1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season
1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season | |
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Head coach | Bill Russell |
General manager | Bill Russell |
Arena | Seattle Center Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 43–39 (.524) |
Place |
Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish |
West Semifinals (eliminated 2–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
The 1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 8th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their second season with Bill Russell as head coach and with rookies comprising half the roster, the SuperSonics finished the regular season in 4th place in the Western Conference with a 43–39 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. After defeating the Detroit Pistons in 3 games in the first round in a best-of-three series, the team fell to the future champions Golden State Warriors in 6 games.
Offseason
Head coach Bill Russell anticipated a roster overhaul during the offseason.[1] After trading Dick Snyder on draft day to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange of the Cavs' first round selection, the SuperSonics selected center Tommy Burleson with the 3rd overall pick.[2]
Draft picks
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Tommy Burleson | Center | ![]() |
North Carolina State |
2 | 26 | Leonard Gray | Forward | ![]() |
Long Beach State |
3 | 44 | Talvin Skinner | Guard / Forward | ![]() |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
5 | 80 | Dean Tolson | Forward | ![]() |
Arkansas |
5 | 98 | Wardell Jackson | Forward | ![]() |
Ohio State |
10 | 169 | Rod Derline | Guard | ![]() |
Seattle |
Roster
1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Golden State Warriors | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 31–10 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5 | 24–16 | 19–23 | 18–12 |
Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 29–13 | 9–31 | 16–14 |
Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 16 | 22–19 | 10–31 | 12–18 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 10–20 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Golden State Warriors | 48 | 34 | .585 | – |
2 | y-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1 |
3 | x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 44 | 38 | .537 | 4 |
4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5 |
5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 40 | 42 | .488 | 8 |
6 | Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 |
6 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 |
8 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 16 |
9 | Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1974–75 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–5 |
Boston | 4–0 | — | 5–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 7–2 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
Buffalo | 3–1 | 4–5 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 5–3 | 6–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–5 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–5 | 3–1 | 3–5 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 |
Cleveland | 4–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 6–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 |
Detroit | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 5–4 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–6 | 3–1 | 3–6 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
Golden State | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 5–3 | 4–3 | 1–3 |
Houston | 5–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 |
Kansas City-Omaha | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–4 | 2–2 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 3–1 | 6–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
Los Angeles | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–4 | 2–5 | 2–6 | 1–3 |
Milwaukee | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 6–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–6 | 0–4 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 |
New Orleans | 5–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–6 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–7 |
New York | 4–0 | 2–7 | 3–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 4–5 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–5 | 3–6 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 5–4 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
Phoenix | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–6 | 4–3 | 1–3 |
Portland | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–1 | — | 2–6 | 1–3 |
Seattle | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 6–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 6–2 | — | 1–3 |
Washington | 5–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — |
Game log
1974–75 game log Total: 43–39 (Home: 24–16; Road: 19–23; Neutral: 1–0) | |
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October
: 6–2 (Home: 4–0; Road: 2–2)
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November
: 7–10 (Home: 3–3; Road: 4–7)
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December
: 5–7 (Home: 2–4; Road: 3–3)
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January
: 7–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 4–4)
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February
: 7–8 (Home: 4–4; Road: 3–4)
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March
: 9–5 (Home: 6–1; Road: 3–4)
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April
: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
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1974–75 season schedule |
Playoffs
1975 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First round: 2–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–1)
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Conference Semifinals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
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1975 playoff schedule |
Player statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brisker, JohnJohn Brisker | 21 | 13.1 | .426 | .857 | 1.6 | .9 | .3 | .1 | 7.7 | ||
Brown, FredFred Brown | 81 | 33.0 | .480 | .831 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.3 | .2 | 21.0 | ||
Burleson, TommyTommy Burleson | 82 | 23.0 | .417 | .687 | 7.0 | 1.4 | .8 | 1.9 | 10.1 | ||
Clark, ArchieArchie Clark | 77 | 32.2 | .495 | .834 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.4 | .1 | 13.9 | ||
Derline, RodRod Derline | 58 | 11.5 | .428 | .768 | 1.0 | .8 | .4 | .1 | 5.6 | ||
Fox, JimJim Fox | 75 | 23.5 | .469 | .802 | 6.5 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | 9.0 | ||
Gray, LeonardLeonard Gray | 75 | 30.4 | .489 | .722 | 6.4 | 2.2 | .8 | .3 | 11.5 | ||
Haywood, SpencerSpencer Haywood | 68 | 37.2 | .459 | .811 | 9.3 | 2.0 | .8 | 1.6 | 22.4 | ||
Hummer, JohnJohn Hummer | 43 | 13.2 | .380 | .275 | 2.4 | .9 | .2 | .2 | 2.2 | ||
Jackson, WardellWardell Jackson | 56 | 16.8 | .397 | .718 | 2.4 | .5 | .5 | .1 | 4.3 | ||
McIntosh, KennedyKennedy McIntosh | 6 | 16.8 | .207 | .667 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .7 | .5 | 3.0 | ||
Skinner, TalvinTalvin Skinner | 73 | 21.6 | .409 | .649 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .7 | .2 | 4.8 | ||
Tolson, DeanDean Tolson | 19 | 4.6 | .432 | .647 | 1.2 | .3 | .2 | .3 | 2.3 | ||
Watts, SlickSlick Watts | 82 | 25.1 | .421 | .608 | 3.2 | 6.1 | 2.3 | .1 | 6.8 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown, FredFred Brown | 8 | 30.0 | .496 | .844 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | .1 | 20.6 | ||
Burleson, TommyTommy Burleson | 9 | 40.4 | .513 | .750 | 10.7 | 1.4 | .8 | 2.0 | 20.7 | ||
Clark, ArchieArchie Clark | 9 | 29.9 | .436 | .900 | 3.6 | 3.4 | .7 | .1 | 7.0 | ||
Derline, RodRod Derline | 6 | 10.7 | .545 | .857 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .3 | .0 | 7.0 | ||
Fox, JimJim Fox | 8 | 5.0 | .286 | .571 | 1.1 | .3 | .0 | .1 | 1.5 | ||
Gray, LeonardLeonard Gray | 9 | 29.2 | .488 | .846 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .6 | 9.9 | ||
Haywood, SpencerSpencer Haywood | 9 | 37.4 | .359 | .770 | 9.0 | 2.0 | .8 | 1.2 | 15.7 | ||
Hummer, JohnJohn Hummer | 6 | 11.3 | .000 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | |||
Skinner, TalvinTalvin Skinner | 9 | 23.4 | .467 | .737 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .2 | 6.2 | ||
Tolson, DeanDean Tolson | 4 | 5.5 | .125 | 1.000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | ||
Watts, SlickSlick Watts | 9 | 31.1 | .462 | .538 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 3.0 | .4 | 11.1 |
Awards and records
- Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA Second Team and represented the West in the 1975 NBA All-Star Game.
- Tommy Burleson was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Transactions
Overview
Players added Via draft Via trade |
Players lost Via draft Via trade Via free agency Waived |
Trades
May 28, 1974 | To Seattle SuperSonics 1974 first round pick |
To Cleveland Cavaliers Dick Snyder 1974 first round pick |
August 20, 1974 [3] | To Seattle SuperSonics Archie Clark |
To Washington Bullets Dick Gibbs 1975 third round pick |
References
- ↑ Program may be needed to identify 'new' Sonics, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 30, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ↑ Sonics draft Burleson, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 28, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ↑ Seattle acquires Clark from Bullets, Bangor Daily News. August 20, 1974. Retrieved June 21, 2012.