1978–79 Washington Bullets season

The 1978–79 Washington Bullets won their second consecutive Eastern Conference Championship, making it to the NBA Finals before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics. They finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, at 54-28.

1978–79 Washington Bullets season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachDick Motta
ArenaCapital Centre
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to SuperSonics 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
RadioWTOP

Coming off of their NBA Championship the previous season, the Bullets were transferred to the Atlantic Division.[1] The Bullets would continue to remain one of the top teams in the league, as they captured the Atlantic Division championship with a league best record of 54–28. The Bullets ended the regular season losing 8 of their last 11 games, but rebounded in the playoffs with victories in both the Eastern Conference semifinals and Eastern Conference finals over the Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. The Bullets would proceed to have a 38-year drought without a division title until 2017; by then they had been renamed the Washington Wizards. This is the most recent appearance in the conference finals or NBA Finals for the franchise.

Offseason

NBA draft

Roster
Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 42 Ballard, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon
C 40 Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) DePaul
G 45 Chenier, Phil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) California
SF 10 Dandridge, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Norfolk State
F 35 Grevey, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kentucky
G 14 Henderson, Tom 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Hawaiʻi
C 11 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston
PF 25 Kupchak, Mitch 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
G 15 Johnson, Charles 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) California
G 22 Phegley, Roger 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Bradley
F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville
G 32 Wright, Larry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Washington Bullets 5428.659–31–1023–1811–5
x-Philadelphia 76ers 4735.573731–1016–259–7
x-New Jersey Nets 3745.4511725–1612–297–9
New York Knicks 3151.3782323–188–337–9
Boston Celtics 2953.3542521–208–336–10
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Washington Bullets5428.659–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs4834.5856
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers4735.5737
4 x-Houston Rockets4735.5737
5 x-Atlanta Hawks4636.5618
6 x-New Jersey Nets3745.45117
7 New York Knicks3151.37823
8 Cleveland Cavaliers3052.36624
8 Detroit Pistons3052.36624
10 Boston Celtics2953.35425
11 New Orleans Jazz2656.31728

Record vs. opponents
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 —2–23–13–13–13–11–33–11–32–21–33–02–22–22–22–22–12–23–13–11–32–2
Boston 2–2—1–22–21–32–22–11–33–11–31–31–31–32–23–12–20–41–30–41–32–20–4
Chicago 1–32–1—1–32–22–23–12–22–20–41–31–32–22–23–11–31–34–00–30–40–41–3
Cleveland 1–32–23–1—1–21–32–12–21–31–32–21–33–12–22–22–20–40–40–42–22–20–4
Denver 1–33–12–22–1—2–24–01–33–11–33–12–24–03–13–10–33–11–33–12–23–11–3
Detroit 1–32–22–23–12–2—1–32–22–22–22–22–10–42–21–31–30–41–31–32–20–31–3
Golden State 3–11–21–31–20–43–1—2–22–22–21–32–21–33–13–13–11–32–21–31–33–12–2
Houston 1–33–12–22–23–12–22–2—0–43–12–12–23–14–04–00–42–23–13–12–12–22–2
Indiana 3–11–32–23–11–32–22–24–0—1–30–42–21–22–12–22–22–23–13–11–30–41–3
Kansas City 2–23–14–03–13–12–22–21–33–1—2–22–23–13–12–12–22–21–31–32–22–23–0
Los Angeles 3–13–13–12–21–32–23–11–24–02–2—3–12–22–23–01–32–22–22–22–22–22–2
Milwaukee 0–33–13–13–12–21–22–22–22–22–21–3—2–23–11–32–22–22–21–31–32–21–3
New Jersey 2–23–12–21–30–44–03–11–32–11–32–22–2—3–11–32–23–02–20–42–20–41–3
New Orleans 2–22–22–22–21–32–21–30–41–21–32–21–31–3—2–22–21–31–32–20–40–30–4
New York 2–21–31–32–21–33–11–30–42–21–20–33–13–12–2—2–20–41–31–32–22–21–3
Philadelphia 2–22–23–12–23–03–11–34–02–22–23–12–22–22–22–2—1–31–23–13–11–33–1
Phoenix 1–24–03–14–01–34–03–12–22–22–22–22–20–33–14–03–1—3–13–12–21–31–3
Portland 2–23–10–44–03–13–12–21–31–33–12–22–22–23–13–12–11–3—2–12–21–33–1
San Antonio 1–34–03–04–01–33–13–11–31–33–12–23–14–02–23–11–31–31–2—4–02–21–3
San Diego 1–33–14–02–22–22–23–11–23–12–22–23–12–24–02–21–32–22–20–4—2–20–3
Seattle 3–12–24–02–21–33–01–32–24–02–22–22–24–03–02–23–13–13–12–22–2—2–2
Washington 2–24–03–14–03–13–12–22–23–10–32–23–13–14–03–11–33–11–33–13–02–2—

