1975–76 Phoenix Suns season
1975–76 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Conference champions | |
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 | 42–40 (.512) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Celtics 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KTAR-TV |
Radio | KTAR |
The 1975–76 Phoenix Suns season was the eighth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The season included an improbable run to the NBA Finals by a team that had never won a playoff series and made the playoffs only one other season in the franchise's existence.
With a regular season record of 42–40, the Suns had finished third in the Pacific division standings and improved upon last season's win total by 10 games. The ensuing playoff run took plenty by surprise, including a seven-game series win against the Western Conference's top seed and defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, a team that had finished 17 games ahead of the Suns in the divisional standings.
The franchise's first Finals appearance pitted them against a 12-time champion in the Boston Celtics, whose roster featured three players from that season's All-Star Game. The 1976 NBA Finals would feature a memorable Game 5 triple-overtime thriller filled with controversies, in which the Suns narrowly lost. Returning home for Game 6, the demoralized Suns would lose Game 6 and the series but not before endearing a generation of fans to the Suns franchise and showcasing basketball from the desert southwest.
The team's
Offseason
NBA draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | Alvan Adams | Center | United States | Oklahoma |
1 | 16 | Ricky Sobers | Guard | United States | UNLV |
2 | 35 | Allen Murphy | Guard | United States | Louisville |
2 | 36 | Jimmy Dan Conner | Guard | United States | Kentucky |
3 | 54 | Bayard Forrest | Center | United States | Grand Canyon |
4 | 58 | Sam McCants | Guard | United States | Oral Roberts |
5 | 76 | Joe Pace | Center | United States | Coppin State |
6 | 94 | Clark "Biff" Burrell | Guard | United States | USC |
7 | 112 | Dave Edmunds | Guard | United States | West Georgia |
8 | 130 | Jack Schrader | Forward | United States | Arizona State |
9 | 147 | Owen Brown | Forward | United States | Maryland |
10 | 163 | Mike Moon | Guard | United States | Arizona State |
Finishing the previous season with a 32–50 record, the Suns earned the fourth pick in the draft, which they used to select center Alvan Adams from Oklahoma. Adams averaged 23.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in three seasons with the Sooners.[2] With averages of 19 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks a game, Adams would become an All-Star in his first NBA season, and go on to be named Rookie of the Year. Adams would spend his entire 13-year career with the Suns, and would have his #33 jersey retired by the franchise in 1988.[3]
On draft day, the Suns traded one of their 1976 first-round picks (acquired from a trade with the
In the third round, the Suns selected center Bayard Forrest from Grand Canyon University. Forrest would play another season with the Antelopes, and be drafted again by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976. The Sonics would trade the rights to Forrest back to the Suns in 1977 for a 1979 second-round pick. Forrest played two seasons for the Suns as a backup center, before being sidelined by thyroid cancer, forcing him to retire in 1980.[5]
Free agency
On June 10, the Suns signed free agent
On October 24, the Suns claimed veteran
Trades
On May 23, the Suns traded three-time All-Star guard Charlie Scott to the Boston Celtics for guard Paul Westphal, a 1975 second-round draft pick, and a 1976 second-round draft pick. Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo released this statement after the trade:
It takes a team concept of play to win in this league. Although Charlie Scott is a talent, our decision was made on the basis that Scott's talents were of an individual nature and did not fit into a team style of play. In Paul Westphal, we are acquiring a player from a winning situation. He is a stable, quality individual who will add leadership and experience to our club. We are confident that this decision will prove to be a major step in developing a winner and that the Phoenix Suns are more important than any one individual.
