Top Teams
Champion: Boston Celtics
Runner-up: Houston Rockets
Best Offense: Los Angeles Lakers: 113.5 ORating
Best Defense: Milwaukee Bucks: 102.6 DRating
Best Net: Boston Celtics: +9.0 NetRating
Awards
MVP: Larry Bird
Finals MVP: Larry Bird
Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson
Sixth Man of the Year: Bill Walton
Most Improved Player: Alvin Robertson
Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, Patrick Ewing
Historical Context
Relative ORating: 1.05
Relative Pace: 1.00
Relative TS%: 1.03
Relative FG%: 1.07
Relative FT%: 1.01
Relative 3-Point Attempt Rate: 0.21
Relative Free Throw Attempt Rate: 1.04
PLAYOFFS
| Round | Result | Winner | WinnerGames | Loser | LoserGames |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference First Round | Boston defeated Chicago (3-0) | Boston | 3 | Chicago | 0 |
| Eastern Conference First Round | Milwaukee defeated New Jersey (3-0) | Milwaukee | 3 | New Jersey | 0 |
| Eastern Conference First Round | Philadelphia defeated Washington (3-2) | Philadelphia | 3 | Washington | 2 |
| Eastern Conference First Round | Atlanta defeated Detroit (3-1) | Atlanta | 3 | Detroit | 1 |
| Western Conference First Round | Los Angeles Lakers defeated San Antonio (3-0) | Los Angeles Lakers | 3 | San Antonio | 0 |
| Western Conference First Round | Houston defeated Sacramento (3-0) | Houston | 3 | Sacramento | 0 |
| Western Conference First Round | Denver defeated Portland (3-1) | Denver | 3 | Portland | 1 |
| Western Conference First Round | Dallas defeated Utah (3-1) | Dallas | 3 | Utah | 1 |
| Eastern Conference Semifinals | Boston defeated Atlanta (4-1) | Boston | 4 | Atlanta | 1 |
| Eastern Conference Semifinals | Milwaukee defeated Philadelphia (4-3) | Milwaukee | 4 | Philadelphia | 3 |
| Western Conference Semifinals | Los Angeles Lakers defeated Dallas (4-2) | Los Angeles Lakers | 4 | Dallas | 2 |
| Western Conference Semifinals | Houston defeated Denver (4-2) | Houston | 4 | Denver | 2 |
| Eastern Conference Finals | Boston defeated Milwaukee (4-0) | Boston | 4 | Milwaukee | 0 |
| Western Conference Finals | Boston defeated Houston (4-2) | Boston | 4 | Houston | 2 |
REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS (CONFERENCE)
| Conference | Team | W | L | PCT | Home | Road | Neutral | Conf | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | 0.817 | 40-1 | 27-14 | 48-10 | 18-6 | |
| East | Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | 0.695 | 33-8 | 24-17 | 39-19 | 21-9 | |
| East | Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | 0.659 | 31-10 | 23-18 | 38-20 | 15-9 | |
| East | Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | 0.610 | 34-7 | 16-25 | 35-23 | 21-9 | |
| East | Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | 0.561 | 31-10 | 15-26 | 33-25 | 18-12 | |
| East | New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 26-15 | 13-28 | 26-32 | 11-13 | |
| East | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 26-15 | 13-28 | 29-29 | 11-13 | |
| East | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 22-19 | 8-33 | 19-39 | 10-20 | |
| East | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | 0.354 | 16-25 | 13-28 | 19-39 | 10-19 | |
| East | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | 0.317 | 19-22 | 7-34 | 19-39 | 9-20 | |
| East | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | 0.280 | 15-26 | 8-33 | 14-44 | 5-19 |
| Conference | Team | W | L | PCT | Home | Road | Neutral | Conf | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | 0.756 | 35-6 | 27-14 | 47-13 | 23-7 | |
| West | Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | 0.622 | 36-5 | 15-26 | 38-22 | 20-10 | |
| West | Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | 0.573 | 34-7 | 13-28 | 34-26 | 15-15 | |
| West | Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | 26-15 | 18-23 | 33-27 | 16-14 | |
| West | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | 0.512 | 27-14 | 15-26 | 30-30 | 15-15 | |
| West | Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | 0.488 | 27-14 | 13-28 | 31-29 | 18-12 | |
| West | Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | 0.451 | 25-16 | 12-29 | 28-32 | 15-15 | |
| West | San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | 0.427 | 21-20 | 14-27 | 25-35 | 9-21 | |
| West | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 22-19 | 10-31 | 25-35 | 10-20 | |
| West | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 23-18 | 9-32 | 25-35 | 16-14 | |
| West | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | 0.378 | 24-17 | 7-34 | 23-37 | 11-19 | |
| West | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 24-17 | 6-35 | 21-39 | 12-18 |
REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS (DIVISION)
| Division | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | 0.817 | 0.0 |
