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1980–81 Philadelphia 76ers season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Philadelphia 76ers

| end_year = 1981

| wins = 62

| losses = 20

| division = Atlantic

| division_place = 2

| conf_place = 3

| coach = Billy Cunningham

| gm = Pat Williams

| arena = The Spectrum

| television = WKBS-TV
PRISM

| radio = WIP

| playoffs = Eastern Conference finals
(lost to Celtics 3–4)

| bbr_team = PHI

}}

The 1980–81 Philadelphia 76ers season was the team's 32nd season in the NBA and 18th season in Philadelphia The team finished the regular season with a 62–20 record, however they lost the tie breaker with the Boston Celtics who had the home court advantage with the same regular season record. In the playoffs, they lost a seven-game series to the Boston Celtics, in the Eastern Conference finals, after having a three games to one series lead. This was the second time this occurred between the two teams (other in 1968), and the final 3 games of the series were decided by 5 points total. Julius Erving would win the Most Valuable Player of the League.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1981.html 1980-81 Philadelphia 76ers]

Draft picks

{{main article|1980 NBA draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#d22; color:#FFFFFF" width="20%"| College

style="text-align: center"

| 1

8Andrew ToneySG{{USA}}Louisiana-Lafayette
style="text-align: center"

| 1

21Monti DavisF{{USA}}Tennessee State
style="text-align: center"

| 2

44Clyde Austin{{USA}}North Carolina State
style="text-align: center"

| 3

67Reggie Gaines{{USA}}Winston-Salem State
style="text-align: center"

| 4

85Billy Bryant{{USA}}Western Kentucky
style="text-align: center"

| 4

90Harold Hubbard{{USA}}Savannah State
style="text-align: center"

| 5

113Jim Swaney{{USA}}Toledo
style="text-align: center"

| 6

136Donald Cooper{{USA}}St. Augustine's
style="text-align: center"

| 7

159Richard Smith{{USA}}Weber State
style="text-align: center"

| 8

177Martin Lemelle{{USA}}Grambling State
style="text-align: center"

| 9

198Luke Griffin{{USA}}St. Joseph's
style="text-align: center"

| 10

213Joe Hand{{USA}}King's College

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team = Philadelphia 76ers|season=1980–81

| bg1 = #B50000 | color1 = #FFFFFF

| bg2 = #243E7C | color2 = #FFFFFF

}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Maurice | last = Cheeks | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = West Texas A&M | DOB = 1956–09–08 }}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Doug | last = Collins | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 180 | college = Illinois State | DOB = 1951–07–28 |inj = yes}}

{{player2 | num = 25 | first = Earl | last = Cureton | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 210 | college = Detroit | DOB = 1957–09–03 }}

{{player2 | num = 53 | first = Darryl | last = Dawkins | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 251 | school = Maynard Evans HS (FL) | DOB = 1957–01–11 }}

{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Julius | last = Erving | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | college = UMass | DOB = 1950–02–22 }}

{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Lionel | last = Hollins | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 185 | college = Arizona State | DOB = 1953–10–19 }}

{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Ollie | last = Johnson | dab = basketball, born 1949 | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 200 | college = Temple | DOB = 1949–05–11 }}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Bobby | last = Jones | dab = basketball, born 1951 | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 210 | college = North Carolina | DOB = 1951–12–18 }}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Caldwell | last = Jones | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 217 | college = Albany State | DOB = 1950–08–04 }}

{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Clint | last = Richardson | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 195 | college = Seattle | DOB = 1956–08–07 }}

{{player2 | num = 50 | first = Steve | last = Mix | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | college = Toledo | DOB = 1947–12–30 }}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Andrew | last = Toney | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 178 | college = Louisiana-Lafayette | DOB = 1957–11–23 }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1980–81 NBA Atlantic standings|team=PHI}}

{{1980–81 NBA East standings|team=PHI}}

:z - clinched division title

:y - clinched division title

:x - clinched playoff spot

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=24|1980-81 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#008000;color:#00008B;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCK

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#800000;color:#191970;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#87CEEB;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|SDC

