1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics season

1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachLenny Wilkens
General managerBob Houbregs
ArenaSeattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record38–44 (.463)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKOMO
< 1969–70 1971–72 >

The 1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics season was the Seattle SuperSonics 4th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their second season with Lenny Wilkens as head coach, the Sonics finished in 8th place in the Western Conference with a 38–44 record.

Trouble arose with the injury of top scorer Bob Rule, who tore his Achilles tendon three games into the season during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers and lost him for the remainder of the season.[1]

Offseason

During the offseason, the SuperSonics traded 10-year veteran Bob Boozer and their first round selection from the 1969 NBA draft, Lucius Allen to the Milwaukee Bucks for Don Smith[2] (later known as Zaid Abdul-Aziz). Despite the early retirement announcement made by 24-year-old Smith to the Sonics' front office,[3] he joined the team and played in 61 games in the regular season.

Draft picks

Main article: 1970 NBA draft

Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 6 Jim Ard Forward / center  United States Cincinnati
2 20 Jake Ford Guard  United States Maryland Eastern Shore
2 23 Pete Cross Forward / center  United States San Francisco
3 40 Gar Heard Forward  United States Oklahoma

Roster

1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 43 Clemens, Barry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943–05–01 Ohio Wesleyan
F/C 41 Cross, Pete 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–03–28 San Francisco
G 33 Ford, Jake 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1946–04–29 Maryland Eastern Shore
F/C 24 Haywood, Spencer 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949–04–22 Detroit Mercy
F 40 Heard, Gar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1948–05–03 Oklahoma
F 22 Kojis, Don 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939–01–15 Marquette
PF 14 Meschery, Tom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1938–10–26 Saint Mary's
F/C 45 Rule, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1944–06–29 Colorado State
F/C 35 Smith, Don 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1946–04–07 Iowa State
G/F 10 Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944–02–01 Davidson
SG 44 Thorn, Rod 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1941–05–23 West Virginia
G 19 Wilkens, Lenny 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1937–10–28 Providence
G 11 Winfield, Lee 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1947–02–04 North Texas
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Depth chart

Seattle SuperSonics Depth Chart - 1970-71
STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH
PG Lenny Wilkens Lee Winfield Jake Ford
SG Dick Snyder Jake Ford Rod Thorn
SF Don Kojis Barry Clemens
PF Spencer Haywood Tom Meschery Gar Heard
C Bob Rule Zaid Abdul-Aziz Tom Black Pete Cross

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 48 34 .585 – 30–11 17–22 1–1 15–7
x-San Francisco Warriors 41 41 .500 7 20–18 19–21 2–2 12–10
San Diego Rockets 40 42 .488 8 24–15 15–26 1–1 14–8
Seattle SuperSonics 38 44 .463 10 27–13 11–30 0–1 10–14
Portland Trail Blazers 29 53 .354 19 18–21 9–26 2–6 3–15
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 66 16 .805
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers 48 34 .585
3 x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622
4 x-San Francisco Warriors 41 41 .500
5 Phoenix Suns 48 34 .585
6 Detroit Pistons 45 37 .549
7 San Diego Rockets 40 42 .488
8 Seattle SuperSonics 38 44 .463
9 Portland Trail Blazers 29 53 .354
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