| Atlantic | Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | 0.659 | 13.0 |
| Atlantic | New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 28.0 |
| Atlantic | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 28.0 |
| Atlantic | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | 0.280 | 44.0 |
| Division | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | 0.695 | 0.0 |
| Central | Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | 0.610 | 7.0 |
| Central | Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | 0.561 | 11.0 |
| Central | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 27.0 |
| Central | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | 0.354 | 28.0 |
| Central | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | 0.317 | 31.0 |
| Division | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific | Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | 0.756 | 0.0 |
| Pacific | Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | 0.488 | 22.0 |
| Pacific | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 30.0 |
| Pacific | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 30.0 |
| Pacific | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | 0.378 | 31.0 |
| Pacific | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 32.0 |
| Division | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | 0.622 | 0.0 |
| Midwest | Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | 0.573 | 4.0 |
| Midwest | Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | 7.0 |
| Midwest | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | 0.512 | 9.0 |
| Midwest | Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | 0.451 | 14.0 |
| Midwest | San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | 0.427 | 16.0 |
REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS (PYTHAGOREAN)
| Conference | Team | W | L | TrueWinPercentage | PF | PA | PythagoreanWinPercentage | PythagoreanWins | PythagoreanLosses | ActualVersusExpected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | 0.817 | 9359 | 8587 | 0.768 | 62.98 | 19.02 | 4.02 |
| East | Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | 0.695 | 9390 | 8649 | 0.758 | 62.18 | 19.82 | -5.18 |
| East | Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | 0.659 | 9051 | 8858 | 0.574 | 47.10 | 34.90 | 6.9 |
| East | Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | 0.610 | 8906 | 8712 | 0.576 | 47.23 | 34.77 | 2.77 |
| East | Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | 0.561 | 9363 | 9267 | 0.536 | 43.93 | 38.07 | 2.07 |
| East | New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 8949 | 9112 | 0.437 | 35.88 | 46.12 | 3.12 |
| East | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | 0.476 | 8442 | 8590 | 0.440 | 36.07 | 45.93 | 2.93 |
| East | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 8962 | 9274 | 0.382 | 31.42 | 50.58 | -1.42 |
| East | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | 0.354 | 8836 | 9071 | 0.410 | 33.60 | 48.40 | -4.6 |
| East | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | 0.317 | 8519 | 8792 | 0.392 | 32.15 | 49.85 | -6.15 |
| East | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | 0.280 | 8094 | 8554 | 0.317 | 25.97 | 56.03 | -2.97 |
| Conference | Team | W | L | TrueWinPercentage | PF | PA | PythagoreanWinPercentage | PythagoreanWins | PythagoreanLosses | ActualVersusExpected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | 0.755 | 9618 | 8983 | 0.721 | 59.13 | 22.87 | 2.87 |
| West | Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | 0.622 | 9379 | 9165 | 0.580 | 47.53 | 34.47 | 3.47 |
| West | Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | 0.573 | 9410 | 9303 | 0.540 | 44.25 | 37.75 | 2.75 |
| West | Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | 0.537 | 9453 | 9363 | 0.532 | 43.72 | 38.28 | 0.28 |
| West | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | 0.512 | 8871 | 8901 | 0.488 | 40.04 | 41.96 | 1.96 |
| West | Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | 0.488 | 9436 | 9349 | 0.532 | 43.64 | 38.36 | -3.64 |
| West | Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | 0.451 | 8924 | 9176 | 0.403 | 33.16 | 48.84 | 3.84 |
| West | San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | 0.427 | 9120 | 9272 | 0.442 | 36.31 | 45.69 | -1.31 |
| West | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 8907 | 9475 | 0.297 | 24.38 | 57.62 | 7.62 |
| West | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | 0.390 | 9023 | 9268 | 0.408 | 33.45 | 48.55 | -1.45 |
| West | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | 0.377 | 8564 | 8572 | 0.497 | 40.73 | 41.27 | -9.73 |
| West | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | 0.366 | 9299 | 9582 | 0.397 | 32.57 | 49.43 | -2.57 |