1980–81 Indiana Pacers season

The 1980–81 NBA season was Indiana's fifth season in the NBA and their 14th season as a franchise. The Pacers had their first NBA winning season and made their first NBA playoff appearance, which was quickly scuttled by a 2–0 sweep from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers wouldn't return to the playoffs again until 1987.

1980–81 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Jack McKinney
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	44–38 (.537)
Place	Division: 3rd (Central) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Lost to Philadelphia 76ers in East First Round (0-2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV–TV 4 (Bob Lamey)
Radio	WIBC–AM 1070 (Bob Lamey)
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

Jack McKinney was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Pacers to the playoffs. McKinney began the previous season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, but suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident in November 1979 after only 13 games. The Lakers went on to win the championship under Paul Westhead, and McKinney was forced to step aside by Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who helped him land the Indiana job.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1980 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team

Roster

1980–81 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 5 Tom Abernethy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1954–05–6 Indiana F 42 Mike Bantom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–3 Saint Joseph's G/F 7 Dudley Bradley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957–3–19 North Carolina G 10 Don Buse 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–8–10 Evansville G 16 Johnny Davis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton C 40 James Edwards 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington F/C 45 Clemon Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M F 24 George Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956–12–8 St. John's G/F 25 Billy Knight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–9 Pittsburgh F 30 George McGinnis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana F 44 Dick Miller 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–04–26 Toledo G 3 Kenny Natt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–10–5 Louisiana–Monroe F 55 Louis Orr 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–05–7 Syracuse G 14 Jerry Sichting 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue

Head coach Jack McKinney Assistant(s) George Irvine Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 2012–10–10

Regular season

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	60	22	.732	–	34–7	26–15	23–7
x-Chicago Bulls	45	37	.549	15.0	26–15	19–22	20–9
x-Indiana Pacers	44	38	.537	16.0	27–14	17–24	17–12
Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	29.0	20–21	11–30	9–21
Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	32.0	20–21	8–33	9–21
Detroit Pistons	21	61	.256	39.0	14–27	7–34	9–21

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	60	22	.732	2
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	62	20	.756	–
4	x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	12
5	x-Chicago Bulls	45	37	.549	17
6	x-Indiana Pacers	44	38	.537	18
7	Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	23
8	Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	31
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	34
10	New Jersey Nets	24	58	.293	38
11	Detroit Pistons	21	61	.256	41

Notes

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

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–4	1–5	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–2	2–4	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–4
Boston	4–2	—	5–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	3–3	6–0	5–1	3–3	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–1
Chicago	4–2	1–5	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	3–3	3–2	3–3	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1
Cleveland	5–1	1–4	1–5	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–6	3–3	0–5	0–6	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Dallas	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	3–3	0–2	2–3	0–6	0–2	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–4	1–5	2–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
Denver	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	2–0	3–2	2–4	1–1	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	2–3	2–4	3–2	3–2	2–4	0–2
Detroit	2–4	1–4	1–5	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–3	1–5	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–0	—	3–2	1–1	5–0	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	2–4	3–3	4–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	2–3	—	1–1	2–4	2–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–4	3–2	3–3	1–4	4–1	4–2	0–2
Indiana	5–1	3–3	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	0–2	2–4	5–1	3–2	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	6–0	2–4	1–1	0–5	4–2	0–2	—	0–5	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–2	3–2	2–4	3–2	2–3	5–1	1–1
Los Angeles	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–3	2–0	5–1	3–2	2–0	5–0	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	2–3	3–3	6–0	3–2	1–1
Milwaukee	5–1	3–3	3–3	6–0	2–0	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	—	5–1	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–1
New Jersey	2–3	0–6	2–3	3–3	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–5	—	0–6	1–5	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	4–2	1–5	3–3	5–0	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–2	3–3	6–0	—	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	5–1	3–3	4–2	6–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–3	5–1	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	3–3	3–2	6–0	5–1	5–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	2–0	4–2	2–3	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	2–3	4–2	4–2	2–3	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	4–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–3	3–2	—	4–1	3–2	5–1	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	3–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	2–4	1–4	—	5–1	3–2	0–2
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	2–3	2–0	3–3	1–4	2–0	3–2	0–6	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–4	2–3	1–5	—	4–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	1–4	2–4	1–1	1–5	2–3	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	3–2	1–5	2–3	1–4	—	0–2
Washington	4–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–0	5–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular season

