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1970–71 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season


Professional basketball season

FieldValue
teamPhoenix Suns
end_year1971
wins48
losses34
divisionMidwest
division_place3
conf_place5
coachCotton Fitzsimmons
gmJerry Colangelo
ownersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
arenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
playoffsDid not qualify
bbr_teamPHO
televisionKTAR-TV
radioKTAR

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.

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

Phoenix Suns}}" width="10%"RoundPhoenix Suns}}" width="10%"PickPhoenix Suns}}" width="20%"PlayerPhoenix Suns}}" width="15%"PositionPhoenix Suns}}" width="15%"NationalityPhoenix Suns}}" width="20%"College
110Greg HowardForwardUnited StatesNew Mexico
227Fred TaylorGuardUnited StatesTexas-Pan Am
329Joe DePreGuardUnited StatesSt. John's
344Greg McDivittForwardUnited StatesOhio
348Vann WillifordForwardUnited StatesNorth Carolina State
461Bob LienhardCenterUnited StatesGeorgia
578John CanineGuardUnited StatesOhio
695Joe ThomasForwardUnited StatesMarquette
7112Heyward DotsonGuardUnited StatesColumbia
8129Steve PattersonCenterUnited StatesUCLA
9146Carl AshleyForwardUnited StatesWyoming
10163Gerhardus SchreurForwardUnited StatesArizona State
11178Jim WallsGuardUnited StatesClark
12190Ric CobbCenterUnited StatesMarquette
13200Fred CarpenterForwardUnited StatesHawaii
14210Chad CalabriaGuardUnited StatesIowa
15219Walt WilliamsForwardUnited StatesMiami (Ohio)

Roster

  • Cotton Fitzsimmons ()
  • Joe Proski ()

Regular season

Standings

Game log

|- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 15 | San Diego | W 119–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,523 | 1–0 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 17 | Detroit | L 107–110 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,646 | 1–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 20 | @ San Diego | L 114–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | San Diego Sports Arena 7,246 | 1–2 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 21 | @ Seattle | L 106–110 | Greg Howard (26) | Seattle Center Coliseum 6,923 | 1–3 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 23 | Cleveland | W 108–104 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,822 | 2–3 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 25 | San Diego | W 117–98 | Clem Haskins (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,697 | 3–3 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 28 | Chicago | L 105–118 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,343 | 3–4 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 30 | @ Boston | L 112–127 | Paul Silas (23) | Boston Garden 5,392 | 3–5 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 31 | @ Baltimore | L 103–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Baltimore Civic Center 4,527 | 3–6

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

Awards and honors

All-Star

  • Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.
  • Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.

Season

  • Paul Silas was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

Player statistics

Legend
GP
FG%
RPG
PPG

Season

PlayerGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG
8020.9.457.7536.31.711.0
6819.5.453.6046.90.85.9
5617.0.411.6111.82.48.3
8233.7.440.7844.04.717.8
7137.5.434.816^9.14.520.9
449.7.393.6382.70.63.9
8136.3.428.68512.53.011.9
5410.2.387.6241.60.95.5
395.2.267.4501.10.41.4
8139.0.452.8113.94.121.9
8224.8.451.7658.21.412.9
7015.6.431.822^2.21.64.7

^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Subtractions

DatePlayerReason leftNew team
May 11, 1970Jerry Chambers[Expansion draft](1970-nba-expansion-draft)Portland Trail Blazers
May 11, 1970Stan McKenzie[Expansion draft](1970-nba-expansion-draft)Portland Trail Blazers
July 27, 1970Neil JohnsonWaivedVirginia Squires (ABA)

References

Info: Wikipedia Source

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