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1980 - 81 NBA Season Review

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier men's professional basketball league in the world. Consisting of 30 basketball teams, 29 located in the United States and 1 located in Canada, the league plays an 82 game schedule. Eight teams from each of the two conferences compete in the playoffs for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy representative of the NBA Championship.

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WE ARE AT FIRST LOOP

1980 - 81 NBA Regular Season Standings

Eastern Conference
Wins Loses Win % GB PF PA

Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics 62 20 0.756 109.9 104.0
Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 0.756 111.7 103.8
New York Knicks 50 32 0.610 12107.9 106.3
Washington Bullets 39 43 0.476 23105.6 105.6
New Jersey Nets 24 58 0.293 38106.9 113.0

Central Division
Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 0.732 113.1 105.9
Chicago Bulls 45 37 0.549 15109.0 107.0
Indiana Pacers 44 38 0.537 16107.6 106.2
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 0.378 29104.9 108.0
Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 0.341 32105.7 110.6
Detroit Pistons 21 61 0.256 3999.7 106.0



Western Conference
Wins Loses Win % GB PF PA

Midwest Division
San Antonio Spurs 52 30 0.634 112.3 109.4
Kansas City Kings 40 42 0.488 12106.9 106.9
Houston Rockets 40 42 0.488 12108.3 107.9
Denver Nuggets 37 45 0.451 15121.8 122.3
Utah Jazz 28 54 0.341 24101.2 107.1
Dallas Mavericks 15 67 0.183 37101.5 109.9

Pacific Division
Phoenix Suns 57 25 0.695 110.0 104.5
Los Angeles Lakers 54 28 0.659 3111.2 107.3
Portland Trail Blazers 45 37 0.549 12110.7 109.8
Golden State Warriors 39 43 0.476 18109.8 111.0
San Diego Clippers 36 46 0.439 21106.5 108.1
Seattle SuperSonics 34 48 0.415 23104.0 105.7

1980 - 81 NBA Playoffs

Finals
Boston Celtics over Houston Rockets (4-2)

Tue, May 5 - Houston Rockets 95 @ Boston Celtics 98
Thu, May 7 - Houston Rockets 92 @ Boston Celtics 90
Sat, May 9 - Boston Celtics 94 @ Houston Rockets 71
Sun, May 10 - Boston Celtics 86 @ Houston Rockets 91
Tue, May 12 - Houston Rockets 80 @ Boston Celtics 109
Thu, May 14 - Boston Celtics 102 @ Houston Rockets 91

Eastern Conference Finals
Boston Celtics over Philadelphia 76ers (4-3)

Tue, April 21 - Philadelphia 76ers 105 @ Boston Celtics 104
Wed, April 22 - Philadelphia 76ers 99 @ Boston Celtics 118
Fri, April 24 - Boston Celtics 100 @ Philadelphia 76ers 110
Sun, April 26 - Boston Celtics 105 @ Philadelphia 76ers 107
Wed, April 29 - Philadelphia 76ers 109 @ Boston Celtics 111
Fri, May 1 - Boston Celtics 100 @ Philadelphia 76ers 98
Sun, May 3 - Philadelphia 76ers 90 @ Boston Celtics 91

Western Conference Finals
Houston Rockets over Kansas City Kings (4-1)

Tue, April 21 - Houston Rockets 97 @ Kansas City Kings 78
Wed, April 22 - Houston Rockets 79 @ Kansas City Kings 88
Fri, April 24 - Kansas City Kings 88 @ Houston Rockets 92
Sun, April 26 - Kansas City Kings 89 @ Houston Rockets 100
Wed, April 29 - Houston Rockets 97 @ Kansas City Kings 88

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Boston Celtics over Chicago Bulls (4-0)

Sun, April 5 - Chicago Bulls 109 @ Boston Celtics 121
Tue, April 7 - Chicago Bulls 97 @ Boston Celtics 106
Fri, April 10 - Boston Celtics 113 @ Chicago Bulls 107
Sun, April 12 - Boston Celtics 109 @ Chicago Bulls 103

Western Conference Semifinals
Houston Rockets over San Antonio Spurs (4-3)

Tue, April 7 - Houston Rockets 107 @ San Antonio Spurs 98
Wed, April 8 - Houston Rockets 113 @ San Antonio Spurs 125
Fri, April 10 - San Antonio Spurs 99 @ Houston Rockets 112
Sun, April 12 - San Antonio Spurs 114 @ Houston Rockets 112
Tue, April 14 - Houston Rockets 123 @ San Antonio Spurs 117
Wed, April 15 - San Antonio Spurs 101 @ Houston Rockets 96
Fri, April 17 - Houston Rockets 105 @ San Antonio Spurs 100

