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1981-82 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* 63 19 .768 — 112.0 105.6 57 25 6.35
Philadelphia 76ers* 58 24 .707 5.0 111.2 105.5 56 26 5.74
New Jersey Nets* 44 38 .537 19.0 106.7 106.0 43 39 0.87
Washington Bullets* 43 39 .524 20.0 103.5 102.6 43 39 1.06
New York Knickerbockers 33 49 .402 30.0 106.2 108.9 34 48 -2.15
Central Division         
Milwaukee Bucks* 55 27 .671 — 108.4 102.9 55 27 5.38
Atlanta Hawks* 42 40 .512 13.0 101.0 100.5 43 39 0.81
Detroit Pistons 39 43 .476 16.0 111.1 112.0 39 43 -0.63
Indiana Pacers 35 47 .427 20.0 102.2 104.0 36 46 -1.49
Chicago Bulls 34 48 .415 21.0 106.6 108.6 36 46 -1.57
Cleveland Cavaliers 15 67 .183 40.0 103.2 111.7 20 62 -7.77
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G W Pyth L Pyth SRS
Midwest Division         
San Antonio Spurs* 48 34 .585 — 113.1 110.8 47 35 1.79
Denver Nuggets* 46 36 .561 2.0 126.5 126.0 42 40 0.13
Houston Rockets* 46 36 .561 2.0 105.9 105.9 41 41 -0.39
Kansas City Kings 30 52 .366 18.0 107.1 110.2 33 49 -3.25
Dallas Mavericks 28 54 .341 20.0 104.6 109.0 29 53 -4.48
Utah Jazz 25 57 .305 23.0 110.9 116.6 27 55 -5.63
Pacific Division         
Los Angeles Lakers* 57 25 .695 — 114.6 109.8 53 29 4.37
Seattle Supersonics* 52 30 .634 5.0 107.3 103.1 52 30 3.69
Phoenix Suns* 46 36 .561 11.0 106.2 102.7 50 32 3.05
Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12.0 110.9 109.8 44 38 0.80
Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15.0 109.8 109.2 43 39 0.39
San Diego Clippers 17 65 .207 40.0 108.5 115.9 23 59 -7.05

League Playoffs

Finals (4-2): Los Angeles Lakers over Philadelphia 76ers
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-3): Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics
 
Western Conference Finals (4-0): Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-1): Boston Celtics over Washington Bullets
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-2): Philadelphia 76ers over Milwaukee Bucks
 
Western Conference Semifinals (4-0): Los Angeles Lakers over Phoenix Suns
Western Conference Semifinals (4-1): San Antonio Spurs over Seattle Supersonics
 
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Philadelphia 76ers over Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference First Round (2-0): Washington Bullets over New Jersey Nets
 
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Phoenix Suns over Denver Nuggets
Western Conference First Round (2-1): Seattle Supersonics over Houston Rockets

