Ep. 9 of the For Your Reference Podcast is out now! Listen on Spotify, Youtube, Apple or Google Podcasts.

1978 NBA Playoffs Summary

1977 Playoffs Summary 1979 Playoffs Summary

League Champion: Washington Bullets

Finals MVP: Wes Unseld (9.0 / 11.7 / 3.9)

1978 Playoff Leaders:

PTS: Elvin Hayes (457)

TRB: Marvin Webster (289)

AST: Tom Henderson (106)

WS: Elvin Hayes (3.1)

Playoff Series

Playoff Series Table

Washington Bullets over Seattle SuperSonics (4-3)

Series Stats

Game 1	Sun, May 21	Washington Bullets	102	@ Seattle SuperSonics	106
Game 2	Thu, May 25	Seattle SuperSonics	98	@ Washington Bullets	106
Game 3	Sun, May 28	Seattle SuperSonics	93	@ Washington Bullets	92
Game 4	Tue, May 30	Washington Bullets	120	@ Seattle SuperSonics	116
Game 5	Fri, June 2	Washington Bullets	94	@ Seattle SuperSonics	98
Game 6	Sun, June 4	Seattle SuperSonics	82	@ Washington Bullets	117
Game 7	Wed, June 7	Washington Bullets	105	@ Seattle SuperSonics	99

Washington Bullets over Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)

Series Stats

Game 1	Sun, April 30	Washington Bullets	122	@ Philadelphia 76ers	117
Game 2	Wed, May 3	Washington Bullets	104	@ Philadelphia 76ers	110
Game 3	Fri, May 5	Philadelphia 76ers	108	@ Washington Bullets	123
Game 4	Sun, May 7	Philadelphia 76ers	105	@ Washington Bullets	121
Game 5	Wed, May 10	Washington Bullets	94	@ Philadelphia 76ers	107
Game 6	Fri, May 12	Philadelphia 76ers	99	@ Washington Bullets	101

Seattle SuperSonics over Denver Nuggets (4-2)

Series Stats

Game 1	Fri, May 5	Seattle SuperSonics	107	@ Denver Nuggets	116
Game 2	Sun, May 7	Seattle SuperSonics	121	@ Denver Nuggets	111
Game 3	Wed, May 10	Denver Nuggets	91	@ Seattle SuperSonics	105
Game 4	Fri, May 12	Denver Nuggets	94	@ Seattle SuperSonics	100
Game 5	Sun, May 14	Seattle SuperSonics	114	@ Denver Nuggets	123
Game 6	Wed, May 17	Denver Nuggets	108	@ Seattle SuperSonics	123

Philadelphia 76ers over New York Knicks (4-0)

Series Stats

Game 1	Sun, April 16	New York Knicks	90	@ Philadelphia 76ers	130
Game 2	Tue, April 18	New York Knicks	100	@ Philadelphia 76ers	119
Game 3	Thu, April 20	Philadelphia 76ers	137	@ New York Knicks	126
Game 4	Sun, April 23	Philadelphia 76ers	112	@ New York Knicks	107

Washington Bullets over San Antonio Spurs (4-2)

Series Stats

Game 1	Sun, April 16	Washington Bullets	103	@ San Antonio Spurs	114
Game 2	Tue, April 18	Washington Bullets	121	@ San Antonio Spurs	117
Game 3	Fri, April 21	San Antonio Spurs	105	@ Washington Bullets	118
Game 4	Sun, April 23	San Antonio Spurs	95	@ Washington Bullets	98
Game 5	Tue, April 25	Washington Bullets	105	@ San Antonio Spurs	116
Game 6	Fri, April 28	San Antonio Spurs	100	@ Washington Bullets	103

Denver Nuggets over Milwaukee Bucks (4-3)

Series Stats

Game 1	Tue, April 18	Milwaukee Bucks	103	@ Denver Nuggets	119
Game 2	Fri, April 21	Milwaukee Bucks	111	@ Denver Nuggets	127
Game 3	Sun, April 23	Denver Nuggets	112	@ Milwaukee Bucks	143
Game 4	Tue, April 25	Denver Nuggets	118	@ Milwaukee Bucks	104
Game 5	Fri, April 28	Milwaukee Bucks	117	@ Denver Nuggets	112
Game 6	Sun, April 30	Denver Nuggets	91	@ Milwaukee Bucks	119
Game 7	Wed, May 3	Milwaukee Bucks	110	@ Denver Nuggets	116

Seattle SuperSonics over Portland Trail Blazers (4-2)

