1978–79_Phoenix_Suns_season
1978–79 Phoenix Suns season
NBA team season
The 1978–79 Phoenix Suns season was the 11th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and the first time they reached the 50-win mark to end the regular season. The team repeated a second-place finish in an expanded Pacific division and the Western Conference's second-best record, thus earning a spot in the playoffs, the franchise's first time extending the season in back-to-back seasons. For the first time since the '75–'76 team, the Suns returned to the Western Conference finals, before being dispatched by Pacific division champion Seattle in seven games. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Quick Facts Phoenix Suns season, Head coach ...
| 1978–79 Phoenix Suns season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | John MacLeod | ||
| General manager | Jerry Colangelo | ||
| Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch | ||
| Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 50–32 (.610) | ||
| Place | Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 3rd (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | Conference finals (lost to SuperSonics 3–4) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | KTAR-TV | ||
| Radio | KTAR | ||
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Paul Westphal, whom led the Suns with his 24 points per game, made his third straight appearance in the All-Star Game and was again named to the All-NBA First Team. Walter Davis followed up his Rookie of the Year Award performance from the previous season with his second consecutive All-Star selection and by season's end, voted to the All-NBA Second Team. Fourth-year big man Alvan Adams hauled in a career-high 9.2 rebounds a game to go with an average of 17.8 points.
NBA draft
Main article: 1978 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Marty Byrnes | Forward |  United States |
Syracuse |
| 3 | 63 | Joel Kramer | Forward | United States |
San Diego State |
| 4 | 85 | Bob Miller | Center | United States |
Cincinnati |
| 4 | 88 | Wayne Smith | Guard | United States |
California-Irvine |
| 5 | 107 | Andre Wakefield | Guard | United States |
Loyola (IL) |
| 6 | 128 | Charles Thompson | Forward | United States |
Houston |
| 7 | 149 | Steve Malovic | Center | United States |
San Diego State |
| 8 | 167 | George Fowler | Center | United States |
Pacific |
| 9 | 184 | Nate Stokes | Forward | United States |
Grand Canyon |
| 10 | 199 | Lewis Cohen | Guard | United States |
Cal Poly |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
| 1978–79 Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Standings
More information W, L ...
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 31–10 | 21–20 | 11–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 | 32–9 | 18–23 | 11–9 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 11–9 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 | 33–8 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–9 |
| Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 8–12 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – |
| 2 | y-Kansas City Kings | 48 | 34 | .585 | 4 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 |
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Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 1978–79 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Denver | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Detroit | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| San Diego | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — |
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Game log
More information 1978–79 game log Total: 50–32 (home: 32–9; road: 18–23), Game ...
| 1978–79 game log Total: 50–32 (home: 32–9; road: 18–23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 7–3 (home: 4–1; road: 3–2)
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November: 10–4 (home: 5–1; road: 5–3)
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December: 7–7 (home: 5–2; road: 2–5)
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January: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
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February: 6–6 (home: 5–1; road: 1–5)
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March: 10–4 (home: 6–1; road: 4–3)
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April: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
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| 1978–79 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Game log
More information 1979 playoff game log, Game ...
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All-Star
- Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 251,829 votes.
- Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Davis finished fifth in voting among Western Conference forwards with 118,546 votes.
Season
- Paul Westphal was named to the All-NBA First Team.
- Walter Davis was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Davis also finished tenth in MVP voting.
- Don Buse was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
More information Legend ...
| 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 | ||||
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Season
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvan Adams | 77 | 74 | 30.7 | .530 | .799 | 9.2 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .8 | 17.8 |
| Mike Bratz | 77 | 0 | 16.8 | .454 | .818 | 1.8 | 2.3 | .8 | .1 | 8.1 |
| Don Buse | 82 | 82 | 31.0 | .495 | .769 | 2.6 | 4.3 | 1.9 | .2 | 7.8 |
| Marty Byrnes* | 43 | 1 | 17.1 | .489 | .730 | 2.3 | 1.4 | .3 | .0 | 6.8 |
| Walter Davis | 79 | 78 | 30.8 | .561 | .831 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 1.9 | .3 | 23.6 |
| Bayard Forrest | 75 | 7 | 16.6 | .434 | .539 | 4.2 | 2.2 | .4 | .5 | 4.0 |
| Garfield Heard | 63 | 37 | 19.3 | .441 | .689 | 5.6 | 1.0 | .8 | .9 | 6.3 |
| Joel Kramer | 82 | 1 | 17.1 | .489 | .710 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .5 | .3 | 5.9 |
| Ron Lee* | 43 | 1 | 22.0 | .452 | .712 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.6 | .1 | 9.8 |
| Ted McClain | 36 | 0 | 12.9 | .470 | .913^ | 1.9 | 1.7 | .5 | .0 | 4.6 |
| Truck Robinson* | 26 | 20 | 29.1 | .508 | .642 | 8.7 | 1.5 | .7 | .5 | 16.0 |
| Alvin Scott | 81 | 28 | 21.4 | .535 | .714 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .8 | 6.7 |
| Paul Westphal | 81 | 81 | 32.6 | .535 | .837^ | 2.0 | 6.5 | 1.4 | .3 | 24.0 |
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* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvan Adams | 12 | 12 | 31.0 | .475 | .710 | 7.5 | 4.4 | .9 | 1.0 | 12.8 |
| Mike Bratz | 15 | 0 | 19.5 | .496 | .763 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .2 | 10.6 |
| Don Buse | 15 | 15 | 34.1 | .405 | .727 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | .3 | 7.9 |
| Walter Davis | 15 | 15 | 32.7 | .520 | .813 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 1.7 | .3 | 22.1 |
| Bayard Forrest | 14 | 0 | 7.9 | .556† | .200 | 2.1 | 0.8 | .3 | .1 | 1.6 |
| Garfield Heard | 15 | 9 | 21.3 | .372 | .600 | 7.1 | 0.9 | .8 | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| Joel Kramer | 15 | 3 | 17.1 | .542† | .722 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .6 | .5 | 6.0 |
| Ted McClain | 14 | 0 | 7.4 | .441 | .813 | 1.1 | 0.9 | .4 | .0 | 3.1 |
| Truck Robinson | 15 | 6 | 26.1 | .403 | .652 | 8.1 | 0.7 | .4 | .8 | 10.5 |
| Alvin Scott | 15 | 0 | 14.5 | .385 | .619 | 2.8 | 1.5 | .4 | 1.1 | 3.5 |
| Paul Westphal | 15 | 15 | 35.6 | .495 | .788 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 22.4 |
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† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
Trades
| October 11, 1978 | To Boston Celtics |
To Phoenix Suns
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| January 12, 1979 | To New Orleans Jazz
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To Phoenix Suns |
Free agents
Additions
More information Date, Player ...
| Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 15, 1979 | Ted McClain | Undisclosed | Philadelphia 76ers |
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Subtractions
More information Date, Player ...
| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 23, 1978 | Greg Griffin | Suspended for signing overseas | |
| August 23, 1978 | Wayne Smith | Waived | |
| September 13, 1978 | Curtis Perry | Retired | |
| October 12, 1978 | Ira Terrell | Waived | New Orleans Jazz |
| October 12, 1978 | Andre Wakefield | Waived | Chicago Bulls |
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