1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season

1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season
Division champions
Head coachDoug Moe
General managerJohn Begzos
Owner(s)Angelo Drossos
ArenaHemisFair Arena
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference finals
(lost to Bullets 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKMOL
RadioWOAI
< 1977–78 1979–80 >

The 1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season was the Spurs' third season in the NBA and 12th season as a franchise.[1]

Draft picks

Main article: 1978 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 20 Frankie Sanders  United States Southern
3 64 Gerald Henderson PG  United States Virginia Commonwealth
4 86 Rich Adams  United States Illinois
5 108 Eugene Parker  United States Purdue
6 129 Harry Morgan  United States Indiana State
7 150 Hector Olivencia  United States Sacred Heart
8 168 Henry Taylor  United States Texas-Pan American
9 185 Rick Taylor  United States Arizona State
10 200 Larry Brewster  United States Florida

Roster

1978–79 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 30 Bristow, Allan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Virginia Tech
PG 10 Dampier, Louie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kentucky
F/C 25 Dietrick, Coby 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) San José State
G 12 Gale, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Elizabeth City State
G/F 44 Gervin, George 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Eastern Michigan
C 23 Green, Mike 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Louisiana Tech
F 35 Kenon, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Memphis
PF 34 Mosley, Glenn 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Seton Hall
F 53 Olberding, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Minnesota
F/C 5 Paultz, Billy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) St. John's
G 13 Silas, James 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Stephen F. Austin
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-San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585 – 29–12 19–22 11–9
x-Houston Rockets 47 35 .573 1 30–11 17–24 12–8
x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 2 34–7 12–29 14–6
Cleveland Cavaliers 30 52 .366 18 20–21 10–31 6–14
Detroit Pistons 30 52 .366 18 22–19 8–33 9–11
New Orleans Jazz 26 56 .317 22 21–20 8–33 9–15
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Washington Bullets 54 28 .659 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585 6
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 47 35 .573 7
4 x-Houston Rockets 47 35 .573 7
5 x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 8
6 x-New Jersey Nets 37 45 .451 17
7 New York Knicks 31 51 .378 23
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 30 52 .366 24
8 Detroit Pistons 30 52 .366 24
10 Boston Celtics 29 53 .354 25
11 New Orleans Jazz 26 56 .317 28
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA WAS
Atlanta — 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2
Boston 2–2 — 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–4
Chicago 1–3 2–1 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 0–3 0–4 0–4 1–3
Cleveland 1–3 2–2 3–1 — 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Denver 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 — 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 0–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3
Detroit 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3
Golden State 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 0–4 3–1 — 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2
Houston 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 0–4 3–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 0–4 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2
Indiana 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 — 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3
Kansas City 2–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 — 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–0
Los Angeles 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2
Milwaukee 0–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3
New Jersey 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 4–0 3–1 1–3 2–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–4 1–3
New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–3 0–4
New York 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 0–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 — 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1
Phoenix 1–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 — 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3
Portland 2–2 3–1 0–4 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 1–3 — 2–1 2–2 1–3 3–1
San Antonio 1–3 4–0 3–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 — 4–0 2–2 1–3
San Diego 1–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 0–4 — 2–2 0–3
Seattle 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 3–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 2–2
Washington 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 —

