1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1977–78 NBA season was the Bucks' tenth season in the NBA.[1] The Bucks had drafted Marques Johnson from UCLA in the 1977 NBA draft.

1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season
Head coachDon Nelson
ArenaMECCA Arena
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishWest Conference semifinals
(lost to Nuggets 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWVTV
RadioWTMJ

Draft picks
Main article: 1977 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
11Kent BensonC United StatesIndiana
13Marques JohnsonSF United StatesUCLA
111Ernie GrunfeldSG/SF Romania
 United States		Tennessee
227Glen Williams United StatesSt. John's
347Gary YoderSG United StatesCincinnati
469Lewis BrownC United StatesNevada-Las Vegas
591Ron Norwood United StatesDePaul
6113Chuck Goodyear United StatesMiami
7134Ron Bostic United StatesDetroit Mercy
8154Larry Pikes United StatesWisconsin-Milwaukee

Roster
1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 54 Benson, Kent 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1954–12–27 Indiana
SF 2 Bridgeman, Junior 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–09–17 Louisville
PG 21 Buckner, Quinn 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–08–20 Indiana
C 51 Eakins, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1946–05–24 BYU
SF 22 English, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–01–05 South Carolina
C 40 Gianelli, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950–06–10 Pacific
SG 20 Grunfeld, Ernie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1955–04–24 Tennessee
SF 8 Johnson, Marques 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1956–02–08 UCLA
PF 7 Meyers, Dave 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1953–04–21 UCLA
PG 11 Walton, Lloyd 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1953–11–23 Marquette
SG 32 Winters, Brian 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1952–03–01 South Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 4834.585–33–815–2611–9
x-Milwaukee Bucks 4438.537428–1316–2514–6
Chicago Bulls 4042.488829–1211–308–12
Detroit Pistons 3844.4631024–1714–278–12
Indiana Pacers 3151.3781721–2010–318–12
Kansas City Kings 3151.3781722–199–3211–9
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers5824.707–
2 y-Denver Nuggets4834.58510
3 x-Phoenix Suns4933.5989
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics4735.57311
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers4537.54913
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks4438.53714
7 Golden State Warriors4339.52415
8 Chicago Bulls4042.48818
9 Detroit Pistons3844.46320
10 Indiana Pacers3151.37827
11 Kansas City Kings3151.37827
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
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 —2–23–11–31–31–32–21–33–13–12–13–12–23–12–22–22–23–11–31–32–11–3
Boston 2–2—3–11–31–31–31–32–22–22–12–21–23–13–12–22–20–42–21–30–40–41–3
Buffalo 1–31–3—3–11–31–31–30–33–11–31–21–31–32–22–23–11–30–41–31–31–31–3
Chicago 3–13–11–3—3–12–22–21–33–13–10–42–21–31–22–21–33–02–21–32–22–22–1
Cleveland 3–13–13–11–3—3–12–22–22–22–12–22–23–13–12–23–11–31–20–40–43–12–2
Denver 3–13–13–12–21–3—2–22–23–02–22–23–13–13–13–11–31–32–23–12–11–33–1
Detroit 2–23–13–12–22–22–2—2–23–11–31–32–22–23–13–00–40–42–21–31–31–32–2
Golden State 3–12–23–03–12–22–22–2—2–13–13–10–42–23–10–42–21–32–21–33–12–22–2
Houston 1–32–21–31–32–20–31–31–2—3–12–21–31–32–21–32–22–21–32–21–30–41–3
Indiana 1–31–23–11–31–22–23–11–31–3—2–21–30–42–22–21–32–21–31–31–31–33–1
Kansas City 1–22–22–14–02–22–23–11–32–22–2—2–20–42–22–20–41–30–40–40–41–32–2
Los Angeles 1–32–13–12–22–21–32–24–03–13–12–2—3–14–02–13–12–21–30–42–21–32–2
Milwaukee 2–21–33–13–11–31–32–22–23–14–04–01–3—3–12–13–11–21–31–32–21–33–1
New Jersey 1–31–32–22–11–31–31–31–32–22–22–20–41–3—0–41–30–42–20–30–42–22–2
New Orleans 2–22–22–22–22–21–31–34–03–12–22–21–21–24–0—1–32–21–33–11–32–20–4
New York 2–22–21–33–11–33–13–02–22–23–14–01–31–33–13–1—1–31–31–32–22–12–2
Philadelphia 2–24–03–11–33–13–14–03–12–22–23–12–22–14–02–23–1—2–12–23–13–12–2
Phoenix 1–32–24–02–22–12–22–22–23–13–14–03–13–12–23–13–11–2—1–32–22–22–2
Portland 3–13–13–13–14–01–33–13–12–23–14–04–03–13–11–33–02–23–1—2–23–12–1
San Antonio 3–14–03–12–24–01–22–11–33–13–14–02–22–24–03–12–21–32–22–2—2–22–2
Seattle 1–24–03–12–21–33–13–12–24–03–13–13–13–12–22–11–31–32–21–32–2—1–3
Washington 3–13–13–11–22–21–32–22–23–11–32–22–21–32–24–02–22–22–21–22–23–1—

