1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season

1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Gene Shue
Arena	Baltimore Civic Center
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (lost to Bucks 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WBAL-TV
Radio	WBAL

The 1970–71 season was the 10th season of the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA and eighth season under the Baltimore Bullets name. This would be its first year in the newly created Central Division inside the Eastern Conference. Despite playing close to .500 basketball all season, the Bullets would capture the Central Division with a 42–40 record.

Draft picks

Main article: 1970 NBA draft

The Baltimore Bullets made seventeen selections in the 1970 NBA Draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	9	George E. Johnson		United States	Stephen F. Austin
3	49	Seaburn Hill		United States	Arizona State
4	54	Bill Stricker		United States	Pacific
4	66	Billy Jones		United States	Louisiana College
5	83	Gary Zeller		United States	Drake
6	100	Marvin Polnick		United States	Stephen F. Austin
7	117	Charlie Wallace		United States	Oklahoma City
8	134	Tom Dyksera		United States	Wheaton (IL)
9	151	Will Hetzel		United States	Maryland
10	168	Ron Becker		United States	New Mexico Lobos
11	183	Mel Bell		United States	Houston
12	193	Ben McGilmer		United States	Iowa
13	203	Dan Debardabi		United States	Northern Arizona
14	213	Mike Williams		United States	Northern Arizona
15	222	Ted Rose		United States	Northern Michigan
16	229	Don Rather		United States	Northern Arizona
17	233	Vince Fritz		United States	Oregon State

Roster

1970–71 Baltimore Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 12 Barnes, Jim 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1941–04–13 UTEP G 3 Carter, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1945–02–14 Mount St. Mary's F 31 Johnson, George E. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1947–06–19 Stephen F. Austin F 25 Johnson, Gus 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1938–12–13 Idaho G 22 Loughery, Kevin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1940–03–28 St. John's F 24 Marin, Jack 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1944–10–12 Duke G 15 Miles, Eddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1940–07–05 Seattle G 10 Monroe, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1944–11–21 Winston-Salem State PF 40 Murrey, Dorie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) 1943–09–07 Detroit Mercy F 40 Stewart, Dennis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1947–04–11 Michigan PF 12 Tresvant, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939–11–06 Seattle SF 35 Tucker, Al 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1943–02–24 Oklahoma Baptist F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1946–03–14 Louisville G 11 Zeller, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1947–11–20 Drake

Head coach Gene Shue Assistant coach(es) Bob Ferry Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division	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

