1981–82 Philadelphia 76ers season

1981–82 Philadelphia 76ers season
Conference champions
Head coachBilly Cunningham
General managerPat Williams
ArenaThe Spectrum
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Lakers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWPHL-TV
PRISM
RadioWIP
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

The 1981–82 NBA season was the 76ers thirty-third season in the NBA and 19th season in Philadelphia. They would finish with a record of 58–24.

Background

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During the playoffs, the Sixers swept the Atlanta Hawks in two games in the First Round, and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the Semifinals to face off against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the conference finals.

In the Eastern Conference finals, the Sixers defeated the Celtics in seven games to earn a trip to the NBA Finals for the third time in six years.

In the NBA Finals, the Sixers faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the 1980 NBA Finals, in which the Lakers won in six games. In the deciding seventh game, with under a minute and a Sixers victory well secured, the fans at the Boston Garden chanted "Beat LA" to the Sixers, one of pro basketball's most enduring moments, wanting the team to defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, as Celtics fans hated the Lakers. The Lakers went on to win in the NBA Finals, however, defeating the Sixers in six games to capture their second NBA championship in the 1980s. The Lakers won game one by going on an incredible 40-9 scoring spurt in the second half. The home team then won each of the remaining five contests.

A ticket for an October 1981 pre-season game between the 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks.

Draft picks

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Main article: 1981 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 22 Franklin Edwards PG  United States Cleveland State
2 46 Vernon Smith  United States Texas A&M
3 68 Ernest Graham  United States Maryland
4 92 Rynn Wright  United States Texas A&M
5 114 Steve Craig  United States Brigham Young
6 138 Michael Thomas  United States North Park
7 160 John Crawford  United States Kansas
8 183 Frank Gilroy  United States St. John's
9 202 Ron Wister  United States Temple
10 223 Pete Mullenberg  United States Delaware

Roster

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Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 42 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951-12-03 Saint Joseph's
G 10 Cheeks, Maurice 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956-09-08 West Texas A&M
F 25 Cureton, Earl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957-09-03 Detroit Mercy
C 53 Dawkins, Darryl 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1957-01-11 Maynard Evans HS (FL)
G 14 Edwards, Franklin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1959-02-02 Cleveland State
F 6 Erving, Julius 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-02-22 UMass
G 9 Hollins, Lionel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1953-10-19 Arizona State
F 18 Johnson, Ollie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1949-05-11 Temple
F 24 Jones, Bobby 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-18 North Carolina
C 11 Jones, Caldwell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1950-08-04 Albany State
G 4 Richardson, Clint 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1956-08-07 Seattle
F 50 Mix, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1947-12-30 Toledo
G 22 Toney, Andrew 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1957-11-23 Louisiana
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

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Season standings

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Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 63 19 .768 – 35–6 28–13 20–4
x-Philadelphia 76ers 58 24 .707 5.0 32–9 26–15 16–8
x-New Jersey Nets 44 38 .537 19.0 25–16 19–22 12–12
x-Washington Bullets 43 39 .524 20.0 22–19 21–20 7–17
New York Knicks 33 49 .402 30.0 19–22 14–27 5–19
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 63 19 .768 –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 55 27 .671 8
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 58 24 .707 5
4 x-New Jersey Nets 44 38 .537 19
5 x-Washington Bullets 43 39 .524 20
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 42 40 .512 21
7 Detroit Pistons 39 43 .476 24
8 Indiana Pacers 35 47 .427 28
9 Chicago Bulls 34 48 .415 29
10 New York Knicks 33 49 .402 30
11 Cleveland Cavaliers 15 67 .183 48

