1970–71 Phoenix Suns season

The 1970–71 Phoenix Suns season was the third season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons lead the Suns, in the NBA's first season which separated the teams into both conferences and divisions as the league continued to gain more teams. It was the first season the Suns would be without the services of All-Star guard Gail Goodrich. With a 48–34 record (fourth best in the league), the Suns set the NBA record for the team with the best winning percentage not to make the playoffs. The team would break their own record the next year with a 49–33 finish. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1970–71 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
RadioKTAR

The Suns were led in scoring by Dick Van Arsdale with 21.9 points per game. Connie Hawkins finished the season averaging 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. Paul Silas led the Suns with 12.5 rebounds per game, the highest-ever average in Suns history, while Neal Walk garnered 8.2 rebounds to go with his 12.9 points a game.

Goodrich, a native of Los Angeles and who played college ball at UCLA, was traded before the season back to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had played before being acquired in the expansion draft of 1968. In exchange, the Suns obtained the 29-year-old 7-footer Mel Counts, who was coming off a career-high 12.6 average in points. Goodrich would go on to play nine more seasons in the NBA, six of those with the Lakers. During those six years, he would average 22.3 points per game, appear in four All-Star Games and be named to an All-NBA First Team. Meanwhile, Counts averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds in his first of two seasons with the Suns.

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1970 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Greg Howard Forward  United States New Mexico
2 27 Fred Taylor Guard  United States Texas-Pan Am
3 29 Joe DePre Guard  United States St. John's
3 44 Greg McDivitt Forward  United States Ohio
3 48 Vann Williford Forward  United States North Carolina State
4 61 Bob Lienhard Center  United States Georgia
5 78 John Canine Guard  United States Ohio
6 95 Joe Thomas Forward  United States Marquette
7 112 Heyward Dotson Guard  United States Columbia
8 129 Steve Patterson Center  United States UCLA
9 146 Carl Ashley Forward  United States Wyoming
10 163 Gerhardus Schreur Forward  United States Arizona State
11 178 Jim Walls Guard  United States Clark
12 190 Ric Cobb Center  United States Marquette
13 200 Fred Carpenter Forward  United States Hawaii
14 210 Chad Calabria Guard  United States Iowa
15 219 Walt Williams Forward  United States Miami (Ohio)

Roster
Phoenix Suns roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOB (Y-M-D)From
C 31 United States Counts, Mel 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1941-10-16 Oregon State
F 16 United States Green, Lamar 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State
G 23 United States Harris, Art 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947-01-13 Stanford
G 11 United States Haskins, Clem 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky
F/C 42 United States Hawkins, Connie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa
F 44 United States Howard, Greg 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1948-01-08 New Mexico
F 29 United States Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-07-12 Creighton
G 10 United States Taylor, Fred 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1948-02-05 Texas–Pan American
F 40 United States Thomas, Joe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1948-03-09 Marquette
G/F 5 United States Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
C 41 United States Walk, Neal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
G/F 25 United States Wetzel, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1944-10-22 Virginia Tech
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 6616.805–34–228–134–114–4
x-Chicago Bulls 5131.6221530–1117–194–17–11
Phoenix Suns 4834.5851827–1419–202–09–9
Detroit Pistons 4537.5492124–1720–191–16–12
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks6616.805
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers4834.585
3 x-Chicago Bulls5131.622
4 x-San Francisco Warriors4141.500
5 Phoenix Suns4834.585
6 Detroit Pistons4537.549
7 San Diego Rockets4042.488
8 Seattle SuperSonics3844.463
9 Portland Trail Blazers2953.354

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 —3–32–43–11–42–44–00–53–21–43–34–21–42–22–32–33–2
Baltimore 3–3—3–33–12–33–34–02–32–31–42–43–33–22–24–12–33–2
Boston 4–23–3—4–04–14–23–12–33–20–50–64–22–32–23–23–23–2
Buffalo 1–31–30–4—0–40–45–71–52–20–42–20–41–36–61–31–31–3
Chicago 4–13–21–44–0—4–04–03–32–41–53–23–23–33–16–04–23–2
Cincinnati 4–23–32–44–00–4—5–11–41–41–42–41–51–44–01–32–31–4
Cleveland 0–40–41–37–50–41–5—2–20–40–40–41–30–42–100–41–30–4
Detroit 5–03–23–25–13–34–12–2—2–31–52–32–32–43–14–21–43–1
Los Angeles 2–33–22–32–24–24–14–03–2—1–43–23–22–44–03–34–24–2
Milwaukee 4–14–15–04–05–14–14–05–14–1—1–44–14–23–14–16–05–1
New York 3–34–26–02–22–34–24–03–22–34–1—2–44–13–14–13–22–3
Philadelphia 2–43–32–44–02–35–13–13–22–31–44–2—3–24–03–23–23–2
Phoenix 4–12–33–23–13–34–14–04–24–22–41–42–3—4–02–43–23–2
Portland 2–22–22–26–61–30–410–21–30–41–31–30–40–4—0–41–32–4
San Diego 3–21–42–33–10–63–14–02–43–31–41–42–34–24–0—2–45–1
San Francisco 3–23–22–33–12–43–23–14–12–40–62–32–32–33–14–2—3–3
Seattle 2–32–32–33–12–34–14–01–32–41–53–22–32–34–21–53–3—