Series Stats

Game 1	Tue, April 18	Seattle SuperSonics	104	@ Portland Trail Blazers	95
Game 2	Fri, April 21	Seattle SuperSonics	93	@ Portland Trail Blazers	96
Game 3	Sun, April 23	Portland Trail Blazers	84	@ Seattle SuperSonics	99
Game 4	Wed, April 26	Portland Trail Blazers	98	@ Seattle SuperSonics	100
Game 5	Sun, April 30	Seattle SuperSonics	89	@ Portland Trail Blazers	113
Game 6	Mon, May 1	Portland Trail Blazers	94	@ Seattle SuperSonics	105

New York Knicks over Cleveland Cavaliers (2-0)

Series Stats

Game 1	Wed, April 12	New York Knicks	132	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	114
Game 2	Fri, April 14	Cleveland Cavaliers	107	@ New York Knicks	109

Washington Bullets over Atlanta Hawks (2-0)

Series Stats

Game 1	Wed, April 12	Atlanta Hawks	94	@ Washington Bullets	103
Game 2	Fri, April 14	Washington Bullets	107	@ Atlanta Hawks	103

Milwaukee Bucks over Phoenix Suns (2-0)

Series Stats

Game 1	Tue, April 11	Milwaukee Bucks	111	@ Phoenix Suns	103
Game 2	Fri, April 14	Phoenix Suns	90	@ Milwaukee Bucks	94

Seattle SuperSonics over Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)

Series Stats

Game 1	Wed, April 12	Los Angeles Lakers	90	@ Seattle SuperSonics	102
Game 2	Fri, April 14	Seattle SuperSonics	99	@ Los Angeles Lakers	105
Game 3	Sun, April 16	Los Angeles Lakers	102	@ Seattle SuperSonics	111

Per Game Stats

Team

Opponent

Per Game Stats Table
Rk	Team	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1	Philadelphia 76ers	10	242.5	43.8	93.2	.470	43.8	93.2	.470	26.8	34.2	.784	14.8	36.8	51.6	26.1	8.4	7.5	20.1	27.2	114.4
2	Milwaukee Bucks	9	240.0	46.2	91.8	.504	46.2	91.8	.504	20.0	27.9	.717	13.1	30.4	43.6	31.3	9.7	7.1	18.8	24.2	112.4
3	New York Knicks	6	240.0	46.8	98.5	.475	46.8	98.5	.475	17.0	23.7	.718	16.0	28.2	44.2	28.5	8.7	4.7	18.5	30.3	110.7
4	Denver Nuggets	13	240.0	43.8	95.8	.457	43.8	95.8	.457	22.9	29.2	.786	17.1	32.5	49.6	27.5	7.0	4.8	18.8	27.8	110.6
5	Cleveland Cavaliers	2	240.0	42.5	93.5	.455	42.5	93.5	.455	25.5	33.0	.773	15.5	24.5	40.0	19.5	6.5	4.0	17.0	24.0	110.5
6	San Antonio Spurs	6	240.0	45.7	93.7	.488	45.7	93.7	.488	16.5	22.5	.733	13.3	32.0	45.3	23.0	7.7	9.3	16.0	25.2	107.8
7	Washington Bullets	21	243.6	43.4	95.6	.454	43.4	95.6	.454	20.7	29.7	.697	17.2	32.2	49.4	23.9	8.5	4.5	16.5	26.2	107.6
8	Seattle Supersonics	22	241.1	39.7	89.2	.445	39.7	89.2	.445	23.5	32.2	.728	17.0	30.7	47.8	18.7	6.7	5.6	16.3	25.0	102.9
9	Los Angeles Lakers	3	240.0	42.3	93.7	.452	42.3	93.7	.452	14.3	21.0	.683	20.3	28.3	48.7	23.7	8.7	6.0	18.7	26.7	99.0
10	Atlanta Hawks	2	252.5	41.0	88.5	.463	41.0	88.5	.463	16.5	25.0	.660	12.5	27.0	39.5	15.5	9.5	5.0	16.5	30.5	98.5
11	Portland Trail Blazers	6	240.0	39.5	84.8	.466	39.5	84.8	.466	17.7	23.8	.741	10.7	29.2	39.8	21.3	6.2	3.7	16.2	26.3	96.7
12	Phoenix Suns	2	240.0	40.5	94.5	.429	40.5	94.5	.429	15.5	19.0	.816	13.5	25.5	39.0	26.5	10.0	3.0	16.0	21.0	96.5
	League Average	9	241.5	42.9	92.8	.462	42.9	92.8	.462	21.2	28.8	.735	15.8	31.3	47.1	24.0	7.8	5.6	17.4	26.2	107.0

