View source for 1977–78 Cleveland Cavaliers season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NBA season
| team = Cleveland Cavaliers
| end_year = 1978
| wins = 43
| losses = 39
| division = Central
| division_place = 3
| conf_place = 4
| coach = [[Bill Fitch]]
| arena = [[Coliseum at Richfield]]
| playoffs = [[1978 NBA Playoffs#Bracket|East First Round]]<br><small>(eliminated 0–2)</small>
| television = [[WJW (TV)|WJKW]]
| radio =  [[WTAM|WWWE]]
| bbr_team = CLE
}}
The '''1977–78 [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] season''' was the eighth season of the franchise in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA).

==Draft picks==
{{main|1977 NBA draft}}

==Roster==
{{NBA roster header|team=Cleveland Cavaliers |season=1977–78
| bg1 = #b22222 | color1 = white | bg2 = #ffcc33 | color2 = navy}}
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 52 | first = Jim | last = Brewer | dab = basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 210 | college = Minnesota}}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Austin | last = Carr | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | college = Notre Dame}}
{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Jim | last = Chones | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 220 | college = Marquette}}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Walt | last = Frazier | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | college = Southern Illinois}}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = John | last = Lambert | dab = basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 225 | college = University of Southern California}}
{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Campy | last = Russell | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 215 | college = Michigan}}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Bingo | last = Smith | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 195 | college = Tulsa}}
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Elmore | last = Smith | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 250 | college = Kentucky State}}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Dick | last = Snyder | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 207 | college = Davidson College}}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Foots | last = Walker | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 184 | college = West Georgia}}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
* [[Bill Fitch]]
| asst_coach =
* [[Jimmy Rodgers (basketball)|Jimmy Rodgers]]
}}

===Season standings===
{{1977–78 NBA Central standings|team=CLE}}
{{1977–78 NBA East standings|team=CLE}}
'''Notes'''
* '''z''', '''y''' – division champions
* '''x''' – clinched playoff spot

===Record vs. opponents===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
|-
!colspan=23|1977–78 NBA Records
|-
!width=100|Team
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL
!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS
!style="background:#000000;color:#F15110;width=35"|BUF
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI
!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE
!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU
!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCK
!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL
!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL
!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NJN
!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|NOJ
!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK
!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI
!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO
!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR
!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS
!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA
!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
|| — || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–1 || 1–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
|| 2–2 || — || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 2–2 || 1–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 0–4 || 1–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Buffalo Braves season|Buffalo]]
|| 1–3 || 1–3 || — || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 0–3 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
|| 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–3 || — || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–0 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland
|| 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–3 || — || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–2 || 0–4 || 0–4 || 3–1 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
|| 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 1–3 || — || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–0 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 2–1 || 1–3 || 3–1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]]
|| 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || — || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–0 || 0–4 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
|| 3–1 || 2–2 || 3–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || — || 2–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
|| 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 0–3 || 1–3 || 1–2 || — || 3–1 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 1–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
|| 1–3 || 1–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || — || 2–2 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 3–1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Kansas City Kings season|Kansas City]]
|| 1–2 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 4–0 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || — || 2–2 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 0–4 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 0–4 || 0–4 || 1–3 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles]]
|| 1–3 || 2–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || — || 3–1 || 4–0 || 2–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
|| 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 4–0 || 1–3 || — || 3–1 || 2–1 || 3–1 || 1–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
|| 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 0–4 || 1–3 || — || 0–4 || 1–3 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 0–3 || 0–4 || 2–2 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 New Orleans Jazz season|New Orleans]]
|| 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–2 || 1–2 || 4–0 || — || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 0–4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 New York Knicks season|New York]]
|| 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–0 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || — || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
|| 2–2 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 4–0 || 2–2 || 3–1 || — || 2–1 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix]]
|| 1–3 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–2 || — || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
|| 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 3–0 || 2–2 || 3–1 || — || 2–2 || 3–1 || 2–1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
|| 3–1 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 1–2 || 2–1 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 4–0 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || — || 2–2 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
|| 1–2 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 2–2 || 2–1 || 1–3 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || — || 1–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1977–78 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
|| 3–1 || 3–1 || 3–1 || 1–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–3 || 2–2 || 4–0 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 2–2 || 1–2 || 2–2 || 3–1 || —
|}

==Game log==
{{NBA game log start|Cleveland Cavaliers|end_year=1978|bgcolor=#B22222|color=white|record=Total: 43–39 (Home: 27–14; Road: 16–25)}}
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|October|first=yes|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 1
}}
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 3 || October 22, 1977 || @ [[1977–78 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197710220ATL.html L 101–107]
|
|
|
| [[Omni Coliseum|The Omni]]<br>7,894
| 1–2
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|November|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 5
| road_losses = 2
}}
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|December|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 4
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 6
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 24 || December 10, 1977 || [[1977–78 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197712100CLE.html W 102–87]
|
|
|
| '''[[Coliseum at Richfield]]'''<br>6,766
| 14–10
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|January|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 3
| home_losses = 3
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 6
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 42 || January 22, 1978 || [[1977–78 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197801220CLE.html W 93–89]
|
|
|
| '''[[Coliseum at Richfield]]'''<br>10,585
| 21–21
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|February|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 3
| road_losses = 5
}}
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|March|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 3
| road_wins = 3
| road_losses = 5
}}
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|April|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy
| home_wins = 3
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 0
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 81 || April 7, 1978 || @ [[1977–78 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197804070ATL.html W 111–109]
|
|
|
| [[Omni Coliseum|The Omni]]<br>9,631
| 42–39
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=CLE|end_year=1978}}

==Playoffs==

{{NBA game log start|Cleveland Cavaliers|playoffs=yes|end_year=1978|bgcolor=#B22222|color=white}}
{{NBA game log section|Cleveland Cavaliers|First Round|first=yes|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#FFCC33|color=navy|show=no
| home_wins   = 0
| home_losses = 1
| road_wins   = 0
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| April 12
| [[1977–78 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197804120CLE.html L 114–132]
| [[Campy Russell]] (23)
| [[Elmore Smith]] (12)
| [[Foots Walker]] (6)
| [[Richfield Coliseum]]<br>19,739
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2
| April 14
| @ [[1977–78 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197804140NYK.html L 107–109]
| [[Campy Russell]] (32)
| [[Campy Russell]] (8)
| [[Campy Russell]] (6)
| [[Madison Square Garden]]<br>18,965
| 0–2
|-
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=CLE|playoffs=yes|end_year=1978}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{1977-78 NBA season by team}}
{{Cleveland Cavaliers seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1977-78 Cleveland Cavaliers Season}}
[[Category:Cleveland Cavaliers seasons]]
[[Category:1977–78 NBA season|Cleveland]]
[[Category:1977 in sports in Ohio|Cleveland]]
[[Category:1978 in sports in Ohio|Cleveland]]