1979–80 Detroit Pistons season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 32nd season in the NBA and 23rd season in the city of Detroit.[1] The Pistons were coming off a 30–52 (.366) record from their first season in the Eastern Conference, and aiming to halt declines of six and eight wins from their previous two seasons, but by finishing 16–66 (.195) they had the worst record in franchise history, and the worst NBA record since the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers won only nine games.

1979–80 Detroit Pistons season
Head coachDick Vitale
Richie Adubato
General managerJack McCloskey
OwnersWilliam Davidson
ArenaPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record16–66 (.195)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Central)
Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKBD-TV
RadioWJR

Coach Dick Vitale, who was also in charge of player personnel, was fired 12 games into the season, having pushed for a disastrous trade with the Boston Celtics for Bob McAdoo when Pistons free agent M.L. Carr signed with Boston that would eventually net the Celtics key championship components Carr, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale in a series of exchanges. Injuries to McAdoo and center Bob Lanier, who was traded during the season, left the Pistons a depleted roster and the team finished with fourteen consecutive defeats.[2] Second year players John Long (19.4 ppg) and Terry Tyler (12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) had solid seasons to lead the overwhelmed Pistons.[3]

Draft picks
Main article: 1979 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 Greg Kelser SF  United States Michigan State
1 10 Roy Hamilton PG  United States UCLA
1 15 Phil Hubbard PF  United States Michigan
3 48 Terry Duerod SG  United States Detroit

Roster
1979–80 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 54 Benson, Kent 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana
C 13 Douglas, Leon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Alabama
G/F 42 Duerod, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Detroit Mercy
F 21 Evans, Earl 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 202 lb (92 kg) UNLV
G 24 Hamilton, Roy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) UCLA
SF 35 Hubbard, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F 32 Kelser, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Michigan State
G 30 Lee, Ron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oregon
SG 25 Long, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Detroit Mercy
PF 44 Malovic, Steve 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) San Diego State
C 11 McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) North Carolina
G 14 Money, Eric 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Arizona
F 9 Robinson, Jackie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) UNLV
G/F 41 Tyler, Terry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (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 5032.610–32–918–2321–9
x-Houston Rockets 4141.500929–1212–2920–10
x-San Antonio Spurs 4141.500927–1414–2714–16
Cleveland Cavaliers 3745.4511328–139–3216–14
Indiana Pacers 3745.4511326–1511–3015–15
Detroit Pistons 1666.1953413–283–384–26
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics6121.744–
2 y-Atlanta Hawks5032.61011
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers5923.7202
4 x-Houston Rockets4141.50020
5 x-San Antonio Spurs4141.50020
6 x-Washington Bullets3943.47622
7 New York Knicks3943.47622
8 Cleveland Cavaliers3745.45124
8 Indiana Pacers3745.45124
10 New Jersey Nets3448.41527
11 Detroit Pistons1666.19544
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

