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1979–80 Cleveland Cavaliers season

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NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1979–80 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachStan Albeck
OwnersNick Mileti
ArenaColiseum at Richfield
Results
Record37–45 (.451)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWJKW
RadioWWWE
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

The 1979-80 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the tenth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Key Dates

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Club Team

Roster

1979–80 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 34 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Notre Dame
F 2 Carr, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) NC State
F 35 Ford, Don 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) UC Santa Barbara
PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) USC
F 30 Mitchell, Mike 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Auburn
F/C 25 Robisch, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas
SF 21 Russell, Campy Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
C 3 Smith, Elmore Injured (IN) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kentucky State
G 9 Smith, Randy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Buffalo State
G 11 Smith, Willie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Missouri
G/F 43 Tatum, Earl 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Marquette
PG 14 Walker, Foots 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) West Georgia
F 33 Willoughby, Bill 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Dwight Morrow HS (NJ)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 – 32–9 18–23 21–9
x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 9 29–12 12–29 20–10
x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 9 27–14 14–27 14–16
Cleveland Cavaliers 37 45 .451 13 28–13 9–32 16–14
Indiana Pacers 37 45 .451 13 26–15 11–30 15–15
Detroit Pistons 16 66 .195 34 13–28 3–38 4–26
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 –
2 y-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 11
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 59 23 .720 2
4 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 20
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 22
7 New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 37 45 .451 24
8 Indiana Pacers 37 45 .451 24
10 New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 27
11 Detroit Pistons 16 66 .195 44

Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 4–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 4–2 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3
Boston 4–2 — 2–0 4–2 2–0 6–0 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 5–1 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2
Chicago 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–4 2–4 0–2
Cleveland 2–4 2–4 0–2 — 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 2–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–5 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Denver 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 — 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–6 1–5 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–1 3–3 1–5 3–3 1–1
Detroit 0–6 0–6 1–1 0–6 1–1 — 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
Golden State 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 3–3 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–5 0–6 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 0–2 3–3 0–6 3–3 0–2
Houston 4–2 0–6 1–1 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 — 4–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–3 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–4
Indiana 2–4 2–4 2–0 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–4 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–4 4–2 1–5 0–2 2–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
Kansas City 2–0 1–1 3–3 0–2 6–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 2–4 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 1–1 5–1 3–3 6–0 2–0
Los Angeles 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 4–2 — 3–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–4 2–0 5–1 4–2 6–0 1–1
Milwaukee 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 4–2 1–1
New Jersey 2–4 1–5 1–1 3–3 1–1 4–2 0–2 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
New York 2–4 1–5 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 — 0–6 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 2–4 3–3 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 — 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 6–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 6–0 2–0
Portland 0–2 0–2 3–3 2–0 4–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 4–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 — 1–1 4–2 1–5 3–3 1–1
San Antonio 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
San Diego 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 3–3 2–0 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 — 3–3 5–1 1–1
Seattle 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 5–1 2–0 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 5–1 1–1 3–3 — 5–1 1–1
Utah 0–2 0–2 4–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 0–6 0–6 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 3–3 1–1 1–5 1–5 — 0–2
Washington 3–3 2–4 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 4–2 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 3–3 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

1979–80 game log
Total: 37–45 (Home: 28–13; Road: 9–32)
October: 3–8 (home: 3–3; road: 0–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
7 October 23, 1979 Atlanta L 111–121 Coliseum at Richfield
3,946 		2–5
8 October 24, 1979 @ Atlanta L 118–128 The Omni
5,729 		2–6
November: 8–7 (home: 6–0; road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
December: 8–5 (home: 7–1; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 December 2, 1979 Atlanta W 126–108 Coliseum at Richfield
4,844 		12–16
January: 4–12 (home: 3–4; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
44 January 9, 1980 @ Atlanta L 107–111 The Omni
7,589 		19–25
February: 3–10 (home: 2–4; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
68 February 29, 1980 @ Atlanta L 103–111 (OT) The Omni
11,655 		26–42
March: 11–3 (home: 7–1; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
82 March 30, 1980 Atlanta W 111–102 Coliseum at Richfield
7,762 		37–45
1979–80 schedule

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; GS = Games started; MIN= Minutes; FG% = field goal %, FT% = free throw %, 3FG% = 3 point % STL= Steals; BLK = Blocks; AST = Assists; REB = Rebounds; PTS = Points

Regular Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

References

1979–80 NBA season
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Cleveland Cavaliers seasons
1970s
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
1980s
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
1990s
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
2000s
1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
2010s
2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
2020s
2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
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