1980 NBA Playoffs

The 1980 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1979–80 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Lakers earned their seventh NBA title, their second since moving from Minneapolis.

Magic Johnson became the first and (as of 2014), only rookie to be named NBA Finals MVP, leading L.A. to a clinching Game 6 victory with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. With center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out with a severely sprained ankle, Johnson started at center instead, and ultimately played all five positions on the court in the game.

Philadelphia earned their third Eastern Conference championship, but were unsuccessful in capturing their second NBA title.

The Milwaukee Bucks appeared in the playoffs for the last time as a member of the West; the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs likewise appeared for the last time playing for the East. They switched conferences (along with the Chicago Bulls) in the 1980–81 season with the addition of the Dallas Mavericks.

Bracket

  1st Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
        
  1  Los Angeles 4  
    4  Phoenix 1  
4  Phoenix 2
5  Kansas City 1  
  1  Los Angeles 4  
Western Conference
  3  Seattle 1  
3  Seattle 2  
6  Portland 1  
  3  Seattle 4
    2  Milwaukee 3  
      
        
  W1  Los Angeles 4
  E3  Philadelphia 2
        
        
  1  Boston 4
    4  Houston 0  
4  Houston 2
5  San Antonio 1  
  1  Boston 1
Eastern Conference
  3  Philadelphia 4  
3  Philadelphia 2  
6  Washington 0  
  3  Philadelphia 4
    2  Atlanta 1  
      

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers and (2) Milwaukee Bucks have first-round byes.

(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers: Sonics win series 2–1

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting.

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Kansas City Kings: Suns win series 2–1

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4–1

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: Sonics win series 4–3

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the SuperSonics.[4]

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: Lakers win series 4–1

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings.

Eastern Conference

Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

(1) Boston Celtics and (2) Atlanta Hawks have first round byes.

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Washington Bullets: 76ers win series 2–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first two meetings.

(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Rockets win series 2–1

This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Spurs.[7]

Conference Semifinals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4–0

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4–1

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the 76ers.[9]

Conference Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4–1

This was the 15th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first 14 meetings.

NBA Finals

Main article: 1980 NBA Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: Lakers win series 4–2

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings. Both series took place prior to the relocation of the Lakers and 76ers (formerly Nationals) in 1960 and 1963, respectively.

References

  1. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Milwaukee Bucks versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Houston Rockets (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 23, 2015.

External links

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