1972–73 San Diego Conquistadors season

The 1972–73 San Diego Conquistadors season was the 1st season of the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association. The Conquistadors were the first and only expansion team of the ABA, made to make the league have 10 teams, with Dr. Leonard Bloom granted a team for $1 million. But a feud with Peter Graham, proprietor of the San Diego Sports Arena due to Graham being bitter for not being granted the team meant that the team would play their games in the 3,200 capacity Peterson Gym. The first game was a Friday night on October 13, 1972, versus the Denver Rockets, which they lost 100–109. The Conquistadors had a 16–26 first half of the season, with a ten-game losing streak in that half. In the second half, they went 21–21, with a nine-game losing streak in there, though they have a five-game winning streak near the end of the season that rose their win total from 25 to 30. The Q's managed to get into the playoffs due to the Dallas Chaparrals losing to the Denver Rockets on March 25. They finished 9th in points scored with 109.0 points per game and 7th in points allowed with 113.2 points per game. They faced off against the Utah Stars in the playoffs, but they were swept in four games.[1][2]

1972–73 San Diego Conquistadors season
Head coachK. C. Jones
ArenaPeterson Gym
Results
Record37–47 (.440)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishLost in ABA Semifinals
1973–74 >

Roster

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  • 12 George Adams – Small forward
  • 14 Henry Bacon – Shooting guard
  • 20 Mike Barrett – Shooting guard
  • 40 Jerry Chambers – Small forward
  • 54 Simmie Hill – Small forward
  • 13 Stew Johnson – Power forward
  • 44 Larry Miller – Shooting guard
  • 55 Gene Moore – Center
  • 52 Craig Raymond – Center
  • 21 Red Robbins – Center
  • 33/42 Garfield Smith – Center
  • 53 Pete Smith – Power forward
  • 22 Oliver Taylor – Shooting guard
  • 23 Chuck Williams – Point guard

Final standings

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Western Division

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Team W L % GB
Utah Stars 55 29 .655 -
Indiana Pacers 51 33 .607 4
Denver Rockets 47 37 .560 8
San Diego Conquistadors 30 54 .357 25
Dallas Chaparrals 28 56 .333 27

Playoffs

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Western Division Semifinals vs. Utah Stars[3]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 2 Utah 99–114 0–1 7,268
2 April 4 Utah 105–119 0–2 7,271
3 April 7 San Diego 96–97 0–3 1,729
4 April 8 San Diego 98–120 0–4 1,394

Conquistadors lose series, 4–0

Awards and honors

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1973 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on February 6, 1973)

References

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  1. ^ "1972-73 San Diego Conquistadors Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com".
  2. ^ "1972-73 San Diego Conquistadors Schedule and Results | Basketball-Reference.com".
  3. ^ "1972-73 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
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