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 19830 3980 7656 .520 40 149 .268 2371 2978 .796 1149 2443 3592 2272 664 368 1470 2131 10371 109.8 114.3
2 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19855 3919 7585 .517 13 94 .138 1549 2161 .717 1258 2505 3763 2356 848 517 1468 1999 9400 103.1 110.2
3 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 3698 7613 .486 64 252 .254 1812 2335 .776 1253 2537 3790 2257 600 555 1293 2217 9272 102.5 109.9
4 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3657 7334 .499 49 184 .266 1817 2457 .740 1253 2489 3742 2126 652 568 1452 2014 9180 101.5 109.8
5 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3616 6974 .518 41 139 .295 1846 2471 .747 1031 2389 3420 2264 856 622 1474 2183 9119 100.6 109.6
6 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3646 7349 .496 91 325 .280 1709 2382 .717 1282 2452 3734 1820 685 391 1424 2225 9092 101.4 108.8
7 Portland Trail Blazers 82 19780 3629 7187 .505 29 140 .207 1719 2387 .720 1142 2355 3497 2054 706 367 1390 2012 9006 100.5 108.8
8 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3504 7366 .476 50 176 .284 1622 2225 .729 1403 2284 3687 1977 648 429 1321 1871 8680 97.2 108.3
9 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19805 3544 7015 .505 49 164 .299 1753 2329 .753 1167 2415 3582 2233 763 455 1589 2281 8890 100.0 107.7
10 San Diego Clippers 82 19755 3552 7101 .500 99 338 .293 1693 2341 .723 1131 2196 3327 1878 636 299 1570 2353 8896 101.4 106.6
11 Chicago Bulls 82 19880 3369 6728 .501 54 213 .254 1951 2545 .767 1125 2525 3650 2043 580 483 1636 2008 8743 99.0 106.6
12 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19830 3505 7178 .488 38 153 .248 1747 2362 .740 1103 2544 3647 2103 691 460 1351 2057 8795 100.0 106.4
13 Utah Jazz 82 19780 3679 7446 .494 22 97 .227 1714 2282 .751 1147 2362 3509 1895 700 357 1435 2196 9094 103.9 106.2
14 New York Knickerbockers 82 19830 3523 7178 .491 58 214 .271 1603 2171 .738 1168 2273 3441 2075 719 338 1486 2195 8707 99.5 106.0
15 Dallas Mavericks 82 19730 3390 7224 .469 55 190 .289 1740 2366 .735 1213 2228 3441 2117 566 313 1317 2193 8575 98.5 105.9
16 Detroit Pistons 82 19830 3561 7391 .482 52 213 .244 1938 2581 .751 1298 2345 3643 2027 741 564 1629 2160 9112 104.3 105.8
17 Phoenix Suns* 82 19830 3508 7140 .491 54 174 .310 1635 2157 .758 1123 2517 3640 2223 753 429 1528 2029 8705 99.5 105.8
18 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19880 3210 6776 .474 28 128 .219 1833 2387 .768 1135 2368 3503 1815 608 485 1343 2268 8281 95.1 105.1
19 Kansas City Kings 82 19880 3604 7284 .495 26 130 .200 1551 2158 .719 1086 2276 3362 2056 743 402 1507 2359 8785 101.8 104.2
20 Washington Bullets* 82 19830 3400 7168 .474 59 236 .250 1626 2105 .772 1047 2583 3630 1983 643 397 1390 2072 8485 99.4 103.3
21 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19805 3405 7334 .464 25 137 .182 1628 2179 .747 1190 2170 3360 1871 634 357 1319 2193 8463 99.3 103.3
22 New Jersey Nets* 82 19780 3501 7227 .484 30 146 .205 1714 2354 .728 1194 2320 3514 2096 918 481 1650 2295 8746 103.1 103.0
23 Indiana Pacers 82 19830 3332 7164 .465 103 316 .326 1612 2176 .741 1141 2372 3513 1897 753 494 1393 2041 8379 98.7 102.7
League Average 82 19813 3554 7236 .491 49 187 .262 1747 2343 .746 1176 2389 3565 2063 700 440 1454 2146 8903 100.9 106.9

