1980–81 Detroit Pistons season

1980–81 Detroit Pistons season
Head coachScotty Robertson
General managerJack McCloskey
OwnersWilliam Davidson
ArenaPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record21–61 (.256)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Central)
Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 33rd season in the NBA and 24th season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome.

The rebuilding Pistons finished the season with a 21–61 (.256) record, 6th place in the Central Division. The team was led by center Kent Benson (15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and guard John Long (17.7 ppg).[2][1]

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Team
1 17 Larry Drew Guard United States United States Missouri
5 93 Tony Fuller Guard United States United States Pepperdine

Roster

1980–81 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 54 Benson, Kent 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana
G 22 Drew, Larry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Missouri
G 33 Herron, Keith 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Villanova
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
C 44 Mokeski, Paul 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kansas
PF 42 Robinson, Wayne 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Virginia Tech
G/F 41 Tyler, Terry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy
PG 15 Wright, Larry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State
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-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 – 34–7 26–15 23–7
x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 15.0 26–15 19–22 20–9
x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 16.0 27–14 17–24 17–12
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 29.0 20–21 11–30 9–21
Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 32.0 20–21 8–33 9–21
Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 39.0 14–27 7–34 9–21
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 62 20 .756  –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 2
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 .756 –
4 x-New York Knicks 50 32 .610 12
5 x-Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 17
6 x-Indiana Pacers 44 38 .537 18
7 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 23
8 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 31
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 28 54 .341 34
10 New Jersey Nets 24 58 .293 38
11 Detroit Pistons 21 61 .256 41
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 2–4 1–5 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–2 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–4
Boston 4–2 — 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 3–3 6–0 5–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1
Chicago 4–2 1–5 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1
Cleveland 5–1 1–4 1–5 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 3–3 0–5 0–6 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 2–3 0–6 0–2 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–4 1–5 2–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
Denver 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–3 2–4 3–2 3–2 2–4 0–2
Detroit 2–4 1–4 1–5 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 1–5 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5
Golden State 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 — 3–2 1–1 5–0 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 2–4 3–3 4–1 1–1
Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 2–3 — 1–1 2–4 2–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 0–2
Indiana 5–1 3–3 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2
Kansas City 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–5 4–2 0–2 — 0–5 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 5–1 1–1
Los Angeles 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–3 2–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 2–3 3–3 6–0 3–2 1–1
Milwaukee 5–1 3–3 3–3 6–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 — 5–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–1
New Jersey 2–3 0–6 2–3 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–5 — 0–6 1–5 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3
New York 4–2 1–5 3–3 5–0 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 6–0 — 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
Philadelphia 5–1 3–3 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 5–1 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
Phoenix 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 3–3 3–2 6–0 5–1 5–0 1–1
Portland 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–3 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–3 3–2 — 4–1 3–2 5–1 1–1
San Diego 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 3–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–4 1–4 — 5–1 3–2 0–2
Seattle 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 3–3 1–4 2–0 3–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 2–3 1–5 — 4–1 1–1
Utah 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 1–4 2–4 1–1 1–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 1–5 2–3 1–4 — 0–2
Washington 4–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

