1971–72 New York Knicks season

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.[3] New York had acquired Earl Monroe in a trade with the Baltimore Bullets in November 1971.[4]

1971–72 New York Knicks season
Conference champions
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerRed Holzman
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOR-TV
Manhattan Cable Television[1]
RadioWNBC[2]

In the first round of the playoffs, New York faced the Baltimore Bullets,[5] who had defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year.[6] 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,[5] New York made the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.[3] In the Finals, the Knicks were opposed by the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they had beaten in the 1970 NBA Finals.[7] After winning Game 1 of the Finals 114–92 in Los Angeles, the Knicks lost the next four games and the series.[8] Willis Reed only played 11 games in the regular season and missed the entirety of the playoffs with a knee injury.[9][10]

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

[11]

Roster
1971–72 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
SG 12 Barnett, Dick 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1936-10-02 Tennessee State
SF 24 Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943-07-28 Princeton
PF 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940-10-16 Detroit Mercy
PG 10 Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945-03-29 Southern Illinois
PF 18 Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945-09-17 North Dakota
F/C 32 Lucas, Jerry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1940-03-30 Ohio State
G 7 Meminger, Dean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-05-13 Marquette
G 42 Miles, Eddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1940-07-05 Seattle
G 15 Monroe, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1944-11-21 Winston-Salem State
F 16 Paulk, Charlie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1946–06–14 Northeastern State
C 23 Rackley, Luther 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1946-06-11 Xavier
C 19 Reed, Willis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1942-06-25 Grambling State
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Boston Celtics 5626.683–32–921–163–115–3
x-New York Knicks 4834.585827–1420–191–111–7
Philadelphia 76ers 3052.3662614–2314–262–36–12
Buffalo Braves 2260.2683413–278–311–24–14
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Boston Celtics5626.683
2 y-Baltimore Bullets3844.463
3 x-New York Knicks4834.585
4 x-Atlanta Hawks3646.439
5 Philadelphia 76ers3052.366
5 Cincinnati Royals3052.366
7 Cleveland Cavaliers2359.280
8 Buffalo Braves2260.268
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 —2–40–44–20–53–34–23–23–21–40–52–33–13–33–24–01–4
Baltimore 4–2—2–23–31–44–21–53–21–43–21–40–52–44–04–13–12–3
Boston 4–02–2—6–03–24–25–15–02–35–01–42–33–36–02–34–02–3
Buffalo 2–43–30–6—1–33–34–22–41–30–40–40–41–53–30–42–40–4
Chicago 5–04–12–33–1—3–14–05–13–35–11–32–43–24–15–16–02–3
Cincinnati 3–32–42–43–31–3—6–22–32–30–41–40–52–22–22–32–20–5
Cleveland 2–45–11–52–40–42–6—1–30–42–21–30–41–52–40–44–20–4
Detroit 2–32–30–54–21–53–23–1—0–53–31–41–51–41–42–42–20–4
Golden State 2–34–13–23–13–33–24–05–0—5–11–52–22–34–12–34–24–2
Houston 4–12–30–54–01–54–02–23–31–5—1–50–50–54–11–34–23–3
Los Angeles 5–04–14–14–03–14–13–14–15–15–1—4–14–15–04–26–05–1
Milwaukee 3–25–03–24–04–25–04–05–12–25–01–4—2–34–14–26–06–0
New York 1–34–23–35–12–32–25–14–13–25–01–43–2—3–31–43–13–2
Philadelphia 3–30–40–63–31–42–24–24–11–41–40–51–43–3—1–42–24–1
Phoenix 2–31–43–24–01–53–24–04–23–23–12–42–44–14–1—6–03–2
Portland 0–41–30–44–20–62–22–42–22–42–40–60–61–32–20–6—0–6
Seattle 4–13–23–24–03–25–04–04–02–43–31–50–62–31–42–36–0—

