Bulls* 82 19780 3527 7209 .489 52 223 .233 1669 2211 .755 1145 2096 3241 1950 784 441 1502 2135 8775 100.6 105.8
15 Houston Rockets* 82 19805 3617 7341 .493 49 171 .287 1568 2108 .744 1177 2367 3544 2191 689 367 1430 1977 8851 100.5 106.7
16 New Jersey Nets 82 19805 3612 7159 .505 28 130 .215 2010 2663 .755 1059 2499 3558 2144 815 502 1637 2092 9262 105.2 106.7
17 Atlanta Hawks 82 19930 3401 6867 .495 32 152 .211 2024 2641 .766 1207 2318 3525 1935 748 555 1685 2209 8858 99.4 107.3
18 San Diego Clippers 82 19730 3508 6951 .505 33 153 .216 1818 2433 .747 1091 2377 3468 2097 683 392 1553 2006 8867 100.2 107.6
19 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19780 3608 7174 .503 52 168 .310 1800 2395 .752 1158 2499 3657 2166 681 454 1474 1956 9068 100.8 109.1
20 Utah Jazz 82 19730 3430 7018 .489 45 147 .306 1879 2472 .760 1154 2440 3594 1985 596 406 1303 1855 8784 97.7 109.4
21 Golden State Warriors 82 19730 3631 7204 .504 37 160 .231 1804 2411 .748 1137 2210 3347 2223 714 386 1385 2093 9103 101.0 109.7
22 Denver Nuggets 82 19955 4059 8017 .506 44 162 .272 1863 2507 .743 1320 2680 4000 2529 704 547 1555 2387 10025 109.8 109.8
23 Dallas Mavericks 82 19780 3622 7060 .513 36 137 .263 1731 2297 .754 1173 2498 3671 2098 713 480 1433 2187 9011 98.6 110.8
League Average 82 19797 3523 7251 .486 41 166 .245 1778 2369 .751 1193 2373 3566 2088 738 436 1537 2055 8865 101.8 105.5

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Julius Erving
Rookie of the Year:Darrell Griffith

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA3417
2.Moses Malone*-HOU3245
3.Larry Bird*-BOS3239
4.Mike Mitchell-CLE3194
5.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK3175

Field Goals

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA909
2.Mike Mitchell-CLE853
3.George Gervin*-SAS850
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL836
5.Moses Malone*-HOU806

Field Goal Attempts

1.Mike Mitchell-CLE1791
2.George Gervin*-SAS1729
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA1627
4.Alex English*-DEN1555
5.Moses Malone*-HOU1545

Field Goal Pct

1.Artis Gilmore-CHI.670
2.Darryl Dawkins-PHI.607
3.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.588
4.Bernard King-GSW.588
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.574

3-Pt Field Goals

1.Mike Bratz-CLE57
2.Joe Hassett-TOT53
3.Freeman Williams-SDC48
4.Kevin Grevey-WSB45
5.Brian Taylor-SDC44

3-Pt Field Goal Attempts

1.Mike Bratz-CLE169
2.Joe Hassett-TOT156
3.Freeman Williams-SDC141
4.Kevin Grevey-WSB136
5.Brian Taylor-SDC115

3-Pt Field Goal Pct

1.Brian Taylor-SDC.383
2.Freeman Williams-SDC.340
3.Joe Hassett-TOT.340
4.Mike Bratz-CLE.337
5.Henry Bibby-SDC.337

Free Throws

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA632
2.Moses Malone*-HOU609
3.World B. Free-GSW528
4.Dan Issel*-DEN519
5.George Gervin*-SAS512

Free Throw Attempts

1.Moses Malone*-HOU804
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA784
3.Dan Issel*-DEN684
4.World B. Free-GSW649
5.George Gervin*-SAS620

Free Throw Pct

1.Calvin Murphy*-HOU.958
2.Ricky Sobers-CHI.935
3.Mike Newlin-NJN.888
4.Jim Spanarkel-DAL.886
5.Junior Bridgeman-MIL.884

Offensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU474
2.Larry Smith-GSW433
3.Swen Nater-SDC295
4.Joe Barry Carroll-GSW274
5.Alex English*-DEN273

Defensive Rebounds

1.Swen Nater-SDC722
2.Moses Malone*-HOU706
3.Larry Bird*-BOS704
4.Jack Sikma-SEA668
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL624

Total Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU1180
2.Swen Nater-SDC1017
3.Larry Smith-GSW994
4.Larry Bird*-BOS895
5.Jack Sikma-SEA852

Assists

1.Kevin Porter-WSB734
2.Norm Nixon-LAL696
3.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK627
4.Tiny Archibald*-BOS618
5.Phil Ford-KCK580

Steals

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK232
2.Quinn Buckner-MIL197
3.Maurice Cheeks-PHI193
4.Dudley Bradley-IND186
5.Ray Williams-NYK185

Blocks

1.George Johnson-SAS278
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL228
3.Robert Parish*-BOS214
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI198
5.Harvey Catchings-MIL184

Turnovers

1.Moses Malone*-HOU308
2.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK302
3.Larry Bird*-BOS289
4.Norm Nixon-LAL285
5.Adrian Dantley*-UTA282

Personal Fouls

1.Ben Poquette-UTA342
2.James Bailey-SEA332
 Bill Laimbeer-CLE332
4.Robert Reid-HOU325
5.Jim Chones-LAL324

Points

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA2452
2.Moses Malone*-HOU2222
3.George Gervin*-SAS2221
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL2095
5.Julius Erving*-PHI2014

Minutes Per Game

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA42.7
2.Moses Malone*-HOU40.6
3.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK40.2
4.Larry Bird*-BOS39.5
5.Mike Mitchell-CLE39.0

Points Per Game

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA30.6
2.Moses Malone*-HOU27.8
3.George Gervin*-SAS27.1
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL26.2
5.David Thompson*-DEN25.5

Rebounds Per Game

1.Moses Malone*-HOU14.8
2.Swen Nater-SDC12.4
3.Larry Smith-GSW12.1
4.Larry Bird*-BOS10.9
5.Jack Sikma-SEA10.4

Assists Per Game

1.Kevin Porter-WSB9.1
2.Norm Nixon-LAL8.8
3.Phil Ford-KCK8.8
4.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK7.9
5.Tiny Archibald*-BOS7.7

Steals Per Game

1.Magic Johnson*-LAL3.4
2.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK2.9
3.Quinn Buckner-MIL2.4
4.Maurice Cheeks-PHI2.4
5.Ray Williams-NYK2.3

Blocks Per Game

1.George Johnson-SAS3.4
2.Tree Rollins-ATL2.9
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL2.9
4.Robert Parish*-BOS2.6
5.Artis Gilmore-CHI2.4

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL25.5
2.Robert Parish*-BOS25.2
3.Moses Malone*-HOU25.1
4.Julius Erving*-PHI25.1
5.Adrian Dantley*-UTA24.3

True Shooting Pct

1.Artis Gilmore-CHI.700
2.Cedric Maxwell-BOS.651
3.Darryl Dawkins-PHI.641
4.Adrian Dantley*-UTA.622
5.Bernard King-GSW.617

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Larry Smith-GSW18.3
2.Moses Malone*-HOU16.1
3.Robert Parish*-BOS12.7
4.Dan Roundfield-ATL12.3
5.Kermit Washington-POR12.1

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Swen Nater-SDC31.4
2.Kenny Carr-CLE25.6
3.Robert Parish*-BOS25.3
4.Jack Sikma-SEA24.6
5.Larry Smith-GSW24.5

Total Rebound Pct

1.Larry Smith-GSW21.4
2.Swen Nater-SDC21.1
3.Moses Malone*-HOU20.3
4.Robert Parish*-BOS19.3
5.Kenny Carr-CLE17.6

