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Professional basketball team season (won NBA championship)
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks season was the third season for the Bucks. Milwaukee posted a 66–16 record in only its third year of existence, and its second since drafting Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).[ 1] A key part of this championship season was the acquisition of Oscar Robertson . Other role players on the Bucks included players such as Bob Dandridge (18.4 ppg), Jon McGlocklin (15.8 ppg), power forward Greg Smith & key reserves such as Lucius Allen , Bob Boozer and Dick Cunningham completing the nucleus. This season included a 20-game winning streak, the NBA's longest at the time, and still ranked fifth all-time . The Bucks became the first team from the Midwest Division to win the NBA title; it would be 23 years before the Houston Rockets would do the same.
In the 1971 NBA Playoffs , the Bucks defeated the 4th-seeded Warriors in 5 games. In the Western Conference Finals, the team dispatched the Lakers in 5 games. The Bucks made their way into the Finals for the first time in NBA history in just their third year of existence. They faced off against the Baltimore Bullets and swept them in four games. The Bucks had won their first title in franchise history. Lew Alcindor won MVP and Finals MVP honors.
Draft picks
The Milwaukee Bucks made ten selections in the 1970 NBA draft.[ 2]
[ 3]
Roster
1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
33
Alcindor, Lew
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1947–04–16
UCLA
PG
7
Allen, Lucius
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1947–09–26
UCLA
PF
20
Boozer, Bob
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1937–04–26
Kansas State
C
19
Cunningham, Dick
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1946–07–11
Murray State
SF
10
Dandridge, Bob
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1947–11–15
Norfolk State
F
18
Greacen, Bob
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
206 lb (93 kg)
1947–09–15
Rutgers
G
14
McGlocklin, Jon
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1943–06–10
Indiana
SF
35
McLemore, McCoy
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1942–04–03
Drake
PG
1
Robertson, Oscar
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1938–11–24
Cincinnati
F
4
Smith, Greg
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1947–01–28
Western Kentucky
PG
8
Webb, Jeff
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1948–07–06
Kansas State
G
5
Winkler, Marv
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1948–02–18
Louisiana
G
6
Zopf, Bill
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1948–06–07
Duquesne
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
In only his second professional season, Lew Alcindor led the league in scoring at 31.7 ppg, ranked second in field goal percentage at .577 and fourth in rebounding at 16.0 rpg.[ 1] Newly arrived Oscar Robertson turned 32 early in the 1970–71 season, and was past his prime when he came to Milwaukee, but his versatile skills and experience provided a leadership role for the Bucks. Robertson had never won a championship and his desire to win seemed to inspire Alcindor and unite the rest of the Bucks. Robertson ranked third in the league in assists at 8.3 apg and was the Bucks' No. 2 scorer at 19.4 ppg.[ 1]
Standings
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: 66–16 (Home: 34–2; Road: 28–14)
October: 5–1 (home: 3–0; road: 2–1)
November: 13–2 (home: 5–1; road: 8–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
7
November 4, 1970
@ Cleveland
W 110–108
Lew Alcindor (53)
Lew Alcindor (11)
Bob Dandridge & Jon McGlocklin (9)
Cleveland Arena
6–1
8
November 8, 1970