Regular season

1980–81 game log
Total: 21–61 (Home: 14–27; Road: 7–34)
October: 1–9 (home: 0–6; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 10 Washington L 85–95 Pontiac Silverdome 0–1
2 October 11 @ Indiana L 87–100 Market Square Arena 0–2
3 October 13 @ New Jersey L 92–108 Rutgers Athletic Center 0–3
4 October 14 @ Cleveland L 91–99 Richfield Coliseum 0–4
5 October 16 San Antonio L 99–102 Pontiac Silverdome 0–5
6 October 18 Atlanta L 123–125 (2OT) Pontiac Silverdome 0–6
7 October 22 Philadelphia L 93–94 Pontiac Silverdome 0–7
8 October 25 @ Houston W 112–109 The Summit 1–7
9 October 29 Boston L 85–103 Pontiac Silverdome 1–8
10 October 31 Phoenix L 98–103 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 1–9
November: 7–8 (home: 5–3; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 November 1 @ Chicago L 100–122 Chicago Stadium 1–10
12 November 4 @ Milwaukee W 98–96 MECCA Arena 2–10
13 November 5 @ Philadelphia L 103–107 The Spectrum 2–11
14 November 7 @ Washington L 88–114 Capital Centre 2–12
15 November 8 Dallas W 101–73 Pontiac Silverdome 3–12
16 November 11 @ New York L 118–149 Madison Square Garden 3–13
17 November 12 Milwaukee L 98–122 Pontiac Silverdome 3–14
18 November 14 Chicago W 106–99 Pontiac Silverdome 4–14
19 November 16 @ New Jersey L 80–89 Rutgers Athletic Center 4–15
20 November 18 Indiana L 97–102 Pontiac Silverdome 4–16
21 November 20 San Diego W 97–90 Pontiac Silverdome 5–16
22 November 22 New Jersey W 117–103 Pontiac Silverdome 6–16
23 November 26 Utah L 97–104 Pontiac Silverdome 6–17
24 November 28 Kansas City W 104–94 Pontiac Silverdome 7–17
25 November 29 @ Atlanta W 98–95 The Omni 8–17
December: 2–12 (home: 2–4; road: 0–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 December 2 Boston L 85–94 Pontiac Silverdome 8–18
27 December 5 @ Washington L 92–103 Capital Centre 8–19
28 December 6 @ Cleveland L 100–101 Richfield Coliseum 8–20
29 December 10 Atlanta L 92–100 Pontiac Silverdome 8–21
30 December 12 Cleveland W 101–95 Pontiac Silverdome 9–21
31 December 13 @ New York L 94–100 Madison Square Garden 9–22
32 December 17 New York L 103–119 Pontiac Silverdome 9–23
33 December 18 @ Milwaukee L 104–121 MECCA Arena 9–24
34 December 19 Indiana W 109–106 Pontiac Silverdome 10–24
35 December 21 @ San Diego L 97–117 San Diego Sports Arena 10–25
36 December 23 @ Phoenix L 104–113 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10–26
37 December 26 Houston L 94–114 Pontiac Silverdome 10–27
38 December 27 @ Chicago L 97–104 Chicago Stadium 10–28
39 December 30 @ Atlanta L 89–96 The Omni 10–29
January: 3–13 (home: 3–5; road: 0–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
40 January 2 New York W 102–100 Pontiac Silverdome 11–29
41 January 6 @ Portland L 90–110 Memorial Coliseum 11–30
42 January 7 @ Seattle L 94–99 Kingdome 11–31
43 January 10 @ Golden State L 103–105 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–32
44 January 11 @ Los Angeles L 108–117 The Forum 11–33
45 January 13 Milwaukee L 96–119 Pontiac Silverdome 11–34
46 January 14 @ Indiana L 99–101 Market Square Arena 11–35
47 January 15 Washington L 89–106 Pontiac Silverdome 11–36
48 January 17 New Jersey L 103–119 Pontiac Silverdome 11–37
49 January 19 @ Boston L 90–92 Hartford Civic Center 11–38
50 January 20 Philadelphia W 83–75 Pontiac Silverdome 12–38
51 January 22 Chicago L 92–125 Pontiac Silverdome 12–39
52 January 24 Cleveland W 117–94 Pontiac Silverdome 13–39
53 January 26 @ Utah L 99–102 Salt Palace Acord Arena 13–40
54 January 27 @ Denver L 123–143 McNichols Sports Arena 13–41
55 January 29 Golden State L 112–117 Pontiac Silverdome 13–42
February: 3–10 (home: 2–4; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
56 February 3 @ San Antonio L 99–102 HemisFair Arena 13–43
57 February 4 @ Kansas City L 90–91 Kemper Arena 13–44
58 February 6 Los Angeles L 102–111 Pontiac Silverdome 13–45
59 February 7 @ Chicago L 90–98 Chicago Stadium 13–46
60 February 8 Indiana L 101–124 Pontiac Silverdome 13–47
61 February 10 @ Dallas W 101–95 Reunion Arena 14–47
62 February 13 @ New York L 92–120 Madison Square Garden 14–48
63 February 14 Washington W 105–103 Pontiac Silverdome 15–48
64 February 17 @ Cleveland L 108–109 Richfield Coliseum 15–49
65 February 18 @ Philadelphia L 97–111 The Spectrum 15–50
66 February 19 Portland L 106–115 Pontiac Silverdome 15–51
67 February 21 Boston L 119–130 Pontiac Silverdome 15–52
68 February 27 Cleveland W 118–109 Pontiac Silverdome 16–52
March: 5–9 (home: 2–5; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
69 March 1 @ New Jersey W 117–104 Rutgers Athletic Center 17–52
70 March 3 @ Milwaukee L 98–115 MECCA Arena 17–53
71 March 5 New York L 101–104 Pontiac Silverdome 17–54
72 March 7 Denver L 109–121 Pontiac Silverdome 17–55
73 March 11 Atlanta W 100–97 Pontiac Silverdome 18–55
73 March 13 Seattle L 100–102 Pontiac Silverdome 18–56
75 March 14 @ Indiana W 101–94 Market Square Arena 19–56
76 March 18 New Jersey W 118–115 Pontiac Silverdome 20–56
77 March 20 Milwaukee L 86–104 Pontiac Silverdome 20–57
78 March 22 Chicago L 103–109 Pontiac Silverdome 20–58
79 March 24 @ Atlanta L 91–96 The Omni 20–59
80 March 25 @ Philadelphia L 75–114 The Spectrum 20–60
81 March 27 @ Boston W 115–90 Boston Garden 21–60
82 March 28 @ Washington L 103–108 Capital Centre 21–61
1980–81 schedule

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "1980-81 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Chevette to Corvette No. 58: The 1980-81 Detroit Pistons". September 20, 2011.