#	Eastern 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

Record vs. opponents

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

1970–71 game log
#	Date	Opponent	Score	High points	Record
1	October 14	San Diego	105–123	Jack Marin (28)	1–0
2	October 17	Los Angeles	116–118 (OT)	Jack Marin (25)	2–0
3	October 20	San Francisco	125–105	Fred Carter (24)	2–1
4	October 21	@ Cincinnati	117–105	Gus Johnson (27)	3–1
5	October 23	New York	92–98	Carter, Monroe (21)	4–1
6	October 24	@ Milwaukee	120–122 (2OT)	Wes Unseld (27)	4–2
7	October 28	Detroit	109–103	Marin, Unseld (21)	4–3
8	October 30	@ Philadelphia	123–110	Earl Monroe (30)	5–3
9	October 31	Phoenix	103–106	Kevin Loughery (21)	6–3
10	November 4	@ San Francisco	100–111	Earl Monroe (30)	6–4
11	November 5	@ Portland	131–135	Gus Johnson (43)	6–5
12	November 6	@ San Diego	125–118	Earl Monroe (27)	7–5
13	November 8	@ Los Angeles	105–124	Gus Johnson (28)	7–6
14	November 1	Philadelphia	119–107	Wes Unseld (28)	7–7
15	November 12	@ New York	110–108	Eddie Miles (25)	8–7
16	November 14	Boston	101–122	Eddie Miles (22)	9–7
17	November 15	@ Milwaukee	90–105	Jack Marin (20)	9–8
18	November 16	Cleveland	86–98	Gus Johnson (33)	10–8
19	November 18	@ Cleveland	111–98	Kevin Loughery (20)	11–8
20	November 20	Phoenix	110–121	Earl Monroe (30)	12–8
21	November 21	@ Atlanta	103–130	Johnson, Miles, Monroe (16)	12–9
22	November 24	Portland	104–156	Jack Marin (25)	13–9
23	November 27	@ Boston	107–153	Gus Johnson (22)	13–10
24	November 28	Chicago	91–99	Gus Johnson (21)	14–10
25	November 30	@ Philadelphia	98–104	Gus Johnson (20)	14–11
26	December 1	Los Angeles	97–93	Earl Monroe (33)	14–12
27	December 4	Seattle	116–131	Johnson, Marin (28)	15–12
28	December 6	Cincinnati	118–126	Earl Monroe (28)	16–12
29	December 9	Milwaukee	97–127	Marin, Unseld (25)	17–12
30	December 12	San Francisco	96–119	Earl Monroe (32)	18–12
31	December 15	@ Chicago	97–115	Jack Marin (25)	18–13
32	December 18	N Atlanta	112–116	Earl Monroe (24)	18–14
33	December 19	Boston	128–134	Gus Johnson (30)	19–14
34	December 23	@ Cincinnati	115–120	Earl Monroe (37)	19–15
35	December 25	Chicago	112–128	Earl Monroe (25)	20–15
36	December 27	@ New York	105–110	Earl Monroe (31)	20–16
37	December 30	N Buffalo	90–106	Jack Marin (24)	21–16
38	January 1	@ Cleveland	128–105	Marin, Monroe (22)	22–16
39	January 2	@ Detroit	108–99	Jack Marin (29)	23–16
40	January 5	Seattle	101–109	Johnson, Monroe (24)	24–16
41	January 7	@ Atlanta	110–102	Earl Monroe (32)	25–16
42	January 8	Atlanta	104–115	Gus Johnson (31)	26–16
43	January 10	@ Milwaukee	99–151	Gus Johnson (17)	26–17
44	January 14	@ Seattle	110–114	Earl Monroe (22)	26–18
45	January 15	@ San Diego	124–117	Jack Marin (29)	27–18
46	January 16	@ Phoenix	100–117	Earl Monroe (23)	27–19
47	January 17	@ Seattle	111–96	Fred Carter (22)	28–19
48	January 20	Milwaukee	120–116	Earl Monroe (24)	28–20
49	January 22	@ Boston	136–117	Earl Monroe (26)	29–20
50	January 23	San Diego	120–127	Gus Johnson (31)	30–20
51	January 26	San Francisco	98–103	Earl Monroe (26)	31–20
52	January 27	@ Cincinnati	113–115	Jack Marin (26)	31–21
53	January 29	Cincinnati	118–145	Jack Marin (22)	32–21
54	January 31	N New York	125–95	Earl Monroe (25)	32–22
55	February 2	@ Detroit	113–116	Earl Monroe (30)	32–23
56	February 3	Chicago	124–102	Earl Monroe (19)	32–24
57	February 5	@ Buffalo	98–90	Fred Carter (29)	33–24
58	February 7	Detroit	105–108	Earl Monroe (25)	34–24
59	February 9	Phoenix	120–115	Earl Monroe (38)	34–25
60	February 12	Boston	113–109 (OT)	Jack Marin (24)	34–26
61	February 14	N Philadelphia	103–112	Earl Monroe (33)	35–26
62	February 16	@ Detroit	95–110	Wes Unseld (25)	35–27
63	February 17	Buffalo	118–114	Earl Monroe (26)	35–28
64	February 19	@ Buffalo	120–113	Earl Monroe (34)	36–28
65	February 20	Atlanta	122–115	Earl Monroe (33)	36–29
66	February 21	@ Atlanta	121–119	Jack Marin (34)	37–29
67	February 23	Los Angeles	114–107	Wes Unseld (28)	37–30
68	February 26	Portland	97–114	Kevin Loughery (26)	38–30
69	February 28	New York	110–104	Fred Carter (30)	38–31
70	March 2	@ New York	95–109	Earl Monroe (22)	38–32
71	March 3	Cincinnati	133–132 (OT)	Fred Carter (33)	38–33
72	March 6	@ San Francisco	103–109	Jack Marin (29)	38–34
73	March 7	@ Phoenix	117–108	Jack Marin (28)	39–34
74	March 9	@ Los Angeles	107–95	Earl Monroe (25)	40–34
75	March 11	@ Portland	118–136	Fred Carter (24)	40–35
76	March 13	@ San Diego	115–121	Jack Marin (27)	40–36
77	March 14	@ Seattle	121–124	Earl Monroe (29)	40–37
78	March 16	@ Chicago	99–113	Earl Monroe (24)	40–38
79	March 17	Cleveland	109–113	Earl Monroe (32)	41–38
80	March 19	@ Boston	117–125	Kevin Loughery (32)	41–39
81	March 20	Philadelphia	112–124	Kevin Loughery (32)	42–39
82	March 21	@ Philadelphia	108–120	Kevin Loughery (24)	42–40

