1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the seventh season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Arena	Coliseum at Richfield
Results
Record	43–39 (.524)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East First Round (eliminated 1–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WJW-TV
Radio	WWWE
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

Draft picks

Main article: 1976 NBA draft

Roster

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 52 Brewer, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota G 25 Brokaw, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1954–01–11 Notre Dame SG 34 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1948-03-10 Notre Dame C 22 Chones, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1949-11-30 Marquette PG 35 Cleamons, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949-09-13 Ohio State PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1953-01-14 USC SF 20 Russell, Campy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952-01-12 Michigan G/F 7 Smith, Bingo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1946-02-26 Tulsa G/F 10 Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944-02-01 Davidson C 42 Thurmond, Nate 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-07-25 Bowling Green PG 14 Walker, Foots 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1951-05-21 West Georgia G 15 Williams, Chuckie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1953–12–31 Kansas State

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant coach(es) Jimmy Rodgers Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Houston Rockets	49	33	.598	–	34–7	15–26	13–7
x-Washington Bullets	48	34	.585	1	32–9	16–25	11–9
x-San Antonio Spurs	44	38	.537	5	31–10	13–28	9–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	6	29–12	14–27	8–12
New Orleans Jazz	35	47	.427	14	26–15	9–32	10–10
Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	18	19–22	12–29	9–11

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Philadelphia 76ers	50	32	.610	–
2	y-Houston Rockets	49	33	.598	1
3	x-Washington Bullets	48	34	.585	2
4	x-Boston Celtics	44	38	.537	6
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	44	38	.537	6
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	7
7	New York Knicks	40	42	.488	10
8	New Orleans Jazz	35	47	.427	15
9	Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	19
10	Buffalo Braves	30	52	.366	20
11	New York Nets	22	60	.268	28

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

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	—

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Houston Rockets	49	33	.598	–	34–7	15–26	13–7
x-Washington Bullets	48	34	.585	1	32–9	16–25	11–9
x-San Antonio Spurs	44	38	.537	5	31–10	13–28	9–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	6	29–12	14–27	8–12
New Orleans Jazz	35	47	.427	14	26–15	9–32	10–10
Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	18	19–22	12–29	9–11

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Philadelphia 76ers	50	32	.610	–
2	y-Houston Rockets	49	33	.598	1
3	x-Washington Bullets	48	34	.585	2
4	x-Boston Celtics	44	38	.537	6
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	44	38	.537	6
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	7
7	New York Knicks	40	42	.488	10
8	New Orleans Jazz	35	47	.427	15
9	Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	19
10	Buffalo Braves	30	52	.366	20
11	New York Nets	22	60	.268	28

Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NOJ	NYK	NYN	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SEA	WAS
Atlanta	—	0–4	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	4–0	1–2	1–3
Boston	4–0	—	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–4
Buffalo	0–4	1–3	—	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–3	1–3	1–3	0–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	0–4
Chicago	2–2	2–2	3–1	—	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	1–2
Cleveland	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	3–1	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3
Denver	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	3–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–2	4–0	2–2
Detroit	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	1–3	1–3
Golden State	4–0	3–1	3–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	2–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1
Houston	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	0–3	2–2	1–2	—	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1
Indiana	4–0	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4
Kansas City	2–1	1–3	3–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	1–3	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2
Los Angeles	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	—	3–1	3–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	4–0
Milwaukee	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	1–2	1–3	3–1	1–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3
New Orleans	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	2–1	—	3–1	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2
N.Y. Knicks	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–2	2–2
N.Y. Nets	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–2	—	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–3	1–3	1–3
Philadelphia	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	—	1–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1
Phoenix	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–1	—	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3
Portland	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–0	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–1	1–2
San Antonio	0–4	0–4	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–1	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2
Seattle	2–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	—	3–1
Washington	3–1	4–0	4–0	2–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–3	—

