The 1980-81 Indiana Pacers struggled throughout the NBA season, finishing with a record of 44-38. Despite a roster that included talented players like Johnny Davis and Billy Knight, the team couldn’t find consistent success. The Pacers’ performance was marked by inconsistency, as they failed to secure a playoff spot, ending the season in fourth place in the Central Division.
Head coach Jack McKinney faced challenges in maximizing the team’s potential, as the Pacers were unable to build significant momentum during the season. Their defense was a notable weakness, contributing to their subpar record. Offensively, the Pacers showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the depth and cohesion needed to compete with the stronger teams in the league. Overall, the 1980-81 season was a disappointing chapter for the Pacers, highlighting the need for strategic changes to improve in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-2
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Billy Knight | 82 | 17.5 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 2 | 18.5 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Edwards | 81 | 15.6 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Davis | 76 | 14.4 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 11.8 | 2 | 20.0 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Bantom | 76 | 14.0 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 14.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| George McGinnis | 69 | 13.1 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Johnson | 43 | 10.6 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Louis Orr | 82 | 10.5 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Dudley Bradley | 82 | 8.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 13.3 | 2 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Clemon Johnson | 81 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.5 | 10.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Buse | 58 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 32.2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Kenny Natt | 19 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Abernethy | 29 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Sichting | 47 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Miller | 5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1981 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced a challenging first-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite their efforts, the Pacers were unable to overcome the dominant play of the 76ers, led by Julius Erving, and were swept in a 2-0 series. This marked a quick exit for the Pacers, who struggled to contain Philadelphia's high-powered offense and tenacious defense.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 124-108 | |
| Apr 02, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-85 |
Indiana Pacers 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-91 | |
| Oct 11, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-87 | |
| Oct 15, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 108-97 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 103-99 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 121-116 | |
| Oct 22, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-105 | |
| Oct 24, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-97 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 118-100 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | W 102-95 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 121-114 | |
| Nov 01, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-100 | |
| Nov 02, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 135-121 | |
| Nov 04, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 109-108 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-111 | |
| Nov 10, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 119-113 | |
| Nov 13, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 130-103 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-108 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 102-97 | |
| Nov 19, 1980 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-91 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 97-88 | |
| Nov 22, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 129-120 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-89 | |
| Nov 27, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 123-108 | |
| Nov 29, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-96 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 128-115 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 107-88 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 102-90 | |
| Dec 11, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-105 | |
| Dec 16, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-107 | |
| Dec 19, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-106 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-109 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-115 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 121-109 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 127-110 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 109-106 | |
| Jan 03, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 128-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 112-103 | |
| Jan 08, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 116-115 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 101-99 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-89 | |
| Jan 20, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-105 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-104 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-103 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-109 | |
| Jan 28, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-102 | |
| Feb 03, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-99 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-98 | |
| Feb 07, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-96 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-101 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 15, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 113-107 | |
| Feb 18, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 99-96 | |
| Feb 20, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 109-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-109 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-100 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 118-111 | |
| Mar 03, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-112 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-93 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-104 | |
| Mar 08, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 129-119 | |
| Mar 10, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-102 | |
| Mar 12, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-107 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 14, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 101-94 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-89 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-95 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-107 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-101 | |
| Mar 26, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-107 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 122-107 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 101-97 |