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1973–74 Detroit Pistons season

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1973–74 Detroit Pistons season
Head coachRay Scott
General managerEd Coil
Owner(s)Fred Zollner
ArenaCobo Arena
Results
Record52–30 (.634)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKBD-TV
RadioWJR
< 1972–73 1974–75 >

The 1973–74 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 26th season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.

The Pistons finished with a 52-30 (.634) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division, only their second winning season since moving to Detroit in 1957. The team was led by guard Dave Bing (18.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, NBA All-Star) and center Bob Lanier (22.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, NBA All-Star and NBA All-Star Game MVP).[1][2] Pistons coach Ray Scott was recognized as the NBA Coach of the Year, the first black coach in the league to win the award.[3][4] It wouldn't be until 1991 when Don Chaney won the award that another black coach was so honored.[5]

Detroit advanced to the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the team's first playoff appearance since the 1967-68 Detroit Pistons season, losing the Western Conference semi-finals 4–3 to the Chicago Bulls, dropping the deciding 7th game 96–94 in Chicago.[1] In the 7th game at Chicago Stadium, after a furious Detroit rally, Dennis Awtrey of the Bulls tipped an inbounds pass by Bing with 3 seconds remaining and Norm Van Lier dribbled out the clock to preserve the Chicago victory.[6]

Draft picks

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Main article: 1973 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Team
8 129 Ben Kelso Guard United States United States Central Michigan

Roster

[edit]
Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 10 Adams, Don 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-11-27 Northwestern
PG 21 Bing, Dave 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1943-11-24 Syracuse
C 20 Davis, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-12-18 Colorado
SG 42 Ford, Chris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949-01-11 Villanova
SG 30 Kelso, Ben 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1949-04-11 Central Michigan
C 16 Lanier, Bob 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1948-09-10 St. Bonaventure
SG 22 Lantz, Stu 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1946-07-13 Nebraska
SG 15 Mengelt, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1949-10-16 Auburn
SF 33 Nash, Bob 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1950-08-24 Hawaiʻi
SF 8 Norwood, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1947-08-08 Alcorn State
PF 18 Rowe, Curtis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949-07-02 UCLA
PF 31 Trapp, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1948-07-11 Long Beach State
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: October 8, 1973

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 59 23 .720 – 31–7 24–16 4–0 14–6
x-Chicago Bulls 54 28 .659 5 32–9 21–19 1–0 13–7
x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 7 29–12 23–17 0–1 9–11
Kansas City–Omaha Kings 33 49 .402 26 20–21 13–28 – 4–16
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 59 23 .720 –
2 x-Chicago Bulls 54 28 .659 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 7
4 y-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 12
5 Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 15
6 Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 23
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings 33 49 .402 26
8 Phoenix Suns 30 52 .366 29
9 Portland Trail Blazers 27 55 .329 32

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1973–74 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CAP CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta — 1–5 2–4 4–4 1–3 4–3 0–4 1–3 5–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–5 3–3 1–3 2–2 4–0
Boston 5–1 — 5–2 2–4 2–2 4–2 3–1 3–1 4–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 7–1 3–1 4–0 2–2
Buffalo 4–2 2–5 — 3–3 1–3 5–1 1–3 1–3 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–4 6–1 3–1 3–1 2–2
Capital 4–4 4–2 3–3 — 1–3 6–1 2–2 3–1 4–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–3 4–2 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 4–0 5–2 4–2 4–0 5–2 1–5 3–3 2–2 3–1 4–2 4–2 4–2
Cleveland 3–4 2–4 1–5 1–6 0–4 — 2–2 0–4 4–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–5 5–1 1–3 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–5 2–2 — 5–1 3–1 4–2 4–2 3–4 1–3 2–2 6–0 5–1 5–1
Golden State 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–4 4–0 1–5 — 4–0 3–3 4–2 3–3 1–3 3–1 5–2 3–4 3–3
Houston 2–5 2–4 2–4 3–4 0–4 4–4 1–3 0–4 — 2–2 2–2 0–4 4–2 4–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Kansas City-Omaha 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 4–0 2–4 3–3 2–2 — 1–5 0–7 1–3 1–3 4–2 4–2 2–4
Los Angeles 0–4 2–2 4–0 2–2 5–1 1–3 2–4 2–4 2–2 5–1 — 4–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 4–3 4–3
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–3 4–0 4–3 3–3 4–0 7–0 2–4 — 2–2 4–0 5–1 6–0 4–2
New York 5–1 2–5 4–4 3–3 2–2 5–1 3–1 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 4–3 3–1 2–2 4–0
Philadelphia 3–3 1–7 1–6 2–4 1–3 1–5 2–2 1–3 2–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 3–4 — 3–1 2–2 0–4
Phoenix 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–1 0–6 2–5 2–2 2–4 2–4 1–5 1–3 1–3 — 3–3 4–3
Portland 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 4–3 1–3 2–4 3–4 0–6 2–2 2–2 3–3 — 3–3
Seattle 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–4 2–2 1–5 3–3 3–1 4–2 3–4 2–4 0–4 4–0 3–4 3–3 —