Game log
1977–78 game log
Total: 44–38 (home: 6–1; road: 0–2)
October: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1October 18, 1977Los Angeles W 117–112 MECCA Arena 1–0
2October 19, 1977@ Denver L 115–133 McNichols Sports Arena 1—1
3October 22, 1977Chicago W 113–95 MECCA Arena 2–1
4October 27, 1977@ Houston L 110–133 The Summit 2—2
5October 30, 1977Seattle W 108–95 MECCA Arena 3–2
November: 2–3 (home: 2–2; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
6November 1, 1977Kansas City W 115–95 MECCA Arena 4–2
7November 3, 1977@ Cleveland L 91—100 Coliseum at Richfield 4–3
8November 4, 1977Houston W 110–108 MECCA Arena 5–3
9November 8, 1977Denver L 101–111 MECCA Arena 5–4
11November 11, 1977Cleveland L 82–88 MECCA Arena 6–5
December: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
24December 4, 1977New Jersey W 134–118 OT MECCA Arena 13–11
January: 2–0 (home: 2–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
42January 10, 1978Indiana W 125–103 MECCA Arena 25–19
48January 22, 1978Chicago W 112–90 MECCA Arena 26–22
February: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57February 15, 1978New Orleans W 112–99 MECCA Arena 29–28
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1977–78 schedule

Playoffs
1978 playoff game log
First Round: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 11 @ Phoenix W 111–103 Brian Winters (31) Marques Johnson (16) Quinn Buckner (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,161		 1–0
2 April 14 Phoenix W 94–90 Marques Johnson (33) Dave Meyers (14) Quinn Buckner (10) MECCA Arena
10,938		 2–0
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 18 @ Denver L 103–119 Alex English (26) Dave Meyers (15) Brian Winters (11) McNichols Sports Arena
17,297		 0–1
2 April 21 @ Denver L 111–127 Marques Johnson (22) Johnson, Meyers (5) Lloyd Walton (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838		 0–2
3 April 23 Denver W 143–112 Marques Johnson (35) Marques Johnson (10) Lloyd Walton (11) MECCA Arena
10,938		 1–2
4 April 25 Denver L 104–118 Johnson, Winters (14) Marques Johnson (7) Brian Winters (6) MECCA Arena
10,938		 1–3
5 April 28 @ Denver W 117–112 Marques Johnson (34) Marques Johnson (17) Winters, Buckner (9) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838		 2–3
6 April 30 Denver W 119–91 Alex English (21) Marques Johnson (17) Marques Johnson (9) MECCA Arena
10,938		 3–3
7 May 3 @ Denver L 110–116 Brian Winters (27) Marques Johnson (16) Quinn Buckner (10) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838		 3–4
1978 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point 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
Season[2]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brian Winters 8034.446.384.03.14.91.60.319.9
Marques Johnson 8034.652.273.610.62.41.21.319.5
Dave Meyers 8030.246.172.26.73.01.10.614.7
Junior Bridgeman 8222.950.381.03.52.10.90.413.6
Alex English 8218.954.272.74.81.60.50.79.6
Quinn Buckner 8225.346.864.53.05.62.30.29.3
John Gianelli 8228.448.864.26.22.30.71.18.5
Kent Benson 6918.746.565.24.31.41.00.87.7
Ernie Grunfeld 7317.344.365.72.72.00.70.36.9
Lloyd Walton 7616.644.865.11.03.31.00.24.8
Kevin Restani 810.546.40.01.81.10.00.13.3
Jim Eakins 179.141.280.81.70.70.20.42.9
Rich Laurel 105.732.3100.01.00.30.30.12.4
Scott Lloyd 148.036.460.01.90.60.20.42.1

Playoffs
Playoffs[2]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Marques Johnson 935.754.975.012.43.41.11.924.0
Brian Winters 933.949.774.13.36.41.30.920.4
Alex English 923.161.578.14.71.40.70.813.4
Dave Meyers 931.044.466.78.23.90.81.212.9
Quinn Buckner 928.650.065.23.06.92.00.111.2
Junior Bridgeman 919.848.475.02.01.21.00.210.4
John Gianelli 932.242.476.96.41.60.91.27.8
Ernie Grunfeld 711.053.180.01.62.40.40.15.4
Lloyd Walton 913.848.661.50.44.10.90.34.7
Kent Benson 911.447.854.51.70.30.60.33.1
Jim Eakins 36.020.00.00.30.30.30.00.7

Awards and records
  • Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • Marques Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
  • On Friday, November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, and on the road, the Bucks overcame the largest 4th quarter deficit in NBA history, defeating the Atlanta Hawks after being down by 29 points with only 8:43 left in the game. Atlanta led 111–82 before Milwaukee went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation. This record was set without the use of the three-point field goal, since its NBA inception was not until the 1979–80 season.

Transactions

Trades
June 7, 1977
 To Milwaukee Bucks---- To Buffalo Braves----
September 2, 1977
 To Milwaukee Bucks---- To Buffalo Braves----
  • 1979 1st round draft pick (Roy Hamilton)

Free agents
PlayerSignedFormer team
Jim Eakins January 13, 1978 San Antonio Spurs

References
  1. 1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks
  2. "1977-78 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
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