9. Game 7 marked the end of K.C. Jones’ time as coach of the Bullets.
While Bill Fitch basked in the recognition of being named NBA Coach of the Year, fate was not so kind to Jones, who played on eight championship teams during his years with the Celtics. He was fired and replaced by Dick Motta, who guided the Bullets two years later to what remains the only title in franchise history.
Jones returned to Boston in 1983 after Fitch was let go by the Celtics and coached them to two championships over the next three years. The second of those came against the Houston Rockets coached by Fitch, who retired from coaching in 1998 with 944 wins (as well as 1,106 losses).
Next: The Cavs would not win a playoff series again for another 16 years.