Record vs. opponents

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1981-82 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–2 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4
Boston 5–1 — 4–2 5–0 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 6–0
Chicago 3–2 2–4 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 0–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–5 2–4 3–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
Cleveland 2–4 0–5 1–5 — 2–0 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–6 0–6 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–5
Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 1–5 1–1 0–5 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 1–5 2–3 1–4 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 — 1–1 3–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 2–4 5–0 2–3 3–3 2–0
Detroit 4–2 0–6 6–0 5–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 2–0 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–4
Golden State 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–3 0–2 — 1–4 2–0 3–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 3–2 5–1 1–5 3–2 1–1
Houston 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–5 0–2 4–1 — 2–0 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 4–1 3–3 4–1 2–3 6–0 2–0
Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 0–2 — 1–1 0–2 0–6 4–2 3–2 0–6 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Kansas City 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–4 0–2 2–3 3–3 1–1 — 1–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 0–5 1–5 4–1 2–3 3–3 0–2
Los Angeles 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 3–3 4–1 2–0 4–1 — 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 5–1 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 2–0
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 5–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 3–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–2
New Jersey 2–3 1–5 4–2 6–0 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 — 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2
New York 1–5 1–5 2–3 6–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 — 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–5
Philadelphia 3–3 2–4 5–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 5–1 — 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 6–0
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 3–2 2–0 2–4 2–3 1–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 4–1 4–2 3–3 3–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–2 2–0 4–2 1–4 1–1 5–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3 — 3–2 4–2 3–3 4–1 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–4 2–3 — 3–2 4–1 3–3 1–1
San Diego 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 0–5 0–2 1–5 1–4 0–2 1–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–3 — 1–5 1–4 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–4 5–1 — 5–0 1–1
Utah 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–6 1–1 3–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 3–3 4–1 0–5 — 1–1
Washington 4–2 0–6 4–2 5–1 1–1 0–2 4–1 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–4 5–1 0–6 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —

Game log

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Regular season

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1981–82 game log
Total: 58–24 (home: 32–9; road: 26–15)
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1
2 October 31 @ Atlanta W 108–106 The Omni 2–0
November: 11–1 (home: 6–1; road: 5–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 3 @ Washington W 112–99 Capital Centre 3–0
4 November 4 Indiana W 107–99 The Spectrum 4–0
5 November 6 Atlanta L 99–106 The Spectrum 4–1
6 November 10 @ Detroit W 95–93 Pontiac Silverdome 5–1
10 November 18 Milwaukee W 102–100 The Spectrum 9–1
12 November 21 Houston W 135–106 The Spectrum 11–1
13 November 27 @ Indiana W 124–112 (OT) Market Square Arena 12–1
14 November 28 Detroit W 116–103 The Spectrum 13–1
December: 9–5 (home: 3–2; road: 6–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
15 December 1 @ Atlanta W 107–98 The Omni 14–1
16 December 2 San Antonio L 101–106 The Spectrum 14–2
17 December 4 @ Boston L 103–111 Boston Garden 14–3
18 December 5 @ New Jersey W 109–102 Brendan Byrne Arena 15–3
19 December 9 Denver W 137–109 The Spectrum 16–3
22 December 13 @ Milwaukee L 108–127 The MECCA 18–4
24 December 19 Boston W 123–118 (OT) The Spectrum 19–5
26 December 27 @ Phoenix L 96–99 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 20–6
27 December 29 @ Golden State W 142–135 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 21–6
28 December 30 @ Seattle W 102–99 Kingdome 22–6
January: 8–8 (home: 3–3; road: 5–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
29 January 1 @ Portland W 120–105 Memorial Coliseum 23–6
31 January 5 @ Detroit L 101–124 Pontiac Silverdome 24–7
32 January 6 Washington W 126–112 The Spectrum 25–7
33 January 8 @ Boston L 90–96 Boston Garden 25–8
34 January 9 New Jersey L 113–120 The Spectrum 25–9
35 January 12 @ Washington W 95–92 Capital Centre 26–9
36 January 13 Milwaukee L 107–111 The Spectrum 26–10
37 January 15 Atlanta L 90–96 The Spectrum 26–11
38 January 17 @ New Jersey L 97–105 Brendan Byrne Arena 26–12
39 January 20 Portland W 115–110 The Spectrum 27–12
40 January 22 @ Indiana W 112–105 Market Square Arena 28–12
41 January 23 Seattle W 100–87 The Spectrum 29–12
42 January 26 @ San Antonio L 95–103 HemisFair Arena 29–13
44 January 28 @ Houston L 101–109 The Summit 30–14
February: 10–2 (home: 8–0; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
45 February 3 Washington W 122–96 The Spectrum 31–14
46 February 5 New Jersey W 116–112 The Spectrum 32–14
48 February 10 Indiana W 102–96 The Spectrum 34–14
53 February 21 Phoenix W 109–102 The Spectrum 39–14
55 February 26 @ Los Angeles L 114–116 (2OT) The Forum 40–15
56 February 27 @ Denver L 125–134 McNichols Sports Arena 40–16
March: 10–6 (home: 7–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
59 March 5 Atlanta W 89–80 The Spectrum 42–17
60 March 7 Los Angeles W 119–113 The Spectrum 43–17
61 March 10 Golden State W 134–114 The Spectrum 44–17
63 March 16 @ Milwaukee L 91–106 The MECCA 45–18
64 March 17 Washington W 102–93 The Spectrum 46–18
65 March 19 Indiana W 112–95 The Spectrum 47–18
66 March 21 Boston L 111–123 The Spectrum 47–19
67 March 24 New Jersey L 106–111 The Spectrum 47–20
68 March 25 @ Detroit L 98–100 Pontiac Silverdome 47–21
70 March 28 @ Boston W 116–98 Boston Garden 49–21
71 March 30 @ Milwaukee L 114–116 (OT) The MECCA 49–22
April: 8–2 (home: 4–1; road: 4–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
76 April 7 @ New Jersey W 116–113 Brendan Byrne Arena 53–23
77 April 9 @ Atlanta L 88–103 The Omni 54–23
78 April 11 Boston L 109–110 (OT) The Spectrum 54–24
79 April 13 @ Indiana W 93–89 Market Square Arena 55–24
80 April 14 Detroit W 119–111 The Spectrum 56–24
81 April 16 @ Washington W 100–96 Capital Centre 57–24
82 April 18 Milwaukee W 110–86 The Spectrum 58–24
1981–82 schedule