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
Total: 38–44 (Home: 27–13; Road: 11–30; Neutral: 0–1)
October: 5–5 (home: 4–1; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 14 Detroit L 117–123 Bob Rule (37) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,153 		0–1
2 October 17 Boston W 126–114 Bob Rule (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,617 		1–1
3 October 21 Phoenix W 110–106 Bob Rule (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,923 		2–1
4 October 23 Portland W 141–111 Dick Snyder (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,201 		3–1
5 October 25 @ Milwaukee L 107–126 Dick Snyder (24) Milwaukee Arena
9,340 		3–2
6 October 26 @ Detroit L 111–142 Don Smith (19) Cobo Arena
2,835 		3–3
7 October 27 @ New York L 104–117 Lenny Wilkens (24) Madison Square Garden
14,471 		3–4
8 October 28 @ Cincinnati L 118–131 Don Smith (25) Cincinnati Gardens
1,623 		3–5
9 October 30 @ Portland W 115–104 Lenny Wilkens (35) Memorial Coliseum
4,344 		4–5
10 October 31 Chicago W 122–119 Lenny Wilkens (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,727 		5–5
November : 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 November 3 @ Chicago L 101–113 Lenny Wilkens (18) Chicago Stadium
8,244 		5–6
12 November 4 @ Buffalo W 126–101 Tom Meschery (22) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
2,093 		6–6
13 November 6 @ Boston L 94–116 Dick Snyder (28) Boston Garden
5,852 		6–7
14 November 7 @ Philadelphia L 128–134 Lenny Wilkens (32) The Spectrum
7,623 		6–8
15 November 8 @ Cleveland W 111–105 Dick Snyder (30) Cleveland Arena
2,448 		7–8
16 November 10 New York W 93–91 Dick Snyder (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,022 		8–8
17 November 13 Cleveland W 111–91 Dick Snyder (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,961 		9–8
18 November 16 Buffalo L 103–112 Dick Snyder (20) Portland, OR
3,189 		9–9
19 November 19 Los Angeles W 111–110 Don Kojis (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,717 		10–9
20 November 20 @ San Diego L 106–121 Three players (17) San Diego Sports Arena
4,211 		10–10
21 November 21 San Diego L 114–115 Lee Winfield (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,316 		10–11
22 November 22 @ Los Angeles L 124–149 snyuder (29) The Forum
11,763 		10–12
23 November 26 @ Phoenix L 115–126 Lee Winfield (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,192 		10–13
24 November 27 San Francisco W 101–96 Lenny Wilkens (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,024 		11–13
25 November 29 Atlanta W 130–107 Lenny Wilkens (41) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,965 		12–13
December : 6–9 (home: 4–4; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 December 1 @ New York L 109–114 Lenny Wilkens (29) Madison Square Garden
17,449 		12–14
27 December 2 @ Cincinnati W 119–111 Don Kojis (30) Cincinnati Gardens
1,823 		13–14
28 December 4 @ Baltimore L 116–131 Don Kojis, Dick Snyder (22) Baltimore Civic Center
3,050 		13–15
29 December 5 @ Atlanta L 100–106 Lenny Wilkens (17) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,922 		13–16
30 December 8 @ Philadelphia W 107–104 Three players (21) The Spectrum
3,584 		14–16
31 December 9 @ Boston L 121–136 Dick Snyder (28) Boston Garden
4,608 		14–17
32 December 11 Los Angeles L 118–126 Don Kojis (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,685 		14–18
33 December 13 Milwaukee L 107–124 Don Kojis (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,627 		14–19
34 December 16 @ San Francisco L 91–108 Lenny Wilkens (28) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2,218 		14–20
35 December 17 Philadelphia L 117–125 Lee Winfield (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,739 		14–21
36 December 19 Phoenix W 135–131 Don Kojis (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,443 		15–21
37 December 20 San Diego L 108–110 Lenny Wilkens (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,702 		15–22
38 December 22 New York W 119–108 Tom Meschery, Lenny Wilkens (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,827 		16–22
39 December 26 Boston W 124–117 Dick Snyder (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,806 		17–22
40 December 30 Chicago W 128–109 Dick Snyder (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,935 		18–22
January : 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
41 January 1 Portland W 121–118 Lenny Wilkens (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,012 		19–22
42 January 4 @ Milwaukee L 110–124 Don Kojis (24) Milwaukee Arena
8,835 		19–23
43 January 5 @ Baltimore L 101–109 Lenny Wilkens (27) Baltimore Civic Center
4,631 		19–24
44 January 6 @ Boston L 112–137 Dick Snyder (26) Boston Garden
4,152 		19–25
45 January 8 @ Buffalo W 110–102 Lenny Wilkens (30) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
3,024 		20–25
46 January 9 @ Cincinnati W 114–110 Don Kojis (29) Cincinnati Gardens
3,879 		21–25
47 January 14 Baltimore W 114–110 Lenny Wilkens (34) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
7,093 		22–25
48 January 17 Baltimore L 96–111 Lenny Wilkens (20) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
7,557 		22–26
49 January 19 @ Detroit L 102–106 Spencer Haywood (24) Cobo Arena
5,287 		22–27
50 January 20 @ Atlanta W 112–108 Lenny Wilkens (24) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
4,661 		23–27
51 January 22 Cincinnati W 132–131 (OT) Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,657 		24–27