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta—2–42–41–52–01–14–22–01–11–51–10–21–53–22–41–50–21–11–11–11–12–01–4
style="text-align:left;" | Boston4–2—5–14–12–02–04–11–12–03–31–12–03–36–05–13–32–02–02–02–01–11–15–1
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago4–21–5—5–11–11–15–11–11–13–22–01–13–33–23–32–40–20–20–21–11–12–05–1
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland5–11–41–5—2–01–13–31–10–22–40–20–20–63–30–50–61–11–11–11–10–21–14–2
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas0–20–21–10–2—3–30–22–30–60–20–60–50–21–11–10–21–41–41–52–31–41–50–2
style="text-align:left;" | Denver1–10–21–11–13–3—2–03–22–41–14–23–21–11–10–21–11–42–32–43–23–22–40–2
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit2–41–41–53–32–00–2—0–21–12–41–10–21–53–31–51–40–20–20–21–10–20–21–5
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State0–21–11–11–13–22–32–0—3–21–15–01–51–11–12–00–22–42–41–42–43–34–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | Houston1–10–21–12–06–04–21–12–3—1–12–42–30–22–00–20–21–43–23–31–44–14–20–2
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana5–13–32–34–22–01–14–21–11–1—2–00–22–45–13–20–61–10–22–01–10–21–14–2
style="text-align:left;" | Kansas City1–11–10–22–06–02–41–10–54–20–2—0–51–12–01–10–23–23–22–43–22–35–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles2–00–21–12–05–02–32–05–13–22–05–0—0–22–02–01–12–43–32–33–36–03–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee5–13–33–36–02–01–15–11–12–04–21–12–0—5–13–33–21–12–01–12–02–02–04–1
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey2–30–62–33–31–11–13–31–10–21–50–20–21–5—0–61–51–12–00–20–21–11–13–3
style="text-align:left;" | New York4–21–53–35–01–12–05–10–22–02–31–10–23–36–0—3–31–11–10–22–02–02–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia5–13–34–26–02–01–14–12–02–06–02–01–12–35–13–3—1–11–12–02–02–02–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix2–00–22–01–14–14–12–04–24–11–12–34–21–11–11–11–1—3–33–26–05–15–01–1
style="text-align:left;" | Portland1–10–22–01–14–13–22–04–22–32–02–33–30–20–21–11–13–3—2–34–24–22–32–0
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio1–10–22–01–15–14–22–04–13–30–24–23–21–12–02–00–22–33–2—4–13–25–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Diego1–10–21–11–13–22–31–14–24–11–12–33–30–22–00–20–20–62–41–4—5–13–20–2
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle1–11–11–12–04–12–32–03–31–42–03–20–60–21–10–20–21–52–42–31–5—4–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | Utah0–21–10–21–15–14–22–01–42–41–11–52–30–21–10–20–20–53–21–52–31–4—0–2
style="text-align:left;" | Washington4–11–51–52–42–02–05–11–12–02–41–11–11–43–32–42–41–10–21–12–01–12–0—

Game log

=Regular season=

{{NBA game log start|Philadelphia 76ers|end_year=1981|bgcolor=#0067B1|color=white|record=Total: 62–20 (home: 37–4; road: 25–16)}}

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|October|first=yes|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 1

}}

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{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|November|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 8

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 7

| road_losses = 0

}}

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{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|December|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 4

| road_losses = 4

}}

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{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|January|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 7

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 4

| road_losses = 3

}}

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{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|February|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 7

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 3

| road_losses = 2

}}

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{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|March|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 6

}}

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{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=PHI|end_year=1981}}

=Playoffs=

{{NBA game log start|Philadelphia 76ers|end_year=1981|bgcolor=#0067B1|color=white|playoffs=yes}}

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|First Round|first=yes|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 1

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 0

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| March 31

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198103310PHI.html W 124–108]

| Julius Erving (32)

| Caldwell Jones (12)

| Andrew Toney (11)

| Spectrum
7,288

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| April 2

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104020IND.html W 96–85]

| Julius Erving (23)

| Caldwell Jones (11)

| Maurice Cheeks (6)

| Market Square Arena
8,921

| 2–0

|-

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|Conference semifinals|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| April 5

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104050PHI.html W 125–122]

| Julius Erving 38)

| Caldwell Jones 11)

| Caldwell Jones 7)

| Spectrum
9,727

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| April 7

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104070PHI.html L 99–109]

| Bobby Jones (22)

| Julius Erving (13)

| Maurice Cheeks (6)

| Spectrum
15,259

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| April 10

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104100MIL.html W 108–103]

| Erving, Dawkins (23)

| Caldwell Jones (13)

| Maurice Cheeks (9)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| April 12

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104120MIL.html L 98–109]

| Julius Erving (22)

| Caldwell Jones (8)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| April 15

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104150PHI.html W 116–99]

| Cheeks, Hollins (20)

| Julius Erving (9)

| Maurice Cheeks (10)

| Spectrum
15,384

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| April 17

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104170MIL.html L 86–109]

| Julius Erving (25)

| Julius Erving (7)

| Maurice Cheeks (7)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 7

| April 19

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104190PHI.html W 99–98]

| Julius Erving (28)

| Caldwell Jones (12)

| Maurice Cheeks (11)

| Spectrum
6,704

| 4–3

|-

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|Conference finals|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 3

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| April 21

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104210BOS.html W 105–104]

| Andrew Toney (26)

| Julius Erving (9)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| Boston Garden
15,320

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| April 22

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104220BOS.html L 118–99]

| Andrew Toney (35)

| Dawkins, Toney (7)

| Andrew Toney (7)

| Boston Garden
15,320

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| April 24

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104240PHI.html W 110–100]

| Julius Erving (22)

| Caldwell Jones (14)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| Spectrum
18,276

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| April 26

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104260PHI.html W 107–105]

| Julius Erving (20)

| Caldwell Jones (10)

| Maurice Cheeks (10)

| Spectrum
18,276

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| April 29

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198104290BOS.html L 109–111]

| Lionel Hollins (23)

| Darryl Dawkins (8)

| Erving, Hollins (5)

| Boston Garden
15,320

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| May 1

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198105010PHI.html L 98–100]

| Darryl Dawkins (24)

| Caldwell Jones (8)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| Spectrum
18,276

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 7

| May 3

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198105030BOS.html L 90–91]

| Julius Erving (23)

| Caldwell Jones (15)

| Maurice Cheeks (7)

| Boston Garden
15,320

| 3–4

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=PHI|end_year=1981|playoffs=yes}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Playoffs=

Awards and records

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{1980-81 NBA season by team}}

{{Philadelphia 76ers}}

{{Philadelphia 76ers seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Philadelphia 76ers Season}}

Category:Philadelphia 76ers seasons

Ph

Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Category:1980 in Philadelphia

Category:1981 in Philadelphia