Phoenix
W 125–105
Bob Dandridge (32)
Bob Dandridge (14)
Oscar Robertson & Jon McGlocklin (9)
Milwaukee Arena
7–1
9
November 11, 1970
@ Boston
W 123–113
Lew Alcindor (44)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Boston Garden
8–1
10
November 14, 1970
@ Buffalo
W 116–107
Lew Alcindor (27)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Lew Alcindor (7)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
9–1
11
November 15, 1970
Baltimore
W 105–90
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (27)
Lew Alcindor (21)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Milwaukee Arena
10–1
12
November 16, 1970
San Francisco
W 119–100
Lew Alcindor (30)
Bob Dandridge (14)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Milwaukee Arena
11–1
13
November 18, 1970
@ San Diego
W 117–111
Lew Alcindor (25)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Oscar Robertson (6)
San Diego Sports Arena
12–1
14
November 20, 1970
@ Los Angeles
W 117–100
Lew Alcindor (29)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Lucius Allen (5)
The Forum
13–1
15
November 21, 1970
@ San Francisco
W 127–102
Lew Alcindor (28)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Cow Palace
14–1
16
November 22, 1970
@ Portland
W 126–104
Lew Alcindor (30)
Lew Alcindor (26)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Memorial Coliseum
15–1
17
November 24, 1970
@ Chicago
W 117–108
Lew Alcindor (37)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Chicago Stadium
16–1
18
November 25, 1970
Detroit
W 113–87
Lew Alcindor (31)
Lew Alcindor & Greg Smith (17)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
17–1
19
November 27, 1970
New York
L 94–103
Lew Alcindor (33)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Oscar Robertson (7)
Milwaukee Arena
17–2
20
November 28, 1970
@ New York
L 99-100
Lew Alcindor (35)
Lew Alcindor (24)
Oscar Robertson (5)
Madison Square Garden
17-3
21
November 29, 1970
Portland
W 124-111
Lew Alcindor (33)
Greg Smith (14)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Milwaukee Arena
18-3
December: 10–4 (home: 7–0; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
22
December 3, 1970
Chicago
W 107–100
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (22)
Lew Alcindor (10)
Lew Alcindor (7)
Milwaukee Arena
19–3
23
December 4, 1970
Philadelphia
W 128–122 (OT)
Lew Alcindor (35)
Lew Alcindor (18)
Jon McGlocklin (9)
Milwaukee Arena
20–3
24
December 8, 1970
Atlanta
W 125–104
Lew Alcindor (24)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Milwaukee Arena
21–3
25
December 9, 1970
@ Baltimore
L 97–127
Lew Alcindor (24)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Lew Alcindor (4)
Baltimore Civic Center
21–4
26
December 11, 1970
Cleveland
W 134–92
Lew Alcindor (34)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Milwaukee Arena
22–4
27
December 12, 1970
@ Phoenix
L 111–113
Lew Alcindor (36)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
22–5
28
December 13, 1970
@ Seattle
W 124–107
Lew Alcindor (40)
Lew Alcindor (22)
Oscar Robertson (5)
Seattle Center Coliseum
23-5
29
December 18, 1970
Boston
W 124–114
Lew Alcindor (40)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Greg Smith (10)
Milwaukee Arena
24–5
30
December 19, 1970
@ Cincinnati
L 110-119
Lew Alcindor (35)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Jon McGlocklin (6)
Cincinnati Gardens
24-6
31
December 20, 1970
Buffalo
W 131–101
Lew Alcindor (27)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Oscar Robertson (11)
Milwaukee Arena
25–6
32
December 21, 1970
Los Angeles
W 113-88
Lew Alcindor (37)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Milwaukee Arena
26–6
33
December 26, 1970
San Francisco
W 131-111
Lew Alcindor (34)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Oscar Robertson (7)