Playoffs

In the playoffs the Bullets would get off to a quick start as they grabbed a 3–1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Bullets would find themselves in a 7th game and that game the Bullets would emerge victorious 128–120. The Bullets would face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The Bullets would finally break through in Game 5 and break the tie in the series by beating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden 89–84. The Bullets would have a chance to close the series out at home, but the Knicks would bounce back with a 113–96 win to force a 7th and deciding game in New York. In the seventh game, the Bullets would triumph, winning in New York by 2 points to reach the NBA Finals.However, the Bullets would be swept in 4 straight games by the Milwaukee Bucks.

1971 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 24 Philadelphia L 112–126 Loughery, Gus Johnson (19) Wes Unseld (20) Kevin Loughery (4) Baltimore Civic Center 6,707 0–1 2 March 26 @ Philadelphia W 119–107 Marin, Monroe (24) Wes Unseld (18) Earl Monroe (6) Spectrum 10,369 1–1 3 March 28 Philadelphia W 111–103 Earl Monroe (29) Wes Unseld (24) Kevin Loughery (7) Baltimore Civic Center 5,589 2–1 4 March 30 @ Philadelphia W 120–105 Jack Marin (27) Gus Johnson (14) Earl Monroe (6) Spectrum 8,909 3–1 5 April 1 Philadelphia L 103–104 Earl Monroe (26) Wes Unseld (18) Kevin Loughery (5) Baltimore Civic Center 10,998 3–2 6 April 3 @ Philadelphia L 94–98 Earl Monroe (30) Wes Unseld (18) Kevin Loughery (5) Spectrum 7,059 3–3 7 April 4 Philadelphia W 128–120 Jack Marin (33) Wes Unseld (22) Gus Johnson (8) Baltimore Civic Center 6,662 4–3
Conference finals: 4–3 (home: 3–0; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 6 @ New York L 111–112 Earl Monroe (29) Wes Unseld (22) Earl Monroe (4) Madison Square Garden 19,500 0–1 2 April 9 @ New York L 88–107 John Tresvant (20) Wes Unseld (20) Kevin Loughery (16) Madison Square Garden 19,500 0–2 3 April 11 New York W 114–88 Earl Monroe (31) Wes Unseld (26) Wes Unseld (9) Baltimore Civic Center 8,083 1–2 4 April 14 New York W 101–80 Jack Marin (27) John Tresvant (17) Wes Unseld (6) Baltimore Civic Center 12,289 2–2 5 April 16 @ New York L 84–89 Jack Marin (25) John Tresvant (17) Wes Unseld (3) Madison Square Garden 19,500 2–3 6 April 18 New York W 113–96 Earl Monroe (27) Wes Unseld (15) Earl Monroe (7) Baltimore Civic Center 11,211 3–3 7 April 19 @ New York W 93–91 Earl Monroe (26) Wes Unseld (20) Earl Monroe (6) Madison Square Garden 19,500 4–3
NBA Finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 21 @ Milwaukee L 88–98 Earl Monroe (26) John Tresvant (14) Fred Carter (4) Milwaukee Arena 10,746 0–1 2 April 25 Milwaukee L 83–102 Jack Marin (22) Wes Unseld (20) Earl Monroe (6) Baltimore Civic Center 12,289 0–2 3 April 28 @ Milwaukee L 99–107 Jack Marin (21) Wes Unseld (23) Wes Unseld (6) Milwaukee Arena 10,746 0–3 4 April 30 Milwaukee L 106–118 Fred Carter (28) Wes Unseld (23) Wes Unseld (10) Baltimore Civic Center 11,842 0–4
1971 schedule

Awards and honors

• Gus Johnson, All-NBA Second Team
• Gus Johnson, NBA All-Defensive First Team

References

• Bullets on Basketball Reference