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 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19805 3297 7066 .467 57 224 .254 1790 2470 .725 1172 2155 3327 2016 720 350 1538 2189 8441 100.0 102.3
2 Seattle Supersonics* 82 19830 3411 7407 .461 48 201 .239 1586 2183 .727 1241 2420 3661 1994 660 311 1405 2150 8456 100.0 102.3
3 New Jersey Nets* 82 19780 3343 6934 .482 58 187 .310 1946 2597 .749 1142 2346 3488 1931 832 539 1809 2164 8690 103.1 102.3
4 Phoenix Suns* 82 19830 3350 7186 .466 51 200 .255 1671 2215 .754 1158 2366 3524 1949 775 360 1391 2064 8422 99.5 102.4
5 Washington Bullets* 82 19830 3362 7229 .465 44 183 .240 1645 2237 .735 1110 2516 3626 1889 624 543 1325 1907 8413 99.4 102.5
6 Boston Celtics* 82 19780 3490 7429 .470 39 203 .192 1638 2172 .754 1193 2247 3440 1972 681 367 1432 2240 8657 101.5 103.5
7 Philadelphia 76ers* 82 19855 3371 7083 .476 55 212 .259 1852 2496 .742 1289 2344 3633 1965 702 470 1615 2216 8649 100.6 103.9
8 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19880 3150 6709 .470 46 186 .247 1891 2482 .762 1135 2388 3523 1871 578 434 1444 2179 8237 95.1 104.6
9 Indiana Pacers 82 19830 3470 7062 .491 34 183 .186 1558 2133 .730 1204 2598 3802 2053 678 397 1517 2016 8532 98.7 104.6
10 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19855 3745 7679 .488 78 213 .366 1433 2008 .714 1275 2255 3530 2319 718 435 1483 2004 9001 103.1 105.5
11 Detroit Pistons 82 19830 3749 7362 .509 41 175 .234 1648 2211 .745 1159 2434 3593 2191 782 581 1637 2383 9187 104.3 106.6
12 Kansas City Kings 82 19880 3493 6984 .500 48 158 .304 2005 2653 .756 1171 2552 3723 1853 707 450 1609 2136 9039 101.8 107.2
13 San Antonio Spurs* 82 19755 3566 7385 .483 58 199 .291 1893 2497 .758 1151 2434 3585 2036 611 429 1352 2179 9083 102.5 107.6
14 Golden State Warriors 82 19780 3555 7250 .490 40 172 .233 1857 2466 .753 1112 2407 3519 2079 661 393 1368 2156 9007 101.4 107.7
15 Portland Trail Blazers 82 19780 3637 7293 .499 54 206 .262 1629 2149 .758 1221 2367 3588 2114 708 427 1452 2142 8957 100.5 108.2
16 Houston Rockets* 82 19780 3566 7180 .497 48 202 .238 1503 2011 .747 1170 2304 3474 2128 678 353 1341 2047 8683 97.2 108.3
17 Chicago Bulls 82 19880 3659 7388 .495 58 194 .299 1533 2053 .747 1134 2225 3359 2043 807 469 1257 2220 8909 99.0 108.6
18 New York Knickerbockers 82 19830 3541 7018 .505 51 168 .304 1793 2369 .757 1125 2366 3491 2089 703 358 1462 2017 8926 99.5 108.6
19 Dallas Mavericks 82 19730 3530 6953 .508 31 138 .225 1847 2491 .741 1108 2361 3469 1984 643 509 1370 2243 8938 98.5 110.4
20 Utah Jazz 82 19780 3835 7530 .509 51 200 .255 1837 2466 .745 1253 2599 3852 2148 663 420 1413 2052 9558 103.9 111.7
21 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19805 3608 7044 .512 39 131 .298 1906 2529 .754 1125 2529 3654 2169 655 480 1405 2071 9161 99.3 111.8
22 San Diego Clippers 82 19755 3739 7105 .526 36 146 .247 1988 2647 .751 1033 2276 3309 2129 772 487 1334 2124 9502 101.4 113.8
23 Denver Nuggets* 82 19830 4265 8142 .524 64 227 .282 1734 2354 .737 1358 2459 3817 2516 749 569 1476 2453 10328 109.8 113.9
League Average 82 19813 3554 7236 .491 49 187 .262 1747 2343 .746 1176 2389 3565 2063 700 440 1454 2146 8903 100.9 106.9

League Awards

Most Valuable Player:Moses Malone
Rookie of the Year:Buck Williams

League Leaders

Glossary / Rate statistic requirements

Minutes Played

1.Moses Malone*-HOU3398
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA3222
3.Mychal Thompson-POR3129
4.Kelly Tripucka-DET3077
5.Mike Mitchell-TOT3063

Field Goals

1.George Gervin*-SAS993
2.Moses Malone*-HOU945
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA904
4.Alex English*-DEN855
5.Julius Erving*-PHI780

Field Goal Attempts

1.George Gervin*-SAS1987
2.Moses Malone*-HOU1822
3.Gus Williams-SEA1592
4.Adrian Dantley*-UTA1586
5.Alex English*-DEN1553

Field Goal Pct

1.Artis Gilmore-CHI.652
2.Steve Johnson-KCK.613
3.Buck Williams-NJN.582
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL.579
5.Calvin Natt-POR.576

3-Pt Field Goals

1.Don Buse-IND73
2.Joe Hassett-GSW71
3.Mike Bratz-SAS46
4.Kyle Macy-PHO39
5.Brian Winters-MIL36

3-Pt Field Goal Attempts

1.Joe Hassett-GSW214
2.Don Buse-IND189
3.Mike Bratz-SAS138
4.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK101
5.Kyle Macy-PHO100
 Reggie Theus-CHI100

3-Pt Field Goal Pct

1.Campy Russell-NYK.439
2.Andrew Toney-PHI.424
3.Kyle Macy-PHO.390
4.Brian Winters-MIL.387
5.Don Buse-IND.386

Free Throws

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA648
2.Moses Malone*-HOU630
3.George Gervin*-SAS555
4.Dan Issel*-DEN546
5.Kelly Tripucka-DET495

