1970–71 New York Knicks season

The 1970–71 New York Knicks season was the 25th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] New York entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals in seven games to win the first championship in franchise history.[2] In the 1970–71 regular season, the Knicks finished in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 52–30 record, and qualified for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.[1]

1970–71 New York Knicks season
Division champions
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerRed Holzman
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record52–30 (.634)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference finals
(lost to Bullets 3–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOR-TV
Manhattan Cable Television
RadioWNBC
< 1969–70 1971–72 >

New York began its NBA title defense with a 4–1 series victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1971 NBA Playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Baltimore Bullets defeated the Knicks in seven games, ending the team's chances for a repeat championship.[3]

Draft picks

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Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.[4]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 17 Mike Price G   United States Illinois
2 34 Howie Wright G   United States Austin Peay
8 136 Greg Fillmore C   United States Cheyney State)

Roster

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1970–71 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 12 Barnett, Dick 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1936-10-02 Tennessee State
SF 24 Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943-07-28 Princeton
PF 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940-10-16 Detroit Mercy
C 34 Fillmore, Greg 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1947-03-07 Cheyney
PG 10 Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945-03-29 Southern Illinois
PF 18 Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945-09-17 North Dakota
PF 26 Mast, Eddie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-10-03 Temple
G 5 Price, Mike 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1948-09-11 Illinois
C 19 Reed, Willis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1942-06-25 Grambling State
SG 6 Riordan, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945-07-09 Providence
SF 33 Russell, Cazzie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1944-06-07 Michigan
SF 9 Stallworth, Dave 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1941-12-20 Wichita State
Head coach

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Regular season

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Season standings

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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
#
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
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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1970–71 NBA Records
Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CIN CLE DET LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SDR SFW SEA
Atlanta 3–3 2–4 3–1 1–4 2–4 4–0 0–5 3–2 1–4 3–3 4–2 1–4 2–2 2–3 2–3 3–2
Baltimore 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–3 3–3 4–0 2–3 2–3 1–4 2–4 3–3 3–2 2–2 4–1 2–3 3–2
Boston 4–2 3–3 4–0 4–1 4–2 3–1 2–3 3–2 0–5 0–6 4–2 2–3 2–2 3–2 3–2 3–2
Buffalo 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 5–7 1–5 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–4 1–3 6–6 1–3 1–3 1–3
Chicago 4–1 3–2 1–4 4–0 4–0 4–0 3–3 2–4 1–5 3–2 3–2 3–3 3–1 6–0 4–2 3–2
Cincinnati 4–2 3–3 2–4 4–0 0–4 5–1 1–4 1–4 1–4 2–4 1–5 1–4 4–0 1–3 2–3 1–4
Cleveland 0–4 0–4 1–3 7–5 0–4 1–5 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 2–10 0–4 1–3 0–4
Detroit 5–0 3–2 3–2 5–1 3–3 4–1 2–2 2–3 1–5 2–3 2–3 2–4 3–1 4–2 1–4 3–1
Los Angeles 2–3 3–2 2–3 2–2 4–2 4–1 4–0 3–2 1–4 3–2 3–2 2–4 4–0 3–3 4–2 4–2
Milwaukee 4–1 4–1 5–0 4–0 5–1 4–1 4–0 5–1 4–1 1–4 4–1 4–2 3–1 4–1 6–0 5–1
New York 3–3 4–2 6–0 2–2 2–3 4–2 4–0 3–2 2–3 4–1 2–4 4–1 3–1 4–1 3–2 2–3
Philadelphia 2–4 3–3 2–4 4–0 2–3 5–1 3–1 3–2 2–3 1–4 4–2 3–2 4–0 3–2 3–2 3–2
Phoenix 4–1 2–3 3–2 3–1 3–3 4–1 4–0 4–2 4–2 2–4 1–4 2–3 4–0 2–4 3–2 3–2
Portland 2–2 2–2 2–2 6–6 1–3 0–4 10–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–4
San Diego 3–2 1–4 2–3 3–1 0–6 3–1 4–0 2–4 3–3 1–4 1–4 2–3 4–2 4–0 2–4 5–1
San Francisco 3–2 3–2 2–3 3–1 2–4 3–2 3–1 4–1 2–4 0–6 2–3 2–3 2–3 3–1 4–2 3–3
Seattle 2–3 2–3 2–3 3–1 2–3 4–1 4–0 1–3 2–4 1–5 3–2 2–3 2–3 4–2 1–5 3–3

