Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Season Review 79-80
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Review79-80
Review79-80
Season
RECORD
Phoenix opened the regular season on October 12 with a starting lineup
of Walter Davis and Truck Robinson at forward, Alvan Adams at center 55-27
and Don Buse and Paul Westphal at guard. The Suns were the only team
in the NBA with five former All-Star participants as starters. By the All-Star break, Phoenix
was 35-19.
On February 15, the Suns obtained center Rich Kelley from the New Jersey Nets in
exchange for a second-round draft pick in 1983, a first-round pick in 1982 and cash. The
Suns chased Seattle and the L.A. Lakers for the Pacific Division lead for virtually the entire
82-game schedule, moving into a tie for the lead in late November and early December. For
the majority of the season, the Suns were locked in third place in the Pacific.
For the second season in a row Buse, Adams, Davis and Westphal all finished with over
300 assists, the only time in NBA history that four players on the same team had
accomplished the feat. Davis and Westphal played in the NBA All-Star Game in Washington.
Westphal and Davis were named to the All-NBA First Team and Second Teams, respectively.
In the playoffs, the Suns defeated Kansas City, 2-1, then lost to the L.A. Lakers, 4-1.
In the winter of 1980, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla arrived on the scene in the form of an
Eastern Onion singing telegram messenger. He was invited back, and has “hung” around
ever since.
FRONT ROW: Assistant Coach John Wetzel, Don Buse, Paul Westphal, Trainer Joe Proski (kneeling),
Head Coach John MacLeod, Johnny High, Mike Bratz, Assistant Coach Al Bianchi.
BACK ROW: Walter Davis, Alvin Scott, Leonard Robinson, Alvan Adams, Bayard Forrest, Jeff Cook, Joel Kramer,
Gar Heard.