1978-79 Silas the key to the Championshio. Seatle wins title.
1978-79 Silas the key to the Championshio. Seatle wins title.
An offseason development would change the entire league in the upcoming
80's. Larry Bird from Indiana State, was chosen as the sixth pick of the 78
draft by the Boston Celtics.Washington won a league-high 54 games and topped the
Atlantic Division, while San Antonio won the Central Division. Kansas City, in
its first year under Cotton Fitzsimmons, advanced to the Playoffs for only the
second time since moving from Cincinnati. Washington defeated by San Antonio
3-1, managed to best the Spurs in three straight games and advanced to the
Finals. Seattle won the first two games against Phoenix, lost three straight,
then came back to take two games to face the Bullets in the big Finals.
Washington took Game 1 by two points by Larry Wright's free throws after
regular time. But the SuperSonics, behind Dennis Johnson (NBA Finals MVP), won
four straight to bring Seattle a title.
Silkas the key to Championship. Dennis Johnson won the Finals MVP, Gus
Williams led the SuperSonics in scoring, Jack Sikma in rebounding and Fred Brown
was unbeatable in perimeter throws. But the Sonics coach, Lenny Wilkens, thought
that the key element of the team was 35-year-old ex-Celt Paul Silas, who
averaged just 5.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Silas had been playing his 13th season, and
he would retire the next following year to become a coach.
See also:
