1977–78 Phoenix Suns season

1977–78 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach	John MacLeod
General manager	Jerry Colangelo
Owner(s)	Richard Bloch
Arena	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record	49–33 (.598)
Place	Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finish	Lost in first round to Milwaukee (0–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Radio	KTAR

The 1977–78 Phoenix Suns season was the tenth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The team finished second in a Pacific division that did not have a team finish below .500, as the Suns returned to the playoffs for the third time in franchise history. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Both Paul Westphal and Walter Davis, a rookie from the University of North Carolina, were selected to participate in the All-Star Game and by the end of the season, both were members of the All-NBA Second Team. Davis became the second Sun in three years to be selected as Rookie of the Year, an award teammate Alvan Adams had collected after the 1975–76 season.

Both Westphal and rookie Davis averaged career-highs in scoring, averaging 25.2 and 24.2 points a game. The combined averaged of 49.4 points made for the league's highest-scoring duo on the season. Additionally, Westphal and Davis broke a franchise record of 45.9 points a game, a mark set by Connie Hawkins and Dick Van Arsdale during the 1969–70 season.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Main article: 1977 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	5	Walter Davis	Guard	United States	North Carolina
3	66	Mike Bratz	Guard	United States	Stanford
4	71	Greg Griffin	Forward	United States	Idaho State
5	93	Cecil Rellford	Forward	United States	St. John's
6	115	Billy McKinney	Guard	United States	Northwestern
7	136	Alvin Scott	Forward	United States	Oral Roberts
8	156	Alvin Joseph	Center	United States	California-Riverside

The Suns used their first-round pick to select swingman Walter Davis from North Carolina. Davis averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in four years with the Tar Heels. He would make an immediate impact with the Suns, helping the team make a 15-game improvement and return to the playoffs. Averaging 24.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game his first season, Davis was named Rookie of the Year, receiving 49 1/4 of 66 votes.^[1] He would also be named to the All-NBA Second Team, and would finish fifth in Most Valuable Player voting, behind winner Bill Walton, George Gervin, David Thompson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.^[2] Davis spent his first eleven seasons with the Suns before joining the Denver Nuggets as the league's second unrestricted free agent in 1988. He left as the Suns' all-time leading scorer (15,666 points), and had his #6 jersey retired by the franchise in 1994.

Roster

Phoenix Suns roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Nat.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB (Y-M-D)	From
6.0 !C	33	USA !	Adams, Alvan	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1954-07-19	Oklahoma
6.0 !C	21	USA !	Awtrey, Dennis	7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	1948-02-22	Santa Clara
1.5 !G	23	USA !	Bratz, Mike	7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1955-10-17	Stanford
1.5 !G	10	USA !	Buse, Don	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1950-08-10	Evansville
2.5 !G/F	6	USA !	Davis, Walter	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	1954-09-09	North Carolina
6.0 !C	35	USA !	Forrest, Bayard	7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	1954-07-08	Grand Canyon
4.0 !F	25	USA !	Griffin, Greg	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1952-09-06	Idaho State
4.0 !F	24	USA !	Heard, Garfield	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	1948-05-03	Oklahoma
1.5 !G	30	USA !	Lee, Ron	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	1952-11-02	Oregon
4.0 !F	18	USA !	Perry, Curtis	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1948-09-13	Missouri State
4.0 !F	14	USA !	Scott, Alvin	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1955-09-14	Oral Roberts
4.0 !F	32	USA !	Terrell, Ira (IN)	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1954-06-19	Southern Methodist
1.5 !G	44	USA !	Westphal, Paul	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1950-11-30	Southern California

Head coach

John MacLeod (Bellarmine)

Assistant coach(es)

Al Bianchi (Bowling Green)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Reserve	Inactive
C	Alvan Adams	Dennis Awtrey	Bayard Forrest
PF	Gar Heard	Greg Griffin		Curtis Perry Ira Terrell
SF	Walter Davis	Alvin Scott
SG	Paul Westphal	Ron Lee
PG	Don Buse	Mike Bratz

Regular season

Standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers	58	24	.707	–	36–5	22–19	13–3
x-Phoenix Suns	49	33	.598	9	34–7	15–26	8–8
x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	11	31–10	16–25	8–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers	45	37	.549	13	29–12	16–25	6–10
Golden State Warriors	43	39	.524	15	30–11	13–28	5–11

#	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
10	Kansas City Kings	31	51	.378	27

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

1977–78 game log
Total: 49–33 (Home: 34–7; Road: 15–26)

October: 3–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–2)

November: 8–4 (Home: 6–0; Road: 2–4)

December: 10–6 (Home: 5–2; Road: 5–4)

January: 12–2 (Home: 8–0; Road: 4–2)

February: 5–8 (Home: 4–1; Road: 1–7)

March: 9–7 (Home: 7–2; Road: 2–5)

April: 2–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–2)

1977–78 season schedule

Playoffs

Game log

1978 playoff game log

First Round: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)

1978 playoff schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star

Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 264,006 votes.
Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

Season

Walter Davis received the Rookie of the Year Award.
Paul Westphal was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Westphal also finished sixth in MVP voting.
Walter Davis was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Davis also finished fifth in MVP voting.
Don Buse was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Walter Davis was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Ron Lee led the league in steals per game with a 2.74 average, and total steals with 225.

