1971–72 New York Knicks season
| 1971–72 New York Knicks season | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Conference Champions | |
| Head coach | Red Holzman |
| General manager | Red Holzman |
| Arena | Madison Square Garden |
| Results | |
| Record | 48–34 (.585) |
| Place |
Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish |
NBA Finals (Eliminated by Lakers 1–4) |
|
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | MSG Network, WOR-TV |
| Radio | WOR Radio |
The 1971–72 New York Knicks season was the 26th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks compiled a 48–34 record in the regular season to finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.[1] New York had acquired Earl Monroe in a trade with the Baltimore Bullets in November 1971.[2]
In the first round of the playoffs, New York faced the Baltimore Bullets,[3] who had defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year.[4] The Knicks won the series in six games and advanced to the conference finals, where they faced the Boston Celtics. With a 4–1 series victory,[3] New York made the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.[1] In the Finals, the Knicks were opposed by the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they had beaten in the 1970 NBA Finals.[5] After winning Game 1 of the Finals 114–92 in Los Angeles, the Knicks lost the next four games and the series.[6] Willis Reed only played 11 games in the regular season and missed the entirety of the playoffs with a knee injury.[7][8]
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Dean Meminger | G |  United States |
Marquette |
| 2 | 34 | Gregg Northington | F | United States |
Alabama State |
| 3 | 50 | Kenny Mayfield | G | United States |
Tuskegee |
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
| Team | W | L | PCT. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | — |
| New York Knicks | 48 | 34 | .585 | 8 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 26 |
| Buffalo Braves | 22 | 60 | .268 | 34 |
| # | Eastern Conference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 |
| 2 | y-Baltimore Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 |
| 3 | x-New York Knicks | 48 | 34 | .585 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 46 | .439 |
| 5 | Philadelphia 76ers | 30 | 52 | .366 |
| 5 | Cincinnati Royals | 30 | 52 | .366 |
| 7 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 23 | 59 | .280 |
| 8 | Buffalo Braves | 22 | 60 | .268 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
| 1971–72 NBA records | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 |
| Boston | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 |
| Buffalo | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Golden State | 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 |
| Houston | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 |
| Los Angeles | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 |
| New York | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 |
| Portland | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 |
| Seattle | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — |
Playoffs
East Conference Semifinals
(C1) Baltimore Bullets vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 108, New York 105 (OT)
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 110, Baltimore 88
- Game 3 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 104, New York 103
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 104, Baltimore 98
- Game 5 @ Baltimore: New York 106, Baltimore 82
- Game 6 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 101
East Conference Finals
(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Boston: New York 116, Boston 94
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 106, Boston 105
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 115, New York 109
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 116, Boston 98
- Game 5 @ Boston: New York 111, Boston 103
NBA Finals
| Game | Date | Winner | Score | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 26 (Wed.) | New York Knicks | 114–92 | at Los Angeles |
| Game 2 | April 30 (Sun.) | Los Angeles Lakers | 106–92 | at Los Angeles |
| Game 3 | May 3 (Wed.) | Los Angeles Lakers | 107–96 | at New York |
| Game 4 | May 5 (Fri.) | Los Angeles Lakers | 116–111 | at New York |
| Game 5 | May 7 (Sun.) | Los Angeles Lakers | 114–100 | at Los Angeles |
Lakers win series 4–1
Awards and records
- Walt Frazier, All-NBA First Team[10]
- Walt Frazier, NBA All-Defensive First Team[12]
- Dave DeBusschere, NBA All-Defensive First Team[12]
References
- 1 2 "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ↑ Araton, Harvey (2011). When the Garden Was Eden: Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the New York Knicks. New York City: HarperCollins. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-06-195623-2.
- 1 2 "1971–72 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ↑ "1971 NBA Playoff Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Lakers, Knicks Gain Hoop Final". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 24, 1972. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
- ↑ Araton, pp. 251–252.
- ↑ Nelson, John (March 26, 1974). "Road to Recovery Is Familiar to Willis Reed". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ↑ Carry, Peter (May 21, 1973). "Where There's A Willis". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ↑ "1971 NBA Draft". Database Basketball. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- 1 2 "1971–72 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ↑ "Lakers' Legendary Season Leads to Elusive Title". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- 1 2 "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 17, 2013.