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1973–74 Buffalo Braves season

1973–74 basketball season for Buffalo Braves

1973–74 basketball season for Buffalo Braves

FieldValue
teamBuffalo Braves
end_year1974
wins42
losses40
divisionAtlantic
division_place3
conf_place4
coachJack Ramsay
ownerPaul Snyder
arenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Maple Leaf Gardens
televisionWBEN-TV
radioWBEN
(Van Miller, Rudy Martzke)
playoffs[Conference Semifinals](1974-nba-playoffs-bracket)
(lost to [Celtics](1973-74-boston-celtics-season) 2–4)
bbr_teamBUF

Maple Leaf Gardens (Van Miller, Rudy Martzke) (lost to Celtics 2–4) The 1973–74 Buffalo Braves season was the fourth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's second season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. It was the first season where the team wore Columbia blue for their uniforms, which they retained for the rest of their tenure in Buffalo.

Bob McAdoo, who finished second in the NBA MVP Award voting, led the league in scoring; Ernie DiGregorio, who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, led the league in assists and free throw percentage, and every starter on the team was among the league's top ten in at least one statistical category.

The team finished third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. After three consecutive 60-loss seasons, the team made the NBA playoffs for the first time and became the youngest team to have ever done so in terms of average player age. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics.

Draft picks

Main article: 1973 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
13Ernie DiGregorioGuardUnited States
338Ken CharlesGuardTrinidad & Tobago
454Doug LittleForwardUnited States
572Randy NollForwardUnited States
688Mike MacalusoForwardUnited States
7106Tim BassettForwardUnited States
8122Carl JacksonGuardUnited States
9140Bob FullertonCenterUnited States
10153Nick ConnorForwardUnited States[Illinois](1973-74-illinois-fighting-illini-men-s-basketball-team)
11168Mike LeeGuardUnited States
12176Aaron CovingtonGuardUnited States
13184Bob VartanianGuardUnited States
14190Ron GilliamGuardUnited States
15195John FraleyForwardUnited States
16200John GreenForwardUnited States
17204Jim GarvinForwardUnited States
18207Don JohnstonForwardUnited States[North Carolina](1973-74-north-carolina-tar-heels-men-s-basketball-team)
19209Ron ThornsonForwardUnited States
20211Phil TollestrupForwardUnited States

Roster

  • Jack Ramsay

Roster notes

  • Forward Jim Garvin played in only 6 games before being waived in November.
  • Both center Kevin Kunnert and guard Dave Wohl were later traded away to the Houston Rockets in February.

Regular season

McAdoo had an outstanding second season and led the league in scoring with 30.6 ppg. It was the most recent time that one player averaged both 30 points and 15 rebounds in the same NBA season. In addition to McAdoo, the Braves were led by Ernie DiGregorio, who became the second straight Brave (following McAdoo) to capture NBA Rookie of the Year honors by leading the league in assists with 8.2 per game. 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year DiGregorio earned the first of two NBA free throw percentage championships (90.2%) and led the NBA in assists (8.2). That season DiGregorio set the NBA single-game rookie assists record (25), which still stands as unbroken (tied by Nate McMillan). Jim McMillan would finish fifth in the NBA in minutes played (3322) and tenth in free throw percentage (85.8%). He also finished second on the Braves in scoring (18.6). Heard went on to rank in the top ten in rebounds (11.7, 10th) and blocked shots (2.8, 6th) that season. Randy Smith, who was third on the team in scoring with a 15.5 average,

;October–November In his October 9, 1973 NBA debut against the Houston Rockets, Ernie DiGregorio had 14 assists. DiGregrorio had 17 points but it was a 25-foot basket with two seconds left in overtime by McAdoo, who had 31 points and 21 rebounds, that earned the Braves a 107–105 victory. An October 30 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics gave the Braves a half game lead over the Celtics in the Atlantic Division with a 6–4 record. The Braves only won one of their next nine games. Two weeks later on November 28, the Braves lost when Pete Maravich, who entered the game in the second quarter and posted 42 points off the bench, led the Atlanta Hawks over the Braves by 130–106.

