1970–71 Philadelphia 76ers season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Philadelphia 76ers

NBA professional basketball team season

1970–71 Philadelphia 76ers season

Head coach| Jack Ramsay
Arena| The Spectrum
Results
Record| 47-35 (.573)
Place| Division: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish| East Conference Semifinals
(eliminated 3–4)

* * *

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television| WTAF-TV
Radio| WCAU
| < 1969–70  | 1971–72 >

|

The 1970–71 NBA season was the 76ers 22nd season in the NBA and 8th season in Philadelphia. They improved to a record of 47–35. In the playoffs, they lost a hard-fought series with the Baltimore Bullets 4–3, who represented the Eastern Conference in the Finals. This was the final season for forward Bailey Howell, who was signed by Philadelphia & was a vital part in 2 Celtics championships in 1968 and 1969.

The Sixers also tried a new uniform style. Instead of the traditional PHILA in block lettering, they used a design that wrote out Seventy Sixers in cursive writing. These uniforms did not last the entire year.[1]

## Offseason

[edit]

### Draft picks

[edit]

Main article: 1970 NBA draft

This table only displays picks through the second round.

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | College

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1 | 12 | Al Henry | C |  United States | Wisconsin

## Roster

[edit]

Philadelphia 76ers roster

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Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

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C | 20 | Awtrey, Dennis | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)  | 235 lb (107 kg)  |  | Santa Clara
G | 21 | Clark, Archie | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  |  | Minnesota
SG | 11 | Crawford, Freddie | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 189 lb (86 kg)  |  | St. Bonaventure
F | 32 | Cunningham, Billy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | North Carolina
C | 24 | Dierking, Connie | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 222 lb (101 kg)  |  | Cincinnati
G | 15 | Greer, Hal | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  |  | Marshall
C | 26 | Henry, Al | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 190 lb (86 kg)  |  | Wisconsin
SF | 16 | Howell, Bailey | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | Mississippi State
F | 54 | Jackson, Luke | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 240 lb (109 kg)  |  | Texas–Pan American
G | 24 | Jones, Wali | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 180 lb (82 kg)  |  | Villanova
F | 12 | Washington, Jim | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | Villanova

Head coach

* Jack Ramsay

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

## Regular season

[edit]

### Season standings

[edit]

Atlantic Division

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|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Neutral  |  Div

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y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 32–9 | 19–20 | 1–1 | 10–6
x-Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | 24–15 | 21–18 | 2–2 | 10–6
Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 | 25–14 | 18–22 | 1–2 | 8–8
Buffalo Braves | 22 | 60 | .268 | 30 | 14–23 | 6–30 | 2–7 | 2–10
#  |

Eastern Conference

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Team  |  W  |  L  |  PCT
1  | z-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634
2  | y-Baltimore Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512
3  | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573
4  | x-Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 46 | .439
5  | Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537
6  | Cincinnati Royals | 33 | 49 | .402
7  | Buffalo Braves | 22 | 60 | .268
8  | Cleveland Cavaliers | 15 | 67 | .183

z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

1970–71 NBA Records

Team  | ATL  | BAL  | BOS  | BUF  | CHI  | CIN  | CLE  | DET  | LAL  | MIL  | NYK  | PHI  | PHO  | POR  | SDR  | SFW  | SEA
Atlanta | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–2
Baltimore | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2
Boston | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2
Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 5–7 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3
Chicago | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–2
Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–4
Cleveland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 7–5 | 0–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–10 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4
Detroit | 5–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–1
Los Angeles | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2
Milwaukee | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | 5–1
New York | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–4 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–3
Philadelphia  | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2
Phoenix | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2
Portland | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 10–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4
San Diego | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | 5–1
San Francisco | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–3
Seattle | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | —

### Game log

[edit]

