Several ABA teams entered the NBA as expansion teams under the terms of the NBA-ABA merger
First Round
Semi-Finals
Conf. Finals
Finals
The 1977 New Orleans Jazz, coached by Butch van Breda Kolff (14-12) and Elgin Baylor (21-35), missed the playoffs after finishing the NBA regular season in 5th place in the Eastern Conference Central Division with a 35-47 record.