— Jerry Colangelo, [10]
Westphal had spent his first three years playing a limited role for Boston, but would blossom as a starter for the Suns. From
On May 28, the Suns traded center Earl Williams to the Detroit Pistons for forward Willie Norwood. Unable to play in training camp due to knee injuries, the Suns exercised a contract clause that allowed them to send Norwood back to the Pistons.[13] On September 30, the Pistons would send the Suns a 1976 second-round draft pick as compensation for Williams.[14]
On June 9, the Suns traded a 1976 second-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Phil Lumpkin. Playing the 1975–76 season as a backup point guard, Lumpkin would average 2.1 points and 1.4 assists in 34 regular season games, and 1.8 points and 1.2 assists in 17 playoff games. Lumpkin was waived prior to the 1976–77 season and would not play in the NBA again.[15]
On September 17, the Suns traded guard Greg Jackson to the
Roster
1975–76 Phoenix Suns roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason
The Suns held their training camp from September 25 to October 5 at the Yavapai College Gymnasium in Prescott, Arizona. The initial training camp roster consisted of returning Suns Dennis Awtrey, Mike Bantom, Keith Erickson, Nate Hawthorne, Gary Melchionni, Curtis Perry, Fred Saunders and Dick Van Arsdale, as well as newly acquired players Mo Layton, Phil Lumpkin, Willie Norwood and Paul Westphal, rookies Alvan Adams, John Shumate and Ricky Sobers, and training camp invitee Duane Read.[17] Norwood, acquired in an earlier trade with the Detroit Pistons, was unable to play due to knee problems and sent back to the Pistons on October 30. Layton was waived on October 2 after appearing in one exhibition game.[18] Read, a free agent guard from Portland State, had impressed the Suns staff during Los Angeles summer league play and was invited to training camp. Read started in the Suns first preseason game but was cut from the roster before the season.[19] Melchionni was waived on October 24, one day prior to the start of the regular season. Melchionni had played with the Suns for the last two years as a backup point guard, averaging 7.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 137 games.[20]
The loss of Norwood and injuries to Awtrey, Lumpkin, Melchionni and Saunders cut the team's initial preseason roster down to 11. Even with an abbreviated roster, the Suns finished the preseason with a 5–1 record, including three wins over the rival
Game log
1975 preseason game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 5–1
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Regular season
Standings
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Division | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Golden State Warriors | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 36–5 | 23–18 | 17–9 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 | 31–10 | 12–29 | 12–14 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 15–11 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 | 31–11 | 9–31 | 10–16 |
Portland Trail Blazers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 22 | 25–15 | 12–30 | 11–15 |
# | |||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Golden State Warriors | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
2 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 |
3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
4 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 21 |
5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23 |
6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 |
7 | Portland Trail Blazers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 22 |
8 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
9 | Chicago Bulls | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
Record vs. opponents
1975–76 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 |
Boston | 3–2 | — | 4–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 |
Buffalo | 3–2 | 3–4 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–3 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 |
Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 3–4 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–6 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–4 |
Cleveland | 5–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 |
Detroit | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–5 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–4 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 3–1 |
Houston | 5–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 |
Kansas City | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 1–4 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–3 |
Los Angeles | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 |
Milwaukee | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 4–3 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 |
New Orleans | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 |
New York | 2–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | — | 5–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 |
Philadelphia | 3–2 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–5 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 |
Phoenix | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 5–2 | 4–3 | 0–4 |
Portland | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 2–2 |
Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–3 |
Washington | 5–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |
Game log
1975–76 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 27–14; road: 15–26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1–1 (home: 0–0; road: 1–1)
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November: 6–6 (home: 5–1; road: 1–5)
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December: 8–7 (home: 5–5; road: 3–2)
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January: 4–13 (home: 2–6; road: 2–7)
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February: 8–5 (home: 4–2; road: 4–3)
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March: 12–5 (home: 8–0; road: 4–5)
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April: 3–3 (home: 3–0; road: 0–3)
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1975–76 schedule |
Playoffs
Game log
1976 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
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Conference finals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
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NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
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1976 schedule |
Awards and honors
All-Star
- Alvan Adams was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection.
Season
- Alvan Adams received the Rookie of the Year Award.
- Jerry Colangelo received the Executive of the Year Award.
- NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- Paul Westphal finished 24th in MVP voting.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvan Adams | 80 | 78 | 33.2 | .469 | .735 | 9.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 19.0 |
Dennis Awtrey | 74 | 4 | 18.6 | .467 | .688 | 4.0 | 2.1 | .3 | .3 | 4.9 |
Mike Bantom* | 7 | 2 | 9.7 | .308 | 1.000^ | 3.3 | 0.4 | .3 | .3 | 3.0 |
Keith Erickson | 74 | 39 | 25.0 | .470 | .854^ | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .1 | 10.1 |
Nate Hawthorne | 79 | 1 | 14.5 | .430 | .676 | 2.6 | 0.6 | .4 | .2 | 6.1 |
Garfield Heard * |
36 | 36 | 33.9 | .452 | .673 | 9.9+ | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 12.4 |
Phil Lumpkin | 34 | 0 | 10.9 | .338 | .867^ | 0.7 | 1.4 | .4 | .0 | 2.1 |
Curtis Perry | 71 | 70 | 33.1 | .497† | .732 | 9.6+ | 2.6 | 1.2 | .9 | 13.3 |
Pat Riley* | 60 | 5 | 13.2 | .389 | .730 | 0.8 | 1.0 | .4 | .1 | 4.6 |
Fred Saunders | 17 | 0 | 8.6 | .438 | .545 | 2.2 | 0.8 | .3 | .1 | 3.6 |
John Shumate* | 43 | 11 | 21.6 | .550† | .628 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .4 | 11.3 |
Ricky Sobers | 78 | 30 | 24.3 | .449 | .823 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.4 | .1 | 9.2 |
Dick Van Arsdale | 58 | 54 | 32.2 | .484 | .830 | 2.4 | 2.4 | .9 | .2 | 12.9 |
Paul Westphal | 82 | 80 | 36.1 | .494 | .830 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 2.6 | .5 | 20.5 |
John Wetzel | 37 | 0 | 6.7 | .478 | .833 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .2 | .1 | 1.7 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
+ – Minimum 70 games played or 800 rebounds.