Game log

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1970–71 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 13 Boston 107–114 Willis Reed (35) 1–0
2 October 14 @ Cincinnati 128–104 Cazzie Russell (29) 2–0
3 October 17 Chicago 99–96 Dave DeBusschere (22) 2–1
4 October 20 Los Angeles 100–115 Willis Reed (29) 3–1
5 October 22 San Francisco 92–95 Cazzie Russell (20) 4–1
6 October 23 @ Baltimore 92–98 Willis Reed (25) 4–2
7 October 24 Cincinnati 103–115 Dave DeBusschere (24) 5–2
8 October 27 Seattle 104–117 Dave DeBusschere (22) 6–2
9 October 28 @ Boston 126–89 Willis Reed (22) 7–2
10 October 29 San Diego 107–114 Dick Barnett (26) 8–2
11 October 31 Detroit 89–107 Walt Frazier (22) 9–2
12 November 2 @ San Francisco 111–99 Walt Frazier (27) 10–2
13 November 4 @ San Diego 109–100 Walt Frazier (25) 11–2
14 November 6 @ Los Angeles 104–106 Willis Reed (24) 11–3
15 November 8 @ Portland 125–113 Frazier, Reed (28) 12–3
16 November 10 @ Seattle 91–93 Willis Reed (32) 12–4
17 November 12 Baltimore 110–108 Willis Reed (34) 12–5
18 November 13 @ Chicago 106–98 Dave DeBusschere (24) 13–5
19 November 14 Philadelphia 94–126 Walt Frazier (23) 14–5
20 November 17 Phoenix 100–103 Willis Reed (19) 15–5
21 November 18 @ Philadelphia 106–113 Walt Frazier (24) 15–6
22 November 19 Cincinnati 106–98 Walt Frazier (28) 15–7
23 November 21 Cleveland 94–102 Dick Barnett (24) 16–7
24 November 24 Atlanta 119–128 Walt Frazier (33) 17–7
25 November 25 @ Atlanta 114–111 Willis Reed (35) 18–7
26 November 27 @ Milwaukee 103–94 Willis Reed (34) 19–7
27 November 28 Milwaukee 99–100 Dave DeBusschere (21) 20–7
28 December 1 Seattle 109–114 Willis Reed (35) 21–7
29 December 2 @ Detroit 82–101 Willis Reed (17) 21–8
30 December 4 @ Buffalo 91–97 Willis Reed (31) 21–9
31 December 5 Buffalo 93–117 Frazier, Reed (23) 22–9
32 December 8 Portland 121–139 Willis Reed (37) 23–9
33 December 12 Philadelphia 101–118 Willis Reed (25) 24–9
34 December 13 N San Francisco 101–94 Walt Frazier (24) 24–10
35 December 15 Cleveland 92–110 Walt Frazier (25) 25–10
36 December 16 @ Cleveland 108–84 Walt Frazier (22) 26–10
37 December 19 Chicago 87–98 Dave Stallworth (22) 27–10
38 December 20 @ Phoenix 133–118 Walt Frazier (26) 28–10
39 December 22 @ Seattle 108–119 Dave DeBusschere (27) 28–11
40 December 25 Buffalo 102–115 Dick Barnett (24) 29–11
41 December 27 Baltimore 105–110 Walt Frazier (33) 30–11
42 December 30 San Francisco 103–111 Walt Frazier (29) 31–11
43 January 2 Atlanta 112–108 Walt Frazier (28) 31–12
44 January 6 @ Cleveland 127–94 Cazzie Russell (18) 32–12
45 January 7 @ Milwaukee 106–116 Walt Frazier (23) 32–13
46 January 9 @ Portland 96–114 Dick Barnett (23) 32–14
47 January 14 @ Phoenix 88–107 Dave DeBusschere (23) 32–15
48 January 16 @ San Francisco 93–102 Walt Frazier (21) 32–16
49 January 19 San Diego 113–117 (OT) Bill Bradley (27) 33–16
50 January 20 @ Chicago 103–109 Walt Frazier (30) 33–17
51 January 23 Boston 107–128 Walt Frazier (32) 34–17
52 January 24 @ Detroit 117–105 Willis Reed (24) 35–17
53 January 26 Milwaukee 98–107 Willis Reed (35) 36–17
54 January 27 @ Atlanta 116–108 Walt Frazier (26) 37–17
55 January 29 @ Boston 118–111 Willis Reed (29) 38–17
56 January 30 Philadelphia 106–105 Walt Frazier (28) 38–18
57 January 31 N Baltimore 125–95 Walt Frazier (29) 39–18
58 February 2 Cincinnati 108–115 Willis Reed (27) 40–18
59 February 5 @ Detroit 99–108 Willis Reed (35) 40–19
60 February 6 Chicago 109–102 Cazzie Russell (25) 40–20
61 February 7 @ Philadelphia 99–127 Barnett, Reed (20) 40–21
62 February 9 Atlanta 114–109 Willis Reed (24) 40–22
63 February 10 @ Buffalo 99–106 Dick Barnett (21) 40–23
64 February 12 @ Atlanta 116–125 Walt Frazier (33) 40–24
65 February 13 Phoenix 97–114 Dick Barnett (30) 41–24
66 February 16 @ Los Angeles 115–130 Willis Reed (23) 41–25
67 February 18 @ San Diego 116–115 Walt Frazier (36) 42–25
68 February 20 Detroit 94–108 Bill Bradley (23) 43–25
69 February 23 San Diego 126–109 Barnett, DeBusschere (24) 43–26
70 February 24 @ Cincinnati 125–105 Walt Frazier (26) 44–26
71 February 27 Portland 102–113 Willis Reed (35) 45–26
72 February 28 @ Baltimore 110–104 Walt Frazier (25) 46–26
73 March 2 Baltimore 95–109 Willis Reed (21) 47–26
74 March 5 @ Philadelphia 116–121 Willis Reed (26) 47–27
75 March 6 Boston 104–112 Walt Frazier (39) 48–27
76 March 7 @ Boston 116–110 Walt Frazier (34) 49–27
77 March 9 Seattle 114–99 Walt Frazier (19) 49–28
78 March 10 @ Cincinnati 118–120 (OT) Dave DeBusschere (29) 49–29
79 March 13 Milwaukee 103–108 Dave DeBusschere (33) 50–29
80 March 16 Los Angeles 82–115 Walt Frazier (22) 51–29
81 March 18 @ Phoenix 131–123 (OT) Dick Barnett (30) 52–29
82 March 21 @ Los Angeles 98–101 Cazzie Russell (16) 52–30