Per Game Stats Table
Rk	Team	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1	Portland Trail Blazers	6	240.0	37.8	83.5	.453	37.8	83.5	.453	22.7	31.0	.731	16.2	31.0	47.2	16.3	7.2	4.7	17.2	23.5	98.3
2	Phoenix Suns	2	240.0	42.0	78.5	.535	42.0	78.5	.535	18.5	24.5	.755	9.5	38.5	48.0	24.5	7.5	4.5	21.0	20.0	102.5
3	Seattle Supersonics	22	241.1	41.7	92.9	.449	41.7	92.9	.449	19.2	26.2	.733	16.1	30.7	46.9	23.4	6.7	4.2	16.3	27.5	102.5
4	Washington Bullets	21	243.6	41.7	92.3	.451	41.7	92.3	.451	20.6	27.8	.741	15.1	32.2	47.3	20.8	7.2	7.6	17.6	27.9	103.9
5	Los Angeles Lakers	3	240.0	43.0	90.0	.478	43.0	90.0	.478	18.0	25.7	.701	15.0	28.0	43.0	21.3	7.0	1.3	17.3	21.7	104.0
6	Atlanta Hawks	2	252.5	40.0	81.0	.494	40.0	81.0	.494	25.0	35.0	.714	15.5	34.5	50.0	15.5	7.5	3.0	22.5	25.0	105.0
7	San Antonio Spurs	6	240.0	45.8	95.7	.479	45.8	95.7	.479	16.3	25.2	.649	15.0	31.2	46.2	24.7	8.5	4.2	14.8	24.3	108.0
8	Philadelphia 76ers	10	242.5	44.2	100.5	.440	44.2	100.5	.440	20.4	28.4	.718	18.5	31.2	49.7	27.1	10.0	4.9	18.5	28.9	108.8
9	Milwaukee Bucks	9	240.0	43.7	95.1	.459	43.7	95.1	.459	22.4	28.7	.783	15.8	30.9	46.7	28.3	8.9	5.2	19.6	25.1	109.8
10	Denver Nuggets	13	240.0	44.7	93.8	.476	44.7	93.8	.476	24.2	33.8	.718	15.8	29.2	45.0	27.8	8.8	7.5	15.8	25.4	113.6
11	New York Knicks	6	240.0	45.5	93.3	.488	45.5	93.3	.488	28.8	36.5	.790	15.5	35.0	50.5	25.5	8.3	6.5	20.2	23.3	119.8
12	Cleveland Cavaliers	2	240.0	50.5	91.0	.555	50.5	91.0	.555	19.5	25.0	.780	14.0	29.0	43.0	31.0	5.0	5.5	17.0	29.0	120.5
	League Average	9	241.5	42.9	92.8	.462	42.9	92.8	.462	21.2	28.8	.735	15.8	31.3	47.1	24.0	7.8	5.6	17.4	26.2	107.0

Total Stats

Team

Opponent

Total Stats Table
Rk	Team	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1	Seattle Supersonics	22	5305	874	1963	.445	874	1963	.445	516	709	.728	375	676	1051	412	147	124	359	551	2264
2	Washington Bullets	21	5115	912	2007	.454	912	2007	.454	435	624	.697	361	677	1038	502	178	95	347	551	2259
3	Denver Nuggets	13	3120	570	1246	.457	570	1246	.457	298	379	.786	222	423	645	357	91	62	244	361	1438
4	Philadelphia 76ers	10	2425	438	932	.470	438	932	.470	268	342	.784	148	368	516	261	84	75	201	272	1144
5	Milwaukee Bucks	9	2160	416	826	.504	416	826	.504	180	251	.717	118	274	392	282	87	64	169	218	1012
6	New York Knicks	6	1440	281	591	.475	281	591	.475	102	142	.718	96	169	265	171	52	28	111	182	664
7	San Antonio Spurs	6	1440	274	562	.488	274	562	.488	99	135	.733	80	192	272	138	46	56	96	151	647
8	Portland Trail Blazers	6	1440	237	509	.466	237	509	.466	106	143	.741	64	175	239	128	37	22	97	158	580
9	Los Angeles Lakers	3	720	127	281	.452	127	281	.452	43	63	.683	61	85	146	71	26	18	56	80	297
10	Cleveland Cavaliers	2	480	85	187	.455	85	187	.455	51	66	.773	31	49	80	39	13	8	34	48	221
11	Atlanta Hawks	2	505	82	177	.463	82	177	.463	33	50	.660	25	54	79	31	19	10	33	61	197
12	Phoenix Suns	2	480	81	189	.429	81	189	.429	31	38	.816	27	51	78	53	20	6	32	42	193
	League Average	9	2053	365	789	.462	365	789	.462	180	245	.735	134	266	400	204	67	47	148	223	910