1970–71 Game log

# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record
1 | October 14 | Chicago | 107–110 | Billy Cunningham (24) | 1–0
2 | October 16 | San Diego | 119–127 | Archie Clark (28) | 2–0
3 | October 17 | @ Cincinnati | 123–105 | Archie Clark (24) | 3–0
4 | October 20 | @ Buffalo | 98–89 | Hal Greer (20) | 4–0
5 | October 21 | Los Angeles | 141–117 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 4–1
6 | October 23 | @ Los Angeles | 127–122 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 5–1
7 | October 24 | @ San Diego | 111–116 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 5–2
8 | October 28 | @ San Francisco | 111–108 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 6–2
9 | October 30 | Baltimore | 123–110 | Archie Clark (24) | 6–3
10 | October 31 | Boston | 133–102 | Billy Cunningham (19) | 6–4
11 | November 2 | Cleveland | 87–141 | Archie Clark (21) | 7–4
12 | November 4 | @ Boston | 113–115 | Billy Cunningham (25) | 7–5
13 | November 6 | Atlanta | 112–118 | Billy Cunningham (38) | 8–5
14 | November 7 | Seattle | 128–134 | Bailey Howell (27) | 9–5
15 | November 10 | @ Atlanta | 104–109 | Hal Greer (25) | 9–6
16 | November 11 | @ Baltimore | 119–107 | Archie Clark (30) | 10–6
17 | November 13 | Buffalo | 111–119 | Cunningham, Greer, Howell (20) | 11–6
18 | November 14 | @ New York | 94–126 | Billy Cunningham (18) | 11–7
19 | November 17 | @ Detroit | 113–91 | Archie Clark (24) | 12–7
20 | November 18 | New York | 106–113 | Billy Cunningham (29) | 13–7
21 | November 20 | Detroit | 120–112 | Hal Greer (31) | 13–8
22 | November 21 | Phoenix | 125–119 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 13–9
23 | November 22 | @ Atlanta | 115–125 | Cunningham, Greer (26) | 13–10
24 | November 24 | San Francisco | 104–96 | Archie Clark (26) | 13–11
25 | November 25 | N Buffalo | 99–92 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 14–11
26 | November 27 | Cincinnati | 113–109 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 14–12
27 | November 30 | Baltimore | 98–104 | Billy Cunningham (19) | 15–12
28 | December 1 | @ Chicago | 91–107 | Dennis Awtrey (17) | 15–13
29 | December 4 | @ Milwaukee | 122–128 (OT) | Billy Cunningham (33) | 15–14
30 | December 5 | @ Cincinnati | 131–106 | Archie Clark (29) | 16–14
31 | December 8 | Seattle | 107–104 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 16–15
32 | December 11 | San Francisco | 102–101 | Clark, Cunningham (18) | 16–16
33 | December 12 | @ New York | 101–118 | Archie Clark (21) | 16–17
34 | December 15 | San Diego | 98–122 | Jim Washington (20) | 17–17
35 | December 17 | @ Seattle | 125–117 | Archie Clark (29) | 18–17
36 | December 19 | @ San Francisco | 108–99 | Hal Greer (33) | 19–17
37 | December 20 | @ Portland | 134–132 (OT) | Cunningham, Greer (31) | 20–17
38 | December 22 | @ Phoenix | 133–129 (OT) | Archie Clark (26) | 21–17
39 | December 25 | Detroit | 100–105 | Hal Greer (28) | 22–17
40 | December 27 | @ Cleveland | 101–114 | Clark, Cunningham (25) | 22–18
41 | December 29 | @ Buffalo | 124–113 | Archie Clark (35) | 23–18
42 | December 30 | Milwaukee | 107–119 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 24–18
43 | January 2 | Boston | 125–120 | Billy Cunningham (29) | 24–19
44 | January 5 | San Francisco | 92–97 | Archie Clark (22) | 25–19
45 | January 8 | Los Angeles | 123–117 | Archie Clark (29) | 25–20
46 | January 9 | Phoenix | 112–123 | Archie Clark (33) | 26–20
47 | January 10 | @ Boston | 115–107 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 27–20
48 | January 14 | @ Chicago | 103–108 | Bailey Howell (22) | 27–21
49 | January 15 | Chicago | 96–99 | Hal Greer (22) | 28–21
50 | January 16 | Cleveland | 96–115 | Hal Greer (29) | 29–21
51 | January 17 | @ San Diego | 106–105 | Bailey Howell (28) | 30–21
52 | January 19 | @ Los Angeles | 114–134 | Archie Clark (38) | 30–22
53 | January 22 | @ Phoenix | 117–116 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 31–22
54 | January 24 | @ Seattle | 145–119 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 32–22
55 | January 26 | Atlanta | 122–129 | Hal Greer (36) | 33–22
56 | January 29 | Milwaukee | 142–118 | Clark, Greer (21) | 33–23
57 | January 30 | @ New York | 106–105 | Jim Washington (24) | 34–23
58 | January 31 | @ Boston | 126–132 | Archie Clark (32) | 34–24
59 | February 2 | Boston | 105–108 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 35–24
60 | February 5 | @ Chicago | 102–114 | Archie Clark (30) | 35–25
61 | February 6 | @ Cincinnati | 118–109 | Hal Greer (29) | 36–25
62 | February 7 | New York | 99–127 | Archie Clark (33) | 37–25
63 | February 12 | @ Detroit | 109–118 | Billy Cunningham (26) | 37–26
64 | February 14 | N Baltimore | 103–112 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 37–27
65 | February 17 | N Milwaukee | 114–119 | Billy Cunningham (26) | 37–28
66 | February 19 | @ Los Angeles | 118–104 | Jim Washington (28) | 38–28
67 | February 20 | @ Portland | 118–105 | Archie Clark (30) | 39–28
68 | February 21 | @ Seattle | 128–135 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 39–29
69 | February 23 | Portland | 113–119 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 40–29
70 | February 26 | Phoenix | 108–94 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 40–30
71 | February 28 | Cincinnati | 121–131 | Billy Cunningham (28) | 41–30
72 | March 1 | @ Milwaukee | 103–127 | Archie Clark (20) | 41–31
73 | March 2 | San Diego | 111–103 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 41–32
74 | March 3 | N Portland | 104–120 | Archie Clark (28) | 42–32
75 | March 5 | New York | 116–121 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 43–32
76 | March 6 | Detroit | 115–121 | Clark, Greer (28) | 44–32
77 | March 9 | @ Cleveland | 124–113 | Billy Cunningham (23) | 45–32
78 | March 14 | @ Atlanta | 101–108 | Archie Clark (29) | 45–33
79 | March 16 | Atlanta | 130–125 | Clark, Jackson (26) | 45–34
80 | March 19 | Cincinnati | 127–147 | Archie Clark (24) | 46–34
81 | March 20 | @ Baltimore | 112–124 | Bailey Howell (28) | 46–35
82 | March 21 | Baltimore | 108–120 | Hal Greer (23) | 47–35

