1977–78 Buffalo Braves season

NBA season

team = Buffalo Braves
end_year = 1978
wins = 27
losses = 55
division = atlantic
division_place = 4
conf_place = 9
coach = Joe Mullaney and Cotton Fitzsimmons
arena = Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
playoffs = Did not qualify The 1976-77 NBA season was the Braves 8th and final season in the NBA. Going into the season, the Braves would get an escape clause in their lease because season ticket sales did not reach the set goal of 4,500. The Braves would suffer another disappointment as Tiny Archibald (whom they acquired from the New Jersey Nets for George Johnson) was lost during preseason to a seasons ending Achilles tendon injury. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] The Braves would play competitive basketball in November holding a respectable 10-10 record. Despite the promising start, the Braves would win just 9 games combined over the next 3 months. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] While the Braves were struggling on the court, their owner John Y. Brown was brokering a deal to take over the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move the historic franchise to California. However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] NBA Lawyer David Stern would offer a comprise in which Levin and Brown would swap franchises. The concept was that Levin would take over the Braves and move them to San Diego. The Braves would go on to finish in 4th place with a 27-55 record, while playing their last game on April 9th, ironically, in Boston. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] Owners would go on to vote 21-1 to approve the deal, and the Braves would move from Buffalo to San Diego. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] The deal also included a 7-player trade in which the Celtics acquired Tiny Archibald, Billy Knight, and Marvin Barnes. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] The soon to be San Diego bound Braves would receive Freeman Williams, back-up center Kevin Kunnert, and power forwards Kermit Washington and Sidney Wicks. The team would not request a draft pick in the deal, allowing the Celtics to retain the draft rights to Larry Bird.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Regular season

eason standings

[ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1978.html 1977-78 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com ] ]

eason Schedule

Player stats

"Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average"

Awards and Honors

References

* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=BUF&lg=n&yr=1977 Braves on Database Basketball]
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BUF/1978.html Braves on Basketball Reference]