1970–71 Indiana Pacers season

1970–71 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coach	Bobby Leonard
Arena	Indiana State Fair Coliseum
Results
Record	58–26 (.690)
Place	Division: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division finals (lost to Stars 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

The 1970–71 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's fourth season in the American Basketball Association and fourth as a team.

1970 ABA Draft

Player	School/Club Team
Dennis Awtrey	Santa Clara
Vince Fritz	Oregon State
Surry Oliver	Stephen F. Austin
Don Curnutt	Miami
Rick Erickson	Washington State
Billy Jones	Louisiana College
Jerry Kroll	Davidson
Bob Reily	Mt. St. Mary's
Heyward Dotson	Columbia
Mickey Foster	Arizona
Seaburn Hill	Arizona State
Ted Hillery	St. Joseph's (IN)
Jeff Sewell	Marquette

Roster

Number	Name	Position	Height	Weight	Birth date	Experience (years)	College
12	John Barnhill	PG	6-1	180	March 20, 1938	8	Tennessee State University
43	Arthur Becker	PF	6-7	205	January 12, 1942	3	Arizona State University
35	Roger Brown	SF	6-5	205	May 22, 1942	3	University of Dayton
22	Wayne Chapman	SF	6-6	190	June 15, 1945	2	Western Kentucky University
34	Mel Daniels	C	6-9	220	July 20, 1944	3	University of New Mexico
23	Earle Higgins	PF	6-8	195	December 30, 1946	R	Eastern Michigan University
15	Warren Jabali	SG	6-2	200	August 29, 1946	2	Wichita State University
11	Bill Keller	PG	5-10	177	August 30, 1947	1	Purdue University
14	Freddie Lewis	SG	6-0	175	July 1, 1943	4	Arizona State University
32	Jay Miller	SF	6-5	205	July 19, 1943	3	University of Notre Dame
10	Rick Mount	SG	6-3	175	January 5, 1947	R	Purdue University
24	Bob Netolicky	PF	6-9	220	August 2, 1942	3	Drake University
33	Donald Sidle	PF	6-8	215	June 21, 1946	2	University of Oklahoma
44	Tom Thacker	PG	6-2	170	November 2, 1939	6	University of Cincinnati

Season standings

Eastern Division

Team	Wins	Loses	Pct.
Virginia Squires	55	29	.655
Kentucky Colonels	44	40	.524
New York Nets	40	44	.476
The Floridians	37	47	.440
Pittsburgh Condors	36	48	.429
Carolina Cougars	34	50	.405

Western Division

Team	Wins	Loses	Pct.
Indiana Pacers	58	26	.690
Utah Stars	57	27	.679
Memphis Pros	41	43	.488
Texas Chaparrals	30	54	.357
Denver Rockets	30	54	.357

Awards, records, and honors

• Mel Daniels (averaged 21.0 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) won the ABA MVP award for the second time in four years; he last won the award in the 1968–69 ABA season. Mel Daniels also won the ABA All-Star Game MVP

ABA All-Stars

• Roger Brown
• Mel Daniels
• Bob Netolicky

Team leaders

Stat	Player	Average per game
Points	Mel Daniels	21.0
Assists	Bill Keller and Freddie Lewis	5.3
Rebounds	Mel Daniels	18.0 (4.8 offensive and 13.2 defensive rebounds)
FG%	Donald Sidle	.548
Minutes	Roger Brown	41.0

Playoffs

Western Division semifinals vs Memphis Pros

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 2	Indiana	114–98	1–0	7,562
2	April 3	Indiana	106–104	2–0	8,701
3	April 5	Memphis	91–90	3–0	4,107
4	April 7	Memphis	102–101	4–0	3,681

Western Division finals vs Utah Stars

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 12	Indiana	118–120	0–1	7,734
2	April 14	Indiana	120–107	1–1	9,458
3	April 17	Utah	107–121	1–2	12,711
4	April 20	Utah	99–126	1–3	12,761
5	April 22	Indiana	127–109	2–3	8,279
6	April 24	Utah	105–102	3–3	13,208
7	April 28	Indiana	101–108	3–4	11,202