Milwaukee Arena
27–6
34
December 28, 1970
@ Cincinnati
W 137-114
Lew Alcindor (29)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Greg Smith (8)
UW Field House
28-6
35
December 29, 1970
@ Cleveland
W 119-97
Lew Alcindor & Bob Dandridge (23)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Cleveland Arena
29-6
36
December 30, 1970
@ Philadelphia
L 107-119
Lew Alcindor (30)
Lew Alcindor (18)
Oscar Robertson (8)
The Spectrum
29-7
January: 13–2 (home: 6–1; road: 7–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
37
January 2, 1971
Cleveland
W 118-73
Lew Alcindor (27)
Bob Boozer (14)
Oscar Robertson (8)
Milwaukee Arena
30–7
38
January 4, 1971
Seattle
W 124-110
Lew Alcindor (38)
Lew Alcindor (14)
Oscar Robertson (7)
Milwaukee Arena
31–7
39
January 6, 1971
@ Chicago
W 119-106
Lew Alcindor (24)
Lew Alcindor & Bob Boozer (9)
Oscar Robertson (10)
UW Field House
32-7
40
January 7, 1971
New York
W 116-106
Oscar Robertson (35)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Milwaukee Arena
33–7
41
January 9, 1971
Detroit
W 118-100
Lew Alcindor (27)
Lew Alcindor (14)
Lew Alcindor (10)
Milwaukee Arena
34–7
42
January 10, 1971
Baltimore
W 151-99
Bob Dandridge (34)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
35–7
43
January 15, 1971
Cincinnati
W 135-116
Lew Alcindor (35)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (5)
Milwaukee Arena
36-7
44
January 16, 1971
@ Chicago
W 110-90
Lew Alcindor (25)
Lew Alcindor (19)
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (8)
Chicago Stadium
37-7
45
January 17, 1971
Boston
W 120–113
Lew Alcindor (44)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Lew Alcindor, Jon McGlocklin, Bob Dandridge, & Oscar Robertson (5)
Milwaukee Arena
38-7
46
January 20, 1971
@ Baltimore
W 120-116
Lew Alcindor (39)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Bob Dandridge (5)
Baltimore Civic Center
39-7
47
January 22, 1971
Atlanta
L 110–117
Bob Dandridge (22)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Oscar Robertson (8)
Milwaukee Arena
39–8
48
January 23, 1971
Portland
W 142–117
Lew Alcindor (44)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Lew Alcindor (7)
Milwaukee Arena
40–8
49
January 24, 1971
@ Atlanta
W 142-120
Bob Dandridge (33)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (15)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
41-8
50
January 26, 1971
@ New York
L 98-107
Lew Alcindor (29)
Lew Alcindor (25)
Lew Alcindor (4)
Madison Square Garden
41-9
51
January 27, 1971
@ Boston
W 132-129
Lew Alcindor (53)
Lew Alcindor (14)
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (7)
Boston Garden
42-9
52
January 29, 1971
@ Philadelphia
W 142-118
Lew Alcindor (31)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (6)
The Spectrum
43-9
53
January 31, 1971
@ Detroit
W 131-104
Lew Alcindor (28)
Bob Dandridge (15)
Oscar Robertson (7)
Wisconsin Field House
44-9
February: 15–2 (home: 6–0; road: 9–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
54
February 2, 1971
@ Portland
L 111-123
Lew Alcindor (38)
Lew Alcindor & Bob Boozer (9)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Memorial Coliseum
44-10
55
February 3, 1971
@ San Diego
W 108-101
Lew Alcindor (25)
Lew Alcindor (12)
Oscar Robertson (10)
San Diego Sports Arena
45-10
56
February 5, 1971
@ Los Angeles
L 93–116
Lew Alcindor (27)
Lew Alcindor (10)
Oscar Robertson (7)
The Forum
45-11
57
February 6, 1971
@ San Francisco
W 111-85
Bob Dandridge & Jon McGlocklin (20)
Lew Alcindor (11)
Oscar Robertson (11)
Cow Palace
46-11
58
February 8, 1971
Phoenix
W 118-94
Lew Alcindor (39)
Lew Alcindor (23)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Milwaukee Arena
47-11
59
February 9, 1971
@ Detroit
W 107-106
Lew Alcindor (38)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Oscar Robertson (14)