Total Stats Table
Rk	Team	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1	Phoenix Suns	2	480	84	157	.535	84	157	.535	37	49	.755	19	77	96	49	15	9	42	40	205
2	Atlanta Hawks	2	505	80	162	.494	80	162	.494	50	70	.714	31	69	100	31	15	6	45	50	210
3	Cleveland Cavaliers	2	480	101	182	.555	101	182	.555	39	50	.780	28	58	86	62	10	11	34	58	241
4	Los Angeles Lakers	3	720	129	270	.478	129	270	.478	54	77	.701	45	84	129	64	21	4	52	65	312
5	Portland Trail Blazers	6	1440	227	501	.453	227	501	.453	136	186	.731	97	186	283	98	43	28	103	141	590
6	San Antonio Spurs	6	1440	275	574	.479	275	574	.479	98	151	.649	90	187	277	148	51	25	89	146	648
7	New York Knicks	6	1440	273	560	.488	273	560	.488	173	219	.790	93	210	303	153	50	39	121	140	719
8	Milwaukee Bucks	9	2160	393	856	.459	393	856	.459	202	258	.783	142	278	420	255	80	47	176	226	988
9	Philadelphia 76ers	10	2425	442	1005	.440	442	1005	.440	204	284	.718	185	312	497	271	100	49	185	289	1088
10	Denver Nuggets	13	3120	581	1220	.476	581	1220	.476	315	439	.718	205	380	585	362	115	98	205	330	1477
11	Washington Bullets	21	5115	875	1939	.451	875	1939	.451	432	583	.741	318	676	994	437	152	159	369	585	2182
12	Seattle Supersonics	22	5305	917	2044	.449	917	2044	.449	422	576	.733	355	676	1031	515	148	93	358	605	2256
	League Average	9	2053	365	789	.462	365	789	.462	180	245	.735	134	266	400	204	67	47	148	223	910

Advanced Stats

Team

Advanced Stats Table
															Offense Four Factors				Defense Four Factors
Rk	Team	Age	W	L	W/L%	PW	PL	ORtg	DRtg	NRtg	Pace	FTr	3PAr	TS%	eFG%	TOV%	ORB%	FT/FGA	eFG%	TOV%	DRB%	FT/FGA
1	Philadelphia 76ers	26.3	6	4	.600	7	3	103.9	98.8	+5.1	109.0	.367		.528	.470	15.7	32.2	.288	.440	14.1	66.5	.203
2	Washington Bullets	27.5	14	7	.667	13	8	103.3	99.8	+3.5	102.6	.311		.495	.454	13.2	34.8	.217	.451	14.4	68.0	.223
3	Milwaukee Bucks	23.9	5	4	.556	5	4	104.8	102.3	+2.5	107.3	.304		.540	.504	15.3	29.8	.218	.459	15.4	65.9	.236
4	Seattle Supersonics	26.0	13	9	.591	11	11	102.7	102.4	+0.3	99.7	.361		.498	.445	13.6	35.7	.263	.449	13.5	65.6	.206
5	San Antonio Spurs	26.6	2	4	.333	3	3	104.3	104.4	-0.1	103.4	.240		.521	.488	13.4	30.0	.176	.479	12.2	68.1	.171
6	Portland Trail Blazers	25.7	2	4	.333	3	3	99.8	101.5	-1.7	96.9	.281		.507	.466	14.5	25.6	.208	.453	15.0	64.3	.271
7	Denver Nuggets	25.2	6	7	.462	5	8	104.5	107.3	-2.8	105.9	.304		.509	.457	14.7	36.9	.239	.476	12.7	67.4	.258
8	Los Angeles Lakers	26.7	1	2	.333	1	2	100.1	105.1	-5.0	98.9	.224		.481	.452	15.4	42.1	.153	.478	14.6	65.4	.200
9	Phoenix Suns	25.4	0	2	.000	1	1	95.6	101.6	-6.0	100.9	.201		.469	.429	13.5	26.0	.164	.535	19.0	72.9	.236
10	Atlanta Hawks	24.7	0	2	.000	1	1	97.1	103.5	-6.4	96.5	.282		.495	.463	14.2	26.6	.186	.494	18.9	63.5	.309
11	New York Knicks	27.0	2	4	.333	1	5	101.0	109.4	-8.4	109.5	.240		.508	.475	14.5	31.4	.173	.488	15.6	64.5	.309
12	Cleveland Cavaliers	27.1	0	2	.000	0	2	106.8	116.5	-9.7	103.5	.353		.511	.455	13.6	34.8	.273	.555	14.3	63.6	.214
	League Average	26.1				4	4	103.0	103.0		103.3	.311		.507	.462	14.2	33.5	.228	.462	14.2	66.5	.228