1977–78 Washington Bullets season

NBA season

team = Washington Bullets
end_year = 1978
wins = 44
losses = 38
division_place = 2^nd
conf_place = 3^rd
coach = Dick Motta
arena = Capital Center
playoffs = Won NBA FinalsThe Bullets got off to a slow start as they lost 6 of their first 10 games. On January 13th, the Bullets beat the defending Champion Portland Trail Blazers to improve to 24-15. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] Injuries would begin to have an effect on the team as the Bullets struggled, as they would lose 13 of their next 18 games. Hovering around .500 the rest of the season, the Bullets managed to make the playoffs. The Bullets finished the 77-78 season with a 44-38 record. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ]

Offseason

NBA Draft

Postseason

As the playoffs began, the Bullets began to get healthy. They started to play solid basketball at the right time as they swept the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. In the second round, the Bullets stunned the Central Division champion San Antonio Spurs in 6 games. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] Game 6 started out oddly as Spurs guard Mike Gale was forced to a wear an inside out Bullets uniform after losing his uniform at the airport. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] In the 3rd period the Spurs would make a run and take a 62-61 lead when the lights went out at the Cap Centre. When the lights came back on the Bullets would come out shooting on the way to a 103-100 win. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] In the Eastern Finals, the Bullets took a 3-1 series lead against the defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers. The Bullets lost Game 5 on the road and returned home to play Game 6. In the closing seconds, Wes Unseld would rebound a shot of his own miss to give the Bullets a dramatic 101-99 victory.

NBA Finals

After being swept in their previous trip to the NBA Finals, the Bullets lost Game 1 on the road against the Seattle SuperSonics, and a 19-point lead vanished in the process. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] In Game 4, the Bullets rose to the occasion beating the Sonics 120-116 to even the series at 2 games apiece. After losing Game 5 in Seattle, the Bullets kept their hopes alive with a dominating 117-82 win at the Capital Centre. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ] Game 7 returned to Seattle and the Bullets were a heavy underdog. Kevin Grevey suffered a sprained wrist above his shooting hand, and Bob Dandridge was forced to see some action at guard. Dandridge would play strongly and scored 19 points to tie with Charles Johnson, who hit a half court shot at the end of the 3rd quarter, for the team high. Wes Unseld scored 15 points while pulling down 9 boards as the Bullets emerged with a 105-99 victory to win their first NBA Championship. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963-Present) ] ]

Awards and Honors

*Wes Unseld, NBA Finals MVP

References

* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1978.html Bullets on Basketball Reference] succession box
title = NBA Champions
Washington Bullets
years = 1978
before = Portland Trail Blazers
1977
after = Seattle SuperSonics
1979Navbox
name = Washington Bullets 1977-78 NBA champions
titlestyle = background:#001884; color:#c22;
title = Washington Bullets 1977-78 NBA Champions
list1 =

10 Dandridge !11 Hayes !14 Henderson !15 Johnson !20 Walker !25 Kupchak !32 Wright !35 Grevey !41 Unseld (Finals MVP) !42 Ballard !44 Pace !45 Chenier !Coach Motta