Tag: 1977-78

by abfcommish

1978 ABF Preview

Introduction – Dominance at the Top

All three tiers of the ABF saw dominance at the top. Unlike last year that brought some drama in the Premier with a one game playoff for the championship, the league started to settle in with the cream rising to the top. The season also brought seismic shifts in the pyramid again with former titans relegated to the Championship and Founder’s Cup. All of this promises to bring even more action in wthe 1978 season.

Premier League

The Questions: The Phoenix Suns were dominant, coasting to a 14 game cushion and easily running off with the second ever ABF championship. Can they reclaim that form and repeat? 11 other teams will be gunning for the champs. Boston, runners up in 1976 shocked the league by drafting Larry Bird’s rights even though the team can’t sign him until next year. The bold move cost the Celtics future draft picks, but many agree the move was the right one. The question: What does this next season bring to bridge the gap? Chicago, runners up last season, added Artis Gilmore. This provides them a defensive anchor, but are the truly contenders now?

The Frontcourt: Denver, champions in 1976 and a 4th place last year, refuse to stand pat. After a trade for Moses Malone, they now have Malone, Thompson, and Issel. Is this the greatest frontcourt ever assembled in basketball and do any other teams have a hope next year?

The Heartbreaks: After a hugely successful first season in the Championship and a promotion, Buffalo proved that they aren’t quite ready for prime time. After a 19-47 season and an immediate relegation, the Braves need to prove that they aren’t just one hit wonders. Meanwhile, Los Angeles came up in last with only 14 wins. This wasn’t enough and the Lakers fired their coach to bring in Paul Westhead. They are eying Magic next year and an immediate promotion back into the Premier makes them a worthy target for the young man.

Championship

The Questions: Oklahoma and Baltimore both secured back to back promotions and now bring their rivalry to the Premier League. Do they both belong in the top tier or will they suffer the same fate as Buffalo and Houston? The Spurs, Colonels, and Cavs all found themselves in the promotion tournament and all fell short. The Spurs fell to sub .500 Kentucky and the loss will sting all offseason. The Cavs have now bowed out of the tournament in both ABF seasons. Can either team overcome the loss this year for either automatic promotion or another shot in the tournament? Salt Lake and Mid Atlantic find themselves promoted to the Championship this year. Can either team survive the 66 game grind in the second tier?

The Rebounds: Pardon our pun there, but all three relegated teams this year will also be fighting for promotion again back to the Premier. Houston hired Tex Winter and his potentially powerful offensive scheme. We already mentioned Westhead in Los Angeles. And the Braves want to show that they belong back in the Premier after their quick exit.

Founder’s Cup

After four original FC team find themselves promoted, the bottom tier of the league has only two of the original six in the league. Replacing the promoted teams are The Spirits of St. Louis, Atlanta, and Portland. The Blazers brought back Bill Walton in an attempt to push back into the Championship and, perhaps, even the Premier some day. Hubie Brown and the Spirits also look to get back into the Championship after what will be a second season in the Founder’s Cup. The other relegated team this year, Atlanta faces some stiff competition and may just find themselves in the FC for a couple of more years. Because Tampa Bay and Memphis also both hope to prove themselves after they lost out in a promotion tournament brought about by a three way tie in the league. That leaves Detroit. The Pistons went 0-20 and find themselves in a massive uphill battle to reverse their fortunes.

by abfcommish

1978 Offseason Moves

Trades, Coaching Carousel, and a Brief Preview

Denver acquires: Moses Malone  

*Houston receives: 1978 first-round pick, 1979 first-round pick, 1978 second-round pick, cash considerations*

The Nuggets already had one of the ABF’s most potent offenses. Now they have the most terrifying frontcourt in league history.

Moses Malone, the 22-year-old rebounding machine, joins David Thompson and Dan Issel in Denver. That’s three All-Stars in one lineup — a frontcourt that can score, rebound, and defend with anyone. For Houston, it’s a painful but necessary move. The Rockets are headed to the Championship after a disappointing 23–43 season, and Malone is their most valuable asset. Two first-round picks and a second give Houston a head start on their rebuild under new coach Tex Winter.

What it means: Denver is the team to beat in the Premier. Thompson, Issel, and Malone are an unstoppable trio.

Portland acquires: Bill Walton  

*Buffalo receives: 1978 first-round pick, 1979 first-round pick, 1978 second-round pick, future considerations*

This is the one that changes everything.