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game
PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Adams, Alvan !Alvan Adams	70	49	27.3	.485	.730	8.1	3.2	1.2	.9	15.5
Awtrey, Dennis !Dennis Awtrey	81	34	20.0	.424	.633	3.7	2.0	.2	.3	3.6
Bratz, Mike !Mike Bratz	80	0	11.7	.403	.824	1.4	1.5	.5	.1	4.7
Buse, Don !Don Buse	82	82	31.1	.458	.824	3.0	4.8	2.3	.2	8.4
Davis, Walter !Walter Davis	81	81	32.0	.526	.830	6.0	3.4	1.4	.2	24.2
Forrest, Bayard !Bayard Forrest	64	0	13.9	.466	.476	3.9	2.0	.4	.5	4.2
Griffin, Greg !Greg Griffin	36	0	11.7	.361	.639	2.9	0.7	.4	.0	4.0
Heard, Garfield !Garfield Heard	80	73	26.2	.424	.612	8.2	1.7	1.6	1.3	7.8
Lee, Ron !Ron Lee	82	2	23.5	.439	.746	3.1	3.7	2.7	.2	12.2
Perry, Curtis !Curtis Perry	45	4	18.2	.453	.785	5.6	1.1	.8	.5	6.0
Scott, Alvin !Alvin Scott	81	5	19.0	.488	.691	4.4	1.1	.6	.5	6.1
Westphal, Paul !Paul Westphal	80	80	31.0	.516	.813	2.1	5.5	1.7	.4	25.2

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Adams, Alvan !Alvan Adams	2	2	35.5	.455	1.000	8.0	2.0	1.0	.5	16.0
Awtrey, Dennis !Dennis Awtrey	2	0	12.0	.250	1.000	1.0	1.5	.5	.0	1.5
Bratz, Mike !Mike Bratz	2	0	4.5	.200	.	0.0	0.5	.0	.0	1.0
Buse, Don !Don Buse	2	2	38.0	.364	.	2.5	2.0	2.0	.0	4.0
Davis, Walter !Walter Davis	2	2	33.0	.475	.750	8.5	4.0	1.5	.0	25.0
Forrest, Bayard !Bayard Forrest	1	0	3.0	1.000	.	0.0	0.0	.0	.0	2.0
Griffin, Greg !Greg Griffin	2	0	12.5	.429	.	2.0	1.5	.5	.5	3.0
Heard, Garfield !Garfield Heard	2	2	31.0	.353	.500	8.0	2.5	1.0	2.0	6.5
Lee, Ron !Ron Lee	2	0	20.5	.313	1.000	3.0	1.5	2.0	.0	6.0
Scott, Alvin !Alvin Scott	2	0	18.5	.500	.833	3.0	1.5	1.0	.0	6.5
Westphal, Paul !Paul Westphal	2	2	33.0	.468	.889	3.0	9.5	.5	.0	26.0

Transactions

Trades

July 15, 1977	To Portland Trail Blazers---- Dale Schlueter	To Phoenix Suns---- 1978 fourth-round draft pick ( Wayne Smith)
September 6, 1977	To Indiana Pacers---- Ricky Sobers	To Phoenix Suns---- Don Buse

Free agents

Additions

Date	Player	Contract	Old Team
July 23, 1977	Freeman Blade	Undisclosed
February 16, 1978	Greg Griffin	Undisclosed	Phoenix Suns

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason Left	New Team
April 10, 1977	Tom Van Arsdale	Retired
May 12, 1977	Dick Van Arsdale	Retired
June 6, 1977	Keith Erickson	Retired
August 23, 1977	Billy McKinney	Waived	Kansas City Kings
October 17, 1977	Freeman Blade	Waived
October 17, 1977	Butch Feher	Waived
November 14, 1977	Greg Griffin	Waived	Phoenix Suns

References

↑ "Suns' Walter Davis Named NBA Rookie of the Year". nba.com/history.
↑ "1977–78 NBA Awards Voting". basketball-reference.com.

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

1977–78 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Buffalo New Jersey New York Philadelphia

Central	Atlanta Cleveland Houston New Orleans San Antonio Washington

Western

Midwest	Chicago Denver Detroit Indiana Kansas City Milwaukee

Pacific	Golden State Los Angeles Phoenix Portland Seattle

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