Free Throw Attempts

1.Moses Malone*-HOU827
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA818
3.Dan Issel*-DEN655
4.World B. Free-GSW647
5.George Gervin*-SAS642

Free Throw Pct

1.Kyle Macy-PHO.899
2.Charlie Criss-TOT.887
3.John Long-DET.866
4.George Gervin*-SAS.865
5.Larry Bird*-BOS.863

Offensive Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU558
2.Buck Williams-NJN347
3.Robert Parish*-BOS288
4.Larry Smith-GSW279
5.Maurice Lucas-NYK274

Defensive Rebounds

1.Jack Sikma-SEA815
2.Mychal Thompson-POR663
3.Buck Williams-NJN658
4.Larry Bird*-BOS637
5.Moses Malone*-HOU630

Total Rebounds

1.Moses Malone*-HOU1188
2.Jack Sikma-SEA1038
3.Buck Williams-NJN1005
4.Mychal Thompson-POR921
5.Maurice Lucas-NYK903

Assists

1.Johnny Moore-SAS762
2.Magic Johnson*-LAL743
3.Maurice Cheeks-PHI667
4.Norm Nixon-LAL652
5.Rickey Green-UTA630

Steals

1.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK213
2.Maurice Cheeks-PHI209
3.Magic Johnson*-LAL208
4.Ray Williams-NJN199
5.Rickey Green-UTA185

Blocks

1.George Johnson-SAS234
2.Tree Rollins-ATL224
3.Artis Gilmore-CHI221
4.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL207
5.Robert Parish*-BOS192

Turnovers

1.Adrian Dantley*-UTA299
 Isiah Thomas*-DET299
3.Moses Malone*-HOU294
4.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK291
5.Ray Williams-NJN290

Personal Fouls

1.Steve Johnson-KCK372
2.Rick Mahorn-WSB349
3.James Edwards-CLE347
4.Tom Chambers-SDC341
5.Jeff Ruland-WSB319

Points

1.George Gervin*-SAS2551
2.Moses Malone*-HOU2520
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA2457
4.Alex English*-DEN2082
5.Julius Erving*-PHI1974

Minutes Per Game

1.Moses Malone*-HOU42.0
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA39.8
3.Mychal Thompson-POR39.6
4.Magic Johnson*-LAL38.3
5.Larry Bird*-BOS38.0

Points Per Game

1.George Gervin*-SAS32.3
2.Moses Malone*-HOU31.1
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA30.3
4.Alex English*-DEN25.4
5.Julius Erving*-PHI24.4

Rebounds Per Game

1.Moses Malone*-HOU14.7
2.Jack Sikma-SEA12.7
3.Buck Williams-NJN12.3
4.Mychal Thompson-POR11.7
5.Maurice Lucas-NYK11.3

Assists Per Game

1.Johnny Moore-SAS9.6
2.Magic Johnson*-LAL9.5
3.Maurice Cheeks-PHI8.4
4.Tiny Archibald*-BOS8.0
5.Norm Nixon-LAL8.0

Steals Per Game

1.Magic Johnson*-LAL2.7
2.Maurice Cheeks-PHI2.6
3.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK2.6
4.Quinn Buckner-MIL2.5
5.Ray Williams-NJN2.4

Blocks Per Game

1.George Johnson-SAS3.1
2.Tree Rollins-ATL2.8
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL2.7
4.Artis Gilmore-CHI2.7
5.Robert Parish*-BOS2.4

Player Efficiency Rating

1.Moses Malone*-HOU26.8
2.Julius Erving*-PHI25.9
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA24.2
4.George Gervin*-SAS24.2
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-LAL23.4

True Shooting Pct

1.Artis Gilmore-CHI.702
2.Steve Johnson-KCK.635
3.Adrian Dantley*-UTA.631
4.Jeff Ruland-WSB.623
5.Calvin Natt-POR.622

Offensive Rebound Pct

1.Moses Malone*-HOU17.5
2.Buck Williams-NJN13.7
3.Larry Smith-GSW13.5
4.Robert Parish*-BOS12.8
5.Jeff Ruland-WSB12.7

Defensive Rebound Pct

1.Jack Sikma-SEA28.0
2.Maurice Lucas-NYK27.5
3.Larry Smith-GSW26.8
4.Buck Williams-NJN26.6
5.Dan Roundfield-ATL25.3

