1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Division champions
Head coachBill Fitch
ArenaColiseum at Richfield
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Finals
(eliminated 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWEWS-TV
RadioWWWE
< 1974–75 1976–77 >

The 1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the sixth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This season marked their first winning record, their first division title, their first playoffs appearances and their first conference finals in history. The season is referred to as the "Miracle at Richfield" season for this reason, and helped propel local interest in the Cavaliers as almost every playoff game was sold-out and regular game attendance would rise in the coming seasons.

Roster

1975–76 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PF 52 Brewer, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota
SG 34 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1948-03-10 Notre Dame
F/C 22 Chones, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1949-11-30 Marquette
PG 35 Cleamons, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949-09-13 Ohio State
SF 23 Garrett, Rowland 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-07-16 Florida State
PF 24 Lambert, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1953-01-14 USC
SF 20 Russell, Campy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952-01-12 Michigan
G/F 7 Smith, Bingo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1946-02-26 Tulsa
G/F 10 Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944-02-01 Davidson
C 42 Thurmond, Nate 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-07-25 Bowling Green
PG 14 Walker, Foots 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1951-05-21 West Georgia
C 44 Witte, Luke 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1950-10-19 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Cleveland Cavaliers 49 33 .598 – 29–12 20–21 15–11
x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 1 31–10 17–24 14–12
Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 9 27–13 13–29 14–12
New Orleans Jazz 38 44 .463 11 22–19 16–25 15–11
Atlanta Hawks 29 53 .354 20 20–21 9–32 7–19
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 54 28 .659 –
2 y-Cleveland Cavaliers 49 33 .598 5
3 x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 6
4 x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 8
5 x-Buffalo Braves 46 36 .561 8
6 Houston Rockets 40 42 .488 14
7 New York Knicks 38 44 .463 16
8 New Orleans Jazz 38 44 .463 16
9 Atlanta Hawks 29 53 .354 25

Record vs. opponents

1975–76 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta — 2–3 2–3 2–2 2–5 1–3 2–2 2–5 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–5
Boston 3–2 — 4–3 2–2 3–2 4–0 2–2 4–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 4–1 5–2 4–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–2
Buffalo 3–2 3–4 — 3–1 3–2 1–3 1–3 3–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 4–1 4–3 3–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–3
Chicago 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 0–4 3–4 1–4 1–3 1–6 3–2 3–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–3 1–4 2–3 0–4
Cleveland 5–2 2–3 2–3 4–0 — 2–2 1–3 2–4 1–3 2–2 4–0 4–3 3–2 3–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 4–2
Detroit 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–3 2–2 — 0–5 2–2 5–2 1–4 3–4 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–4 2–3 3–2 2–2
Golden State 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–1 3–1 5–0 — 2–2 4–1 5–2 5–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–2 4–2 4–3 3–1
Houston 5–2 1–4 2–3 3–1 4–2 2–2 2–2 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–2 3–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 3–4
Kansas City 2–2 2–2 0–4 6–1 3–1 2–5 1–4 2–2 — 2–3 2–5 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–2 0–5 2–3 1–3
Los Angeles 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–3 2–2 4–1 2–5 3–1 3–2 — 2–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–4 3–4 3–3 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 2–2 1–3 4–3 0–4 4–3 0–5 2–2 5–2 3–2 — 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–2 2–3 2–3 2–2
New Orleans 4–2 1–4 1–4 2–2 3–4 3–1 2–2 4–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 — 2–3 1–4 1–3 3–1 1–3 4–3
New York 2–3 2–5 3–4 4–0 2–3 1–3 0–4 2–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–2 — 5–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 3–2
Philadelphia 3–2 3–4 4–3 4–0 2–3 3–1 1–3 2–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–1 2–5 — 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–3
Phoenix 4–0 0–4 1–3 3–2 1–3 4–1 2–4 4–0 2–3 4–2 2–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 5–2 4–3 0–4
Portland 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–1 0–4 3–2 2–4 1–3 5–0 4–3 3–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–5 — 3–3 2–2
Seattle 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–2 1–3 2–3 3–4 2–2 3–2 3–3 3–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–4 3–3 — 1–3
Washington 5–1 2–3 3–2 4–0 2–4 2–2 1–3 4–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–4 2–3 3–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 —