Game log
1971–72 game log
#DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
1October 12Detroit91–84Willis Reed (20)0–1
2October 16Los Angeles119–104Bill Bradley (17)0–2
3October 17@ Cleveland121–120 (OT)Willis Reed (28)1–2
4October 19Golden State84–93Bill Bradley (23)2–2
5October 22@ Baltimore110–87Dean Meminger (25)3–2
6October 23Atlanta95–89Willis Reed (25)3–3
7October 26Boston101–106DeBusschere, Frazier (22)4–3
8October 27@ Atlanta96–110Walt Frazier (20)4–4
9October 28Houston94–112Barnett, DeBusschere (26)5–4
10October 30Philadelphia108–101Jerry Lucas (28)5–5
11November 3@ Houston117–98Walt Frazier (31)6–5
12November 5@ Seattle97–101Walt Frazier (28)6–6
13November 7@ Los Angeles96–103Jerry Lucas (20)6–7
14November 10@ Cincinnati85–99Barnett, Frazier (15)6–8
15November 11Golden State112–103Walt Frazier (30)6–9
16November 13Detroit105–127Walt Frazier (24)7–9
17November 16Phoenix111–112Walt Frazier (39)8–9
18November 20Baltimore114–125Dave DeBusschere (35)9–9
19November 23Cincinnati110–125Walt Frazier (23)10–9
20November 24@ Baltimore114–94Walt Frazier (28)11–9
21November 26@ Boston104–89Walt Frazier (25)12–9
22November 27Chicago99–100Walt Frazier (27)13–9
23November 30Seattle110–109Dave DeBusschere (29)13–10
24December 3@ Chicago96–122Walt Frazier (19)13–11
25December 4Buffalo90–130Walt Frazier (25)14–11
26December 7Boston105–97Walt Frazier (25)14–12
27December 11Portland102–134Walt Frazier (29)15–12
28December 12@ Cleveland103–92Walt Frazier (30)16–12
29December 14Phoenix110–100Dick Barnett (25)16–13
30December 17@ Buffalo115–95Walt Frazier (39)17–13
31December 18Cleveland84–104Walt Frazier (25)18–13
32December 21@ Golden State113–87Walt Frazier (27)19–13
33December 22@ Seattle120–104Walt Frazier (28)20–13
34December 23@ Portland120–117Walt Frazier (36)21–13
35December 25Golden State89–114Walt Frazier (36)22–13
36December 28@ Detroit119–100Walt Frazier (30)23–13
37December 30Baltimore110–102Frazier, Monroe (21)23–14
38January 1Cincinnati94–104Walt Frazier (41)24–14
39January 3Milwaukee99–101Walt Frazier (31)25–14
40January 4@ Milwaukee100–121Walt Frazier (21)25–15
41January 7@ Philadelphia113–117Walt Frazier (32)25–16
42January 8Chicago113–108Walt Frazier (30)25–17
43January 11@ Chicago91–116Walt Frazier (24)25–18
44January 14N Golden State111–115Dick Barnett (26)25–19
45January 16@ Houston109–108Walt Frazier (31)26–19
46January 20@ Phoenix109–130Walt Frazier (21)26–20
47January 21@ Los Angeles104–101Jerry Lucas (26)27–20
48January 23@ Seattle101–99Earl Monroe (27)28–20
49January 25Boston106–109Walt Frazier (35)29–20
50January 28@ Boston116–122 (OT)Lucas, Monroe (20)29–21
51January 29Seattle106–110Walt Frazier (27)30–21
52February 1Detroit106–115Bill Bradley (29)31–21
53February 2@ Cincinnati105–116Bill Bradley (27)31–22
54February 4@ Buffalo103–84Earl Monroe (21)32–22
55February 5Philadelphia104–112Bill Bradley (30)33–22
56February 6@ Philadelphia109–107Bill Bradley (28)34–22
57February 8Los Angeles107–102Bill Bradley (26)34–23
58February 9@ Detroit126–102Walt Frazier (31)35–23
59February 11@ Milwaukee113–107Jerry Lucas (29)36–23
60February 12Cleveland91–106Bill Bradley (23)37–23
61February 16Houston100–110Walt Frazier (28)38–23
62February 17@ Chicago102–99 (OT)Walt Frazier (22)39–23
63February 19Buffalo95–100Jerry Lucas (22)40–23
64February 20@ Cleveland109–111Dave DeBusschere (28)40–24
65February 22Portland105–122Walt Frazier (29)41–24
66February 26Baltimore104–97Walt Frazier (22)41–25
67February 27N Baltimore97–95 (OT)Earl Monroe (21)42–25
68February 29Los Angeles114–111Jerry Lucas (32)42–26
69March 3@ Buffalo97–105Frazier, Lucas (19)42–27
70March 4Philadelphia115–118 (OT)Jerry Lucas (28)43–27
71March 5@ Philadelphia98–100Dave DeBusschere (24)43–28
72March 7Milwaukee101–110Jerry Lucas (30)44–28
73March 11Phoenix110–106Bill Bradley (30)44–29
74March 12@ Boston109–112Phil Jackson (28)44–30
75March 14Atlanta107–115Barnett, Frazier (22)45–30
76March 16@ Houston103–102Bradley, Monroe (20)46–30
77March 17@ Phoenix106–111Walt Frazier (25)46–31
78March 18@ Portland86–133Frazier, Rackley (15)46–32
79March 22Buffalo99–123Bill Bradley (33)47–32
80March 24@ Milwaukee88–131Jackson, Monroe (12)47–33
81March 25Cleveland83–98Walt Frazier (23)48–33
82March 26@ Atlanta106–120Walt Frazier (27)48–34