;December–January The Braves' December 12 game against the Celtics was played in Providence, Rhode Island, making it a homecoming game for DiGregorio, the former Providence Friar. The Braves lost for the 20th consecutive time to the Celtics that night. Following a December 30 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Braves fell to a 16–22 record at the end of 1973 but began the New Year with a season high seven-game winning streak. The fifth game of the streak set a new franchise record for consecutive wins and gave the team 21 wins, which matched their total of the prior season. The resulting 23–22 record following the January 12 victory over the Capital Bullets gave them their first winning record since their 6–5 start. McAdoo, who would go on to finish second in the NBA Most Valuable Player Award balloting, represented the team in the January 15, 1974 NBA All-Star Game. By the end of the month the Braves had fallen back to a 26–29 record.

;February–March On February 1, the Braves traded Kunnert and Wohl to the Rockets for Goukas and Marin. The team then went 10–5 in February. By late February, the team had the top scoring offense in the league. They clinched their first playoff experience in a victory at a home game held at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens against the Portland Trail Blazers as McAdoo again had 28 rebounds as well as 29 points. The clinching game on March 10 was the Braves 74th game. The team made the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division.

Season standings

Season schedule

|- | 1 || October 9 || Houston || 105–107 (OT) || McAdoo (31) || McAdoo (21) || DiGregorio (14) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 11,462 || 1–0 |- | 2 || October 12 || @ Boston || 112–118 || McAdoo (25) || Heard (10) || DiGregorio (8) || Boston Garden 15,320 || 1–1 |- | 3 || October 13 || Los Angeles || 122–125 || McAdoo (35) || McAdoo (21) || DiGregorio (8) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 12,565 || 1–2 |- | 4 || October 16 || @ New York || 91–117 || McMillian (29) || Heard, McAdoo (13) || DiGregorio (4) || Madison Square Garden 17,210 || 1–3 |- | 5 || October 20 || Philadelphia || 110–116 || DiGregorio, McAdoo (24) || McAdoo (18) || DiGregorio (9) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 6,232 ||2–3 |- | 6 || October 24 || @ Milwaukee || 113–130 || McAdoo (32) || Heard (10) || DiGregorio (10) || Milwaukee Arena 8,309 || 2–4 |- | 7 || October 26 || N Cleveland || 97–104 || McMillian (36) || McAdoo (15) || DiGregorio (7) || Maple Leaf Gardens 7,187 || 3–4 |- | 8 || October 27 || @ Cleveland || 111–101 || Heard (23) || Heard (18) || DiGregorio (8) || Cleveland Arena 4,313 || 4–4 |- | 9 || October 28 || @ Kansas City-Omaha || 112–100 || McAdoo (44) || McAdoo (12) || Wohl (5) || Municipal Auditorium 5,045 || 5–4 |- | 10 || October 30 || Seattle || 103–105 || DiGregorio, McAdoo, Smith (21) || Heard, McAdoo (15) || DiGregorio (5) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 7,396 || 6–4

-
11
7,718
-
12
8,644
-
13
6,075
-
14
8,878
-
15
11,789
-
16
5,431
-
17
6,885
-
18
17,462
-
19
8,104
-
20
6,134
-
21
6,088
-
22
16,063
-
23
8,169
-
24
9,531
-
25
6,118
-
-
26
4,355
-
27
13,172
-
28
10,173
-
29
9,115
-
30
11,671
-
31
2,593
-
32
10,224
-
33
10,073
-
34
7,546
-
35
7,112
-
36
12,653
-
37
9,116
-
38
16,787
-
-
39
6,595
-
40
12,011
-
41
19,694
-
42
7,484
-
43
10,472
-
44
10,291
-
45
12,206
-
46
4,639
-
47
11,227
-
48
3,925
-
49
6,264
-
50
7,325
-
51
10,297
-
52
8,533
-
53
3,341
-
54
6,341
-
55
4,732
-
-
56
6,341
-
57
2,058
-
58
13,667
-
59
19,694
-
60
2,997
-
61
13,491
-
62
3,926
-
63
15,164
-
64
12,651
-
65
4,847
-
66
15,676
-
67
1,641
-
68
18,023
-
69
13,788
-
70
10,917
-
-
71
17,378
-
72
5,833
-
73
16,218
-
74
6,291
-
75
14,244
-
76
12,762
-
77
18,000
-
78
10,719
-
79
9,175
-
80
8,604
-
81
17,505
-
82
3,543
-