Cobo Center
48-11
60
February 11, 1971
Los Angeles
W 122-88
Lew Alcindor (31)
Lew Alcindor (21)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
49-11
61
February 13, 1971
Chicago
W 103–96
Lew Alcindor (35)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
50–11
62
February 14, 1971
@ Atlanta
W 124-88
Lew Alcindor (23)
Lew Alcindor (19)
John McGlocklin (11)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
51–11
63
February 16, 1971
@ Buffalo
W 135-103
Lew Alcindor (38)
Lew Alcindor (20)
Bob Dandridge (8)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
52–11
64
February 17, 1971
Philadelphia
W 119-114
Lew Alcindor (41)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Wisconsin Field House
53–11
65
February 19, 1971
@ Seattle
W 128-112
Lew Alcindor (42)
Lew Alcindor (29)
Oscar Robertson (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum
54–11
66
February 20, 1971
@ San Francisco
W 104-96
Jon McGlocklin (28)
Lew Alcindor (19)
Oscar Robertson (11)
Cow Palace
55–11
67
February 21, 1971
@ Phoenix
W 125–97
Lew Alcindor (36)
Lew Alcindor (21)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
56–11
68
February 23, 1971
San Francisco
W 118–107
Oscar Robertson (26)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Oscar Robertson (6)
Milwaukee Arena
57–11
69
February 24, 1971
San Diego
W 139–104
Bob Dandridge (33)
Lew Alcindor & Greg Smith (13)
Oscar Robertson (8)
Milwaukee Arena
58–11
70
February 26, 1971
Cincinnati
W 135–111
Lew Alcindor, Jon McGlocklin, & Bob Dandridge (24)
Lew Alcindor (22)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
59–11
71
February 28, 1971
@ Boston
W 111–99
Lew Alcindor (26)
Lew Alcindor (30)
Oscar Robertson (5)
Boston Garden
60–11
March: 6–5 (home: 4–1; road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
72
March 1, 1971
Philadelphia
W 127–103
Lew Alcindor & Oscar Robertson (29)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Milwaukee Arena
61–11
73
March 3, 1971
Los Angeles
W 112–97
Oscar Robertson (24)
Bob Dandridge (8)
Greg Smith (7)
Milwaukee Arena
62–11
74
March 4, 1971
Buffalo
W 113–116
Oscar Robertson (32)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
63–11
75
March 5, 1971
@ Detroit
W 108–95
Lew Alcindor (34)
Lew Alcindor (11)
Oscar Robertson (16)
Cobo Arena
64–11
76
March 8, 1971
Seattle
W 99–104
Lew Alcindor (32)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Jon McGlocklin & Oscar Robertson (7)
Milwaukee Arena
65–11
77
March 9, 1971
@ Chicago
L 103–110 (OT)
Lew Alcindor (39)
Lew Alcindor (17)
Oscar Robertson (8)
Chicago Stadium
65–12
78
March 13, 1971
@ New York
L 103–108
Lew Alcindor (34)
Lew Alcindor (16)
Jon McGlocklin (5)
Madison Square Garden
65–13
79
March 14, 1971
Phoenix
L 125–113
Lew Alcindor (38)
Lew Alcindor (15)
Greg Smith (6)
Wisconsin Field House
65–14
80
March 16, 1971
@ Phoenix
W 119–111
Lew Alcindor (48)
Lew Alcindor (14)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
66–14
81
March 18, 1971
@ Seattle
L 121–122
Lew Alcindor (39)
Lew Alcindor (13)
Greg Smith (7)
Seattle Center Coliseum
66–15
82
March 19, 1971
@ San Diego
L 99–111
Lew Alcindor (22)
Dick Cunningham (12)
Bob Greacen (8)
San Diego Sports Arena
66–16
1970–71 schedule
Playoffs
1971 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
1971 schedule
Player statistics
Season
Playoffs
Awards and records
Lew Alcindor , NBA scoring champion
Lew Alcindor, NBA MVP
Lew Alcindor, NBA Finals MVP
Transactions
On April 21, 1970, the Bucks traded two young players, Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk, to the Cincinnati Royals for 10-year veteran guard Oscar Robertson.[ 1]
Trades
Free Agents
See also
Notes
^ Changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before the 1971–72 season.
References
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