Game log

[edit]
1973–74 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 9 @ New York 100–101 Bob Lanier (29) 0–1
2 October 12 Atlanta 105–122 Bob Lanier (20) 1–1
3 October 13 @ Chicago 94–101 Bob Lanier (22) 1–2
4 October 14 @ Cleveland 95–83 Bob Lanier (20) 2–2
5 October 19 Milwaukee 96–94 Bob Lanier (28) 2–3
6 October 20 @ Houston 107–104 Bob Lanier (33) 3–3
7 October 24 @ Phoenix 115–99 Bob Lanier (23) 4–3
8 October 26 @ Los Angeles 92–94 Curtis Rowe (18) 4–4
9 October 27 @ Portland 111–98 Bob Lanier (32) 5–4
10 October 28 @ Seattle 115–93 Bing, Mengelt (21) 6–4
11 October 31 Seattle 107–114 Dave Bing (26) 7–4
12 November 2 Phoenix 107–114 Chris Ford (24) 8–4
13 November 3 @ Milwaukee 115–123 (OT) Bob Lanier (28) 8–5
14 November 8 @ Atlanta 129–115 Don Adams (23) 9–5
15 November 10 N Boston 97–102 Bob Lanier (29) 9–6
16 November 14 Portland 111–108 Bob Lanier (41) 9–7
17 November 16 Kansas City–Omaha 98–125 Willie Norwood (15) 10–7
18 November 17 @ Buffalo 98–94 Bob Lanier (30) 11–7
19 November 18 Chicago 104–102 Bob Lanier (27) 11–8
20 November 21 Phoenix 104–107 Bob Lanier (29) 12–8
21 November 24 @ Chicago 112–114 (OT) Bob Lanier (32) 12–9
22 November 28 Cleveland 96–91 Bing, Lanier (23) 12–10
23 November 30 @ Houston 95–110 Bob Lanier (19) 12–11
24 December 1 @ Phoenix 121–109 John Mengelt (30) 13–11
25 December 2 @ Los Angeles 114–108 Dave Bing (27) 14–11
26 December 4 @ Golden State 112–93 Dave Bing (27) 15–11
27 December 6 @ Seattle 110–108 Dave Bing (33) 16–11
28 December 8 Portland 91–106 Bob Lanier (28) 17–11
29 December 9 @ Kansas City–Omaha 86–80 Adams, Bing (19) 18–11
30 December 12 Los Angeles 96–114 Bob Lanier (33) 19–11
31 December 14 Philadelphia 96–93 Dave Bing (26) 19–12
32 December 15 @ Philadelphia 99–89 Bob Lanier (24) 20–12
33 December 16 @ Kansas City–Omaha 104–105 Dave Bing (22) 20–13
34 December 19 Chicago 87–89 Bob Lanier (30) 21–13
35 December 21 Golden State 104–107 George Trapp (21) 22–13
36 December 22 @ New York 88–99 Bob Lanier (35) 22–14
37 December 26 New York 96–91 Dave Bing (22) 22–15
38 December 28 Capital 93–102 Bob Lanier (30) 23–15
39 December 29 @ Chicago 103–108 Willie Norwood (29) 23–16
40 December 30 @ Milwaukee 98–91 Dave Bing (22) 24–16
41 January 2 Milwaukee 92–106 Bob Lanier (34) 25–16
42 January 4 Boston 101–106 Bob Lanier (29) 26–16
43 January 5 @ Capital 90–93 Dave Bing (21) 26–17
44 January 9 Los Angeles 94–123 Bob Lanier (32) 27–17
45 January 11 @ Cleveland 106–96 Curtis Rowe (28) 28–17
46 January 12 Cleveland 117–112 (OT) Bob Lanier (32) 28–18
47 January 18 Chicago 95–113 Bob Lanier (32) 29–18
48 January 20 Kansas City–Omaha 79–105 George Trapp (21) 30–18
49 January 23 Portland 95–121 Curtis Rowe (20) 31–18
50 January 25 Houston 89–93 Bob Lanier (26) 32–18
51 January 26 Seattle 83–94 Bob Lanier (27) 33–18
52 January 27 @ Chicago 91–109 Bob Lanier (20) 33–19
53 January 30 Buffalo 96–111 Bob Lanier (36) 34–19
54 February 1 New York 91–96 Dave Bing (18) 35–19
55 February 3 @ Seattle 114–100 Bob Lanier (25) 36–19
56 February 5 @ Portland 104–102 Willie Norwood (27) 37–19
57 February 7 @ Golden State 110–86 Willie Norwood (27) 38–19
58 February 8 @ Phoenix 99–94 Bob Lanier (24) 39–19
59 February 12 Kansas City–Omaha 106–113 Willie Norwood (27) 40–19
60 February 14 Milwaukee 102–99 Dave Bing (19) 40–20
61 February 15 @ Buffalo 116–118 Bob Lanier (45) 40–21
62 February 17 @ Philadelphia 118–107 Bob Lanier (27) 41–21
63 February 19 @ Boston 97–107 Dave Bing (21) 41–22
64 February 20 Los Angeles 110–112 Bob Lanier (29) 42–22
65 February 22 Capital 83–84 Bob Lanier (24) 43–22
66 February 23 Phoenix 107–119 Bob Lanier (25) 44–22
67 February 24 @ Capital 84–94 Dave Bing (18) 44–23
68 February 26 Boston 86–83 Dave Bing (22) 44–24
69 February 28 @ Milwaukee 90–113 George Trapp (17) 44–25
70 March 1 Seattle 105–103 John Mengelt (24) 44–26
71 March 3 @ Portland 99–95 Bob Lanier (30) 45–26
72 March 5 @ Golden State 95–93 Dave Bing (23) 46–26
73 March 8 @ Los Angeles 113–129 Curtis Rowe (24) 46–27
74 March 10 @ Atlanta 116–111 Bob Lanier (31) 47–27
75 March 11 Golden State 120–108 Willie Norwood (19) 47–28
76 March 12 Golden State 108–113 Dave Bing (28) 48–28
77 March 15 Milwaukee 89–93 Don Adams (21) 49–28
78 March 17 Buffalo 109–116 Bing, Lanier (23) 50–28
79 March 20 Houston 99–103 Dave Bing (18) 51–28
80 March 22 @ Kansas City–Omaha 105–107 George Trapp (18) 51–29
81 March 23 Philadelphia 97–89 Dave Bing (27) 51–30
82 March 26 Atlanta 108–109 Bob Lanier (25) 52–30

