Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Season Review 78-79
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Review78-79
Review78-79
Season
RECORD
Phoenix opened the regular season with the same starting lineup that
began the 1977-78 season: Walter Davis and Gar Heard at forward, Alvan 50-32
Adams at center, with Paul Westphal and Don Buse at guard. The Suns
won five of their first six games and were 24-14 by January 1. By the All-Star break, the
Suns were 32-20. For the third-straight year, Westphal was an All-Star starter, and Davis
made it for the second-straight year.
On January 12, 1979, the Suns obtained Leonard ‘‘Truck’’ Robinson from the New
Orleans Jazz in exchange for Ron Lee, Marty Byrnes, first-round picks in 1979 and 1980
and undisclosed cash. With an emotional overtime win over Seattle at Phoenix on March 30,
the Suns qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row and the fourth time in their
11 NBA seasons.
The regular season ended in spectacular fashion with the Suns capturing a record 50th
win in the season’s 80th game.
Phoenix led the NBA in steals with 915 (11.2 per game). Westphal was named All-NBA
First Team, Davis was named to the second team. Buse was again named to the All-
Defensive First Team. In the playoffs, the Suns got by Portland (2-1) and thrashed Kansas
City (4-1), but lost to eventual World Champion Seattle SuperSonics, 4-3, in a hard-fought
Western Conference Finals series.
FRONT ROW: Head Coach John MacLeod, Paul Westphal, Ted McClain, Trainer Joe Proski (kneeling), Don Buse,
Mike Bratz, Assistant Coach Al Bianchi.
BACK ROW: Leonard Robinson, Alvin Scott, Alvan Adams, Bayard Forrest, Walter Davis, Joel Kramer, Garfield Heard.