1969–70 Los Angeles Stars season

1969–70 Los Angeles Stars season
Head coachBill Sharman
ArenaLos Angeles Sports Arena
Results
Record43–41 (.512)
PlaceDivision: 4th (ABA)
Playoff finishLost in ABA Finals
< 1968–69

The 1969–70 Los Angeles Stars season was the second and final season of the franchise in Los Angeles in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Late in February of the season, the team was 25-34 (9 games under .500), but by April 1, they were 40–38, with two 6 game winning streaks in that span. The Stars qualified for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Division by one game. The team soon went on a miracle run, beating the Chaparrals and Rockets, in 6 and 5 games respectively, to advance to the ABA Finals. The dream ended there, however, as the Indiana Pacers beat them in 6 games. The team ended up playing some of their playoff games in Anaheim and Long Beach due to no one expecting (or booking days to play) the team to go that far in the playoffs. However, owner Jim Kirst had decided to cut his losses and sell the team to Colorado businessman Bill Daniels on March 5, 1970 (over a month before the playoffs) for $850,000, who moved the team to Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 11 to become the Utah Stars. The next season, the team won the ABA Finals.

Roster

  • 40 Andrew Anderson - Shooting guard
  • 20 Mack Calvin - Point guard
  • 55 Warren Davis - Power forward
  • 35 Wayne Hightower - Power forward
  • 54 Simmie Hill - Small forward
  • 10 Mervin Jackson - Point guard
  • 12 George Lehmann - Point guard
  • 14 Bill McGill - Center
  • 44 Larry Miller - Shooting guard
  • 44 Mel Peterson - Guard / Forward
  • 12/54 Craig Raymond - Center
  • 22 Lester Selvage - Point guard
  • 33 George Stone - Small forward
  • 32 Bob Warlick - Shooting guard
  • 21 Bob Warren - Shooting guard
  • 14 Trooper Washington - Power forward
  • 42 Willie Wise - Power forward
  • 22/55 Tom Workman - Forward / Center

Final standings

Western Division

Western Division W L PCT GB
Denver Rockets * 51 33 .607 -
Dallas Chaparrals * 45 39 .536 6.0
Washington Caps * 44 40 .524 7.0
Los Angeles Stars * 43 41 .512 8.0
New Orleans Buccaneers 42 42 .500 9.0

Asterisk Denotes playoff berth

Playoffs

Western Division Semifinals[1]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 17 Dallas 103–115 0–1 4,513
2 April 18 Dallas 129-121 1–1 4,764
3 April 20 Los Angeles 104–116 1–2 971
4 April 22 Los Angeles 144–138 2–2 2,921
5 April 24 Dallas 146–139 3–2 5,128
6 April 26 Los Angeles 124–123 4–2 2,083

Division Finals

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 30 Denver 113–123 (OT) 0–1 7,071
2 May 1 Denver 114–105 1–1 7,187
3 May 4 Los Angeles 119–113 2–1 4,468
4 May 5 Los Angeles 114–110 3–1 3,432
5 May 9 Denver 109–107 4–1 6,401

ABA Finals

Game Date Location Result Record Attendance
1 May 15 Indiana 93–109 0–1 7,881
2 May 17 Indiana 111–114 0–2 9,014
3 May 18 Los Angeles 109–106 1–2 5,780
4 May 19 Los Angeles 120–142 1–3 7,027
5 May 23 Indiana 117–113 2–3 10,548
6 May 25 Los Angeles 107–111 2–4 8,233

References

  1. ^ "Remember the ABA: 1969-70 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results".