Just months earlier, the American Basketball Association had ended its ninth and final campaign and the two leagues combined.
[1] In Philadelphia, Erving joined another scoring machine, George McGinnis, who had come over earlier from the Indiana Pacers.
[1] Gene Shue was the coach & his key players were Erving (the esteemed Dr. J), McGinnis & 6-foot-6 shooting guard Doug Collins.
Caldwell Jones started at center with 20-year-old Darryl Dawkins, also known as "Chocolate Thunder," in a backup role.
The Sixers beat the Boston Celtics & the Houston Rockets in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2, after winning the first 2 games.