Game log

Regular season
1978–79 game log
Total: 54–28 (home: 31–10; road: 23–18)
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3 October 18 @ Philadelphia W 121–111 [[Charles Johnson (basketball, born 1949}|Johnson]] (19) Unseld (11) Henderson,
Unseld (6)		 The Spectrum
12,065		 3–0
6 October 25 @ Seattle L 92–121 Dandridge (16) Ballard (9) Dandridge (6) Kingdome
15,089		 4–2
9 October 31 Atlanta L 108–110 Dandridge (26) Kupchak (10) Unseld (10) Capital Centre
5,487		 4–5
November: 11–2 (home: 6–1; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
11 November 4 San Antonio W 124–119 Hayes (28) Hayes (14) Henderson (11) Capital Centre
12,619		 6–5
13 November 10 Philadelphia L 122–123 Hayes (36) Unseld (17) Dandridge,
Grevey,
Henderson (5)		 Capital Centre
14,697		 7–6
14 November 11 @ San Antonio L 124–143 Kupchak (27) Hayes (11) Henderson (8) HemisFair Arena
12,363		 7–7
December: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
24 December 2 Kansas City L 109–110 Capital Centre
14,297		 16–8
28 December 9 Phoenix W 101–98 Dandridge (23) Unseld (20) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
17,438		 19–9
32 December 20 @ Phoenix W 137–129 Dandridge (36) Hayes (11) Henderson (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,789		 23–9
January: 10–3 (home: 7–1; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
38 January 5 Phoenix W 104–94 Kupchak (25) Hayes (26) Henderson (10) Capital Centre
14,929		 26–12
39 January 6 @ Atlanta W 106–102 Hayes (26) Hayes (13) Wright (6) The Omni
9,105		 27–12
45 January 23 Seattle L 100–103 Dandridge (23) Unseld (13) Dandridge (7) Capital Centre
15,232		 31–14
47 January 26 @ Kansas City L 128–142 Kemper Arena
10,301		 32–15
49 January 30 Atlanta W 109–105 Hayes (23) Hayes (18) Dandridge (6) Capital Centre
14,398		 34–15
February: 8–4 (home: 3–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
50 February 1 @ San Antonio W 123–122 Dandridge (36) Unseld (19) Henderson (10) HemisFair Arena
12,516		 35–15
All-Star Break
53 February 11 @ Philadelphia L 99–107 Dandridge (29) Dandridge (17) Dandridge (6) The Spectrum
15,151		 37–16
55 February 15 @ Phoenix L 108–119 Dandridge (30) Hayes (13) Henderson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660		 38–17
57 February 18 @ Seattle W 105–94 Hayes (33) Hayes (16) Dandridge (7) Kingdome
21,935		 39–18
59 February 23 Seattle W 132–110 Hayes (32) Unseld (13) Henderson,
Unseld (7)		 Capital Centre
19,035		 40–19
March: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
62 March 4 San Antonio W 129–128 Hayes (32) Hayes (20) Henderson (10) Capital Centre
17,181		 43–19
64 March 9 @ Kansas City L 116–121 Kemper Arena
13,681		 43–21
74 March 27 Philadelphia L 97–100 Hayes (23) Unseld (16) Unseld (7) Capital Centre
18,741		 50–24
April: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
81 April 7 @ Atlanta L 102–103 Hayes (29) Unseld (15) Unseld (7) The Omni
15,641		 54–27
1978–79 schedule

Playoffs
1979 playoff game log
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 15 Atlanta W 103–89 Hayes (31) Hayes (15) Wright (6) Capital Centre
15,721		 1–0
2 April 17 Atlanta L 99–107 Dandridge (36) Unseld (10) Henderson (8) Capital Centre
19,035		 1–1
3 April 20 @ Atlanta W 89–77 Hayes (19) Unseld (16) Unseld (8) The Omni
15,798		 2–1
4 April 22 @ Atlanta W 120–115 (OT) Hayes (29) Hayes (17) Dandridge (5) The Omni
15,798		 3–1
5 April 24 Atlanta L 103–107 Hayes (26) Hayes (14) Henderson (11) Capital Centre
19,035		 3–2
6 April 26 @ Atlanta L 86–104 Hayes (24) Unseld (12) Unseld (6) The Omni
15,978		 3–3
7 April 29 Atlanta W 100–94 Hayes (39) Hayes (15) Dandridge (8) Capital Centre
19,035		 4–3
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 4 San Antonio L 97–118 Dandridge (25) Hayes (20) Henderson (5) Capital Centre
19,035		 0–1
2 May 6 San Antonio W 115–95 Unseld (26) Unseld (22) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
19,035		 1–1
3 May 9 @ San Antonio L 114–116 Dandridge (28) Hayes (23) Unseld (8) HemisFair Arena
15,318		 1–2
4 May 11 @ San Antonio L 102–118 Hayes (23) Unseld (21) Dandridge (9) HemisFair Arena
16,055		 1–3
5 May 13 San Antonio W 107–103 Hayes (24) Hayes (22) Henderson (9) Capital Centre
19,035		 2–3
6 May 16 @ San Antonio W 108–100 Hayes (25) Hayes (14) Dandridge,
Henderson (8)		 HemisFair Arena
16,055		 3–3
7 May 18 San Antonio W 107–105 Dandridge (37) Hayes (15) Wright (7) Capital Centre
19,035		 4–3
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 20 Seattle W 99–97 Wright (26) Unseld (12) Henderson (6) Capital Centre
19,035		 1–0
2 May 24 Seattle L 82–92 Dandridge (21) Hayes (14) Dandridge (5) Capital Centre
19,035		 1–1
3 May 27 @ Seattle L 95–105 Dandridge (28) Hayes,
Unseld (14)		 Dandridge (5) Kingdome
35,928		 1–2
4 May 29 @ Seattle L 112–114 (OT) Grevey,
Hayes,
Johnson (18)		 Unseld (16) Henderson (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098		 1–3
5 June 1 Seattle L 93–97 Hayes (29) Hayes (14) Dandridge (7) Capital Centre
19,035		 1–4
1979 schedule

Awards and honors

References
  1. Washington Wizards (1963–Present)
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