1980–81 game log Total: 44–38 (Home: 27–14; Road: 17–24)
October: 7–3 (home: 4–2; road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 10 @ New Jersey W 110–91 Rutgers Athletic Center 1–0 2 October 11 Detroit W 100–87 Davis (22) Edwards (16) Davis (11) Market Square Arena 2–0 3 October 15 7:35 p.m. EST Chicago L 97–108 Market Square Arena 6,909 2–1 4 October 18 7:35 p.m. EST Boston W 103–99 Edwards (18) McGinnis (11) Bantom (6) Market Square Arena 11,713 3–1 5 October 21 @ Atlanta W 121–116 The Omni 4–1 6 October 22 7:35 p.m. EST Milwaukee L 105–119 Bantom (20) G. Johnson (14) Bantom (6) Market Square Arena 7,138 4–2 7 October 24 Atlanta W 104–97 Market Square Arena 5–2 8 October 25 @ Cleveland L 100–118 Richfield Coliseum 5–3 9 October 29 New York W 102–95 Market Square Arena 6–3 10 October 31 8:35 p.m. EST @ Chicago W 121–114 Knight (22) C. Johnson (7) Davis (10) Chicago Stadium 5,127 7–3
November: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 11 November 1 New Jersey W 113–100 Market Square Arena 8–3 12 November 2 8:30 p.m. EST @ Milwaukee L 121–135 Edwards (23) Knight (7) Bradley, Davis, Knight (5) MECCA Arena 10,980 8–4 13 November 4 9:35 p.m. EST @ Phoenix L 108–109 Bantom (18) Edwards, C. Johnson (9) Bradley (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,018 8–5 14 November 8 @ Golden State L 111–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–6 15 November 10 @ Utah L 106–108 Salt Palace Acord Arena 8–7 16 November 11 8:30 p.m. EST @ San Antonio W 119–113 Knight (52) Edwards (6) Bradley (10) HemisFair Arena 11,282 9–7 17 November 13 8:00 p.m. EST Philadelphia L 103–130 Orr (20) G. Johnson (10) Bradley (6) Market Square Arena 11,421 9–8 18 November 14 Washington W 118–108 Market Square Arena 10–8 18 November 18 @ Detroit W 102–97 Pontiac Silverdome 11–8 20 November 19 7:35 p.m. EST Boston L 91–103 Knight (27) G. Johnson, Knight (11) Davis (7) Market Square Arena 10,815 11–9 21 November 21 8:05 p.m. EST @ Philadelphia L 88–97 G. Johnson (19) G. Johnson (16) Davis (7) The Spectrum 8,237 11–10 22 November 22 7:35 p.m. EST Houston W 129–120 Knight (22) C. Johnson (11) Davis (10) Market Square Arena 7,357 12–10 23 November 26 Atlanta W 110–89 Market Square Arena 13–10 24 November 27 @ Washington L 108–123 Capital Centre 13–11 25 November 29 Cleveland W 117–101 Market Square Arena 14–11
December: 7–7 (home: 4–1; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 December 2 @ New York W 113–96 Madison Square Garden 15–11 27 December 3 Washington W 128–115 Market Square Arena 16–11 28 December 5 9:00 p.m. EST @ Milwaukee L 100–102 Bantom (25) Bantom (12) Bantom (8) MECCA Arena 11,052 16–12 29 December 6 7:35 p.m. EST Kansas City W 107–88 Davis (20) Edwards (10) Davis (6) Market Square Arena 7,099 17–12 30 December 10 7:35 p.m. EST Phoenix W 102–90 Edwards (17) Edwards (10) Davis (7) Market Square Arena 9,140 18–12 31 December 11 @ Cleveland W 103–100 Richfield Coliseum 19–12 32 December 13 @ Washington L 105–114 Capital Centre 19–13 33 December 16 7:35 p.m. EST Philadelphia L 107–109 Knight (24) McGinnia (16) Davis (5) Market Square Arena 12,539 19–14 34 December 19 @ Detroit L 106–109 Pontiac Silverdome 19–15 35 December 20 8:35 p.m. EST @ Kansas City W 107–103 Davis (19) McGinnis (15) McGinnis (6) Kemper Arena 5,910 20–15 36 December 23 New Jersey W 125–109 Market Square Arena 21–15 37 December 26 @ Los Angeles L 115–116 The Forum 21–16 38 December 27 @ San Diego L 109–121 San Diego Sports Arena 21–17 39 December 30 @ Denver L 110–127 McNichols Sports Arena 21–18
