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1980–81 Indiana Pacers season

NBA professional basketball team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1980–81 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. The Pacers had their first NBA winning season and made their first NBA playoff appearance, which was quickly scuttled by a 2–0 sweep from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers wouldn't return to the playoffs again until 1987.

Head coachJack McKinney
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Quick facts Indiana Pacers season, Head coach ...
1980–81 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachJack McKinney
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost to Philadelphia 76ers in East First Round (0-2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWTTV–TV 4
(Bob Lamey)
RadioWIBC–AM 1070
(Bob Lamey)
< 1979–80 1981–82 >
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Jack McKinney was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Pacers to the playoffs. McKinney began the previous season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, but suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident in November 1979 after only 13 games. The Lakers went on to win the championship under Paul Westhead, and McKinney was forced to step aside by Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who helped him land the Indiana job.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1980–81 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 5 Tom Abernethy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1954–05–6 Indiana
F 42 Mike Bantom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–3 Saint Joseph's
G/F 7 Dudley Bradley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957–3–19 North Carolina
G 10 Don Buse 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–8–10 Evansville
G 16 Johnny Davis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton
C 40 James Edwards 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington
F/C 45 Clemon Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M
F 24 George Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956–12–8 St. John's
G/F 25 Billy Knight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–9 Pittsburgh
F 30 George McGinnis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana
F 44 Dick Miller 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–04–26 Toledo
G 3 Kenny Natt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–10–5 Louisiana–Monroe
F 55 Louis Orr 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–05–7 Syracuse
G 14 Jerry Sichting 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: 2012–10–10

Close

Regular season

More information W, L ...
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks6022.732–34–726–1523–7
x-Chicago Bulls4537.54915.026–1519–2220–9
x-Indiana Pacers4438.53716.027–1417–2417–12
Atlanta Hawks3151.37829.020–2111–309–21
Cleveland Cavaliers2854.34132.020–218–339–21
Detroit Pistons2161.25639.014–277–349–21
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More information #, Team ...
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics6220.756 –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks6022.7322
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers6220.756–
4 x-New York Knicks5032.61012
5 x-Chicago Bulls4537.54917
6 x-Indiana Pacers4438.53718
7 Washington Bullets3943.47623
8 Atlanta Hawks3151.37831
9 Cleveland Cavaliers2854.34134
10 New Jersey Nets2458.29338
11 Detroit Pistons2161.25641
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Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