52 January 24 Philadelphia L 119–145 Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,841 		24–28
53 January 28 Buffalo W 120–110 Dick Snyder (35) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,452 		25–28
54 January 29 @ Los Angeles L 115–122 Dick Snyder (26) The Forum
12,547 		25–29
55 January 30 @ Phoenix L 116–134 Spencer Haywood (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,412 		25–30
February : 6–9 (home: 5–4; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
56 February 2 @ Chicago L 101–118 Dick Snyder (24) Chicago Stadium
8,813 		25–31
57 February 3 @ Cleveland W 98–95 Lenny Wilkens (30) Cleveland Arena
2,515 		26–31
58 February 5 Atlanta L 120–121 (OT) Lenny Wilkens (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,136 		26–32
59 February 7 San Diego L 107–124 Spencer Haywood (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,259 		26–33
60 February 9 @ San Diego L 115–132 Spencer Haywood (22) San Diego Sports Arena
4,192 		26–34
61 February 10 @ San Francisco L 122–133 Spencer Haywood (26) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2,913 		26–35
62 February 11 Cincinnati W 119–101 Dick Snyder (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,013 		27–35
63 February 12 @ Portland L 125–137 Lee Winfield (23) Memorial Coliseum
7,313 		27–36
64 February 14 San Francisco W 146–101 Spencer Haywood (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,529 		28–36
65 February 17 Portland W 130–126 Dick Snyder (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,679 		29–36
66 February 19 Milwaukee L 112–128 Dick Snyder (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,685 		29–37
67 February 21 Philadelphia W 135–128 Lenny Wilkens (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,003 		30–37
68 February 24 Cleveland W 123–101 Dick Snyder (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,631 		31–37
69 February 26 @ Los Angeles L 121–145 Tom Meschery (24) The Forum
14,294 		31–38
70 February 27 Chicago L 114–129 Don Kojis, Lee Winfield (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,801 		31–39
March : 7–5 (home: 5–1; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
71 March 2 Atlanta L 116–128 Dick Snyder (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,810 		31–40
72 March 5 @ San Diego W 111–110 Dick Snyder (28) San Diego Sports Arena
10,138 		32–40
73 March 6 Los Angeles W 121–109 Don Smith (21) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,949 		33–40
74 March 8 @ Milwaukee L 99–104 Spencer Haywood (30) Milwaukee Arena
10,746 		33–41
75 March 9 @ New York W 114–99 Don Smith (37) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		34–41
76 March 11 Detroit W 130–97 Don Smith (29) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
5,681 		35–41
77 March 12 @ San Francisco L 98–111 Spencer Haywood (23) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,122 		35–42
78 March 14 Baltimore W 124–121 Spencer Haywood (35) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
5,810 		36–42
79 March 18 Milwaukee W 122–121 Don Smith (28) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
8,970 		37–42
80 March 19 @ Portland L 128–135 Spencer Haywood (32) Memorial Coliseum
11,140 		37–43
81 March 20 @ Phoenix L 107–114 Jake Ford, Gar Heard (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,134 		37–44
82 March 21 San Francisco W 119–106 Dick Snyder (23) Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
7,634 		38–44
1970–71 season schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tom Black [a] 55 – 14.1 .414 – .699 4.1 .8 – – 5.0
Barry Clemens 78 – 16.5 .470 – .728 3.1 1.2 – – 7.4
Pete Cross 79 – 27.8 .442 – .690 12.0 1.4 – – 8.0
Bob Rule 4 – 35.5 .480 – .833 11.5 1.8 – – 29.8
Jake Ford 5 – 13.6 .360 – .727 1.8 1.8 – – 6.8
Spencer Haywood 33 – 35.2 .449 – .734 12.0 1.5 – – 20.6
Gar Heard 65 – 15.8 .381 – .656 5.0 .7 – – 5.9
Don Kojis 79 – 27.1 .446 – .778 5.5 1.6 – – 14.6
Tom Meschery 79 – 23.1 .463 – .750 6.1 1.4 – – 9.3
Don Smith 61 – 20.9 .441 – .739 7.7 .7 – – 10.9
Dick Snyder 82 – 34.4 .531 – .837 3.1 4.3 – – 19.4
Rod Thorn 63 – 12.2 .472 – .676 1.6 2.9 – – 5.6
Lenny Wilkens 71 – 37.2 .419 – .803 4.5 9.2 – – 19.8
Lee Winfield 79 – 20.3 .466 – .664 2.4 2.8 – – 10.5
  • a Statistics with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Awards and records

Transactions

Overview

Players Added

Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

Players Lost

Via trade

^ The Sonics signed Haywood as a free agent after he spent a season with the American Basketball Association's Denver Rockets, who signed Haywood after his sophomore year at the University of Detroit Mercy under a hardship clause. Because eligibility rules of the National Basketball Association at the time required a span of four years after high school graduation for a player to be picked by any team, a legal battle ensued, with the federal court ruling in favor of Haywood.[4]

Trades

September 17, 1970 To Seattle SuperSonics
Don Smith
Cash considerations 		To Milwaukee Bucks
Lucius Allen
Bob Boozer

References

  1. ^ "Boston Minutemen on Time". The Evening News. October 23, 1970. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "Boozer to Bucks". Evening Independent. September 18, 1970. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  3. ^ "Smith Claims Retirement". Florence Times. September 20, 1970. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  4. ^ "Spencer Haywood Wins Court Permission to Play With Supersonics". The Day. March 2, 1971. Retrieved June 11, 2012.