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1977–78 Phoenix Suns season

The 1977–78 Phoenix Suns season was the tenth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The team finished second in a Pacific division that did not have a team finish below .500, as the Suns returned to the playoffs for the third time in franchise history. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Both Paul Westphal and Walter Davis, a rookie from the University of North Carolina, were selected to participate in the All-Star Game and by the end of the season, both were members of the All-NBA Second Team. Davis became the second Sun in three years to be selected as Rookie of the Year, an award teammate Alvan Adams had collected after the 1975–76 season.

Both Westphal and rookie Davis averaged career-highs in scoring, averaging 25.2 and 24.2 points a game. The combined averaged of 49.4 points made for the league's highest-scoring duo on the season. Additionally, Westphal and Davis broke a franchise record of 45.9 points a game, a mark set by Connie Hawkins and Dick Van Arsdale during the 1969–70 season.

Offseason

NBA draft

The Suns used their first-round pick to select swingman Walter Davis from North Carolina. Davis averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in four years with the Tar Heels. He would make an immediate impact with the Suns, helping the team make a 15-game improvement and return to the playoffs. Averaging 24.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game his first season, Davis was named Rookie of the Year, receiving 49 1/4 of 66 votes. He would also be named to the All-NBA Second Team, and would finish fifth in Most Valuable Player voting, behind winner Bill Walton, George Gervin, David Thompson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Davis spent his first eleven seasons with the Suns before joining the Denver Nuggets as the league's second unrestricted free agent in 1988. He left as the Suns' all-time leading scorer (15,666 points), and had his #6 jersey retired by the franchise in 1994.