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 40 January 2 @ Atlanta W 109–106 The Omni 22–18 41 January 3 San Diego W 128–104 Market Square Arena 23–18 42 January 4 @ New Jersey W 113–104 Rutgers Athletic Center 24–18 43 January 7 New Jersey W 112–103 Market Square Arena 25–18 44 January 8 @ New York W 117–116 (OT) Madison Square Garden 26–18 45 January 10 7:35 p.m. EST Milwaukee W 106–102 Knight (21) McGinnis (16) Buse (6) Market Square Arena 14,505 27–18 46 January 14 Detroit W 101–99 Market Square Arena 28–18 47 January 16 Seattle L 94–95 Market Square Arena 28–19 48 January 18 Utah W 110–89 Market Square Arena 29–19 49 January 20 8:35 p.m. EST @ Chicago L 105–121 Bantom (25) C Johnson (9) Edwards (7) Chicago Stadium 5,519 29–20 50 January 21 8:05 p.m. EST @ Philadelphia L 104–118 McGinnis (25) Edwards (8) Bradley, Davis, McGinnis (4) The Spectrum 9,752 29–21 51 January 23 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston L 103–104 Edwards (19) McGinnis (9) Bantom (5) Boston Garden 15,320 29–22 52 January 24 Dallas W 107–89 Market Square Arena 30–22 53 January 27 @ Cleveland L 109–114 Richfield Coliseum 30–23 54 January 28 Golden State W 108–102 Market Square Arena 31–23
February: 6–7 (home: 3–4; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break 55 February 3 8:30 p.m. EST @ Milwaukee W 108–99 Knight (24) Orr (11) Bantom, Davis (9) MECCA Arena 11,052 32–23 56 February 4 Los Angeles L 96–102 Market Square Arena 32–24 57 February 6 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston L 98–111 Bantom (24) Orr (7) McGinnis (7) Boston Garden 15,320 32–25 58 February 7 Cleveland W 99–96 Market Square Arena 33–25 59 February 8 @ Detroit W 124–101 Pontiac Silverdome 34–25 60 February 11 7:35 p.m. EST Milwaukee L 101–107 Orr (21) Orr (11) Davis (7) Market Square Arena 11,817 34–26 61 February 13 @ New Jersey L 100–103 Rutgers Athletic Center 34–27 62 February 15 4:05 p.m. EST Chicago W 113–107 McGinnis (27) Bantom (11) Davis (6) Market Square Arena 10,513 35–27 63 February 18 Atlanta L 96–99 Market Square Arena 35–28 64 February 20 7:35 p.m. EST San Antonio W 109–106 McGinnis (24) McGinnis (12) Davis (8) Market Square Arena 10,419 36–28 65 February 22 Portland L 109–113 (OT) Market Square Arena 36–29 66 February 25 9:00 p.m. EST @ Houston L 100–101 Edwards (25) Edwards (11) Davis (12) The Summit 13,121 36–30 67 February 27 @ Dallas W 118–111 Reunion Arena 37–30
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 68 March 3 @ Portland L 112–117 Memorial Coliseum 37–31 69 March 4 @ Seattle L 93–105 Kingdome 37–32 70 March 6 7:35 p.m. EST Boston W 110–104 Knight (32) Bantom (6) Davis (6) Market Square Arena 17,032 38–32 71 March 8 Denver W 129–119 Market Square Arena 39–32 72 March 10 7:35 p.m. EST Philadelphia L 102–103 Knight (22) Edwards, Knight (8) Davis (11) Market Square Arena 17,032 39–33 73 March 12 @ Washington W 114–107 Capital Centre 40–33 74 March 13 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston (at Hartford, CT) W 101–94 Davis (24) C. Johnson (17) Davis (9) Hartford Civic Center 15,622 41–33 75 March 14 Detroit L 94–101 Market Square Arena 41–34 76 March 17 @ New York L 89–114 Madison Square Garden 41–35 77 March 18 8:05 p.m. EST @ Philadelphia L 95–107 McGinnis (22) Edwards, McGinnis (9) Knight (4) The Spectrum 12,756 41–36 78 March 20 New York L 107–110 Market Square Arena 41–37 79 March 22 Cleveland W 107–101 Market Square Arena 42–37 80 March 26 @ Atlanta W 115–107 The Omni 43–37 81 March 27 Washington W 122–107 Market Square Arena 44–37 82 March 29 1:05 p.m. EST Chicago L 97–101 Knight (25) Edwards (9) Davis (12) Market Square Arena 16,663 44–38
1980–81 schedule