Bill Walton — the generational talent who spent one disastrous year in Buffalo — is coming home. Portland, stuck in the Founders Cup after a 7–13 season, brings back its franchise player to lead the rebuild. For Buffalo, it’s a divorce. The Walton-McAdoo experiment produced 19 wins in the Premier. The Braves cut their losses, extract a haul of picks, and build around McAdoo instead under new coach Kevin Loughery.

What it means: Portland is back. The Blazers are immediately the favorites to win the Founders Cup — and Walton gets a chance to lead his franchise back to relevance.

Chicago acquires: Artis Gilmore  

*Kentucky receives: 1978 first-round pick, 1979 second-round pick, 1978 second-round pick, young player to be named*

The Bulls have been building toward something. Now they have their anchor.

Artis Gilmore — the 29-year-old defensive stalwart — gives Chicago a veteran presence and a dominant big to pair with their young core. For Kentucky, it’s the end of an era. The Colonels are rebuilding in the Championship after relegation, and Gilmore was their biggest asset. They get a first-round pick, two seconds, and a young player to start their rebuild under returning coach Babe McCarthy.

What it means: Chicago is a legitimate Premier contender. Gilmore gives them the defensive identity they’ve been missing.

 Buffalo Stays the Course

While the other moves made headlines, Buffalo made the quietest — and smartest — decision of the offseason.

The Braves kept Bob McAdoo. They used the picks from the Walton trade to add complementary pieces. They didn’t panic. They didn’t blow it up. They proved they can win in the Championship, and they’re aiming to prove they can *stay* in the Premier under new coach Kevin Loughery.

What it means: Buffalo is the favorite to win the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier.

 Detroit Cleans House

The Situation: 0–20 in the Founders Cup. No wins. No hope. No identity.

The Moves:

– Front Office: Complete reset. New GM brought in to oversee the rebuild.

– Coaching: Herb Brown is out. A new coach will be hired to lead the rebuild.

– Roster: Anyone not nailed down is available. The Pistons are starting from scratch.

What it means: Detroit is the ABF’s biggest project. They have nowhere to go but up — and they’re finally ready to start climbing.

 Coaching Carousel

Los Angeles Lakers  

*In:* Paul Westhead – The offense will run through Kareem. Westhead’s system is the bridge to trying to get Magic in 1980.

Buffalo Braves  

*In:* Kevin Loughery – ABA flair, up-tempo offense, perfect for a team with McAdoo and a young supporting cast.

Houston Rockets  

*In:* Tex Winter – The Triangle offense architect returns to Houston to lead the rebuild in the Championship.

Detroit Pistons  

*Out:* Herb Brown (fired after 0–20 season)  

*In:* To be announced – The Pistons are conducting a full coaching search.

 Front Office Shakeups

Detroit Pistons  

– New GM: Hired to oversee the full rebuild.

– Scouting department: Expanded to identify young talent.

– Philosophy: Build through the draft, develop young players, and establish a culture.

Los Angeles Lakers  

– Front office: Stable. Westhead is the big move. The Lakers are patient, building for 1980.

Houston Rockets  

– Front office: Stable. Winter is the big move. The Rockets are rebuilding around young talent.

Kentucky Colonels  

– Front office: Stable. McCarthy is the big move. The Colonels are embracing their ABA roots.

 What It Means for 1978

– Denver is the Premier favorite. Thompson, Issel, and Malone are an unstoppable trio.

– Chicago is a Premier contender. Gilmore gives them the defensive anchor they’ve been missing.

– Portland is the Founders Cup favorite. Walton is back where he belongs.

– Buffalo is the Championship favorite. McAdoo stays, picks are used to build around him.

– Los Angeles is patient. Westhead’s system, Kareem’s dominance, and the promise of Magic in 1980.

– Detroit is starting over. New GM, new coach, new roster.

by abfcommish

1977 ABF Season Fallout

Promotion/Relegation Summary

Premier League

Promoted:

  • Oklahoma City: The Stampede did the unthinkable — back-to-back promotions from Founders Cup to Premier. 57–9 in the Championship. They’re not just happy to be here.
  • Baltimore: The Ravens followed right behind OKC, going 52–14 in the Championship. Balanced, disciplined, and ready for the big stage.
  • Indiana: Doug Moe’s run-and-gun attack won the promotion tournament. The Pacers are back in the Premier after one year away.

Relegated:

  • Houston: The Malone-Murphy experiment produced 23 wins. They’re headed to the Championship to figure out what went wrong.
  • Buffalo: Walton and McAdoo never clicked. 19 wins. Back to the drawing board in the Championship.
  • Los Angeles: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had no help. 14–52. The Lakers are in the second tier for the first time in ABF history.