More information 1980–81 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24), Game ...
1980–81 game log
Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
October: 7–3 (home: 4–2; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 10 @ New Jersey W 110–91 Rutgers Athletic Center 1–0
2 October 11 Detroit W 100–87 Davis (22) Edwards (16) Davis (11) Market Square Arena 2–0
3 October 15
7:35 p.m. EST		 Chicago L 97–108 Market Square Arena
6,909		 2–1
4 October 18
7:35 p.m. EST		 Boston W 103–99 Edwards (18) McGinnis (11) Bantom (6) Market Square Arena
11,713		 3–1
5 October 21 @ Atlanta W 121–116 The Omni 4–1
6 October 22
7:35 p.m. EST		 Milwaukee L 105–119 Bantom (20) G. Johnson (14) Bantom (6) Market Square Arena
7,138		 4–2
7 October 24 Atlanta W 104–97 Market Square Arena 5–2
8 October 25 @ Cleveland L 100–118 Richfield Coliseum 5–3
9 October 29 New York W 102–95 Market Square Arena 6–3
10 October 31
8:35 p.m. EST		 @ Chicago W 121–114 Knight (22) C. Johnson (7) Davis (10) Chicago Stadium
5,127		 7–3
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
11 November 1 New Jersey W 113–100 Market Square Arena 8–3
12 November 2
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee L 121–135 Edwards (23) Knight (7) Bradley,
Davis,
Knight (5)		 MECCA Arena
10,980		 8–4
13 November 4
9:35 p.m. EST		 @ Phoenix L 108–109 Bantom (18) Edwards,
C. Johnson (9)		 Bradley (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,018		 8–5
14 November 8 @ Golden State L 111–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–6
15 November 10 @ Utah L 106–108 Salt Palace Acord Arena 8–7
16 November 11
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ San Antonio W 119–113 Knight (52) Edwards (6) Bradley (10) HemisFair Arena
11,282		 9–7
17 November 13
8:00 p.m. EST		 Philadelphia L 103–130 Orr (20) G. Johnson (10) Bradley (6) Market Square Arena
11,421		 9–8
18 November 14 Washington W 118–108 Market Square Arena 10–8
18 November 18 @ Detroit W 102–97 Pontiac Silverdome 11–8
20 November 19
7:35 p.m. EST		 Boston L 91–103 Knight (27) G. Johnson,
Knight (11)		 Davis (7) Market Square Arena
10,815		 11–9
21 November 21
8:05 p.m. EST		 @ Philadelphia L 88–97 G. Johnson (19) G. Johnson (16) Davis (7) The Spectrum
8,237		 11–10
22 November 22
7:35 p.m. EST		 Houston W 129–120 Knight (22) C. Johnson (11) Davis (10) Market Square Arena
7,357		 12–10
23 November 26 Atlanta W 110–89 Market Square Arena 13–10
24 November 27 @ Washington L 108–123 Capital Centre 13–11
25 November 29 Cleveland W 117–101 Market Square Arena 14–11
December: 7–7 (home: 4–1; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
26 December 2 @ New York W 113–96 Madison Square Garden 15–11
27 December 3 Washington W 128–115 Market Square Arena 16–11
28 December 5
9:00 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee L 100–102 Bantom (25) Bantom (12) Bantom (8) MECCA Arena
11,052		 16–12
29 December 6
7:35 p.m. EST		 Kansas City W 107–88 Davis (20) Edwards (10) Davis (6) Market Square Arena
7,099		 17–12
30 December 10
7:35 p.m. EST		 Phoenix W 102–90 Edwards (17) Edwards (10) Davis (7) Market Square Arena
9,140		 18–12
31 December 11 @ Cleveland W 103–100 Richfield Coliseum 19–12
32 December 13 @ Washington L 105–114 Capital Centre 19–13
33 December 16
7:35 p.m. EST		 Philadelphia L 107–109 Knight (24) McGinnia (16) Davis (5) Market Square Arena
12,539		 19–14
34 December 19 @ Detroit L 106–109 Pontiac Silverdome 19–15
35 December 20
8:35 p.m. EST		 @ Kansas City W 107–103 Davis (19) McGinnis (15) McGinnis (6) Kemper Arena
5,910		 20–15
36 December 23 New Jersey W 125–109 Market Square Arena 21–15
37 December 26 @ Los Angeles L 115–116 The Forum 21–16
38 December 27 @ San Diego L 109–121 San Diego Sports Arena 21–17
39 December 30 @ Denver L 110–127 McNichols Sports Arena 21–18
