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1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers season

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1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachBill Sharman
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record60–22 (.732)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(Lost 1-4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

The 1972-73 NBA season was the Lakers' 25th season in the NBA and 13th season in Los Angeles.[1]

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1972 NBA Draft

Regular season

The defending champion Lakers returned intact, albeit another year older. They staged another season long battle for best record in the Western Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams ended up with 60-22 records and they split their regular season matchups, winning three games apiece. At the time, the NBA had no tiebreaking formula beyond head to head record. In a special league meeting, they attempted to schedule a tiebreaking game between the two teams. However, the players' union intervened and demanded the players be paid an extra 1/82 share of the salaries; the owners objected so ultimately the tie was broken by a coin flip, which was won by Milwaukee.

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 60 22 .732 – 30–11 28–11 2–0 22–4
x-Golden State Warriors 47 35 .573 13 27–14 18–20 2–1 14–12
Phoenix Suns 38 44 .463 22 22–19 15–25 1–0 14–12
Seattle SuperSonics 26 56 .317 34 16–25 10–29 0–2 9–17
Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256 39 13–28 8–32 0–1 6–20
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers 60 22 .732
3 x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622
4 x-Golden State Warriors 47 35 .573
5 Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488
6 Phoenix Suns 38 44 .463
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings 36 46 .439
8 Seattle SuperSonics 26 56 .317
9 Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1972-73 NBA Records
Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta — 3–4 1–5 5–1 2–2 3–4 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–3 6–0 3–1 4–0 3–1
Baltimore 4–3 — 1–5 5–1 0–4 8–0 2–2 3–1 5–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–3 5–1 2–2 4–0 4–0
Boston 5–1 5–1 — 7–0 3–1 5–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 4–4 7–0 4–0 4–0 4–0
Buffalo 1–5 1–5 0–7 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–6 7–1 1–3 2–2 2–2
Chicago 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 — 3–1 3–4 3–3 4–0 5–2 1–5 2–4 3–1 4–0 4–2 5–1 5–1
Cleveland 4–3 0–8 1–5 5–1 1–3 — 1–3 1–3 4–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–6 6–0 1–3 1–3 3–1
Detroit 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 4–3 3–1 — 2–4 1–3 3–3 1–5 2–5 1–3 3–1 4–2 6–0 2–4
Golden State 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–3 3–1 4–2 — 3–1 4–2 3–4 1–5 2–2 4–0 2–4 5–1 4–3
Houston 4–4 2–5 1–5 5–1 0–4 3–4 3–1 1–3 — 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–5 5–1 2–2 2–2 2–2
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–5 2–2 3–3 2–4 4–0 — 1–5 1–6 0–4 3–1 3–3 4–2 4–2
Los Angeles 1–3 3–1 0–4 4–0 5–1 3–1 5–1 4–3 3–1 5–1 — 3–3 2–2 4–0 6–1 6–0 6–0
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 3–1 5–2 5–1 3–1 6–1 3–3 — 2–2 3–1 5–1 5–1 5–1
New York 3–3 3–3 4–4 6–1 1–3 6–0 3–1 2–2 5–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 — 6–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Philadelphia 0–6 1–5 0–7 1–7 0–4 0–6 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–6 — 0–4 1–3 1–3
Phoenix 1–3 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–4 4–2 2–2 3–3 1–6 1–5 1–3 4–0 — 5–2 4–2
Portland 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 3–1 0–6 1–5 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 1–3 3–1 2–5 — 3–4
Seattle 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 1–3 4–2 3–4 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 0–4 3–1 2–4 4–3 —

Game log

1972–73 game log
October
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1
2
3 October 14, 1972 @ Knicks
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
November
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
December
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
January
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
45 January 19, 1973 Knicks
February
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
55 February 6, 1973 @ Knicks
March
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
75 March 16, 1973 Knicks
1972–73 schedule

Playoffs

West Conference Semifinals

The Lakers faced a strong, veteran Chicago Bulls team for the third straight season in the playoffs. The Lakers had defeated the Bulls in seven games in 1971 and in a four game sweep in 1972. The Lakers prevailed in a closely battled seven game series, overcoming a double digit deficit in the 4th quarter of game 7. Wilt Chamberlain later stated that he felt the Bulls deserved to win the series.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Lakers win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 107, Chicago 104 (OT)
  • Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 108, Chicago 93
  • Game 3 @ Chicago: Chicago 96, Los Angeles 86
  • Game 4 @ Chicago: Chicago 98, Los Angeles 94
  • Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 123, Chicago 102
  • Game 6 @ Chicago: Chicago 101, Los Angeles 93
  • Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Chicago 92

West Conference Finals

The Lakers had expected to face the Bucks for a third straight post season, but the Warriors upset Milwaukee in six games. The series lacked any real drama except for game 1. Late in the first half, Warriors star Rick Barry was low bridged and fell hard on the floor and appeared to suffer a significant back injury. But he returned in the second half to spark a Warriors come back that fell just short in a Lakers' 101-99 win.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 101, Golden State 99
  • Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 104, Golden State 93
  • Game 3 @ Golden State: Los Angeles 126, Golden State 70
  • Game 4 @ Golden State: Golden State 117, Los Angeles 109
  • Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 128, Golden State 118

NBA Finals

The Knicks took advantage of John Havlicek's shoulder injury to upset the 68-win Boston Celtics in the eastern conference finals. This finals was an exact reversal of the previous years' finals that saw the Lakers lose game 1 and then win the next four games.

(W2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, New York 112
  • Game 2 @ Los Angeles: New York 99, Los Angeles 95
  • Game 3 @ New York: New York 87, Los Angeles 83
  • Game 4 @ New York: New York 103, Los Angeles 98
  • Game 5 @ Los Angeles: New York 102, Los Angeles 93

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1972-73 Los Angeles Lakers
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