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Philadelphia 76ers over Milwaukee Bucks (4-3)

Sun, April 5 - Milwaukee Bucks 122 @ Philadelphia 76ers 125
Tue, April 7 - Milwaukee Bucks 109 @ Philadelphia 76ers 99
Fri, April 10 - Philadelphia 76ers 108 @ Milwaukee Bucks 103
Sun, April 12 - Philadelphia 76ers 98 @ Milwaukee Bucks 109
Wed, April 15 - Milwaukee Bucks 99 @ Philadelphia 76ers 116
Fri, April 17 - Philadelphia 76ers 86 @ Milwaukee Bucks 109
Sun, April 19 - Milwaukee Bucks 98 @ Philadelphia 76ers 99

Western Conference Semifinals
Kansas City Kings over Phoenix Suns (4-3)

Tue, April 7 - Kansas City Kings 80 @ Phoenix Suns 102
Wed, April 8 - Kansas City Kings 88 @ Phoenix Suns 83
Fri, April 10 - Phoenix Suns 92 @ Kansas City Kings 93
Sun, April 12 - Phoenix Suns 95 @ Kansas City Kings 102
Wed, April 15 - Kansas City Kings 89 @ Phoenix Suns 101
Fri, April 17 - Phoenix Suns 81 @ Kansas City Kings 76
Sun, April 19 - Kansas City Kings 95 @ Phoenix Suns 88

Eastern Conference First Round
Chicago Bulls over New York Knicks (2-0)

Tue, March 31 - Chicago Bulls 90 @ New York Knicks 80
Fri, April 3 - New York Knicks 114 @ Chicago Bulls 115

Western Conference First Round
Houston Rockets over Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)

Wed, April 1 - Houston Rockets 111 @ Los Angeles Lakers 107
Fri, April 3 - Los Angeles Lakers 111 @ Houston Rockets 106
Sun, April 5 - Houston Rockets 89 @ Los Angeles Lakers 86

Eastern Conference First Round
Philadelphia 76ers over Indiana Pacers (2-0)

Tue, March 31 - Indiana Pacers 108 @ Philadelphia 76ers 124
Thu, April 2 - Philadelphia 76ers 96 @ Indiana Pacers 85

Western Conference First Round
Kansas City Kings over Portland Trail Blazers (2-1)

Wed, April 1 - Kansas City Kings 98 @ Portland Trail Blazers 97
Fri, April 3 - Portland Trail Blazers 124 @ Kansas City Kings 119
Sun, April 5 - Kansas City Kings 104 @ Portland Trail Blazers 95

1980-81 National Basketball Association (NBA) Awards

Player Team Award
Darrell Griffith Utah Jazz Rookie of the Year Award
Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers Most Valuable Player (Season)
Cedric Maxwell Boston Celtics Finals Most Valuable Player
Jerry Colangelo Phoenix Suns Executive of the Year Award
Bernard King Golden State Warriors Comeback Player of the Year
Jack McKinney Indiana Pacers Coach of the Year
Mike Glenn New York Knicks Citizen Award
Tiny Archibald Boston Celtics All Star Most Valuable Player
Darrell Griffith Utah Jazz 1st All Rookie Team
Larry Smith Golden State Warriors 1st All Rookie Team
Kelvin Ransey Portland Trail Blazers 1st All Rookie Team
Kevin McHale Boston Celtics 1st All Rookie Team
Joe Barry Carroll Golden State Warriors 1st All Rookie Team
Tiny Archibald Boston Celtics 2nd All Star Team
Larry Bird Boston Celtics 1st All Star Team
Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers 1st All Star Team
George Gervin San Antonio Spurs 1st All Star Team
Dennis Johnson Phoenix Suns 1st All Star Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers 1st All Star Team
Moses Malone Houston Rockets 2nd All Star Team
Adrian Dantley Utah Jazz 2nd All Star Team
Marques Johnson Milwaukee Bucks 2nd All Star Team
Otis Birdsong Kansas City Kings 2nd All Star Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers 1st All Defensive Team
Dennis Johnson Phoenix Suns 1st All Defensive Team
Bobby Jones Philadelphia 76ers 1st All Defensive Team
Caldwell Jones Philadelphia 76ers 1st All Defensive Team
Micheal Ray Richardson New York Knicks 1st All Defensive Team
Quinn Buckner Milwaukee Bucks 2nd All Defensive Team
George Johnson San Antonio Spurs 2nd All Defensive Team
Dan Roundfield Atlanta Hawks 2nd All Defensive Team
Kermit Washington Portland Trail Blazers 2nd All Defensive Team
Dudley Bradley, Michael Cooper (T) Indiana Pacers 2nd All Defensive Team