Playoffs

In the 1974 NBA Playoffs the Braves were matched up against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had won 22 of 24 matches between the teams. However, the Braves had won the most recent two matches after 22 straight defeats, including 5 earlier that season. Through four games, the series was even at two games apiece. However the Celtics would pull away with two more wins to take the series in six games. With rookie DiGregorio and 2nd year McAdoo leading the way, the team became the youngest NBA playoff team (24.42, using data going back to 1952) based on average age weighted by minutes played. The 1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks (23.82) would surpass this record. The Celtics went on to win the NBA championship in the 1974 NBA Finals.

In game 1, the Braves lost a 17-point lead as Dave Cowens led a fourth quarter rally despite five personal fouls. In game 2, the Braves evened the series 1–1 with a 115–105 victory despite balanced scoring by the Celtics who had three 20-point scorers: Jo Jo White had 27, Don Nelson had 21 and John Havlicek had 20. McAdoo had 23 and DiGregorio had 18 for Buffalo. The Braves led most of game 2 and held on for the victory. In game 3, the Celtics scored 39 first quarter points on their way to a 120–107 victory. Havlicek had 43 points (26 in the first half), and Cowens added 23 (17 in the first half). The Braves recovered from an early fourth quarter 10-point deficit to win game 4 104–102. The game had a frenetic final 15 seconds as McMillian lost the ball on a drive resulting in a game-tying fast break by the Celtics. Then when a McAdoo shot rolled off the rim, McMillian tipped the ball in as time expired for the victory. The Braves had rallied from an 84–74 deficit to tie the score at 98 largely on the performance of McAdoo. In the game the lead changed hands 9 times, and the Braves outrebounded the Celtics 62–38, including 20–3 offensive rebounds (11 by McMillian). The Celtics won game 5 by a 100–97 margin. Although McAdoo was held to 16 points on the night, the Braves led 89–85 with four minutes left. The Celtics won game 6 of the series when White sank two free throws after time expired in regulation play for a 106–104 victory. McAdoo had tied the score at 104 with 7 seconds left, but he fouled White at midcourt.

In the playoffs, Heard bettered his regular season 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds averages with 16.8 points and 14.7 rebounds.

Playoff Schedule

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | March 30 | @ Boston | L 97–107 | Bob McAdoo (29) | Gar Heard (20) | Ernie DiGregorio (8) | Boston Garden 14,300 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 2 | Boston | W 115–105 | Bob McAdoo (23) | Bob McAdoo (20) | Ernie DiGregorio (12) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 17,507 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 3 | @ Boston | L 107–120 | Bob McAdoo (38) | Gar Heard (13) | Ernie DiGregorio (8) | Boston Garden 14,656 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 6 | Boston | W 104–102 | Bob McAdoo (44) | Jim McMillian (18) | Ernie DiGregorio (11) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 18,119 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | April 9 | @ Boston | L 97–100 | Randy Smith (25) | Gar Heard (16) | Ernie DiGregorio (4) | Boston Garden 15,320 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | April 12 | Boston | L 104–106 | Bob McAdoo (40) | McAdoo, Heard (15) | Ernie DiGregorio (9) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 18,257

2–4
Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Player stats

GPMPGFGFGAFG%FTFTAFT%ORPGDRPGRPGAPGSPGBPGPFPGPPG
Games playedMinutes per gameField-goals per gameField-goals attempted per Game
Field-goal percentageFree-throws per gameFree-throws attempted per GameFree-throw percentage
Offensive rebounds per gameDefensive rebounds per gameRebounds per gameAssists per game
Steals per gameBlocks per gamePersonal fouls per gamePoints per game
PlayerGPMPGFGFGAFG%FTFTAFT%ORPGDRPGRPGAPGSPGBPGPFPGPPG
744312.222.30.5476.27.80.7933.811.315.12.31.23.33.430.6
8240.57.314.80.49444.60.8582.64.87.43.11.60.32.318.6
8233.56.513.20.4922.53.50.7121.12.83.84.72.503.215.5
8135.76.514.90.4352.43.60.653.38.411.72.21.72.83.715.3
8135.96.515.60.4212.12.40.9020.62.12.78.20.70.1315.2
2725.25.49.90.5452.630.8771.13.44.51.70.90.73.413.4
7417.62.34.90.4671.420.7131.33.14.41.90.50.22.16.1
2720.32.34.10.5550.40.70.50.411.52.60.70.22.14.9
4114.81.53.70.411.50.70.20.50.73.10.801.84
5911.71.53.10.4760.91.30.6710.40.71.10.90.50.21.53.9
361212.90.3520.91.40.6350.50.71.21.30.40.11.23
398.71.32.60.4850.30.40.6881.11.62.70.60.10.62.12.8
303.70.61.50.4320.30.60.5880.30.50.80.10.2011.6
202.60.61.40.4070.40.70.6150.20.40.600.10.10.51.5
61.80.20.70.25000.20.70.80000.20.3

