The 1975-76 Detroit Pistons season was marked by significant struggles and challenges. The team finished the regular season with a disappointing record of 36-46, placing them fourth in the Midwest Division. Despite having talented players like Bob Lanier, who was a standout performer, the Pistons struggled to find consistent success throughout the season.
Under head coach Herb Brown, the Pistons faced difficulties in maintaining a strong defense and executing a cohesive offensive strategy. Their performance was not sufficient to secure a playoff berth, extending their postseason drought. The season also featured notable roster changes and management adjustments as the franchise sought to build a more competitive team for the future.
The 1975-76 season underscored the need for improvement in both player development and strategic planning for Detroit, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-1, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1975-76 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Lanier | 64 | 21.3 | 11.7 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 9 | 26.1 | 12.7 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Curtis Rowe | 80 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 9 | 15.2 | 7.8 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Eric Money | 80 | 13.0 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 12.6 | 2.4 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Porter | 19 | 12.6 | 2.3 | 10.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Mengelt | 67 | 10.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Al Eberhard | 81 | 9.3 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Howard Porter | 75 | 8.9 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 9 | 12.8 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Chris Ford | 82 | 8.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 8.7 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| George Trapp | 76 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.9 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Wali Jones | 1 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Archie Clark | 79 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 8.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lindsay Hairston | 47 | 5.8 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Williams | 46 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Thomas | 28 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roger Brown | 29 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Henry Dickerson | 17 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1976 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the first round of the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite a strong effort, the Pistons were eliminated in a closely contested three-game series, losing 2-1. Led by coach Herb Brown, the Pistons showed resilience but ultimately couldn't overcome the Bucks, who advanced to the next round.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-107 | |
| Apr 15, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-123 | |
| Apr 18, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-104 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Golden State Warriors
In the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons made it to the second round after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in a hard-fought first-round series. However, their postseason journey was halted by the Golden State Warriors, who overpowered them in a competitive series. Despite their exit, the Pistons showcased resilience and potential, setting the stage for future improvements.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 127-103 | |
| Apr 22, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 123-111 | |
| Apr 24, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-96 | |
| Apr 26, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 106-102 | |
| Apr 28, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-109 | |
| Apr 30, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-116 |
Detroit Pistons 1975-76 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1975-76 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 1975 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 114-106 | |
| Oct 25, 1975 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 108-102 | |
| Oct 29, 1975 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-99 | |
| Oct 31, 1975 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 131-127 | |
| Nov 01, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 97-93 | |
| Nov 04, 1975 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-101 | |
| Nov 05, 1975 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-107 | |
| Nov 07, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 124-122 | |
| Nov 08, 1975 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 118-104 | |
| Nov 12, 1975 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 109-106 | |
| Nov 15, 1975 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-89 | |
| Nov 19, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-114 | |
| Nov 21, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 26, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-104 | |
| Nov 29, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | W 115-110 | |
| Dec 03, 1975 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-110 | |
| Dec 05, 1975 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-91 | |
| Dec 06, 1975 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1975 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 129-124 | |
| Dec 12, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-95 | |
| Dec 13, 1975 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-91 | |
| Dec 14, 1975 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-100 | |
| Dec 17, 1975 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-102 | |
| Dec 19, 1975 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-114 | |
| Dec 20, 1975 | @ Washington Bullets | L 98-86 | |
| Dec 23, 1975 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 120-102 | |
| Dec 26, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-87 | |
| Dec 27, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-99 | |
| Dec 28, 1975 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 103-87 | |
| Dec 30, 1975 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 98-83 | |
| Jan 03, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-100 | |
| Jan 07, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-118 | |
| Jan 09, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-95 | |
| Jan 10, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 11, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 105-99 | |
| Jan 16, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 18, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-118 | |
| Jan 20, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-107 | |
| Jan 21, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-104 | |
| Jan 23, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-91 | |
| Jan 24, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | L 117-100 | |
| Jan 27, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 85-83 | |
| Jan 28, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 87-84 | |
| Jan 30, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 101-94 | |
| Feb 01, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 114-109 | |
| Feb 05, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 111-108 | |
| Feb 07, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 94-93 | |
| Feb 10, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-88 | |
| Feb 11, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-94 | |
| Feb 14, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106-105 | |
| Feb 15, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-107 | |
| Feb 18, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 105-94 | |
| Feb 20, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-87 | |
| Feb 21, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 114-112 | |
| Feb 25, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-101 | |
| Feb 27, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | W 97-93 | |
| Feb 29, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-98 | |
| Mar 02, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 127-113 | |
| Mar 03, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-110 | |
| Mar 05, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-112 | |
| Mar 07, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 88-87 | |
| Mar 09, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 112-108 | |
| Mar 12, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-101 | |
| Mar 14, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 114-103 | |
| Mar 16, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 110-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-100 | |
| Mar 19, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-107 | |
| Mar 21, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 118-112 | |
| Mar 23, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-116 | |
| Mar 24, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 130-117 | |
| Mar 26, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 85-77 | |
| Mar 27, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 112-94 | |
| Mar 31, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-96 | |
| Apr 02, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 116-102 | |
| Apr 03, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 97-93 | |
| Apr 04, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-97 | |
| Apr 07, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-96 | |
| Apr 09, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-108 | |
| Apr 10, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-99 | |
| Apr 11, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 112-105 |