Championship

Promoted from Founders Cup:

  • Salt Lake: 17–3 in the Founders Cup. LaDell Andersen has them playing like a Championship team already.
  • Mid Atlantic: Won the Founders mini-tournament. The barnstormers are moving up.

Relegated to Founders Cup:

  • Atlanta: 20–46 in the Championship. Cotton Fitzsimmons needs to rebuild.
  • Memphis: 16–50. The Cinderella story is over — for now.

Founders Cup

Promoted to Championship:

  • Salt Lake
  • Mid Atlantic

Relegated from Championship:

  • Atlanta
  • Memphis

What This Means

The pyramid has shifted. Three Premier teams — Houston, Buffalo, and Los Angeles — now find themselves in the Championship, each with a different set of problems. Kareem, Walton, and Malone are all playing in the second tier next season. That’s not just a storyline — it’s a crisis for those franchises.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City and Baltimore have done something no team has ever done: back-to-back promotions. They’re the new standard for how to build a winner in the ABF.

And then there’s Detroit. 0–20 in the Founders Cup. That’s not a rebuild — that’s an exhumation.

Coaching, Roster, and Front Office Implications

Premier League

Oklahoma City (↑ Promoted)

  • Coach: Safe – Back-to-back promotions. Legend status.
  • Front Office: Expansion mode – Premier revenue means more scouts, analytics, and staff
  • Key Roster Question: Can they keep their core together, or do they need to add veterans to survive?

Baltimore (↑ Promoted)

  • Coach: Safe – Dominated the Championship. Earned the right.
  • Front Office: Growth – Time to build a Premier-level front office
  • Key Roster Question: Can they find a second star to pair with Rocky Risien?

Indiana (↑ Promoted)

  • Coach: Safe – Doug Moe won the promotion tournament. He’s earned his shot.
  • Front Office: Upgrading – Premier demands a deeper scouting network
  • Key Roster Question: Will their run-and-gun style translate to the Premier?

Houston (↓ Relegated)

  • Coach: Warm – 23 wins with Moses Malone and Calvin Murphy. Someone has to answer for that.
  • Front Office: Downsizing – Premier-level staff on Championship budget
  • Key Roster Question: Do they trade Moses Malone or build around him in the Championship?

Buffalo (↓ Relegated)

  • Coach: Hot – 19 wins with Walton and McAdoo. That’s a disaster.
  • Front Office: Restructuring – New GM? New direction?
  • Key Roster Question: Do they trade Walton or McAdoo, or try to make it work one more year?

Los Angeles (↓ Relegated)

  • Coach: Hot – 14 wins with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That’s inexcusable.
  • Front Office: Overhaul likely – The Lakers need a complete reset
  • Key Roster Question: Does Kareem demand a trade, or does he stay to lead the Lakers back?

Championship

Salt Lake (↑ Promoted from Founders)

  • Coach: Safe – 17–3 in the Founders Cup. LaDell Andersen has them ready.
  • Front Office: Expansion – First real front office build
  • Key Roster Question: Do they add veterans or trust their Founders Cup core?

Mid Atlantic (↑ Promoted from Founders)

  • Coach: Safe – Won the Founders mini-tournament. Earned the promotion.
  • Front Office: Growth – Time to hire a dedicated GM
  • Key Roster Question: Can they find a second scorer to pair with their balanced attack?

Atlanta (↓ Relegated to Founders)

  • Coach: Hot – 20 wins in the Championship. Cotton Fitzsimmons is on thin ice.
  • Front Office: Downsizing – Championship-level staff on Founders budget
  • Key Roster Question: Do they rebuild around young talent or try to bounce back immediately?

Memphis (↓ Relegated to Founders)

  • Coach: Warm – The Cinderella story ended in relegation. The coach is safe for now, but the roster needs work.
  • Front Office: Retooling – Time to figure out how to climb back
  • Key Roster Question: Do they keep the core together or start fresh?

Founders Cup

Detroit (0–20)

  • Coach: Ice cold – 0–20 in the Founders Cup. No one is safe.
  • Front Office: Complete reset – New GM, new coach, new roster
  • Key Roster Question: Who’s the first building block? They need to start from scratch.

St. Louis (12–8)

  • Coach: Safe – Hubie Brown has them competitive. They just need to get over the hump.
  • Front Office: Stable – No major changes expected
  • Key Roster Question: Can they find a star to lead them to promotion?

Tampa Bay (12–8)

  • Coach: Safe – Zelmo Beaty has them in the mix. They just need to finish the job.
  • Front Office: Stable – No major changes expected
  • Key Roster Question: Can they add a piece to push them over the top?

