1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season explained

The 1980–81 NBA season was the fifth season in the NBA, the seventh in San Antonio and the 13th as a franchise. It was a landmark season in many ways. The San Antonio Spurs moved to the Western Conference along with the Houston Rockets. The Spurs won their first Midwest Division title, and their third division title overall (they had won the Central Division in 1977-78 and 1978–79). The Spurs had the fourth best team offensive rating in the NBA.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationality School/Club Team
1 15 Reggie Johnson[1] PF/C Tennessee
2 39 California State-Long Beach
4 83 California State-Fullerton
5 107 Wisconsin-Eau Claire
6 129 Iowa State
7 153 Arkansas
8 172 Texas Pan-American
9 192 Al Williams North Texas State
10 209 Arkansas

Regular season

Under realignment, the Spurs were shifted to the Midwest Division in the Western Conference.[2] Looking to improve on the previous season, the Spurs looked to shore up the defense by acquiring Dave Corzine, Dave Johnson, and Reggie Johnson. The moves paid immediate dividends as the Spurs got off to a 10-2 start, on the way to a Division Crown with a 52-30 record.[2] In the playoffs, the Spurs lost in 7 games to the cross-state rival Houston Rockets.

Season standings

Notes

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNJNNYKPHIPHOPORSASSDCSEAUTAWAS
2–4 2–4 1–5 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–2 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–4
4–2 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 3–3 6–0 5–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1
4–2 1–5 5–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1
5–1 1–4 1–5 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 3–3 0–5 0–6 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 0–2 2–3 0–6 0–2 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–4 1–5 2–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–3 2–4 3–2 3–2 2–4 0–2
2–4 1–4 1–5 3–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 1–5 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5
0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 3–2 1–1 5–0 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 2–4 3–3 4–1 1–1
1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–4 2–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 0–2
5–1 3–3 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–5 4–2 0–2 0–5 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 5–1 1–1
Los Angeles2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–3 2–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 2–3 3–3 6–0 3–2 1–1
5–1 3–3 3–3 6–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–1
2–3 0–6 2–3 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–5 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3
4–2 1–5 3–3 5–0 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 6–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
5–1 3–3 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 3–2 6–0 5–1 5–0 1–1
1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–3 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–3 3–2 4–1 3–2 5–1 1–1
1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 3–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–4 1–4 5–1 3–2 0–2
1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 3–3 1–4 2–0 3–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 2–3 1–5 4–1 1–1
0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 1–4 2–4 1–1 1–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 1–5 2–3 1–4 0–2
Washington4–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| October 10| @ Denver| W 113–112|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| October 11| @ Dallas| L 92–103|||| Reunion Arena| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| October 14| Kansas City| W 109–103|||| HemisFair Arena| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| October 16| @ Detroit| W 102–99|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| October 18| Dallas| W 110–96|||| HemisFair Arena| 4–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| October 21| San Diego| W 123–120|||| HemisFair Arena| 5–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| October 23| Golden State| W 128–109|||| HemisFair Arena| 6–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| October 25| @ San Diego| W 116–98|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 7–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9| October 26| @ Los Angeles| W 108–102|||| The Forum| 8–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| October 28| Portland| W 120–112|||| HemisFair Arena| 9–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11| October 29| @ Utah| L 96–109|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 9–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| October 31| @ Seattle| W 112–96|||| Kingdome| 10–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13| November 1| @ Golden State| L 108–123|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 10–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14| November 5| Phoenix| W 114–84|||| HemisFair Arena| 11–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| November 8| Los Angeles| W 112–109|||| HemisFair Arena| 12–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 16| November 11| Indiana| L 113–119|||| HemisFair Arena| 12–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| November 12| @ Phoenix| L 127–130|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 12–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18| November 13| @ San Diego| W 113–107|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 13–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| November 15| Utah| W 120–104|||| HemisFair Arena| 14–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| November 18| @ Atlanta| L 93–97|||| The Omni| 14–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21| November 19| @ New Jersey| W 112–104 (OT)|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 15–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22| November 22| Philadelphia| L 101–108|||| HemisFair Arena| 15–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23| November 26| Chicago| W 125–122|||| HemisFair Arena| 16–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| November 28| Houston| L 115–124|||| HemisFair Arena| 16–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| November 29| @ Kansas City| W 106–104|||| Kemper Arena| 