Playoffs

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1971 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 March 25 Atlanta W 112–101 Bill Bradley (25) Willis Reed (22) Bill Bradley (4) Madison Square Garden
19,500
1–0
2 March 27 Atlanta L 104–113 Walt Frazier (29) Dave DeBusschere (15) Bill Bradley (4) Madison Square Garden
19,500
1–1
3 March 28 @ Atlanta W 110–95 Willis Reed (26) Dave DeBusschere (17) Walt Frazier (9) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192
2–1
4 March 30 @ Atlanta W 113–107 Walt Frazier (26) Dave DeBusschere (13) Walt Frazier (8) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192
3–1
5 April 1 Atlanta W 111–107 Dave DeBusschere (29) Dave DeBusschere (22) Willis Reed (5) Madison Square Garden
19,500
4–1
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 3–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 6 Baltimore W 112–111 Walt Frazier (24) Dave DeBusschere (17) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,500
1–0
2 April 9 Baltimore W 107–88 Dick Barnett (14) Dave DeBusschere (14) Walt Frazier (5) Madison Square Garden
19,500
2–0
3 April 11 @ Baltimore L 88–114 Walt Frazier (17) Willis Reed (10) Barnett, Bradley (5) Baltimore Civic Center
8,083
2–1
4 April 14 @ Baltimore L 80–101 Walt Frazier (16) Dave DeBusschere (9) Walt Frazier (5) Baltimore Civic Center
12,289
2–2
5 April 16 Baltimore W 89–84 Walt Frazier (28) Dave DeBusschere (17) Bill Bradley (4) Madison Square Garden
19,500
3–2
6 April 18 @ Baltimore L 96–113 Dave DeBusschere (24) Dave DeBusschere (10) Dick Barnett (5) Baltimore Civic Center
11,211
3–3
7 April 19 Baltimore L 91–93 Dick Barnett (26) Willis Reed (12) Walt Frazier (4) Madison Square Garden
19,500
3–4
1971 schedule

Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

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Playoffs

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Awards and records

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References

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  1. ^ a b "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  2. ^ Hahn, Alan (2012). New York Knicks: The Complete Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. pp. 90–94. ISBN 978-1-61058-684-9.
  3. ^ "1970–71 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  4. ^ "1970 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 10, 2013.