NBA - 1980 - 81 All Star Game Individual Statistics

Player Conference Team Minutes Points Rebounds Assists
Eddie Johnson East Atlanta Hawks 32:00 22 1 7
Moses Malone East Houston Rockets 31:00 20 12 2
Julius Erving East Philadelphia 76ers 20:00 11 5 2
John Drew East Atlanta Hawks 15:00 4 3 0
Elvin Hayes East Washington Bullets 29:00 12 5 4
Dan Roundfield East Atlanta Hawks 27:00 18 13 0
Larry Bird East Boston Celtics 23:00 7 6 7
Tiny Archibald East Boston Celtics 21:00 2 3 6
Bill Cartwright East New York Knicks 14:00 8 3 1
Michael Ray Richardson East New York Knicks 13:00 6 1 2
George Gervin East San Antonio Spurs 40:00 34 10 3
Otis Birdsong West Kansas City Kings 14:00 2 0 0
Kermit Washington West Portland Trail Blazers 14:00 4 8 1
Dennis Johnson West Seattle SuperSonics 20:00 19 4 1
Walter Davis West Phoenix Suns 23:00 12 4 2
Paul Westphal West Phoenix Suns 27:00 21 1 5
Jack Sikma West Seattle SuperSonics 28:00 8 8 4
World B. Free West San Diego Clippers 21:00 14 3 5
Magic Johnson West Los Angeles Lakers 24:00 12 2 4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar West Los Angeles Lakers 30:00 17 16 9
Adrian Dantley West Utah Jazz 30:00 23 5 2
Marques Johnson West Milwaukee Bucks 34:00 4 4 1

NBA - 1980 - 81 Leading Scorer

Player Season Team Points
Adrian Dantley 1980-1981 Utah Jazz 2452
Moses Malone 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 2222
George Gervin 1980-1981 San Antonio Spurs 2221
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 2095
Julius Erving 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 2014
Mike Mitchell 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 2012
David Thompson 1980-1981 Denver Nuggets 1967
Alex English 1980-1981 Denver Nuggets 1929
Jamaal Wilkes 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 1827
Bernard King 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 1771
Dan Issel 1980-1981 Denver Nuggets 1749
//Assist Leader Section

NBA - 1980 - 81 Assist Leader

Player Season Team Assists
Kevin Porter 1980-1981 Washington Bullets 734
Norm Nixon 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 696
Michael Ray Richardson 1980-1981 New York Knicks 627
Tiny Archibald 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 618
Phil Ford 1980-1981 Kansas City Kings 580
Maurice Cheeks 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 560
Kelvin Ransey 1980-1981 Portland Trail Blazers 555
Johnny Davis 1980-1981 Indiana Pacers 480
John Lucas 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 464
Mike Bratz 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 452
Larry Bird 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 451
..Foul Leaders Section

1980 - 81 Fouls Leader

Player Season Team Fouls
Ben Poquette 1980-1981 Utah Jazz 342
James Bailey 1980-1981 Seattle SuperSonics 332
Bill Laimbeer 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 332
Robert Reid 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 325
Jim Chones 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 324
Phil Hubbard 1980-1981 Detroit Pistons 317
Darryl Dawkins 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 316
Larry Smith 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 316
Joe Barry Carroll 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 313
Robert Parish 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 310
Mark Olberding 1980-1981 San Antonio Spurs 307
//Field Goal Percetage Section

1980 - 81 Offensive Rebounds

Player Season Team Off Reb
Moses Malone 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 474
Larry Smith 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 433
Swen Nater 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 295
Joe Barry Carroll 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 274
Alex English 1980-1981 Denver Nuggets 273
Bill Laimbeer 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 266
Kenny Carr 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 260
Robert Parish 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 245
Julius Erving 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 244
Dave Greenwood 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 243
Phil Hubbard 1980-1981 Detroit Pistons 236

1980 - 81 Defensive Rebounds

Player Season Team Rebounds
Swen Nater 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 722
Moses Malone 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 706
Larry Bird 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 704
Jack Sikma 1980-1981 Seattle SuperSonics 668
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 624
Caldwell Jones 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 613
Artis Gilmore 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 608
Kenny Carr 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 575
Truck Robinson 1980-1981 Phoenix Suns 573
Larry Smith 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 561
Elvin Hayes 1980-1981 Washington Bullets 554