Playoffs
1972 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 March 31 @ Baltimore L 105–108 (OT) Walt Frazier (31) Jerry Lucas (14) Walt Frazier (6) Baltimore Civic Center
12,289		 0–1
2 April 2 Baltimore W 110–88 Walt Frazier (30) Dave DeBusschere (14) Walt Frazier (9) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 1–1
3 April 4 @ Baltimore L 103–104 Earl Monroe (28) Jerry Lucas (12) Bill Bradley (5) Baltimore Civic Center
12,289		 1–2
4 April 6 Baltimore W 104–98 Bill Bradley (25) Dave DeBusschere (13) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 2–2
5 April 9 @ Baltimore W 106–82 Lucas, Monroe (20) Jerry Lucas (16) Jerry Lucas (6) Baltimore Civic Center
10,244		 3–2
6 April 11 Baltimore W 107–101 Lucas, Frazier (22) Jerry Lucas (12) Frazier, Monroe (5) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 4–2
Conference finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 13 @ Boston W 116–94 Walt Frazier (36) Jerry Lucas (11) Jerry Lucas (8) Boston Garden
14,292		 1–0
2 April 16 Boston W 106–105 Dave DeBusschere (24) Dave DeBusschere (17) three players tied (4) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 2–0
3 April 19 @ Boston L 109–115 Bill Bradley (29) Dave DeBusschere (12) Dave DeBusschere (6) Boston Garden
15,315		 2–1
4 April 21 Boston W 116–98 Earl Monroe (26) Dave DeBusschere (16) Jerry Lucas (7) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 3–1
5 April 23 @ Boston W 111–103 Dave DeBusschere (24) Frazier, DeBusschere (11) Walt Frazier (7) Boston Garden
15,315		 4–1
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 26 @ Los Angeles W 114–92 Bill Bradley (29) Dave DeBusschere (18) Walt Frazier (11) The Forum
17,505		 1–0
2 April 30 @ Los Angeles L 92–106 Walt Frazier (21) Lucas, Jackson (11) Walt Frazier (7) The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 May 3 Los Angeles L 96–107 Walt Frazier (25) Jerry Lucas (14) Jerry Lucas (6) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 1–2
4 May 5 Los Angeles L 111–116 (OT) Bill Bradley (26) Dave DeBusschere (13) Jerry Lucas (11) Madison Square Garden
19,588		 1–3
5 May 7 @ Los Angeles L 100–114 Walt Frazier (31) Dave DeBusschere (14) Walt Frazier (10) The Forum
17,505		 1–4
1972 schedule

Awards and records

References
  1. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  2. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  3. "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  4. Araton, p. 211.
  5. "1971–72 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  6. "1971 NBA Playoff Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  7. "Lakers, Knicks Gain Hoop Final". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 24, 1972. p. 15. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  8. Araton, pp. 251–252.
  9. Nelson, John (March 26, 1974). "Road to Recovery Is Familiar to Willis Reed". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. p. 24. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  10. Carry, Peter (May 21, 1973). "Where There's A Willis". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  11. "1971 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  12. "1971–72 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  13. "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 17, 2013.

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