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
40 January 2 @ Atlanta W 109–106 The Omni 22–18
41 January 3 San Diego W 128–104 Market Square Arena 23–18
42 January 4 @ New Jersey W 113–104 Rutgers Athletic Center 24–18
43 January 7 New Jersey W 112–103 Market Square Arena 25–18
44 January 8 @ New York W 117–116 (OT) Madison Square Garden 26–18
45 January 10
7:35 p.m. EST		 Milwaukee W 106–102 Knight (21) McGinnis (16) Buse (6) Market Square Arena
14,505		 27–18
46 January 14 Detroit W 101–99 Market Square Arena 28–18
47 January 16 Seattle L 94–95 Market Square Arena 28–19
48 January 18 Utah W 110–89 Market Square Arena 29–19
49 January 20
8:35 p.m. EST		 @ Chicago L 105–121 Bantom (25) C Johnson (9) Edwards (7) Chicago Stadium
5,519		 29–20
50 January 21
8:05 p.m. EST		 @ Philadelphia L 104–118 McGinnis (25) Edwards (8) Bradley,
Davis,
McGinnis (4)		 The Spectrum
9,752		 29–21
51 January 23
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Boston L 103–104 Edwards (19) McGinnis (9) Bantom (5) Boston Garden
15,320		 29–22
52 January 24 Dallas W 107–89 Market Square Arena 30–22
53 January 27 @ Cleveland L 109–114 Richfield Coliseum 30–23
54 January 28 Golden State W 108–102 Market Square Arena 31–23
February: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
All-Star Break
55 February 3
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee W 108–99 Knight (24) Orr (11) Bantom,
Davis (9)		 MECCA Arena
11,052		 32–23
56 February 4 Los Angeles L 96–102 Market Square Arena 32–24
57 February 6
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Boston L 98–111 Bantom (24) Orr (7) McGinnis (7) Boston Garden
15,320		 32–25
58 February 7 Cleveland W 99–96 Market Square Arena 33–25
59 February 8 @ Detroit W 124–101 Pontiac Silverdome 34–25
60 February 11
7:35 p.m. EST		 Milwaukee L 101–107 Orr (21) Orr (11) Davis (7) Market Square Arena
11,817		 34–26
61 February 13 @ New Jersey L 100–103 Rutgers Athletic Center 34–27
62 February 15
4:05 p.m. EST		 Chicago W 113–107 McGinnis (27) Bantom (11) Davis (6) Market Square Arena
10,513		 35–27
63 February 18 Atlanta L 96–99 Market Square Arena 35–28
64 February 20
7:35 p.m. EST		 San Antonio W 109–106 McGinnis (24) McGinnis (12) Davis (8) Market Square Arena
10,419		 36–28
65 February 22 Portland L 109–113 (OT) Market Square Arena 36–29
66 February 25
9:00 p.m. EST		 @ Houston L 100–101 Edwards (25) Edwards (11) Davis (12) The Summit
13,121		 36–30
67 February 27 @ Dallas W 118–111 Reunion Arena 37–30
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
68 March 3 @ Portland L 112–117 Memorial Coliseum 37–31
69 March 4 @ Seattle L 93–105 Kingdome 37–32
70 March 6
7:35 p.m. EST		 Boston W 110–104 Knight (32) Bantom (6) Davis (6) Market Square Arena
17,032		 38–32
71 March 8 Denver W 129–119 Market Square Arena 39–32
72 March 10
7:35 p.m. EST		 Philadelphia L 102–103 Knight (22) Edwards,
Knight (8)		 Davis (11) Market Square Arena
17,032		 39–33
73 March 12 @ Washington W 114–107 Capital Centre 40–33
74 March 13
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Boston
(at Hartford, CT)		 W 101–94 Davis (24) C. Johnson (17) Davis (9) Hartford Civic Center
15,622		 41–33
75 March 14 Detroit L 94–101 Market Square Arena 41–34
76 March 17 @ New York L 89–114 Madison Square Garden 41–35
77 March 18
8:05 p.m. EST		 @ Philadelphia L 95–107 McGinnis (22) Edwards,
McGinnis (9)		 Knight (4) The Spectrum
12,756		 41–36
78 March 20 New York L 107–110 Market Square Arena 41–37
79 March 22 Cleveland W 107–101 Market Square Arena 42–37
80 March 26 @ Atlanta W 115–107 The Omni 43–37
81 March 27 Washington W 122–107 Market Square Arena 44–37
82 March 29
1:05 p.m. EST		 Chicago L 97–101 Knight (25) Edwards (9) Davis (12) Market Square Arena
16,663		 44–38
1980–81 schedule
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Playoffs