Playoffs

1981 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 31 8:05 p.m. EST @ Philadelphia L 108–124 Knight (25) C. Johnson, Knight (7) Davis (8) The Spectrum 7,288 0–1 2 April 2 8:05 p.m. EST Philadelphia L 85–96 Davis (21) C. Johnson (13) Knight (4) Market Square Arena 8,921 0–2
1981 schedule

Starting Lineups

Pre season

Regular season

Game	Date	Opponent	F	F	C	G	G
4	10–18–1980	Boston	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#7 Bradley
6	10–22–1980	Milwaukee
13	11–4–1980	@ Phoenix	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#7 Bradley
17	11–13–1980	Philadelphia	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#7 Bradley	#25 Knight
20	11–19–1980	Boston	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
21	11–21–1980	@ Philadelphia	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
22	11–22–1980	Houston	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
29	12–6–1980	Kansas City	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#7 Bradley
30	12–10–1980	Phoenix	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#7 Bradley
33	12–16–1980	Philadelphia	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
35	12–20–1980	@ Kansas City	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#7 Bradley
50	1–21–1981	@ Philadelphia	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
51	1–23–1981	@ Boston	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
57	2–6–1981	@ Boston	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
66	2–25–1981	@ Houston	#42 Bantom	#30 McGinnis	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
70	3–6–1981	Boston	#30 McGinnis	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
72	3–10–1981	Philadelphia	#42 Bantom	#55 Orr	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
74	3–13–1981	@ Boston	#30 McGinnis	#55 Orr	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
77	3–18–1981	@ Philadelphia	#30 McGinnis	#55 Orr	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight

Playoffs

Game	Round	Date	Opponent	F	F	C	G	G
1	Eastern Conference First Round	3–31–1981	@ Philadelphia	#24 G. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight
2	Eastern Conference First Round	4–2–1981	Philadelphia	#45 C. Johnson	#42 Bantom	#40 Edwards	#16 Davis	#25 Knight

Game officials

Pre season

Regular season

Game	Date	Opponent	Officials
4	10–18–1980	Boston	Tommy Nunez and John Vanak
6	10–22–1980	Milwaukee	Hugh Evans and Darell Garretson
13	11–4–1980	@ Phoenix	Dick Bavetta and Lee Jones
17	11–13–1980	Philadelphia	Hugh Evans and Paul Mihalak
20	11–19–1980	Boston	Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue
21	11–21–1980	@ Philadelphia	Hugh Evans and Ed Middleton
22	11–22–1980	Houston	Jim Capers and Darell Garretson
29	12–6–1980	Kansas City	Joe Crawford and Joe Gushue
30	12–10–1980	Phoenix	Jess Kersey and Earl Strom
33	12–16–1980	Philadelphia	Darell Garretson and Tommy Nunez
35	12–20–1980	@ Kansas City	Jim Capers and Wally Rooney
50	1–21–1981	@ Philadelphia	Jess Kersey and Ralph Lembo
51	1–23–1981	@ Boston	Leroy Alexander and Jake O'Donnell
57	2–6–1981	@ Boston	Jim Capers and Tommy Nunez
66	2–25–1981	@ Houston	Mike Mathis and Ed Rush
70	3–6–1981	Boston	Hue Hollins and Jack Madden
72	3–10–1981	Philadelphia	Jess Kersey and Wally Rooney
74	3–13–1981	@ Boston	Ed Middleton and Earl Strom
77	3–18–1981	@ Philadelphia	Hugh Evans and Joe Gushue

Playoffs

Game	Round	Date	Opponent	Officials	Alternate
1	Eastern Conference First Round	3–31–1981	@ Philadelphia	John Vanak and Lee Jones
2	Eastern Conference First Round	4–2–1981	Philadelphia	Jack Madden and Earl Strom

