1970–71 NBA season

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1970–71 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationOctober 13, 1970 – March 23, 1971
March 24 – April 19, 1971 (Playoffs)
April 21–30, 1971 (Finals)
Number of games82
Number of teams17
TV partner(s)ABC
Draft
Top draft pickBob Lanier
Picked byDetroit Pistons
Regular season
Top seedMilwaukee Bucks
Season MVPLew Alcindor (Milwaukee)
Top scorerLew Alcindor (Milwaukee)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBaltimore Bullets
  Eastern runners-upNew York Knicks
Western championsMilwaukee Bucks
  Western runners-upLos Angeles Lakers
Finals
ChampionsMilwaukee Bucks
Finals MVPLew Alcindor (Milwaukee)
NBA seasons

The 1970–71 NBA season was the 25th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.[1] Three new teams made their debut: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Buffalo Braves.

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 1969–70 coach 1970–71 coach
Buffalo Braves Expansion Dolph Schayes
Cleveland Cavaliers Expansion Bill Fitch
Portland Trail Blazers Expansion Rolland Todd
San Francisco Warriors George C. Lee Al Attles
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
N/A

Final standings

By division

W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 32–9 19–20 1–1 10–6
x-Philadelphia 76ers 47 35 .573 5 24–15 21–18 2–2 10–6
Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 8 25–14 18–22 1–2 8–8
Buffalo Braves 22 60 .268 30 14–23 6–30 2–7 2–10
W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Baltimore Bullets 42 40 .512 24–13 16–25 2–2 10–6
x-Atlanta Hawks 36 46 .439 6 21–20 14–26 1–0 9–7
Cincinnati Royals 33 49 .402 9 17–16 11–28 5–5 16–6
Cleveland Cavaliers 15 67 .183 27 11–30 2–37 2–0 1–13
W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 66 16 .805 34–2 28–13 4–1 14–4
x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622 15 30–11 17–19 4–1 7–11
Phoenix Suns 48 34 .585 18 27–14 19–20 2–0 9–9
Detroit Pistons 45 37 .549 21 24–17 20–19 1–1 6–12
W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 48 34 .585 30–11 17–22 1–1 15–7
x-San Francisco Warriors 41 41 .500 7 20–18 19–21 2–2 12–10
San Diego Rockets 40 42 .488 8 24–15 15–26 1–1 14–8
Seattle SuperSonics 38 44 .463 10 27–13 11–30 0–1 10–14
Portland Trail Blazers 29 53 .354 19 18–21 9–26 2–6 3–15

By conference

#
Team W L PCT
1 z-New York Knicks 52 30 .634
2 y-Baltimore Bullets 42 40 .512
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 47 35 .573
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 36 46 .439
5 Boston Celtics 44 38 .537
6 Cincinnati Royals 33 49 .402
7 Buffalo Braves 22 60 .268
8 Cleveland Cavaliers 15 67 .183
#
Team W L PCT
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 66 16 .805
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers 48 34 .585
3 x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622
4 x-San Francisco Warriors 41 41 .500
5 Phoenix Suns 48 34 .585
6 Detroit Pistons 45 37 .549
7 San Diego Rockets 40 42 .488
8 Seattle SuperSonics 38 44 .463
9 Portland Trail Blazers 29 53 .354

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
         
A1 New York* 4
C2 Atlanta 1
A1 New York* 3
Eastern Conference
C1 Baltimore* 4
C1 Baltimore* 4
A2 Philadelphia 3
C1 Baltimore* 0
M1 Milwaukee* 4
M1 Milwaukee* 4
P2 San Francisco 1
M1 Milwaukee* 4
Western Conference
P1 Los Angeles* 1
P1 Los Angeles* 4
M2 Chicago 3
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner
  • Italic Team with home-court advantage

Statistics leaders

Category Player Team Stat
Points per game Lew Alcindor Milwaukee Bucks 31.7
Rebounds per game Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers 18.2
Assists per game Norm Van Lier Cincinnati Royals 10.1
FG% Johnny Green Cincinnati Royals .587
FT% Chet Walker Chicago Bulls .859

NBA awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Moussavi, Sam (August 1, 2016). Milwaukee Bucks. Weigl Publishers. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-4896-4704-7.
  2. ^ "Season Review: 1970-71". NBA.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "NBA Okays Merger With ABA", AP report in Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, June 19, 1970, p.D1
  4. ^ Janoff, Barry. "15 Reasons NBA 1970-71 Kicks the Butt of NBA 2010-11". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 27, 2022.