# 1977–78 Indiana Pacers season

The 1977–78 NBA season was Indiana's second season in the National Basketball Association and 11th season as a franchise.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 29 | Alonzo Bradley | SF | United States | Texas Southern |
| 3 | 51 | Stan Mayhew | | United States | Weber State |
| 4 | 73 | George Pendleton | | United States | Georgia State |
| 5 | 95 | Marvin Jackson | | United States | Prairie View A&M |
| 6 | 117 | Tom Scheffler | C | United States | Purdue |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 33–8 | 15–26 | 11–9 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 4 | 28–13 | 16–25 | 14–6 |
| Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 8 | 29–12 | 11–30 | 8–12 |
| Detroit Pistons | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 24–17 | 14–27 | 8–12 |
| Indiana Pacers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | 21–20 | 10–31 | 8–12 |
| Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | 22–19 | 9–32 | 11–9 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Portland Trail Blazers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 14 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
| 8 | Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 18 |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | 38 | 44 | .463 | 20 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
| 11 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Denver | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Kansas City | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Portland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| San Antonio | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1977–78 game log Total: 31–51 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24) :
October: 3–2 (home: 3–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
October 28, 1977 7:05 p.m. EST
Washington
W 136–127
Market Square Arena 12,542
3–2 :
November: 4–11 (home: 2–3; road: 2–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
December: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January: 5–11 (home: 4–3; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
34
January 6, 1978 8:05 p.m. EST
@ Washington
L 114–146
Capital Centre 9,215
15–19 :
February: 3–11 (home: 2–5; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
57
February 17, 1978 8:05 p.m. EST
Washington
W 123–111
Market Square Arena 10,637
21–36 :
March: 7–10 (home: 5–4; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
69
March 17, 1978 8:05 p.m. EST
@ Washington
W 105–99
Capital Centre 8,196
27–42 :
April: 2–2 (home: 0–2; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1977–78 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mike Bantom | SF | 82 | 2,775 | 610 | 238 | 100 | 50 | 1,258 | 33.8 | 7.4 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .6 | 15.3 |
| Ricky Sobers | PG | 79 | 3,019 | 327 | 584 | 170 | 23 | 1,436 | 38.2 | 4.1 | 7.4 | 2.2 | .3 | 18.2 |
| Dan Roundfield | PF | 79 | 2,423 | 802 | 196 | 81 | 149 | 1,060 | 30.7 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 13.4 |
| Mike Flynn | PG | 71 | 955 | 117 | 142 | 41 | 10 | 295 | 13.5 | 1.6 | 2.0 | .6 | .1 | 4.2 |
| Len Elmore | C | 69 | 1,327 | 420 | 80 | 74 | 71 | 372 | 19.2 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 5.4 |
| James Edwards$^†$ | C | 58 | 1,682 | 435 | 56 | 37 | 50 | 892 | 29.0 | 7.5 | 1.0 | .6 | .9 | 15.4 |
| Earl Tatum$^†$ | SG | 57 | 1,859 | 205 | 226 | 103 | 30 | 822 | 32.6 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .5 | 14.4 |
| Ron Behagen$^†$ | PF | 51 | 1,131 | 333 | 65 | 32 | 19 | 572 | 22.2 | 6.5 | 1.3 | .6 | .4 | 11.2 |
| Steve Green | SF | 44 | 449 | 71 | 30 | 14 | 2 | 151 | 10.2 | 1.6 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 3.4 |
| John Williamson$^†$ | SG | 42 | 1,449 | 120 | 132 | 47 | 0 | 804 | 34.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.1 | .0 | 19.1 |
| Bob Carrington$^†$ | SG | 35 | 621 | 62 | 62 | 22 | 11 | 250 | 17.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | .6 | .3 | 7.1 |
| Mel Bennett | PF | 31 | 285 | 93 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 74 | 9.2 | 3.0 | .7 | .4 | .2 | 2.4 |
| Adrian Dantley$^†$ | SF | 23 | 948 | 216 | 65 | 48 | 17 | 609 | 41.2 | 9.4 | 2.8 | 2.1 | .7 | 26.5 |
| Dave Robisch$^†$ | C | 23 | 598 | 173 | 48 | 20 | 15 | 196 | 26.0 | 7.5 | 2.1 | .9 | .7 | 8.5 |
| Johnny Neumann | SG | 20 | 216 | 14 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 83 | 10.8 | .7 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 4.2 |
| Bobby Wilson | SG | 12 | 86 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 7.2 | 1.0 | .7 | .2 | .1 | 2.5 |
| Willie Smith | PG | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

## Awards and records

* Don Buse, NBA All-Defensive First Team