1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season
| 1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Conference 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 (Eliminated 0-4) |
|
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WBAL-TV |
| Radio | WBAL Radio |
The 1970-71 season was the Bullets 10th season in the NBA. The NBA divided itself into 4 divisions as the Bullets were placed in the Central Division inside the Eastern Conference.[1] Despite playing close to .500 basketball all season, the Bullets would capture the Central Division with a 42-40 record.[1]
Draft picks
Regular season
Season standings
| Team | W | L | PCT. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | - |
| Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 6 |
| Cincinnati Royals | 33 | 49 | .402 | 9 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 27 |
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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] However, the Bullets would be swept in 4 straight games by the Milwaukee Bucks.
East Conference Semifinals
(C1) Baltimore Bullets vs. (A2) Philadelphia 76ers: Bullets win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Baltimore: Philadelphia 126, Baltimore 112
- Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Baltimore 119, Philadelphia 107
- Game 3 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 111, Philadelphia 103
- Game 4 @ Philadelphia: Baltimore 120, Philadelphia 105
- Game 5 @ Baltimore: Philadelphia 104, Baltimore 103
- Game 6 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 98, Baltimore 84
- Game 7 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 128, Philadelphia 120
East Conference Finals
(A1) New York Knicks vs. (C1) Baltimore Bullets: Bullets win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 112, Baltimore 111
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 88
- Game 3 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 114, New York 88
- Game 4 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 101, New York 80
- Game 5 @ New York: New York 89, Baltimore 84
- Game 6 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 113, New York 96
- Game 7 @ New York: Baltimore 93, New York 91
NBA Finals
| Game | Date | Home Team | Result | Road Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 21 | Milwaukee | 98-88 | Baltimore |
| Game 2 | April 25 | Baltimore | 83-102 | Milwaukee |
| Game 3 | April 28 | Milwaukee | 107-99 | Baltimore |
| Game 4 | April 30 | Baltimore | 106-118 | Milwaukee |
Bucks win series 4-0
Awards and honors
- Gus Johnson, All-NBA Second Team
- Gus Johnson, NBA All-Defensive First Team
References
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