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 —2–41–14–21–16–02–02–44–20–21–11–14–24–24–21–12–05–11–10–22–03–3
Boston 4–2—2–04–22–06–02–06–04–21–10–22–05–15–13–31–12–04–22–00–22–04–2
Chicago 1–10–2—2–02–41–14–21–10–23–31–51–51–10–21–11–53–30–24–22–42–40–2
Cleveland 2–42–40–2—1–16–02–02–42–42–01–10–23–33–31–51–10–24–21–10–21–13–3
Denver 1–10–24–21–1—1–13–31–11–10–61–53–31–11–10–21–52–41–13–31–53–31–1
Detroit 0–60–61–10–61–1—1–11–51–50–20–21–12–42–41–50–20–22–40–20–21–12–4
Golden State 0–20–22–40–23–31–1—1–11–13–31–50–62–00–20–22–42–40–23–30–63–30–2
Houston 4–20–61–14–21–15–11–1—4–20–20–21–13–33–32–41–11–13–32–01–12–02–4
Indiana 2–42–42–04–21–15–11–12–4—1–10–20–22–44–21–50–22–02–41–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 2–01–13–30–26–02–03–32–01–1—2–43–31–11–11–11–51–51–15–13–36–02–0
Los Angeles 1–12–05–11–15–12–05–12–02–04–2—3–32–02–01–13–32–42–05–14–26–01–1
Milwaukee 1–10–25–12–03–31–16–01–12–03–33–3—1–11–10–24–25–10–24–22–44–21–1
New Jersey 2–41–51–13–31–14–20–23–34–21–10–21–1—2–41–51–10–23–31–11–11–13–3
New York 2–41–52–03–31–14–22–03–32–41–10–21–14–2—0–62–02–04–21–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 2–43–31–15–12–05–12–04–25–11–11–12–05–16–0—1–12–04–21–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 1–11–15–11–15–12–04–21–12–05–13–32–41–10–21–1—6–01–12–44–26–02–0
Portland 0–20–23–32–04–22–04–21–10–25–14–21–52–00–20–20–6—1–14–21–53–31–1
San Antonio 1–52–42–02–41–14–22–03–34–21–10–22–03–32–42–41–11–1—2–01–11–14–2
San Diego 1–10–22–41–13–32–03–30–21–11–51–52–41–11–11–14–22–40–2—3–35–11–1
Seattle 2–02–04–22–05–12–06–01–12–03–32–44–21–12–01–12–45–11–13–3—5–11–1
Utah 0–20–24–21–13–31–13–30–21–10–60–62–41–11–11–10–63–31–11–51–5—0–2
Washington 3–32–42–03–31–14–22–04–22–40–21–11–13–33–31–50–21–12–41–11–12–0—