17–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| December 2| Phoenix| L 107–122|||| HemisFair Arena| 17–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27| December 4| Cleveland| W 130–100|||| HemisFair Arena| 18–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| December 7| @ Portland| L 115–116|||| Memorial Coliseum| 18–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 29| December 8| @ Seattle| L 99–104|||| Kingdome| 18–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30| December 9| @ Utah| W 115–90|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 19–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| December 11| Kansas City| W 122–104|||| HemisFair Arena| 20–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32| December 13| Denver| W 147–123|||| HemisFair Arena| 21–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| December 14| @ Milwaukee| L 98–115|||| MECCA Arena| 21–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34| December 16| @ Dallas| W 89–83|||| Reunion Arena| 22–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| December 17| @ Houston| W 113–107|||| The Summit| 23–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| December 19| Golden State| W 126–111|||| HemisFair Arena| 24–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 37| December 21| @ Los Angeles| L 122–135|||| The Forum| 24–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| December 25| @ Phoenix| L 111–131|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 24–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39| December 27| Utah| W 142–117|||| HemisFair Arena| 25–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| December 30| Seattle| W 102–100|||| HemisFair Arena| 26–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| January 2| Los Angeles| W 118–112|||| HemisFair Arena| 27–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| January 3| @ Chicago| W 119–111|||| Chicago Stadium| 28–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43| January 6| @ New York| W 113–108|||| Madison Square Garden| 29–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| January 7| @ Philadelphia| L 102–135|||| The Spectrum| 29–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 45| January 9| Portland| W 102–86|||| HemisFair Arena| 30–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46| January 11| Washington| W 137–106|||| HemisFair Arena| 31–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47| January 14| New York| W 116–105|||| HemisFair Arena| 32–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| January 16| @ Boston| L 85–94|||| Boston Garden| 32–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| January 17| @ Washington| L 93–103|||| Capital Centre| 32–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| January 20| Phoenix| W 119–112 (OT)|||| HemisFair Arena| 33–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| January 21| @ Kansas City| L 108–115|||| Kemper Arena| 33–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| January 24| @ Denver| L 115–129|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 33–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| January 25| @ Portland| L 100–118|||| Memorial Coliseum| 33–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| January 29| New Jersey| W 122–108|||| HemisFair Arena| 34–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| February 3| Detroit| W 102–99|||| HemisFair Arena| 35–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 56| February 4| @ Denver| W 135–132|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 36–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| February 6| Portland| W 122–96|||| HemisFair Arena| 37–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| February 8| Dallas| W 102–98|||| HemisFair Arena| 38–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| February 11| @ Houston| L 89–108|||| The Summit| 38–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| February 12| Atlanta| W 110–109|||| HemisFair Arena| 39–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| February 14| @ Dallas| W 107–99|||| Reunion Arena| 40–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| February 15| Milwaukee| W 110–108|||| HemisFair Arena| 41–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| February 17| Boston| L 116–128|||| HemisFair Arena| 41–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| February 19| @ Cleveland| L 104–118|||| Richfield Coliseum| 41–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65| February 20| @ Indiana| L 106–109|||| Market Square Arena| 41–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66| February 22| Denver| W 133–129 (OT)|||| HemisFair Arena| 42–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67| February 24| Golden State| W 131–126|||| HemisFair Arena| 43–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| February 26| Seattle| W 123–113|||| HemisFair Arena| 44–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| March 1| Houston| W 102–86|||| HemisFair Arena| 45–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 70| March 4| Kansas City| L 97–111|||| HemisFair Arena| 45–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71| March 6| @ Seattle| L 94–102|||| Kingdome| 45–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| March 8| Dallas| W 133–108|||| HemisFair Arena| 46–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| March 10| @ Los Angeles| L 104–118|||| The Forum| 46–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| March 14| @ San Diego| L 118–126|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 46–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| March 15| @ Golden State| W 114–112 (OT)|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 47–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| March 17| Utah| W 94–86|||| HemisFair Arena| 48–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| March 20| @ Kansas City| W 114–111 (OT)|||| Kemper Arena| 49–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| March 22| San Diego| W 107–99|||| HemisFair Arena| 50–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| March 24| Denver| L 123–125|||| HemisFair Arena| 50–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| March 25| @ Houston| L 111–117|||| The Summit| 50–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81| March 26| @ Utah| W 98–97|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 51–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| March 29| Houston| W 135–109|||| HemisFair Arena| 52–30