Game log
1970–71 game log
Total: 48–34 (home: 27–14; road: 21–20)
October: 3–6 (home: 3–2; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
1 October 15 San Diego W 119–100 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,523		 1–0 W 1
2 October 17 Detroit L 107–110 Connie Hawkins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,646		 1–1 L 1
3 October 20 @ San Diego L 114–115 Dick Van Arsdale (26) San Diego Sports Arena
7,246		 1–2 L 2
4 October 21 @ Seattle L 106–110 Greg Howard (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,923		 1–3 L 3
5 October 23 Cleveland W 108–104 Connie Hawkins (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,822		 2–3 W 1
6 October 25 San Diego W 117–98 Clem Haskins (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,697		 3–3 W 2
7 October 28 Chicago L 105–118 Connie Hawkins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,343		 3–4 L 1
8 October 30 @ Boston L 112–127 Paul Silas (23) Boston Garden
5,392		 3–5 L 2
9 October 31 @ Baltimore L 103–106 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Baltimore Civic Center
4,527		 3–6 L 3
November: 11–6 (home: 5–1; road: 6–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
10 November 2 Buffalo W 110–102 Connie Hawkins (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,000		 4–6 W 1
11 November 4 @ Cincinnati W 133–115 Clem Haskins,
Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (25)		 Cincinnati Gardens
2,091		 5–6 W 2
12 November 6 @ Chicago W 105–102 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Chicago Stadium
8,107		 6–6 W 3
13 November 7 @ Atlanta W 107–100 Connie Hawkins (21) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,116		 7–6 W 4
14 November 8 @ Milwaukee L 105–125 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Milwaukee Arena
10,746		 7–7 L 1
15 November 11 Portland W 114–100 Dick Van Arsdale (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,020		 8–7 W 1
16 November 13 Cincinnati W 115–109 Clem Haskins,
Connie Hawkins (26)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,802		 9–7 W 2
17 November 15 Detroit W 108–104 Clem Haskins (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,344		 10–7 W 3
18 November 17 @ New York L 100–103 Clem Haskins,
Dick Van Arsdale (23)		 Madison Square Garden
18,275		 10–8 L 1
19 November 19 @ Detroit L 110–112 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Cobo Arena
3,594		 10–9 L 2
20 November 20 @ Baltimore L 110–121 Connie Hawkins (23) Baltimore Civic Center
4,572		 10–10 L 3
21 November 21 @ Philadelphia W 125–119 Dick Van Arsdale (30) The Spectrum
6,519		 11–10 W 1
22 November 22 @ Cleveland W 114–99 Connie Hawkins (29) Cleveland Arena
2,405		 12–10 W 2
23 November 24 @ Buffalo L 106–112 Clem Haskins (25) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
7,209		 12–11 L 1
24 November 26 Seattle W 126–115 Connie Hawkins (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,192		 13–11 W 1
25 November 27 @ Los Angeles W 116–105 Paul Silas (27) The Forum
13,089		 14–11 W 2
26 November 28 San Diego L 116–117 Connie Hawkins (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,470		 14–12 L 1
December: 9–7 (home: 7–4; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
27 December 2 Atlanta W 126–112 Connie Hawkins (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,907		 15–12 W 1
28 December 4 @ Portland W 126–121 Connie Hawkins (29) Memorial Coliseum
3,927		 16–12 W 2
29 December 5 @ San Francisco W 105–100 Connie Hawkins (24) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,481		 17–12 W 3
30 December 6 San Diego W 108–102 Connie Hawkins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,935		 18–12 W 4
31 December 8 Los Angeles L 112–121 Connie Hawkins (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,702		 18–13 L 1
32 December 11 @ San Diego L 104–110 Connie Hawkins (26) San Diego Sports Arena
8,365		 18–14 L 2
33 December 12 Milwaukee W 113–111 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,002		 19–14 W 1
34 December 15 San Francisco L 123–129 Clem Haskins (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,901		 19–15 L 1
35 December 17 Detroit W 117–114 (OT) Connie Hawkins (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,548		 20–15 W 1
36 December 19 @ Seattle L 131–135 Dick Van Arsdale (35) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,443		 20–16 L 1
37 December 20 New York L 118–133 Dick Van Arsdale (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,445		 20–17 L 2
38 December 22 Philadelphia L 129–133 (OT) Connie Hawkins (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,248		 20–18 L 3
39 December 25 Atlanta W 127–115 Dick Van Arsdale (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,186		 21–18 W 1
40 December 26 Portland W 115–103 Neal Walk (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,102		 22–18 W 2
41 December 27 @ Los Angeles L 110–128 Neal Walk (20) The Forum
15,163		 22–19 L 1
42 December 30 Los Angeles W 132–114 Clem Haskins (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,164		 23–19 W 1
January: 11–4 (home: 7–2; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
43 January 2 @ San Francisco W 122–116 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (31) Cow Palace
3,812		 24–19 W 2
44 January 3 San Francisco W 102–81 Clem Haskins (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,196		 25–19 W 3
45 January 8 @ Boston L 114–122 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Boston Garden
7,124		 25–20 L 1
46 January 9 @ Philadelphia L 112–123 Clem Haskins (22) The Spectrum
7,826		 25–21 L 2
47 January 10 @ Atlanta W 116–105 Paul Silas (23) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
4,447		 26–21 W 1
All-Star Break
48 January 14 New York W 107–88 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,051		 27–21 W 2
49 January 16 Baltimore W 117–100 Clem Haskins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,002		 28–21 W 3
50 January 18 @ Cincinnati W 118–99 Clem Haskins (29) Omaha, Nebraska
3,149		 29–21 W 4
51 January 20 Cincinnati L 114–126 Clem Haskins (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,586		 29–22 L 1
52 January 22 Philadelphia L 116–117 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,059		 29–23 L 2
53 January 24 Chicago W 113–112 Mel Counts,
Paul Silas (18)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,923		 30–23 W 1
54 January 26 Buffalo W 114–82 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,486		 31–23 W 2
55 January 28 Los Angeles W 118–112 Mel Counts (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,036		 32–23 W 3
56 January 29 @ Portland W 131–122 Dick Van Arsdale (36) Memorial Coliseum
5,877		 33–23 W 4
57 January 30 Seattle W 134–116 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,412		 34–23 W 5
February: 9–4 (home: 3–2; road: 6–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
58 February 4 San Francisco L 105–117 Connie Hawkins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,711		 34–24 L 1
59 February 6 Cleveland W 119–91 Neal Walk,
John Wetzel (22)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,812		 35–24 W 1
60 February 8 @ Milwaukee L 94–118 Connie Hawkins (23) Milwaukee Arena
10,746		 35–25 L 1
61 February 9 @ Baltimore W 120–115 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Baltimore Civic Center
4,054		 36–25 W 1
62 February 12 @ Cleveland W 114–105 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Cleveland Arena
4,297		 37–25 W 2
63 February 13 @ New York L 97–114 Connie Hawkins (25) Madison Square Garden
19,500		 37–26 L 1
64 February 14 @ Buffalo W 108–97 Dick Van Arsdale (29) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
4,376		 38–26 W 1
65 February 16 @ Boston W 119–116 Connie Hawkins (27) Boston Garden
6,091		 39–26 W 2
66 February 17 Cincinnati W 133–117 Clem Haskins (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,006		 40–26 W 3
67 February 19 Boston W 116–112 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,256		 41–26 W 4
68 February 21 Milwaukee L 97–125 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,371		 41–27 L 1
69 February 26 @ Philadelphia W 108–94 Connie Hawkins (30) The Spectrum
8,586		 42–27 W 1
70 February 27 @ Detroit W 124–117 Dick Van Arsdale (42) Cobo Arena
8,878		 43–27 W 2
March: 5–7 (home: 2–3; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
71 March 3 Chicago W 115–90 Clem Haskins (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,371		 44–27 W 3
72 March 7 Baltimore L 108–117 Connie Hawkins (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,370		 44–28 L 1
73 March 9 @ Detroit W 114–108 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Cobo Arena
4,269		 45–28 W 1
74 March 10 @ Atlanta L 98–139 Dick Van Arsdale (19) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
6,266		 45–29 L 1
75 March 12 @ Chicago L 92–116 Connie Hawkins (27) Chicago Stadium
14,703		 45–30 L 2
76 March 13 @ Chicago L 99–111 Connie Hawkins (22) Chicago Stadium
17,505		 45–31 L 3
77 March 14 @ Milwaukee W 125–113 Connie Hawkins (27) Madison, WI
9,035		 46–31 W 1
78 March 16 Milwaukee L 111–119 Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (28)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,640		 46–32 L 1
79 March 18 New York L 123–131 (OT) Connie Hawkins (35) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,454		 46–33 L 2
80 March 19 @ Los Angeles W 111–106 Dick Van Arsdale (25) The Forum
17,254		 47–33 W 1
81 March 20 Seattle W 114–107 Paul Silas (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,134		 48–33 W 2
82 March 21 @ San Diego L 114–132 Clem Haskins (25) San Diego Sports Arena
5,840		 48–34 L 1
1970–71 schedule