Game log

Regular season
1979–80 game log
Total: 16–66 (Home: 13–28; Road: 3–38)
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 12 Indiana W 114–105 Pontiac Silverdome 1–0
2 October 13 @ San Antonio W 112–110 HemisFair Arena 2–0
3 October 16 @ Cleveland L 117–137 Richfield Coliseum 2–1
4 October 18 New York W 129–115 Pontiac Silverdome 3–1
5 October 19 @ Philadelphia L 104–112 The Spectrum 3–2
6 October 20 @ Washington L 106–117 Capital Centre 3–3
7 October 24 Washington W 104–103 Pontiac Silverdome 4–3
8 October 26 San Antonio L 113–129 Pontiac Silverdome 4–4
9 October 27 @ Milwaukee L 118–132 MECCA Arena 4–5
November: 3–11 (home: 3–5; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 November 1 Cleveland L 125–127 Pontiac Silverdome 4–6
11 November 3 Houston L 111–114 Pontiac Silverdome 4–7
12 November 7 Atlanta L 107–115 Pontiac Silverdome 4–8
13 November 9 Philadelphia W 106–98 Pontiac Silverdome 5–8
14 November 10 @ Houston L 104–112 The Summit 5–9
15 November 14 @ Boston L 111–115 Boston Garden 5–10
16 November 17 New Jersey L 93–98 Pontiac Silverdome 5–11
17 November 20 @ Atlanta L 105–109 The Omni 5–12
18 November 21 Utah W 98–93 Pontiac Silverdome 6–12
19 November 23 Milwaukee W 119–100 Pontiac Silverdome 7–12
20 November 24 @ Indiana L 97–115 Market Square Arena 7–13
21 November 27 @ New York L 114–116 (OT) Madison Square Garden 7–14
22 November 28 @ New Jersey L 89–98 Rutgers Athletic Center 7–15
23 November 29 Kansas City L 95–105 Pontiac Silverdome 7–16
December: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
24 December 1 San Antonio W 134–124 Pontiac Silverdome 8–16
25 December 4 Boston L 114–118 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 8–17
26 December 5 @ Kansas City L 93–109 Municipal Auditorium 8–18
27 December 7 @ Houston L 109–124 The Summit 8–19
28 December 8 @ Indiana L 102–103 Market Square Arena 8–20
29 December 12 @ Golden State W 114–96 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9–20
30 December 14 @ Los Angeles L 122–138 The Forum 9–21
31 December 15 @ Phoenix L 105–126 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9–22
32 December 16 @ San Diego L 126–133 San Diego Sports Arena 9–23
33 December 18 Philadelphia L 102–114 Pontiac Silverdome 9–24
34 December 20 Atlanta L 103–122 Pontiac Silverdome 9–25
35 December 22 @ San Antonio L 112–141 HemisFair Arena 9–26
36 December 25 @ Cleveland L 101–111 Richfield Coliseum 9–27
37 December 26 Indiana L 97–98 Pontiac Silverdome 9–28
38 December 28 Denver W 114–98 Pontiac Silverdome 10–28
39 December 29 @ Atlanta L 104–115 The Omni 10–29
January: 4–11 (home: 3–4; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
40 January 2 @ Denver L 116–135 McNichols Sports Arena 10–30
41 January 4 @ Seattle L 105–123 Kingdome 10–31
42 January 6 @ Portland L 102–119 Memorial Coliseum 10–32
43 January 8 @ Utah L 110–124 Salt Palace 10–33
44 January 11 Los Angeles L 100–123 Pontiac Silverdome 10–34
45 January 12 @ Indiana L 109–122 Market Square Arena 10–35
46 January 13 Chicago W 107–102 Pontiac Silverdome 11–35
47 January 17 Washington W 110–107 Pontiac Silverdome 12–35
48 January 19 Houston W 122–110 Pontiac Silverdome 13–35
49 January 22 @ Chicago L 131–145 Chicago Stadium 13–36
50 January 23 Boston L 104–131 Pontiac Silverdome 13–37
51 January 25 @ New Jersey W 119–116 Rutgers Athletic Center 14–37
52 January 27 New York L 93–98 Pontiac Silverdome 14–38
53 January 29 Golden State L 100–111 Pontiac Silverdome 14–39
54 January 30 @ Philadelphia L 108–121 The Spectrum 14–40
February: 1–10 (home: 1–7; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
55 February 7 Seattle L 102–119 Pontiac Silverdome 14–41
56 February 9 @ New York L 107–114 Madison Square Garden 14–42
57 February 10 @ Boston L 111–128 Boston Garden 14–43
58 February 13 Cleveland L 102–107 Pontiac Silverdome 14–44
59 February 15 Philadelphia L 104–114 Pontiac Silverdome 14–45
60 February 16 @ Cleveland L 104–123 Richfield Coliseum 14–46
61 February 17 Atlanta L 99–108 Pontiac Silverdome 14–47
62 February 21 Phoenix L 116–125 Pontiac Silverdome 14–48
63 February 23 Portland L 107–130 Pontiac Silverdome 14–49
64 February 27 San Diego L 113–129 Pontiac Silverdome 14–50
65 February 29 New Jersey W 137–128 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 15–50
March: 1–16 (home: 1–7; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
66 March 2 @ Boston L 115–118 Boston Garden 15–51
67 March 4 @ Washington L 107–135 Capital Centre 15–52
68 March 5 New York W 120–113 Pontiac Silverdome 16–52
69 March 7 Washington L 105–106 Pontiac Silverdome 16–53
70 March 8 @ New York L 104–110 Madison Square Garden 16–54
71 March 9 @ New Jersey L 100–140 Rutgers Athletic Center 16–55
72 March 12 New Jersey L 119–137 Pontiac Silverdome 16–56
73 March 14 San Antonio L 102–113 Pontiac Silverdome 16–57
74 March 16 Houston L 99–102 Pontiac Silverdome 16–58
75 March 17 @ Philadelphia L 109–123 The Spectrum 16–59
76 March 18 Cleveland L 107–108 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 16–60
77 March 20 Boston L 106–124 Pontiac Silverdome 16–61
78 March 21 @ Atlanta L 95–108 The Omni 16–62
79 March 23 @ Washington L 114–119 Capital Centre 16–63
80 March 26 Indiana L 114–124 Pontiac Silverdome 16–64
81 March 28 @ Houston L 112–128 The Summit 16–65
82 March 30 @ San Antonio L 124–144 HemisFair Arena 16–66
1979–80 schedule

See also

References
  1. 1979-80 Detroit Pistons
  2. Wright, Kyle; The NBA from Top to Bottom: A History of the NBA from the No. 1 Team to the No. 1,153; pp. 119-120. ISBN 9780595697960
  3. "Dick Vitale and the worst team in Detroit Pistons history". January 20, 2021.

See also
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