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 18 | Golden State | W 100–83 | Alvan Adams (27) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>9,128 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 23 | @ Los Angeles | W 104–101 | Paul Westphal (26) | | | The Forum<br>10,481 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | October 25 | Seattle | W 93–86 | Paul Westphal (30) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,917 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 28 | @ New Orleans | L 107–114 | Paul Westphal (23) | | | Louisiana Superdome<br>10,342 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | October 29 | @ Houston | L 112–125 | Paul Westphal (28) | | | The Summit<br>8,557 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 31 | San Antonio | L 143–145 | Paul Westphal (37) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,030 | 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 3 | @ San Antonio | W 110–89 | Walter Davis (24) | | | HemisFair Arena<br>8,394 | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 4, 1977<br>6:05p.m. MST | @ Washington | L 96–113 | Ron Lee (21) | | | Capital Centre<br>8,742 | 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 5 | @ Chicago | L 94–111 | Walter Davis (25) | | | Chicago Stadium<br>13,424 | 4–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 10 | New Orleans | W 127–111 | Alvan Adams (35) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,297 | 5–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 13 | Indiana | W 116–107 | Ron Lee (24) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,550 | 6–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 18 | Chicago | W 103–101 | Walter Davis,<br>Paul Westphal (25) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,543 | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 20 | San Antonio | W 134–112 | Alvan Adams (32) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>9,677 | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 22 | Los Angeles | W 118–107 | Walter Davis (34) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,130 | 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 24 | @ Cleveland | L 82–97 | Paul Westphal (22) | | | Coliseum at Richfield<br>15,445 | 9–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 25 | @ Indiana | W 118–110 | Alvan Adams,<br>Paul Westphal (30) | | | Market Square Arena<br>15,448 | 10–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 27 | Denver | W 115–97 | Paul Westphal (48) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,658 | 11–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 29 | @ Portland | L 96–108 | Walter Davis,<br>Paul Westphal (25) | | | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 11–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | December 2 | Portland | L 103–106 | Paul Westphal (32) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 11–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | December 4 | Atlanta | L 89–96 | Alvan Adams (18) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>9,577 | 11–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 6 | @ Kansas City | W 103–92 | Walter Davis (29) | | | Kemper Arena<br>5,976 | 12–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 7 | @ Detroit | W 113–107 (OT) | Walter Davis,<br>Paul Westphal (27) | | | Cobo Arena<br>3,588 | 13–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 10 | Houston | W 110–93 | Walter Davis (29) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>8,761 | 14–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 14 | Buffalo | W 113–103 | Paul Westphal (29) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,597 | 15–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 16 | @ New Orleans | W 126–113 | Walter Davis (24) | | | Louisiana Superdome<br>8,172 | 16–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 17 | @ Houston | W 101–97 | Paul Westphal (26) | | | The Summit<br>8,134 | 17–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 18 | @ Atlanta | L 129–134 (2OT) | Walter Davis (33) | | | Omni Coliseum<br>8,062 | 17–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 20 | @ New York | W 110–99 | Paul Westphal (32) | | | Madison Square Garden<br>13,548 | 18–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | December 21 | @ Philadelphia | L 119–125 | Walter Davis (35) | | | The Spectrum<br>14,671 | 18–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 23 | Boston | W 129–110 | Paul Westphal (19) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 19–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | December 26 | @ Denver | L 108–127 | Walter Davis (23) | | | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,297 | 19–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | December 27 | Seattle | W 131–105 | Ron Lee (30) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,543 | 20–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | December 29 | Kansas City | W 110–104 | Walter Davis,<br>Paul Westphal (33) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 21–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | December 30 | @ Seattle | L 110–121 | Paul Westphal (32) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 21–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 3 | @ Milwaukee | W 125–103 | Paul Westphal (34) | | | MECCA Arena<br>8,571 | 22–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 4 | @ New Jersey | L 83–115 | Paul Westphal (21) | | | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>4,067 | 22–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 5 | @ Boston | W 121–111 | Paul Westphal (43) | | | Hartford Civic Center<br>10,019 | 23–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 7 | @ Buffalo | W 107–97 | Paul Westphal (29) | | | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>7,029 | 24–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 11 | New Orleans | W 142–99 | Walter Davis (24) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 25–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 13 | Detroit | W 111–100 | Paul Westphal (26) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 26–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 15 | Cleveland | W 113–104 | Walter Davis (31) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,787 | 27–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 19 | New York | W 134–114 | Paul Westphal (31) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,935 | 28–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 20 | @ Golden State | L 104–119 | Walter Davis (31) | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>13,237 | 28–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 22, 1978<br>4:45p.m. MST | Washington | W 114–101 | Paul Westphal (30) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 29–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | January 25 | Houston | W 118–96 | Paul Westphal (25) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>9,277 | 30–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | January 27 | Philadelphia | W 110–101 | Walter Davis (29) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 31–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | January 29 | New Jersey | W 131–100 | Bayard Forrest (23) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,327 | 32–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 31 | @ Kansas City | W 112–102 | Walter Davis (21) | | | Omaha Civic Auditorium<br>5,182 | 33–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 1 | @ Detroit | L 120–127 | Walter Davis (26) | | | Cobo Arena<br>5,143 | 33–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 3 | Milwaukee | W 115–105 | Walter Davis (30) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 34–16 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 9 | Atlanta | W 125–98 | Walter Davis (28) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>9,877 | 35–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 12, 1978<br>4:45p.m. MST | Washington | W 121–109 | Paul Westphal (43) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,467 | 36–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 14 | @ Portland | L 100–113 | Walter Davis (39) | | | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 36–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 16 | Boston | L 95–98 | Walter Davis (27) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 36–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | February 17 | @ Golden State | L 92–111 | Alvan Adams,<br>Walter Davis (16) | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>13,185 | 36–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | February 18 | Indiana | W 114–101 | Paul Westphal (26) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 37–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | February 21 | @ Buffalo | W 114–111 | Walter Davis (32) | | | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>4,409 | 38–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 22 | @ Atlanta | L 95–107 | Paul Westphal (37) | | | Charlotte Coliseum<br>5,843 | 38–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | February 24, 1978<br>6:05p.m. MST | @ Washington | L 120–121 (OT) | Paul Westphal (35) | | | Capital Centre<br>12,432 | 38–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 25 | @ New York | L 115–122 | Paul Westphal (27) | | | Madison Square Garden<br>17,197 | 38–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | February 28 | @ Chicago | L 115–126 | Walter Davis (36) | | | Chicago Stadium<br>14,713 | 38–23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 1 | Detroit | L 102–115 | Paul Westphal (24) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,161 | 38–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 3 | Milwaukee | W 132–126 | Paul Westphal (31) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,139 | 39–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 5 | Philadelphia | L 92–104 | Walter Davis (25) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,145 | 39–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 7 | @ Denver | W 126–112 | Walter Davis (34) | | | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,428 | 40–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 9 | Chicago | W 112–103 | Paul Westphal (34) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,748 | 41–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 11 | Los Angeles | W 120–114 | Walter Davis (34) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 42–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 12 | @ Los Angeles | L 112–128 | Paul Westphal (29) | | | The Forum<br>17,505 | 42–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 14 | @ Milwaukee | L 106–121 | Walter Davis (38) | | | MECCA Arena<br>10,938 | 42–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 15 | @ New Jersey | L 98–117 | Alvan Adams (21) | | | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>4,260 | 42–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 17 | @ Boston | L 108–115 | Paul Westphal (24) | | | Boston Garden<br>15,276 | 42–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | March 19 | @ Cleveland | W 123–112 | Paul Westphal (39) | | | Coliseum at Richfield<br>15,622 | 43–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | March 21 | @ Indiana | L 115–119 | Walter Davis (27) | | | Market Square Arena<br>10,633 | 43–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | March 23 | New York | W 120–108 | Walter Davis (29) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 44–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | March 25 | Buffalo | W 112–106 | Alvan Adams (27) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,642 | 45–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | March 29 | Portland | W 127–94 | Paul Westphal (33) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 46–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | March 31 | Kansas City | W 136–112 | Paul Westphal (35) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,590 | 47–30

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 2 | Golden State | W 105–99 | Paul Westphal (27) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,040 | 48–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 4 | @ San Antonio | L 119–125 | Walter Davis (35) | | | HemisFair Arena<br>9,112 | 48–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | April 6 | Denver | L 105–111 | Walter Davis (29) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 48–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 7 | @ Seattle | L 83–95 | Paul Westphal (16) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 48–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 8 | New Jersey | W 120–109 | Paul Westphal (26) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,226 | 49–33

Playoffs

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 11 | Milwaukee | L 103–111 | Walter Davis (31) | Alvan Adams (9) | Paul Westphal (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,161 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 14 | @ Milwaukee | L 90–94 | Paul Westphal (32) | Walter Davis (9) | Paul Westphal (10) | MECCA Arena<br>10,938 | 0–2 |-

Awards and honors

All-Star

  • Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 264,006 votes.
  • Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

Season

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References