The 1977 NBA Finals: A Look Back

It’s been 40 years since the Portland Trail Blazers won their only NBA Championship Take a look back at the 1977 NBA Finals

The 1977 NBA Finals A Look Back

The 1977 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1976–77 season, and the culmination of that season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers played the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage The series was played under a best-of-seven format.

The Sixers won the series, 4–2. It was implemented when then-NBA Commissioner David Stern decided to add a second round to the playoffs in order for more teams to have a chance at winning the NBA Championship

Darryl Dawkins led the Sixers in scoring with 18.5 points per game while Maurice Cheeks led in assists with 7.0 per game. Billy Cunningham coached the Sixers, who were making their third straight appearance in the NBA Finals

The Trail Blazers were making their first ever appearance in an NBA Finals series. Their leading scorer was Geoff Petrie with 21.6 points per game while their leading rebounder and passer was Bill Walton with 14.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game respectively. Jack Ramsay coached Portland, who were also appearing in their third straight NBA Finals series.

The 1977 NBA Finals A Look Ahead

The 1977 NBA Finals was one of the most closely contested and thrilling Championship Series in Basketball History It pitted the two best teams in the league against each other, with the Los Angeles Lakers coming out on top in a hard-fought seven-game series.

Forty years later, we take a look back at that classic matchup between the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers, highlighting some of the Key Players and moments that made it such an unforgettable series.

The 1977 NBA Finals A Legacy

The 1977 NBA Finals was one of the most iconic and important moments in Basketball History It featured two of the greatest players to ever play the game Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar The hard-fought series went to seven games, with the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately coming out on top.

This series not only cemented the Lakers as one of the greatest teams of all time, but it also helped shaped the future of basketball The fast-paced style of play that was on display in this series would go on to influence the way the game is played today. In addition, this series featured some of the most clutch performances in NBA Finals history, cementing Magic Johnson as one of the greatest players of all time.

While the 1977 NBA Finals may not be remembered as the most exciting series ever played, it is definitely one of the most important. This series helped define an era of basketball and set a standard for excellence that is still upheld today.

The 1977 NBA Finals A Triumph

In 1977, the NBA Finals saw the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Philadelphia 76ers. The series went down to the wire, with the Blazers ultimately emerging victorious. It was a hard-fought series, and one that is still remembered fondly by basketball fans today.

The 1977 NBA Finals were notable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was the first time that the Finals had been played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Secondly, it was the first time that an NBA team had come back from a 0-2 deficit to win the series. And finally, it was the first time that an African American Head Coach (Dr. Jack Ramsay) had led a team to an NBA Championship

The Blazers were led by their star guard, Bill Walton, who was named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 19 rebounds per game He was ably supported by his teammates Maurice Lucas and Lionel Hollins, who both contributed significantly to the Blazers’ cause.

The 76ers, meanwhile, were led by their own star guard, Julius Erving “Dr. J” as he was known, was one of the most dominant players in the league and he put up some impressive numbers in the Finals (27 points per game). However, he didn’t have enough help from his teammates and eventually succumbed to defeat.

The 1977 NBA Finals Was a Triumph is an insightful look back at one of the most exciting series in NBA history

The 1977 NBA Finals A Defeat

In 1977, the Portland Trail Blazers took on the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals The series was one of the most highly anticipated in NBA history as it featured two of the best teams in the league. Unfortunately for Portland, they were no match for Philadelphia, who won the series in four games.

The 1977 NBA Finals A Disappointment

The 1977 NBA Finals was supposed to be a matchup between two of the league’s best teams, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. The Philadelphia 76ers, who had the best record in the regular season were swept by the Portland Trail Blazers in four games. This was the first time a team with the best record in the regular season had been swept in the Finals.

The 1977 NBA Finals A Surprise

It’s been 40 years since the Portland Trail Blazers faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1977 NBA Finals The matchup was a surprise to many, as the Blazers were relative newcomers to the league, having joined in 1970. The Sixers were a powerhouse, led by stars Julius Erving and George McGinnis. But Portland proved to be a tough opponent, and the series went to a seventh and final game In the end, it was the Sixers who prevailed, winning their first NBA championship

For basketball fans the 1977 Finals was an exciting series. It featured two talented teams and some of the biggest stars of the day. But it also had its share of surprises. Here are five things you may not know about the 1977 NBA Finals

1. The Sixers were expected to win easily. Going into the series, most experts predicted that Philadelphia would win in four or five games. The Sixers had won 68 games during the Regular Season while Portland had won just 49. And while Portland had some good players, like Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas, they were no match for Philly’s stars Julius Erving and George McGinnis.

2. The series went to seven games. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Blazers managed to win three games against Philadelphia. This forced a seventh and final game, which was played on June 8th in Philadelphia.

3. Bill Walton was named MVP of the series… even though his team lost. Bill Walton averaged 18 points and 19 rebounds per game during the 1977 Finals. His strong performance earned him MVP honors, even though his team ultimately lost the series to Philadelphia.

4. The Sixers won Game 7 by four points… but it was much closer than that. The Sixers won Game 7 by a final score of 109-107, but it was a lot closer than that suggests. Late in the fourth quarter Portland’s Jim Brewer hit a shot that would have tied the game at 109-109… but it was waived off because time had expired before he released the ball (a rule that has since been changed). So while Philly technically won by two points, it could easily have gone either way in the final seconds of play.

5 .The 1977 NBA Finals were one of only two times that two black coaches faced each other in the Finals (the other being 1983). In 1977, Portland’s Jack Ramsay became only the second black coach ever to lead a team to an NBA title (the first being Bill Russell with Boston in 1968). Ramsay’s opponent was Philly’s Gene Shue, making this only the second time that two black coaches faced each other in an NBA Finals (the other being 1983 when Lenny Wilkens of Seattle faced off against Pat Riley of Los Angeles).

The 1977 NBA Finals A letdown

The 1977 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1976–77 season, and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers played against the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage Their four regular season meetings had been split evenly, 2–2.

It was also the first time that an NBA Finals game was played in primetime on ABC. Game 5 took place on Memorial Day a holiday on which no other Finals game would be scheduled until 1992. The Sixers ended up winning the series 4–2. This was Philadelphia’s second championship, having previously won in 1955 as the Syracuse Nationals

The 1977 NBA Finals A turning point

The 1977 NBA Finals turned out to be a turning point for the league. It was the first time in NBA history that two black head coaches would face off against each other in the Finals.Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics were up against Lenny Wilkens’ Seattle SuperSonics The series went to a full seven games, with Boston ultimately winning by four points in the final game.

This year was also significant because it saw the rise of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Abdul-Jabbar won MVP for the second year in a row, and Johnson was named Rookie of the Year. The two players would go on to have Hall of Fame careers, and their matchup in the Finals is often considered one of the best in NBA history

If you’re a fan of basketball, or just want to learn more about one of the most important moments in the sport’s history, then check out this article on the 1977 NBA Finals

The 1977 NBA Finals An unforgettable moment

The 1977 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1976–77 season, and the culmination of the season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers played against the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage. Their four Regular Season meetings had been split evenly, 2–2.

The series was played under a best-of-seven format, so it took seven games for a team to win the championship. It was also the first time that the NBA Finals were televised in Prime Time Despite going into the series as underdogs, Portland emerged victorious after a thrilling Game 7 victory, 92–90. Bill Walton was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) as he had averaged 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for the series.