Assist Pct

1.Kevin Porter-WSB39.3
2.Phil Ford-KCK35.5
3.Kelvin Ransey-POR31.4
4.Norm Nixon-LAL30.9
5.John Lucas-GSW30.7

Steal Pct

1.Dudley Bradley-IND4.7
2.Magic Johnson*-LAL4.3
3.Ron Lee-DET4.3
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL3.8
5.Maurice Cheeks-PHI3.7

Block Pct

1.George Johnson-SAS7.7
2.Tree Rollins-ATL6.7
3.Harvey Catchings-MIL6.3
4.Robert Parish*-BOS5.1
5.Kevin McHale*-BOS5.1

Turnover Pct

1.Dan Issel*-DEN7.9
2.Mike Mitchell-CLE8.2
3.Greg Ballard-WSB8.4
4.Dave Robisch-TOT8.9
5.Scott Wedman-KCK9.5

Usage Pct

1.George Gervin*-SAS32.3
2.John Drew-ATL30.9
3.Darrell Griffith-UTA28.8
4.Julius Erving*-PHI28.4
5.Adrian Dantley*-UTA28.4

Offensive Rating

1.Sidney Moncrief-MIL123.7
2.Brian Taylor-SDC123.7
3.Cedric Maxwell-BOS123.6
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI123.2
5.Dan Issel*-DEN121.4

Defensive Rating

1.Alvan Adams-PHO96.2
2.Robert Parish*-BOS96.4
3.Rich Kelley-PHO96.7
4.Julius Erving*-PHI96.7
5.Caldwell Jones-PHI97.3

Offensive Win Shares

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA30.5
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL29.0
3.Moses Malone*-HOU27.3
4.Cedric Maxwell-BOS24.9
5.Julius Erving*-PHI23.9

Defensive Win Shares

1.Larry Bird*-BOS21.1
2.Julius Erving*-PHI19.0
3.Robert Parish*-BOS17.0
4.Truck Robinson-PHO16.9
5.Caldwell Jones-PHI16.8

Win Shares

1.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL44
2.Julius Erving*-PHI43
3.Moses Malone*-HOU39
4.Robert Parish*-BOS37
5.Larry Bird*-BOS36
 Cedric Maxwell-BOS36

Loss Shares

1.Darrell Griffith-UTA38
2.Geoff Huston-TOT28
 John Johnson-SEA28
 Tom LaGarde-DAL28
 Mike Mitchell-CLE28

Win Shares Above Average

1.Julius Erving*-PHI21.0
2.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL20.0
3.Robert Parish*-BOS18.5
4.Marques Johnson-MIL15.5
 Moses Malone*-HOU15.5
 Cedric Maxwell-BOS15.5
    

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Larry Bird
Julius Erving
George Gervin
Dennis Johnson
 2nd Team
Tiny Archibald
Otis Birdsong
Adrian Dantley
Marques Johnson
Moses Malone

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Dennis Johnson
Bobby Jones
Caldwell Jones
Micheal Ray Richardson
 2nd Team
Dudley Bradley
Quinn Buckner
Michael Cooper
George Johnson
Dan Roundfield
Kermit Washington

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Joe Barry Carroll
Darrell Griffith
Kevin McHale
Kelvin Ransey
Larry Smith

All-Star Teams

East
Tiny Archibald*
Larry Bird*
Julius Erving*
Artis Gilmore*
Eddie Johnson*
Marques Johnson*
Bobby Jones*
Mike Mitchell*
Robert Parish*
Micheal Ray Richardson*
Dan Roundfield
Reggie Theus*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Otis Birdsong*
Adrian Dantley*
Walter Davis*
George Gervin*
Dennis Johnson*
Moses Malone*
Truck Robinson*
Jack Sikma*
Paul Westphal*
Jamaal Wilkes*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).