1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season
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 >

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

Draft picks

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

1976–77 Cleveland Cavaliers season

Contents

Draft picks

Roster

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Awards and records

References