Total Rebound Pct

1.Buck Williams-NJN20.1
2.Larry Smith-GSW20.0
3.Maurice Lucas-NYK19.3
4.Moses Malone*-HOU19.3
5.Robert Parish*-BOS18.8

Assist Pct

1.Johnny Moore-SAS41.5
2.John Lucas-WSB39.4
3.Maurice Cheeks-PHI34.7
4.Mike Bratz-SAS34.2
5.Geoff Huston-CLE33.8

Steal Pct

1.Maurice Cheeks-PHI4.0
2.Quinn Buckner-MIL3.9
3.Allen Leavell-HOU3.4
4.Ray Williams-NJN3.4
5.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK3.4

Block Pct

1.George Johnson-SAS8.2
2.Tree Rollins-ATL6.8
3.Alton Lister-MIL5.8
4.Harvey Catchings-MIL4.9
5.Herb Williams-IND4.5

Turnover Pct

1.Greg Ballard-WSB7.7
2.George Gervin*-SAS8.5
3.Mike Mitchell-TOT8.7
4.Ron Brewer-TOT8.7
5.Kevin Grevey-WSB9.2

Usage Pct

1.George Gervin*-SAS35.0
2.Moses Malone*-HOU29.9
3.John Drew-ATL28.7
4.Jay Vincent-DAL28.6
5.Gus Williams-SEA28.5

Offensive Rating

1.Artis Gilmore-CHI124.0
2.Dan Issel*-DEN122.6
3.Calvin Natt-POR122.1
4.Sidney Moncrief-MIL121.5
5.Adrian Dantley*-UTA120.6

Defensive Rating

1.Jack Sikma-SEA97.2
2.George McGinnis-IND97.6
3.Tree Rollins-ATL98.4
4.Robert Parish*-BOS98.9
5.Alvan Adams-PHO99.1

Offensive Win Shares

1.Moses Malone*-HOU37.7
2.Adrian Dantley*-UTA27.7
3.Julius Erving*-PHI27.7
4.George Gervin*-SAS26.4
5.Magic Johnson*-LAL25.0

Defensive Win Shares

1.Jack Sikma-SEA20.6
2.Larry Bird*-BOS19.5
3.Robert Parish*-BOS17.4
4.Buck Williams-NJN16.3
5.Greg Ballard-WSB16.0

Win Shares

1.Moses Malone*-HOU50
2.Larry Bird*-BOS42
 Julius Erving*-PHI42
4.Magic Johnson*-LAL40
5.Sidney Moncrief-MIL37
 Jack Sikma-SEA37

Loss Shares

1.Darrell Griffith-UTA31
2.Tom Chambers-SDC28
3.Micheal Ray Richardson-NYK27
 Isiah Thomas*-DET27
5.Ron Brewer-TOT24
 Ricky Sobers-CHI24
 Reggie Theus-CHI24

Win Shares Above Average

1.Moses Malone*-HOU20.5
2.Larry Bird*-BOS20.0
3.Julius Erving*-PHI19.5
4.Magic Johnson*-LAL18.0
5.Jack Sikma-SEA16.5
    

All-NBA Teams

1st Team
Larry Bird
Julius Erving
George Gervin
Moses Malone
Gus Williams
 2nd Team
Alex English
Magic Johnson
Bernard King
Sidney Moncrief
Robert Parish

All-Defensive Teams

1st Team
Michael Cooper
Dennis Johnson
Bobby Jones
Caldwell Jones
Dan Roundfield
 2nd Team
Larry Bird
Quinn Buckner
Sidney Moncrief
Lonnie Shelton
Jack Sikma

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
Jeff Ruland
Isiah Thomas
Kelly Tripucka
Jay Vincent
Buck Williams

All-Star Teams

East
Tiny Archibald*
Larry Bird*
Julius Erving*
Artis Gilmore*
Bobby Jones*
Bob Lanier*
Sidney Moncrief*
Robert Parish*
Micheal Ray Richardson*
Dan Roundfield
Isiah Thomas*
Kelly Tripucka*
Buck Williams*
 West
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Adrian Dantley*
Alex English*
George Gervin*
Dennis Johnson*
Magic Johnson*
Bernard King*
Moses Malone*
Norm Nixon*
Lonnie Shelton*
Jack Sikma*
Gus Williams*
Players who played in the game are marked with an asterisk (*).