NBA - 1980 - 81 Total Rebounds

Player Season Team Rebounds
Moses Malone 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 1180
Swen Nater 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 1017
Larry Smith 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 994
Larry Bird 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 895
Jack Sikma 1980-1981 Seattle SuperSonics 852
Kenny Carr 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 835
Artis Gilmore 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 828
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 821
Caldwell Jones 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 813
Elvin Hayes 1980-1981 Washington Bullets 789
Truck Robinson 1980-1981 Phoenix Suns 789

NBA - 1980 - 81 Steals Leader

Player Season Team Steals
Michael Ray Richardson 1980-1981 New York Knicks 232
Quinn Buckner 1980-1981 Milwaukee Bucks 197
Maurice Cheeks 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 193
Dudley Bradley 1980-1981 Indiana Pacers 186
Ray Williams 1980-1981 New York Knicks 185
Julius Erving 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 173
Ron Lee 1980-1981 Detroit Pistons 166
Robert Reid 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 163
Larry Bird 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 161
Norm Nixon 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 146
Darwin Cook 1980-1981 Brooklyn Nets 141

NBA - 1980 - 81 Blocks Leader

Player Season Team Blocks
George Johnson 1980-1981 San Antonio Spurs 278
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 228
Robert Parish 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 214
Artis Gilmore 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 198
Harvey Catchings 1980-1981 Milwaukee Bucks 184
Terry Tyler 1980-1981 Detroit Pistons 180
Ben Poquette 1980-1981 Utah Jazz 174
Elvin Hayes 1980-1981 Washington Bullets 171
Mychal Thompson 1980-1981 Portland Trail Blazers 170
Kevin McHale 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 151
Moses Malone 1980-1981 Houston Rockets 150

1980 - 81 Three (3) Point Percentage (> 50 Attempts)

Player Season Team Attempt Made Percentage
Brian Taylor 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 115 44 0.383
Joe Hassett 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 116 43 0.371
Fred Brown 1980-1981 Seattle SuperSonics 64 23 0.359
Brian Winters 1980-1981 Milwaukee Bucks 51 18 0.353
Freeman Williams 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 141 48 0.340
Henry Bibby 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 95 32 0.337
Mike Bratz 1980-1981 Cleveland Cavaliers 169 57 0.337
Kevin Grevey 1980-1981 Washington Bullets 136 45 0.331
Chris Ford 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 109 36 0.330
Don Buse 1980-1981 Indiana Pacers 58 19 0.328
Scott Wedman 1980-1981 Kansas City Kings 77 25 0.325

1980 - 81 Two (2) Point Percentage (> 200 Attempts)

Player Season Team Attempt Made Percentage
Artis Gilmore 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 816 547 0.670
Darryl Dawkins 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 697 423 0.607
Bernard King 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 1238 729 0.589
Cedric Maxwell 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 749 441 0.589
Brad Davis 1980-1981 Dallas Mavericks 393 227 0.578
Leon Douglas 1980-1981 Kansas City Kings 320 185 0.578
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 1456 836 0.574
Kermit Washington 1980-1981 Portland Trail Blazers 570 325 0.570
Mike Glenn 1980-1981 New York Knicks 500 281 0.562
Adrian Dantley 1980-1981 Utah Jazz 1620 907 0.560
Brian Taylor 1980-1981 San Diego Clippers 476 266 0.559

1980 - 81 Field Goals Percentage (> 200 Attempts)

Player Season Team Attempt Made Percentage
Artis Gilmore 1980-1981 Chicago Bulls 816 547 0.670
Darryl Dawkins 1980-1981 Philadelphia 76ers 697 423 0.607
Bernard King 1980-1981 Golden State Warriors 1244 731 0.588
Cedric Maxwell 1980-1981 Boston Celtics 750 441 0.588
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1980-1981 Los Angeles Lakers 1457 836 0.574
Leon Douglas 1980-1981 Kansas City Kings 323 185 0.573
Kermit Washington 1980-1981 Portland Trail Blazers 571 325 0.569
Brad Davis 1980-1981 Dallas Mavericks 410 230 0.561
Adrian Dantley 1980-1981 Utah Jazz 1627 909 0.559
Mike Glenn 1980-1981 New York Knicks 511 285 0.558
Bill Cartwright 1980-1981 New York Knicks 1118 619 0.554