The 1976-77 Detroit Pistons season was marked by struggle and transition. The team finished with a record of 44 wins and 38 losses, securing a spot in the NBA Playoffs. This season was notable for the Pistons’ move to the Pontiac Silverdome, which provided a larger venue for home games. Despite the change in venue, the Pistons faced challenges in consistency and cohesion on the court.
Coached by Herb Brown, the Pistons roster featured key players like Bob Lanier, who was instrumental in their performance, averaging 25.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. However, their playoff run was short-lived, as they were eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. The season highlighted the need for depth and development in order to become a more competitive force in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-2
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1976-77 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Lanier | 64 | 25.3 | 11.6 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 28.0 | 16.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| M.L. Carr | 82 | 13.3 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 9.3 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Howard Porter | 78 | 13.2 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 20.0 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Chris Ford | 82 | 12.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 13.7 | 6.3 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Simpson | 77 | 11.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Money | 73 | 10.2 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 18.3 | 3.0 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marvin Barnes | 53 | 9.6 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Porter | 81 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 7.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Leon Douglas | 82 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Al Eberhard | 68 | 6.9 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Trapp | 6 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Sellers | 44 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cornelius Cash | 6 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roger Brown | 43 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1977 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Golden State Warriors
In the 1977 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced a tough matchup against the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Despite their efforts, the Pistons were swept in a best-of-three series, losing two straight games. This marked a swift exit for Detroit, highlighting their need for further rebuilding to become a playoff contender.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 95-90 | |
| Apr 14, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 138-108 | |
| Apr 17, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 109-101 |
Detroit Pistons 1976-77 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1976-77 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 99-96 | |
| Oct 23, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 98-97 | |
| Oct 27, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-92 | |
| Oct 29, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-103 | |
| Oct 30, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 131-97 | |
| Oct 31, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-101 | |
| Nov 02, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-98 | |
| Nov 05, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 122-108 | |
| Nov 06, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 110-105 | |
| Nov 07, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 115-107 | |
| Nov 10, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 123-112 | |
| Nov 12, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-97 | |
| Nov 13, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-103 | |
| Nov 14, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-83 | |
| Nov 17, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 118-95 | |
| Nov 18, 1976 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-99 | |
| Nov 20, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 24, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-117 | |
| Nov 25, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-105 | |
| Nov 26, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 124-119 | |
| Nov 30, 1976 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-129 | |
| Dec 01, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-104 | |
| Dec 03, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 124-115 | |
| Dec 08, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-100 | |
| Dec 10, 1976 | @ New York Nets | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 11, 1976 | vs. New York Nets | L 115-88 | |
| Dec 12, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 110-104 | |
| Dec 15, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 136-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1976 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 113-104 | |
| Dec 19, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 21, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | L 133-103 | |
| Dec 22, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-94 | |
| Dec 25, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 29, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-111 | |
| Dec 30, 1976 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 123-106 | |
| Jan 05, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-115 | |
| Jan 07, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 140-132 | |
| Jan 09, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-118 | |
| Jan 11, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 129-121 | |
| Jan 12, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 131-101 | |
| Jan 15, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 121-105 | |
| Jan 21, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-86 | |
| Jan 23, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-108 | |
| Jan 25, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | W 91-89 | |
| Jan 26, 1977 | vs. New York Nets | W 103-101 | |
| Jan 27, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 114-107 | |
| Jan 29, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 30, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 127-120 | |
| Feb 01, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 95-92 | |
| Feb 02, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 138-116 | |
| Feb 04, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-111 | |
| Feb 06, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 130-111 | |
| Feb 09, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 135-129 | |
| Feb 11, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-94 | |
| Feb 15, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-99 | |
| Feb 16, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-118 | |
| Feb 18, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 107-97 | |
| Feb 19, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-95 | |
| Feb 20, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 23, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-101 | |
| Feb 25, 1977 | @ New York Nets | W 112-106 | |
| Mar 01, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 110-94 | |
| Mar 04, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 94-92 | |
| Mar 05, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 118-96 | |
| Mar 06, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-105 | |
| Mar 08, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-107 | |
| Mar 13, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 102-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-97 | |
| Mar 18, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 133-104 | |
| Mar 23, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 95-89 | |
| Mar 25, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-94 | |
| Mar 26, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 128-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 115-100 | |
| Mar 30, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-112 | |
| Apr 01, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 133-116 | |
| Apr 03, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-107 | |
| Apr 05, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-105 | |
| Apr 08, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-112 | |
| Apr 09, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-96 | |
| Apr 10, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | L 144-126 |