Game log

1976–77 game log Total: 43–39 (Home: 29–12; Road: 14–27)
October: 5–0 (home: 4–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
November: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 7, 1976 @ Atlanta L 97–107 The Omni 2,750 8–1
December: 5–9 (home: 4–3; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 25 December 11, 1976 Atlanta L 94–95 Coliseum at Richfield 12,739 16–9
January: 6–7 (home: 5–2; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
February: 5–7 (home: 4–2; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
March: 9–8 (home: 5–3; road: 4–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 2, 1977 @ Seattle W 105-85 Austin Carr (25) Jim Brewers (12) Campy Russell (6) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,622 32–27 60 March 4, 1977 @ Portland W 113-101 Campy Russell (26) Elmore Smith (13) Campy Russell (5) Memorial Coliseum 10,135 33–27 61 March 6, 1977 @ Los Angeles L 99-104 Campy Russell (22) Jim Brewer (11) Foots Walker (5) The Forum 9,842 33–28 62 March 8, 1977 @ Golden State L 102-112 Campy Russell (17) Jim Brewer (11) Gary Brokaw (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,846 33–29 63 March 10, 1977 @ San Antonio L 100-106 Austin Carr (14) Jim Chones (11) Bingo Smith (8) HemisFair Arena 9,924 33–30 64 March 13, 1977 @ Atlanta W 115–113 Elmore Smith (30) Elmore Smith (13) Austin Carr (8) Omni Coliseum 10,525 34–30 65 March 15, 1977 Philadelphia L 102-133 Jim Chones (22) Jim Chones (14) Foots Walker (4) Coliseum at Richfield 9,717 34–31 66 March 17, 1977 Houston L 87-88 Bingo Smith (15) Jim Brewer (10) Jim Cleamons (5) Coliseum at Richfield 9,724 34–32 67 March 18, 1977 @ New York W 101-88 Jim Chones (24) Jim Chones (12) Austin Carr (6) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,743 35–32 68 March 19, 1977 San Antonio W 94-89 Jim Chones (23) Jim Chones (9) Foots Walker (7) Coliseum at Richfield 10,368 36–32 69 March 20, 1977 Buffalo W 115-108 Austin Carr (22) Jim Chones (14) Foots Walker (11) Coliseum at Richfield 9,156 37–32 70 March 22, 1977 Seattle W 108-104 Austin Carr (16) Jim Brewer (15) Austin Carr (7) Coliseum at Richfield 9,258 38–32 71 March 23, 1977 @ Washington L 90-95 Dick Snyder (16) Jim Chones (16) Foots Walker (6) Capital Centre 7,629 38–33 72 March 24, 1977 New Orleans L 87-92 Austin Carr (26) Jim Chones (10) Foots Walker (9) Coliseum at Richfield 11,626 38–34 73 March 26, 1977 Atlanta W 99–94 Foots Walker (23) Jim Brewer (7) Foots Walker (10) Coliseum at Richfield 12,344 39–34 74 March 27, 1977 @ Chicago L 90–95 Bingo Smith (22) Jim Brewer (14) Foots Walker (5) Chicago Stadium 9,271 39–35 75 March 29, 1977 Boston W 110–82 Austin Carr (24) Jim Brewer (10) Gary Brokaw (5) Coliseum at Richfield 9,732 40–35
April: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1976–77 schedule

Playoffs

1977 playoff game log
First Round: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 13 @ Washington L 100–109 Foots Walker (20) Jim Brewer (12) Gary Brokaw (5) Capital Centre 11,240 0–1 2 April 15 Washington W 91–83 Campy Russell (22) Jim Chones (12) Foots Walker (6) Richfield Coliseum 19,545 1–1 3 April 17 @ Washington L 98–104 Elmore Smith (20) Jim Brewer (13) Foots Walker (11) Capital Centre 10,488 1–2
1977 schedule

Awards and records

• Jim Brewer, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References