Playoffs

1979 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 15 Philadelphia W 119–106 Larry Kenon (30) Billy Paultz (9) Silas, Bristow (7) HemisFair Arena
10,253 		1–0
2 April 17 Philadelphia W 121–120 George Gervin (29) Larry Kenon (7) Silas, Gale (8) HemisFair Arena
16,709 		2–0
3 April 20 @ Philadelphia L 115–123 James Silas (32) Larry Kenon (15) Kenon, Gervin (5) Spectrum
14,039 		2–1
4 April 22 @ Philadelphia W 115–112 George Gervin (32) Larry Kenon (9) Larry Kenon (6) Spectrum
11,163 		3–1
5 April 26 Philadelphia L 97–120 James Silas (19) Larry Kenon (9) Silas, Gale (5) HemisFair Arena
16,055 		3–2
6 April 29 @ Philadelphia L 90–92 James Silas (27) Larry Kenon (15) Mike Gale (6) Spectrum
18,276 		3–3
7 May 2 Philadelphia W 111–108 George Gervin (33) George Gervin (12) Mark Olberding (7) HemisFair Arena
16,055 		4–3
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 4 @ Washington W 118–97 George Gervin (34) Larry Kenon (21) James Silas (4) Capital Centre
19,035 		1–0
2 May 6 @ Washington L 95–115 Larry Kenon (25) Larry Kenon (8) Olberding, Dietrick (3) Capital Centre
19,035 		1–1
3 May 9 Washington W 116–114 George Gervin (29) Billy Paultz (12) Kenon, Gale (5) HemisFair Arena
15,318 		2–1
4 May 11 Washington W 118–102 George Gervin (42) Larry Kenon (17) Silas, Gale (6) HemisFair Arena
16,055 		3–1
5 May 13 @ Washington W 103–107 George Gervin (28) Mark Olberding (13) James Silas (6) Capital Centre
19,035 		3–2
6 May 16 Washington L 100–108 George Gervin (20) Larry Kenon (15) James Silas (7) HemisFair Arena
16,055 		3–3
7 May 18 @ Washington L 105–107 George Gervin (42) Larry Kenon (11) James Silas (5) Capital Centre
19,035 		3–4
1979 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mike Gale SG 82 2,121 186 374 152 40 659 25.9 2.3 4.6 1.9 .5 8.0
Larry Kenon PF 81 2,947 790 335 154 19 1,791 36.4 9.8 4.1 1.9 .2 22.1
George Gervin SF 80 2,888 400 219 137 91 2,365 36.1 5.0 2.7 1.7 1.1 29.6
Mark Olberding PF 80 1,885 429 211 53 18 755 23.6 5.4 2.6 .7 .2 9.4
James Silas PG 79 2,171 183 273 76 20 1,266 27.5 2.3 3.5 1.0 .3 16.0
Billy Paultz C 79 2,122 625 178 35 125 912 26.9 7.9 2.3 .4 1.6 11.5
Mike Green C 76 1,641 354 116 37 122 571 21.6 4.7 1.5 .5 1.6 7.5
Coby Dietrick C 76 1,487 315 198 72 38 497 19.6 4.1 2.6 .9 .5 6.5
Allan Bristow SF 74 1,324 247 231 56 15 472 17.9 3.3 3.1 .8 .2 6.4
Louie Dampier PG 70 760 63 124 35 8 275 10.9 .9 1.8 .5 .1 3.9
Glenn Mosley PF 26 221 64 19 8 10 85 8.5 2.5 .7 .3 .4 3.3
Frankie Sanders† SF 22 263 59 35 14 3 132 12.0 2.7 1.6 .6 .1 6.0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.

Playoffs

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Larry Kenon PF 14 557 160 42 20 1 295 39.8 11.4 3.0 1.4 .1 21.1
George Gervin SF 14 513 82 35 27 14 400 36.6 5.9 2.5 1.9 1.0 28.6
James Silas PG 14 475 42 66 21 1 267 33.9 3.0 4.7 1.5 .1 19.1
Mark Olberding PF 14 359 69 33 12 5 111 25.6 4.9 2.4 .9 .4 7.9
Mike Green C 14 350 73 11 13 36 110 25.0 5.2 .8 .9 2.6 7.9
Mike Gale SG 14 302 29 56 16 4 95 21.6 2.1 4.0 1.1 .3 6.8
Coby Dietrick C 14 281 65 26 12 3 82 20.1 4.6 1.9 .9 .2 5.9
Billy Paultz C 13 299 98 30 4 13 82 23.0 7.5 2.3 .3 1.0 6.3
Allan Bristow SF 13 163 27 28 9 5 56 12.5 2.1 2.2 .7 .4 4.3
Louie Dampier PG 7 55 5 8 3 1 20 7.9 .7 1.1 .4 .1 2.9
Glenn Mosley PF 3 6 1 1 0 1 5 2.0 .3 .3 .0 .3 1.7

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1978-79 San Antonio Spurs