Team-by-team results
Opponent Home Road Total All-time record Suns leading scorer Opp. leading scorer
Atlanta Hawks 2–0 2–1 4–1 8–9 (.471%) Dick Van Arsdale (21.8) Lou Hudson (26.0)
Baltimore Bullets 1–1 1–2 2–3 5–12 (.294%) Dick Van Arsdale (21.8) Earl Monroe (26.0)
Boston Celtics 2–0 1–2 3–2 7–10 (.412%) Dick Van Arsdale (24.4) John Havlicek (32.0)
Buffalo Braves 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 (.750%) Dick Van Arsdale (22.5) Don May (20.0)
Chicago Bulls 2–1 1–2 3–3 7–12 (.368%) Connie Hawkins (21.8) Bob Love (25.2)
Cincinnati Royals 2–1 2–0 4–1 9–8 (.529%) Clem Haskins (27.2) Tom Van Arsdale (20.0)
Cleveland Cavaliers 2–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 (1.000%) Dick Van Arsdale (23.0) John Johnson (15.3)
Detroit Pistons 2–1 2–1 4–2 9–9 (.500%) Dick Van Arsdale (25.3) Dave Bing (28.3)
Los Angeles Lakers 2–1 2–1 4–2 8–11 (.421%) Dick Van Arsdale (19.7) Jerry West (28.8)
Milwaukee Bucks 1–2 1–2 2–4 4–16 (.200%) Connie Hawkins (24.0) Lew Alcindor (37.2)
New York Knicks 1–2 0–2 1–4 2–15 (.118%) Dick Van Arsdale (22.8) Dick Barnett (19.8)
Philadelphia 76ers 0–2 2–1 2–3 5–12 (.294%) Connie Hawkins (26.8) Billy Cunningham (29.6)
Portland Trail Blazers 2–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 (1.000%) Dick Van Arsdale (28.5) Geoff Petrie (27.5)
San Diego Rockets 2–1 0–3 2–4 10–11 (.476%) Connie Hawkins (20.8) Elvin Hayes (31.3)
San Francisco Warriors 1–2 2–0 3–2 8–9 (.471%) Connie Hawkins (24.7) Jerry Lucas (24.6)
Seattle SuperSonics 3–0 0–2 3–2 10–8 (.556%) Dick Van Arsdale (23.8) Dick Snyder (17.8)