More information 1981 playoff game log, Game ...
1981 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 March 31
8:05 p.m. EST		 @ Philadelphia L 108–124 Knight (25) C. Johnson,
Knight (7)		 Davis (8) The Spectrum
7,288		 0–1
2 April 2
8:05 p.m. EST		 Philadelphia L 85–96 Davis (21) C. Johnson (13) Knight (4) Market Square Arena
8,921		 0–2
1981 schedule
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Player statistics

Ragular season

More information Player, POS ...
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Billy KnightSG 822,38541015784121,43629.15.01.91.0.117.5
Dudley BradleySG 821,8671931881863765722.82.42.32.3.58.0
Louis OrrSF 821,787361132552585921.84.41.6.7.310.5
James EdwardsC 812,375571212321281,26629.37.02.6.41.615.6
Clemon JohnsonC 811,6434681444411958220.35.81.8.51.57.2
Johnny DavisPG 762,53617048095141,09433.42.26.31.3.214.4
Mike BantomSF 762,37542724080851,06131.35.63.21.11.114.0
George McGinnisPF 691,845528210992890326.77.73.01.4.413.1
Don BuseSG 581,0958414074829718.91.42.41.3.15.1
Jerry SichtingPG 474504370231939.6.91.5.5.02.0
George L. JohnsonPF 4393027886472345721.66.52.01.1.510.6
Tom Abernethy†SF 29259401863598.91.4.6.2.12.0
Kenny NattSG 19149151051597.8.8.5.3.13.1
Dick Miller†SF 534443046.8.8.8.6.0.8
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  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Playoffs

More information Player, POS ...
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Johnny DavisPG 274811204037.04.05.51.0.020.0
Billy KnightSG 271125103735.56.02.5.5.018.5
Louis OrrSF 256104512428.05.02.02.5.512.0
James EdwardsC 256145111428.07.02.5.5.57.0
Clemon JohnsonC 255203421527.510.01.52.01.07.5
Mike BantomSF 25181112925.54.0.5.5.514.5
George McGinnisPF 239107201019.55.03.51.0.05.0
Don BuseSG 2355730517.52.53.51.5.02.5
George L. JohnsonPF 22341001011.52.0.5.0.05.0
Dudley BradleySG 219222099.51.01.01.0.04.5
Jerry SichtingPG 11001001.0.0.01.0.0.0
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Player totals

Season

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Knight 82 2385 546 1025 3 19 341 410 191 219 410 157 84 12 177 155 1436
Edwards 81 2375 511 1004 0 3 244 347 191 380 571 212 32 128 164 304 1266
Davis 76 2536 426 917 4 33 238 299 56 114 170 480 95 14 167 179 1094
Bantom 76 2375 431 882 0 6 199 281 150 277 427 240 80 85 197 284 1061
McGinnis 69 1845 348 768 0 7 207 385 164 364 528 210 99 28 221 242 903
Johnson 43 930 182 394 0 5 93 122 99 179 278 86 47 23 85 120 457
Orr 82 1787 348 709 0 6 163 202 172 189 361 132 55 25 123 153 859
Abernethy 29 259 24 56 0 1 11 19 19 21 40 18 6 3 6 29 59
Natt 19 149 25 77 2 8 7 11 9 6 15 10 5 1 10 18 59
Miller 5 34 2 6 0 1 0 0 1 3 4 4 3 0 4 2 4
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Playoffs

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MP FGM FGA 3FGM 3FGA FTM FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Davis 2 74 14 35 0 1 12 13 2 6 8 11 2 0 1 6 40
Knight 2 71 16 30 0 0 5 8 6 6 12 5 1 0 5 5 37
Bantom 2 51 12 16 0 0 5 7 5 3 8 1 1 1 6 10 29
Orr 2 56 9 25 0 0 6 7 6 4 10 4 5 1 6 4 24
Edwards 2 56 7 24 0 0 0 0 4 10 14 5 1 1 4 8 14
Johnson 2 23 5 8 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 1 0 0 2 1 10
McGinnis 2 39 3 15 0 0 4 8 2 8 10 7 2 0 5 6 10
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Awards and records

Transactions

Free agents

More information Subtractions, Player ...
Subtractions
Player Date signed New team
Joe Hassett Expansion Draft May 28, 1980 Dallas Mavericks
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References

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