Game log

1975–76 game log
Total: 49–33 (Home: 29–12; Road: 20–21)
October: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 23, 1975 Golden State
2 October 25, 1975 @ New York
3 October 30, 1975 Chicago
November: 6–9 (home: 1–5; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
4 November 1, 1975 New Orleans
5 November 4, 1975 @ Washington
6 November 6, 1975
8:05 PM EST		 @ Atlanta W 113–108 Snyder (25) The Omni
3,761 		2–4
7 November 7, 1975 @ New Orleans
8 November 8, 1975 @ Houston
9 November 11, 1975 @ Golden State
10 November 14, 1975 @ Seattle
11 November 15, 1975 @ Portland
12 November 18, 1975 Houston
13 November 20, 1975 Buffalo
14 November 22, 1975 @ New York
15 November 23, 1975 Boston
16 November 25, 1975 @ Chicago
17 November 27, 1975 Kansas City
18 November 29, 1975 Seattle
December: 11–4 (home: 6–1; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 December 2, 1975 Portland
20 December 4, 1975 @ Kansas City
21 December 5, 1975 @ Buffalo
22 December 9, 1975 @ Philadelphia
23 December 11, 1975 New York
24 December 12, 1975 @ Milwaukee
25 December 13, 1975 New Orleans
26 December 16, 1975 @ Los Angeles
27 December 17, 1975 @ Seattle
28 December 19, 1975 @ Phoenix
29 December 21, 1975 Los Angeles
30 December 26, 1975
8:00 PM EST		 Atlanta L 97–98 Russell,
Walker (17) 		Coliseum at Richfield
19,832 		15–15
31 December 27, 1975 @ Washington
32 December 28, 1975 Buffalo
33 December 30, 1975 Kansas City
January: 9–6 (home: 7–2; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
34 January 2, 1976 @ Philadelphia
35 January 3, 1976 Detroit
36 January 7, 1976 @ Detroit
37 January 8, 1976 Philadelphia
38 January 10, 1976
8:05 PM EST		 @ Atlanta W 106–100 Russell (18) The Omni
5,766 		20–18
39 January 11, 1976 Washington
40 January 14, 1976 @ Washington
41 January 15, 1976
8:00 PM EST		 Atlanta L 91–98 Smith (30) Coliseum at Richfield
8,364 		21–20
42 January 17, 1976 Phoenix
43 January 20, 1976 Boston
44 January 22, 1976 Seattle
45 January 24, 1976 Milwaukee
46 January 27, 1976 Detroit
47 January 28, 1976 @ Houston
48 January 30, 1976 @ Chicago
February: 9–2 (home: 5–0; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
49 February 1, 1976 @ New Orleans
All-Star Break
50 February 6, 1976 @ Philadelphia
51 February 8, 1976 Washington
52 February 12, 1976 Chicago
53 February 13, 1976 @ Milwaukee
54 February 14, 1976 @ Buffalo
55 February 17, 1976
8:00 PM EST		 Atlanta W 112–92 Russell (23) Coliseum at Richfield
10,417 		33–22
56 February 19, 1976 Portland
57 February 22, 1976 Houston
58 February 23, 1976 @ Houston
59 February 25, 1976 @ Detroit
60 February 29, 1976 @ Los Angeles
March: 9–7 (home: 6–2; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
61 March 3, 1976 @ Phoenix
62 March 5, 1976 @ Portland
63 March 6, 1976 @ Golden State
64 March 11, 1976 Golden State
65 March 13, 1976 Phoenix
66 March 16, 1976 Los Angeles
67 March 18, 1976 Philadelphia
68 March 19, 1976 @ New Orleans
69 March 20, 1976
8:05 PM EST		 @ Atlanta W 113–108 Chones,
Cleamons (20) 		The Omni
3,761 		41–28
70 March 21, 1976 Washington
71 March 25, 1976 Buffalo
72 March 26, 1976 @ Boston
73 March 27, 1976 Milwaukee
74 March 30, 1976 Houston
75 March 31, 1976 @ New Orleans
April: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
76 April 1, 1976 Boston
77 April 3, 1976 @ Kansas City
78 April 4, 1976
3:00 PM EST		 Atlanta W 120–92 Carr (27) Coliseum at Richfield
8,439 		46–32
79 April 6, 1976 @ Boston
80 April 8, 1976 New Orleans
81 April 10, 1976 New York
82 April 11, 1976 @ New York
1975–76 schedule

Playoffs

1976 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 13 Washington L 95–100 Jim Chones (23) Campy Russell (11) Jim Cleamons (8) Richfield Coliseum
19,974 		0–1
2 April 15 @ Washington W 80–79 Bingo Smith (17) Nate Thurmond (10) Bingo Smith (4) Capital Centre
17,988 		1–1
3 April 17 Washington W 88–76 Smith, Carr (17) Jim Brewer (12) Jim Brewer (6) Richfield Coliseum
21,061 		2–1
4 April 21 @ Washington L 98–109 Campy Russell (22) Jim Brewer (10) Foots Walker (6) Capital Centre
17,542 		2–2
5 April 22 Washington W 92–91 Dick Snyder (26) Jim Brewer (12) Cleamons, Snyder (4) Richfield Coliseum
21,312 		3–2
6 April 25 @ Washington L 98–102 (OT) Austin Carr (27) Jim Brewer (12) Cleamons, Carr (5) Capital Centre
19,035 		3–3
7 April 29 Washington W 87–85 Dick Snyder (23) Jim Brewer (16) Jim Cleamons (6) Richfield Coliseum
21,564 		4–3
Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ Boston L 99–111 Snyder, Russell (21) Nate Thurmond (16) Jim Cleamons (6) Boston Garden
14,264 		0–1
2 May 9 @ Boston L 89–94 Snyder, Smith (16) Jim Brewer (9) Foots Walker (6) Boston Garden
12,098 		0–2
3 May 11 Boston W 83–78 Jim Cleamons (18) Jim Brewer (15) Nate Thurmond (6) Richfield Coliseum
21,564 		1–2
4 May 14 Boston W 106–87 Bingo Smith (27) Jim Brewer (11) Jim Cleamons (8) Richfield Coliseum
21,564 		2–2
5 May 16 @ Boston L 94–99 Jim Cleamons (18) Nate Thurmond (10) Cleamons, Smith (4) Boston Garden
12,951 		2–3
6 May 18 Boston L 87–94 Austin Carr (26) Nate Thurmond (14) Thurmond, Cleamons (5) Richfield Coliseum
21,564 		2–4
1976 schedule

Games 5 and 7 in the conference semifinal were both won by the Cavaliers on last-second shots. Jim Cleamons hit a layup as time expired in Game 5 and Dick Snyder hit a shot with four seconds left to win Game 7.

Awards and records

References