## Playoffs

[edit]

1971 playoff game log

Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 1–2; road: 2–2)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

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1  | March 24  | @ Baltimore | W 126–112 | Hal Greer (30)  | Luke Jackson (13)  | Archie Clark (7)  | Baltimore Civic Center
6,707  | 1–0
2  | March 26  | Baltimore | L 107–119 | Archie Clark (26)  | Billy Cunningham (11)  | Archie Clark (6)  | Spectrum
10,369  | 1–1
3  | March 28  | @ Baltimore | L 103–111 | Hal Greer (30)  | Billy Cunningham (19)  | Billy Cunningham (10)  | Baltimore Civic Center
5,589  | 1–2
4  | March 30  | Baltimore | L 105–120 | Archie Clark (24)  | Billy Cunningham (17)  | Billy Cunningham (8)  | Spectrum
8,909  | 1–3
5  | April 1  | @ Baltimore | W 104–103 | Billy Cunningham (32)  | Billy Cunningham (20)  | Hal Greer (6)  | Baltimore Civic Center
10,998  | 2–3
6  | April 3  | Baltimore | W 98–94 | Billy Cunningham (33)  | Billy Cunningham (16)  | Billy Cunningham (5)  | Spectrum
7,059  | 3–3
7  | April 4  | @ Baltimore | L 120–128 | Archie Clark (37)  | Billy Cunningham (19)  | Clark, Greer (5)  | Baltimore Civic Center
6,662  | 3–4

1971 schedule

## Awards and records

[edit]

* Billy Cunningham, All-NBA First Team

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 1970–71 Philadelphia 76ers

* v
* t
* e

1970–71 NBA season by team

* 1970 NBA expansion draft
* 1970 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

| Atlantic|

* Boston
* Buffalo
* New York
* Philadelphia

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Central|

* Atlanta
* Baltimore
* Cincinnati
* Cleveland

Western|

| Midwest|

* Chicago
* Detroit
* Milwaukee
* Phoenix

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Pacific|

* Los Angeles
* Portland
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* Seattle

* v
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Philadelphia 76ers seasons

* Franchise
* Seasons

1940s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  1946–47 |  1947–48 |  1948–49

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1950s|

|  1949–50 |  1950–51 |  1951–52 |  1952–53 |  1953–54 |  1954–55 |  1955–56 |  1956–57 |  1957–58 |  1958–59

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1960s|

|  1959–60 |  1960–61 |  1961–62 |  1962–63 |  1963–64 |  1964–65 |  1965–66 |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

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1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 |  1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Neutral ]: Neutral record
*[ Div ]: Division record