1977 NBA Playoffs

1977 NBA playoffs

The 1977 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1976–77 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. It was Portland's first (and so far, only) NBA title. Bill Walton was named NBA Finals MVP.

Portland won the NBA title in its first playoff appearance, something that had not taken place since the early days of the BAA (and has not since, as of 2015). The Trail Blazers went 10-0 at home in the playoffs.

This was the first NBA playoffs after the ABA-NBA merger; two of the former ABA teams (the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets) made their playoff debuts in their first NBA season. The New Jersey Nets made their playoff debut in 1979, and the Indiana Pacers in 1981.

For the first time since 1956, the Eastern Conference division finals had neither the Celtics nor Knicks participating.

The referees went on strike during these playoffs.

Bracket

  1st round Conference semifinals Conference finals NBA Finals
                                     
        
  1  Los Angeles 4  
    4  Golden State 3  
4  Golden State 2
5  Detroit 1  
  1  Los Angeles 0  
Western Conference
  3  Portland 4  
3  Portland 2  
6  Chicago 1  
  3  Portland 4
    2  Denver 2  
      
        
  W3  Portland 4
  E1  Philadelphia 2
        
        
  1  Philadelphia 4
    4  Boston 3  
4  Boston 2
5  San Antonio 0  
  1  Philadelphia 4
Eastern Conference
  2  Houston 2  
3  Washington 2  
6  Cleveland 1  
  3  Washington 2
    2  Houston 4  
      

Western Conference

1st Round

Champion: Portland Trail Blazers

(1) Los Angeles Lakers & (2) Denver Nuggets have first round byes.

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Chicago Bulls: Blazers win series 2–1

Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bulls and the Trail Blazers

(4) Golden State Warriors vs. (5) Detroit Pistons: Warriors win series 2–1

Last playoff meeting: 1976 Western Conference Semifinals (Golden State won 4-2)

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4–3

Last playoff meeting: 1973 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4-1)

(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 4–2

Last playoff meeting: This was the first meeting between the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 4–0

Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers

Eastern Conference

Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

1st Round

(1) Philadelphia 76ers & (2) Houston Rockets have first round byes.

(3) Washington Bullets vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bullets win series 2–1

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Celtics win series 2–0

Conference Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (4) Boston Celtics: 76ers win series 4–3

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Washington Bullets: Rockets win series 4–2

Conference Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Houston Rockets: 76ers win series 4–2

NBA Finals

Main article: 1977 NBA Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 4–2

External links

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