Portland (7–13)

  • Coach: Warm – Jack Ramsay has talent, but 7–13 isn’t good enough.
  • Front Office: Pressure – The Blazers need to show improvement
  • Key Roster Question: Is Rickey Green the future, or do they need another star?

by abfcommish

1977 ABF Season in Review: Phoenix Races to a Title, Surprising Relegations, and Two Historic Promotions

Domination at the Top, Heartbreak at the Bottom

The American Basketball Federation’s second season saw teams run away with their respective tier leads. The Premier League title was never in question. However, the other end of the table saw both dramatic races and historic heartbreak. The second chapter of the league brought the same intensity that the fight for promotion and against relegation can deliver.

For complete standings, visit the 1977 ABF Standings Page.

Premier League

Last year saw a one game playoff to crown the champions. This year needed no such pageantry. The Phoenix Suns, led by Rich Laurel, Bernard King, and head coach John MacLeod, absolutely dominated the competition. They won a stunning 59 games against only 7 losses and ended the season on a 15 game winning streak. The Suns finished in the top five in both offensive and defensive scoring.

Their dynamic duo of Rich Laurel and Bernard King led the pace. Laurel led the team in scoring with 31 points per game. King added 28.9 points per game and averaged a double double for the season with 12.6 rebounds. Laurel was second in the league in scoring with King fourth and 3rd in rebounds.

With such a strong core, the Suns start next season as favorites to repeat. However, last year’s finalists, Boston and Denver await in the wings with newcomers Chicago and Milwaukee. The 1978 season promises to be a fun one.

However, the Premier will have to do so without the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers thudded to a dismal 14-52 record for dead last in the Premier League. They now face relegation with one of the most famous players on the planet, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Will the big man settle for a season in the Championship league or will he demand a trade to one of the Premier League contenders? With the first pick in the draft, maybe the Lakers can keep Kareem happy for one season to get back into the Premier League.

Joining the Lakers are two promoted teams from last year, Buffalo and Houston. In spite of making some big moves in the offseason in the hopes of staying in the Premier League, they both showed that they aren’t quite ready for prime time yet. Another season in the championship gives them time to work out their strategies and learn to play together as a team. Meanwhile, their promoted third, the 76ers finished right in the middle of the Premier League at .500 and look ready to stay and eventually compete for a championship

Championship League

The Championship saw similar domination at the top. Oklahoma City, who made their intentions to secure double promotion known, finished almost as strong as the Suns. They went 57-9 and are now in the Premier League only two years after starting in the Founder’s Cup. Their Founders Cup rivals, always second fiddle to the Stampede, the Baltimore Ravens finished five games below them in the finals. Still, they find themselves in the Premier right alongside OKC. These stories are what makes the ABF unique in all of American Sports.

The third promotion spot, determined by an end of season tournament among the 3rd-6th place teams, provided some intrigue at the top of the league. San Antonio, Cleveland, Indiana, and Kentucky were all separated by only 8 games. Kentucky entered the tournament under .500 and heavy underdogs. They clipped the favored Spurs by 1 point to move on to the promotion game. Meanwhile, Cleveland again saw themselves in the tournament. This time they played Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Cavs by 7 points to move on. Two years and two losses don’t quite make a curse yet. But Cleveland fans are understandably frustrated by this repeat. In the promotion game, Indiana handled Kentucky to secure the third promotion spot.

The Champioinship is where stories are made and another brewed at the bottom of the table. Recently promoted Memphis along with Atlanta took the bottom two relegation spots. Seattle and Kansas City tied for 10th, requiring a single game playoff to determine who was safe and who had to play in the Founder’s Challenge. Seattle romped Kansas City 122-78 to avoid relegation. Kansas City then went on to handle challenger Tampa Bay to keep their spot.

Founder’s Cup

With the two powerhouses from last year out of the league, Salt Lake City rose to the top this year to take the first promotion spot into the Founder’s Cup. The second two promotions required some extra basketball. Mid Atlantic, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay all finished the season at 12-8. A mini tournament between the three saw Tampa edge St. Louis by 4 before losing to Mid Atlantic, who received the second automatic bid. Tampa then went on to lose to Kansas City, as mentioned, to remain in the Founder’s Cup for another year. However, they start next year as the favorites along with Memphis and Atlanta for promotion.

While the Founder’s Cup doesn’t have relegation, it does have it’s share of heartbreak. Detroit, relegated last year after only 20 wins, saw their season fall apart completely. They finished winless, 0-20, and with plenty of questions about next year. How does a team recover from two horrible years like this. They may need to relocate to a smaller arena for a season or two to try to save some money and build up their capital.