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 7| Houston| L 98–107| George Gervin (30)| George Johnson (12)| Paul Griffin (7)| HemisFair Arena
13,319| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 8| Houston| W 125–113| Mark Olberding (34)| G. Johnson, Griffin (7)| Dave Corzine (7)| HemisFair Arena
12,128| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 10| @ Houston| L 99–112| George Gervin (33)| Gervin, G. Johnson (8)| Mark Olberding (5)| The Summit
16,121| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 12| @ Houston| W 114–112| George Gervin (33)| Dave Corzine (11)| Mark Olberding (6)| The Summit
16,121| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 14| Houston| L 117–123| Reggie Johnson (25)| George Johnson (11)| George Gervin (9)| HemisFair Arena
16,114| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 15| @ Houston| W 101–96| George Gervin (26)| three players tied (8)| Mark Olberding (6)| The Summit
16,121| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 17| Houston| L 100–105| George Gervin (21)| George Johnson (10)| Johnny Moore (10)| HemisFair Arena
16,114| 3–4|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
SG82 82 2,765 419 260 94 56 2,221 33.7 5.1 3.2 1.1 .7 27.1
SF82 82 2,408 471 277 75 31 1,012 29.4 5.7 3.4 .9 .4 12.3
C82 82 1,935 602 92 47 278 408 23.6 7.3 1.1 .6 3.4 5.0
C82 1,960 636 117 42 99 857 23.9 7.8 1.4 .5 1.2 10.5
PF82 1,930 505 249 77 38 502 23.5 6.2 3.0 .9 .5 6.1
PG82 1,578 196 373 120 22 604 19.2 2.4 4.5 1.5 .3 7.4
PF79 1,716 358 78 45 48 808 21.7 4.5 1.0 .6 .6 10.2
PG75 2,055 231 285 51 12 1,326 27.4 3.1 3.8 .7 .2 17.7
SF64 999 174 81 16 14 449 15.6 2.7 1.3 .3 .2 7.0
SG46 904 53 93 27 25 425 19.7 1.2 2.0 .6 .5 9.2
PG35 636 52 99 55 2 192 18.2 1.5 2.8 1.6 .1 5.5
PF33 271 64 11 8 6 188 8.2 1.9 .3 .2 .2 5.7
PF22 519 87 24 21 9 165 23.6 4.0 1.1 1.0 .4 7.5
SF11 129 38 9 7 3 52 11.7 3.5 .8 .6 .3 4.7

Playoffs

Player
SG7 274 35 24 5 5 190 39.1 5.0 3.4 .7 .7 27.1
SF7 254 41 30 4 0 138 36.3 5.9 4.3 .6 .0 19.7
PF7 224 34 16 4 5 89 32.0 4.9 2.3 .6 .7 12.7
PF7 183 40 29 6 5 37 26.1 5.7 4.1 .9 .7 5.3
C7 165 63 6 3 16 31 23.6 9.0 .9 .4 2.3 4.4
PG7 161 15 19 4 0 80 23.0 2.1 2.7 .6 .0 11.4
C7 161 48 16 4 8 63 23.0 6.9 2.3 .6 1.1 9.0
PG7 124 13 27 10 1 42 17.7 1.9 3.9 1.4 .1 6.0
SG7 118 5 13 1 6 80 16.9 .7 1.9 .1 .9 11.4
SF3 11 2 0 0 1 2 3.7 .7 .0 .0 .3 .7
PF3 5 0 0 0 0 2 1.7 .0 .0 .0 .0 .7

Award winners

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Complete First Round Results — 1980-89 . . 2009-04-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100321192607/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html#1980 . 2010-03-21 . dead .
  2. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/sanantonio/spurs.html San Antonio Spurs (1973-Present)