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

[9]

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
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

[10]

# 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

East Conference Finals

(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4–1

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

[11]

Lakers win series 4–1

Awards and records

References

  1. 1 2 "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 "1971–72 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  4. ↑ "1971 NBA Playoff Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Lakers, Knicks Gain Hoop Final". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 24, 1972. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ Araton, pp. 251–252.
  7. ↑ Nelson, John (March 26, 1974). "Road to Recovery Is Familiar to Willis Reed". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ Carry, Peter (May 21, 1973). "Where There's A Willis". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ "1971 NBA Draft". Database Basketball. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  10. 1 2 "1971–72 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Lakers' Legendary Season Leads to Elusive Title". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  12. 1 2 "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 17, 2013.

External links

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