Playoffs

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1982 playoff game log
First Round: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 21 Atlanta W 111–76 Darryl Dawkins (27) Darryl Dawkins (9) Maurice Cheeks (6) Spectrum
11,250 		1–0
2 April 23 @ Atlanta W 98–95 (OT) Julius Erving (28) Dawkins, C. Jones (8) Julius Erving (6) Omni Coliseum
8,703 		2–0
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 Milwaukee W 125–122 Julius Erving (34) Caldwell Jones (16) Maurice Cheeks (10) Spectrum
10,086 		1–0
2 April 28 Milwaukee W 120–108 Andrew Toney (31) Caldwell Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (8) Spectrum
14,716 		2–0
3 May 1 @ Milwaukee L 91–92 Maurice Cheeks (19) Caldwell Jones (6) Maurice Cheeks (8) MECCA Arena
11,052 		2–1
4 May 2 @ Milwaukee W 100–93 Julius Erving (21) Julius Erving (11) Julius Erving (9) MECCA Arena
11,052 		3–1
5 May 5 Milwaukee L 98–110 Julius Erving (28) Julius Erving (10) Maurice Cheeks (9) Spectrum
16,668 		3–2
6 May 7 @ Milwaukee W 102–90 Maurice Cheeks (26) Caldwell Jones (12) Julius Erving (7) MECCA Arena
11,052 		4–2
Conference finals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 9 @ Boston L 81–121 Andrew Toney (15) four players tied (7) Andrew Toney (4) Boston Garden
15,320 		0–1
2 May 12 @ Boston W 121–113 Andrew Toney (30) Caldwell Jones (11) Maurice Cheeks (14) Boston Garden
15,320 		1–1
3 May 15 Boston W 99–97 Julius Erving (19) Caldwell Jones (12) Maurice Cheeks (10) Spectrum
18,364 		2–1
4 May 16 Boston W 119–94 Andrew Toney (39) Caldwell Jones (11) Maurice Cheeks (11) Spectrum
18,364 		3–1
5 May 19 @ Boston L 85–114 Andrew Toney (18) Darryl Dawkins (10) Lionel Hollins (7) Boston Garden
15,320 		3–2
6 May 21 Boston L 75–88 Julius Erving (24) Caldwell Jones (17) Maurice Cheeks (7) Spectrum
18,364 		3–3
7 May 23 @ Boston W 120–106 Andrew Toney (34) Caldwell Jones (10) Maurice Cheeks (11) Boston Garden
15,320 		4–3
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 27 Los Angeles L 117–124 Julius Erving (27) Caldwell Jones (11) Cheeks, Toney (9) Spectrum
18,364 		0–1
2 May 30 Los Angeles W 110–94 Julius Erving (24) Julius Erving (14) Andrew Toney (11) Spectrum
18,364 		1–1
3 June 1 @ Los Angeles L 108–129 Andrew Toney (36) Darryl Dawkins (13) Maurice Cheeks (9) The Forum
17,505 		1–2
4 June 3 @ Los Angeles L 101–111 Andrew Toney (28) Bobby Jones (9) Andrew Toney (11) The Forum
17,505 		1–3
5 June 6 Los Angeles W 135–102 Andrew Toney (31) Julius Erving (12) Toney, Cheeks (8) Spectrum
18,364 		2–3
6 June 8 @ Los Angeles L 104–114 Julius Erving (30) Caldwell Jones (9) Maurice Cheeks (9) The Forum
17,505 		2–4
1982 schedule

Awards and records

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References

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