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvan Adams | 19 | 19 | 35.2 | .452 | .817 | 10.1 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 17.9 |
Dennis Awtrey | 19 | 0 | 15.1 | .467 | .545 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .3 | .5 | 3.2 |
Keith Erickson | 19 | 0 | 22.4 | .462 | .809 | 3.5 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | 11.3 |
Nate Hawthorne | 15 | 0 | 5.4 | .346 | .727 | 1.1 | 0.3 | .3 | .1 | 1.7 |
Garfield Heard |
19 | 19 | 37.9 | .441 | .679 | 10.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 13.9 |
Phil Lumpkin | 17 | 0 | 8.0 | .333 | .786 | 0.8 | 1.2 | .1 | .0 | 1.8 |
Curtis Perry | 19 | 19 | 32.4 | .454 | .647 | 7.7 | 1.9 | .6 | .9 | 12.7 |
Pat Riley | 5 | 0 | 5.4 | .400 | 1.000^ | 0.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 2.6 |
Ricky Sobers | 19 | 19 | 29.6 | .468 | .833 | 3.3 | 4.2 | .9 | .3 | 13.0 |
Dick Van Arsdale | 19 | 0 | 24.8 | .488 | .870^ | 1.2 | 2.0 | .7 | .1 | 8.5 |
Paul Westphal | 19 | 19 | 36.1 | .511 | .763 | 2.5 | 5.1 | 1.8 | .5 | 21.1 |
John Wetzel | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | . | 1.000^ | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.
Transactions
Trades
May 23, 1975 |
To Boston Celtics
Charlie Scott |
To Phoenix Suns
Paul Westphal |
May 29, 1975 |
To Buffalo Braves
1976 first-round draft pick ( Adrian Dantley) |
To Phoenix Suns
1975 first-round draft pick ( Ricky Sobers) |
June 9, 1975 |
To Portland Trail Blazers
1976 second-round draft pick ( Jacky Dorsey) |
To Phoenix Suns
Phil Lumpkin |
September 17, 1975 |
To Washington Bullets
Greg Jackson |
To Phoenix Suns
Future draft pick |
September 30, 1975 |
To Detroit Pistons
Earl Williams |
To Phoenix Suns
1976 second-round draft pick ( Earl Tatum) |
November 3, 1975 |
To Los Angeles Lakers
John Roche |
To Phoenix Suns
Pat Riley |
November 22, 1975 |
To Seattle SuperSonics
Mike Bantom |
To Phoenix Suns
Cash considerations |
February 1, 1976 |
To Buffalo Braves
John Shumate |
To Phoenix Suns
Garfield Heard
|
Free agents
Additions
Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
---|---|---|---|
June 10, 1975 | Mo Layton | Undisclosed | Memphis Tams (ABA )
|
October 24, 1975 | John Wetzel | Undisclosed | Atlanta Hawks |
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
---|---|---|---|
July 16, 1975 | Jim Owens | Waived | n/a |
October 2, 1975 | Mo Layton | Waived | New York Knicks |
October 24, 1975 | Gary Melchionni | Waived | Hazleton Bullets (EBA) |
February 11, 1976 | Fred Saunders | Waived | Boston Celtics |
References
- ^ "SUNS: 1975–76". NBA.com/Suns. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ^ "Alvan Adams NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Phoenix honors Alvan Adams; retires his jersey". The Prescott Courier.
- ^ "Ricky Sobers NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Cancer Sidelines Forrest". Eugene Register-Guard.
- ^ "Mo Layton NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Sportswhirl". Toledo Blade.
- ^ "John Wetzel NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Suns move Wetzel up to top spot". The Times-News.
- ^ "Celtics Acquire Scott In Trade For Westphal". Eugene Register-Guard.
- ^ "Paul Westphal NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Charlie Scott NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Hurt riddled Suns face Lakers tonight". Prescott Courier.
- ^ "Earl Williams NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Phil Lumpkin NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Basketball Transactions Search Results". prosportstransactions.com.
- ^ "Suns arrive for fall camp tomorrow". Prescott Courier.
- ^ "Suns cut Layton". Prescott Courier.
- ^ "Suns, Lakers Play Tonight". Kingman Daily Miner.
- ^ "Gary Melchionni NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Confident Suns Open Campaign". basketball-reference.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "U.S. Winner". Spokane Daily Chronicle.