Every 1980-81 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 10, 1980 to March 29, 1981.
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East standings, 1980-81
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
62
20
.756
-
6-4
W1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
62
20
.756
-
5-5
L1
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
60
22
.732
2
8-2
W5
New York Knicks (NYK)
50
32
.610
12
8-2
W2
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
45
37
.549
17
9-1
W8
Indiana Pacers (IND)
44
38
.537
18
5-5
L1
Washington Bullets (WAS)
39
43
.476
23
4-6
W2
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
31
51
.378
31
3-7
L3
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
28
54
.341
34
3-7
L7
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
24
58
.293
38
3-7
L5
Detroit Pistons (DET)
21
61
.256
41
4-6
L1
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 12 times.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 6 games on November 30, 1980.
The Boston Celtics won 13 games in a row from January 4, 1981 to January 28, 1981, the longest run of the race.
The Philadelphia 76ers led by 6 games as late as December 19, 1980.
The Boston Celtics went 19-1 from December 19, 1980 to January 28, 1981, turning a deficit of 6 games into a level race.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 65 of the 148 days played.
Seven teams held first place.
The Philadelphia 76ers held first place for 85 straight days, the season's longest run.
The Boston Celtics spent 11 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.