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Billy Knight	SG	82		2,385	410	157	84	12	1,436	29.1	5.0	1.9	1.0	.1	17.5
Dudley Bradley	SG	82		1,867	193	188	186	37	657	22.8	2.4	2.3	2.3	.5	8.0
Louis Orr	SF	82		1,787	361	132	55	25	859	21.8	4.4	1.6	.7	.3	10.5
James Edwards	C	81		2,375	571	212	32	128	1,266	29.3	7.0	2.6	.4	1.6	15.6
Clemon Johnson	C	81		1,643	468	144	44	119	582	20.3	5.8	1.8	.5	1.5	7.2
Johnny Davis	PG	76		2,536	170	480	95	14	1,094	33.4	2.2	6.3	1.3	.2	14.4
Mike Bantom	SF	76		2,375	427	240	80	85	1,061	31.3	5.6	3.2	1.1	1.1	14.0
George McGinnis	PF	69		1,845	528	210	99	28	903	26.7	7.7	3.0	1.4	.4	13.1
Don Buse	SG	58		1,095	84	140	74	8	297	18.9	1.4	2.4	1.3	.1	5.1
Jerry Sichting	PG	47		450	43	70	23	1	93	9.6	.9	1.5	.5	.0	2.0
George L. Johnson	PF	43		930	278	86	47	23	457	21.6	6.5	2.0	1.1	.5	10.6
Tom Abernethy†	SF	29		259	40	18	6	3	59	8.9	1.4	.6	.2	.1	2.0
Kenny Natt	SG	19		149	15	10	5	1	59	7.8	.8	.5	.3	.1	3.1
Dick Miller†	SF	5		34	4	4	3	0	4	6.8	.8	.8	.6	.0	.8

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Johnny Davis	PG	2		74	8	11	2	0	40	37.0	4.0	5.5	1.0	.0	20.0
Billy Knight	SG	2		71	12	5	1	0	37	35.5	6.0	2.5	.5	.0	18.5
Louis Orr	SF	2		56	10	4	5	1	24	28.0	5.0	2.0	2.5	.5	12.0
James Edwards	C	2		56	14	5	1	1	14	28.0	7.0	2.5	.5	.5	7.0
Clemon Johnson	C	2		55	20	3	4	2	15	27.5	10.0	1.5	2.0	1.0	7.5
Mike Bantom	SF	2		51	8	1	1	1	29	25.5	4.0	.5	.5	.5	14.5
George McGinnis	PF	2		39	10	7	2	0	10	19.5	5.0	3.5	1.0	.0	5.0
Don Buse	SG	2		35	5	7	3	0	5	17.5	2.5	3.5	1.5	.0	2.5
George L. Johnson	PF	2		23	4	1	0	0	10	11.5	2.0	.5	.0	.0	5.0
Dudley Bradley	SG	2		19	2	2	2	0	9	9.5	1.0	1.0	1.0	.0	4.5
Jerry Sichting	PG	1		1	0	0	1	0	0	1.0	.0	.0	1.0	.0	.0

Player totals

Season

Player	GP	GS	MP	FGM	FGA	3FGM	3FGA	FTM	FTA	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Knight	82		2385	546	1025	3	19	341	410	191	219	410	157	84	12	177	155	1436
Edwards	81		2375	511	1004	0	3	244	347	191	380	571	212	32	128	164	304	1266
Davis	76		2536	426	917	4	33	238	299	56	114	170	480	95	14	167	179	1094
Bantom	76		2375	431	882	0	6	199	281	150	277	427	240	80	85	197	284	1061
McGinnis	69		1845	348	768	0	7	207	385	164	364	528	210	99	28	221	242	903
Johnson	43		930	182	394	0	5	93	122	99	179	278	86	47	23	85	120	457
Orr	82		1787	348	709	0	6	163	202	172	189	361	132	55	25	123	153	859
Abernethy	29		259	24	56	0	1	11	19	19	21	40	18	6	3	6	29	59
Natt	19		149	25	77	2	8	7	11	9	6	15	10	5	1	10	18	59
Miller	5		34	2	6	0	1	0	0	1	3	4	4	3	0	4	2	4

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MP	FGM	FGA	3FGM	3FGA	FTM	FTA	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Davis	2		74	14	35	0	1	12	13	2	6	8	11	2	0	1	6	40
Knight	2		71	16	30	0	0	5	8	6	6	12	5	1	0	5	5	37
Bantom	2		51	12	16	0	0	5	7	5	3	8	1	1	1	6	10	29
Orr	2		56	9	25	0	0	6	7	6	4	10	4	5	1	6	4	24
Edwards	2		56	7	24	0	0	0	0	4	10	14	5	1	1	4	8	14
Johnson	2		23	5	8	0	0	0	0	1	3	4	1	0	0	2	1	10
McGinnis	2		39	3	15	0	0	4	8	2	8	10	7	2	0	5	6	10

Awards and records

• Jack McKinney, NBA Coach of the Year Award
• Dudley Bradley, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions
Player	Date signed	New team
Joe Hassett	Expansion Draft May 28, 1980	Dallas Mavericks