1978–79 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1978–79 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the ninth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1978–79 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Arena	Coliseum at Richfield
Results
Record	30–52 (.366)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WJKW
Radio	WWWE

Draft picks

See also: 1978 NBA draft

Roster

1978–79 Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 52 Jim Brewer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) December 3, 1951 Minnesota SG 34 Austin Carr 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) March 10, 1948 Notre Dame C 22 Jim Chones 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) November 30, 1949 Marquette SF 40 Harry Davis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) January 27, 1956 Florida State PG 11 Walt Frazier 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) March 29, 1945 Southern Illinois SG 25 Terry Furlow 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) October 18, 1954 Michigan State PG 1 Kenny Higgs 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) January 31, 1955 LSU PF 24 John Lambert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) January 14, 1953 USC PG 15 Butch Lee 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) December 5, 1956 Marquette SF 30 Mike Mitchell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) January 1, 1956 Auburn SF 20 Campy Russell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) January 12, 1952 Michigan SG 7 Bingo Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) February 26, 1946 Tulsa C 3 Elmore Smith 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) May 9, 1949 Kentucky State PG 14 Foots Walker 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) May 21, 1951 West Georgia

Head coach Stan Albeck Assistant(s) Morris McHone Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

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

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

1978–79 game log Total: 30–52 (Home: 20–21; Road: 10–31)
October: 4–4 (home: 3–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
November: 3–11 (home: 1–5; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 November 28, 1978 Atlanta W 112–98 Coliseum at Richfield 4,130 7–14
December: 7–6 (home: 6–2; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 December 23, 1978 @ Atlanta L 91–109 The Omni 6,215 12–21
January: 6–8 (home: 4–3; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
February: 6–8 (home: 4–3; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 February 20, 1979 Atlanta L 109–119 Coliseum at Richfield 6,523 24–35
March: 3–11 (home: 1–5; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 72 March 20, 1979 @ Atlanta L 109–115 The Omni 6,384 28–44
April: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1978–79 schedule