Playoffs

[edit]
1974 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 30 @ Chicago W 97–88 Bob Lanier (27) Lanier, Rowe (13) Don Adams (6) Chicago Stadium
10,711 		1–0
2 April 1 Chicago L 103–108 Bob Lanier (38) Bob Lanier (19) Dave Bing (7) Cobo Arena
11,499 		1–1
3 April 5 @ Chicago L 83–84 Dave Bing (23) Bob Lanier (16) Lanier, Rowe (2) Chicago Stadium
17,634 		1–2
4 April 7 Chicago W 102–87 Bob Lanier (26) Bob Lanier (18) Dave Bing (8) Cobo Arena
11,287 		2–2
5 April 9 @ Chicago L 94–98 Bob Lanier (23) Bob Lanier (17) Dave Bing (6) Chicago Stadium
14,236 		2–3
6 April 11 Chicago W 92–88 Bob Lanier (28) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (10) Cobo Arena
11,134 		3–3
7 April 13 @ Chicago L 94–96 Stu Lantz (25) Lanier, Rowe (10) Stu Lantz (5) Chicago Stadium
13,133 		3–4
1974 schedule

Player stats

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Season

[edit]
Player Games Played Minutes Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks
Bob Lanier 81 3047 1822 1074 343 110 247
Dave Bing 81 3124 1520 281 555 109 17
Curtis Rowe 82 2499 878 515 136 49 36
George Trapp 82 1489 765 313 81 47 33
Don Adams 74 2298 759 448 141 110 12
John Mengelt 77 1555 680 206 148 68 7
Willie Norwood 74 1178 589 229 58 60 9
Chris Ford 82 2059 585 304 279 148 14

[7]

Awards and records

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See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "1973-74 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ "Chevette to Corvette No. 12: The 1973-74 Detroit Pistons". December 6, 2011.
  3. ^ "Ray Scott, the NBA's first Black Coach of the Year | the Official Website of the NBA Coaches Association". February 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ray Scott".
  5. ^ "Ray Scott, NBA's first Black Coach of the Year, followed another trailblazer into history". USA Today.
  6. ^ "Bulls Top Pistons, 96‐94, For 4‐3 Victory in Series". The New York Times. April 14, 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "1973–74 Detroit Pistons". basketball-reference.com.
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