Awards and honors

All-Star

Season

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game
 PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
Mel Counts8020.9.457.7536.31.711.0
Lamar Green6819.5.453.6046.90.85.9
Art Harris5617.0.411.6111.82.48.3
Clem Haskins8233.7.440.7844.04.717.8
Connie Hawkins7137.5.434.816^9.14.520.9
Greg Howard449.7.393.6382.70.63.9
Paul Silas8136.3.428.68512.53.011.9
Fred Taylor5410.2.387.6241.60.95.5
Joe Thomas395.2.267.4501.10.41.4
Dick Van Arsdale8139.0.452.8113.94.121.9
Neal Walk8224.8.451.7658.21.412.9
John Wetzel7015.6.431.822^2.21.64.7

^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.

Transactions

Trades
April 23, 1970 To Chicago Bulls
United States Jim Fox 
1971 second-round draft pick
 To Phoenix Suns
United States Clem Haskins
May 20, 1970 To Los Angeles Lakers
United States Gail Goodrich		 To Phoenix Suns
United States Mel Counts
July 8, 1970 To New York Knicks
United States Heywood Dotson		 To Phoenix Suns
1971 fifth-round draft pick

Subtractions
Date Player Reason Left New Team
May 11, 1970 Jerry Chambers Expansion Draft Portland Trail Blazers
May 11, 1970 Stan McKenzie Expansion Draft Portland Trail Blazers
July 27, 1970 Neil Johnson Waived Virginia Squires (ABA)

References
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.