Awards and honors

  • Ernie DiGregorio, NBA Rookie of the Year
  • Ernie DiGregorio, led NBA in assists (663)
  • Ernie DiGregorio, led NBA in free throw percentage
  • Bob McAdoo led the NBA in scoring.
  • Bob McAdoo All-NBA Team (2nd team)
  • Bob McAdoo 1974 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

Prior to this season the Braves had lost 60 games or more each year and failed to make the NBA playoffs. Over the course of the season, the team made a series of player transactions that were part of the résumé that earned Buffalo Braves General Manager Eddie Donovan the NBA Executive of the Year Award and put the team into the playoffs for the first time. Donovan's season bolstered his reputation as a wheeler and dealer.

The Braves drafted four players in the 1973 NBA draft who played for the team during the 1973–74 season: DiGregorio, Ken Charles, Mike Macaluso, and Jim Garvin. In addition, the team made two free agent signings. On September 11, 1973, the team signed Paul Ruffner. On September 17, 1973, the team waived Dick Garrett and Bill Hewitt. The other members of the 1972–73 team who were not traded or waived and did not play on the 1973–74 team were Howard Komives, Fred Hilton and Harold Fox. On November 24, 1973, the Braves waived Garvin. On November 27, 1973, the team signed Lee Winfield.

Prior to the 1973–74 NBA season, Gar Heard and Kevin Kunnert were traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Buffalo Braves for John Hummer, a 1974 NBA draft 2nd round pick and a 1975 NBA draft 2nd round pick. The trade of Smith, who had been the team's leading scorer and rebounder the prior year, was controversial at first. Other trades during the season included the February 1, 1974, trade of Kunnert and Dave Wohl for Matt Guokas and 1973 NBA All-Star Jack Marin.

The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1973–74 season.

Trades

February 1, [1974](1973-74-nba-season)To **Buffalo Braves**To **Houston Rockets**

Free agents

Additions

Lee WinfieldNovember 27Seattle SuperSonics

Subtractions

Jim Garvinwaived, November 24Retired

References

References

  1. "Jack Ramsay". Sports Reference LLC.
  2. "Bob McAdoo". Sports Reference LLC.
  3. "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Rebounds Per Game". Sports Reference LLC.
  4. "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points Per Game". Sports Reference LLC.
  5. "Ernie DiGregorio". Sports Reference LLC.
  6. "Coaches: Nate McMillan". NBA Media Ventures, LLC.
  7. "Jim McMillian". Sports Reference LLC.
  8. "1973-74 Buffalo Braves Roster and Statistics". Sports Reference LLC.
  9. "Gar Heard". Sports Reference LLC.
  10. "Randy Smith". Sports Reference LLC.
  11. Lemire, Joe. (2008-10-27). "Grand Entrances: Who had the best first games in sports?". [[Sports Illustrated]].
  12. (1973-10-10). "McAdoo Hits, 107-105". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  13. (1973-10-10). "Lakers Don't Think They'll Miss Wilt All That Much". [[The Bulletin (Bend).
  14. Keese, Parton. (1973-10-31). "Braves Win, Take First In Division; Basketball Roundup Bucks 112, Kings 78". [[The New York Times]].
  15. (1973-11-14). "Braves Snap Losing Spin Against Atlanta, 121–114". [[Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
  16. (1973-11-29). "Pete Maravich Takes Control, Scores 42". [[Reading Eagle]].
  17. (1973-10-13). "Celts Down Braves". [[The Telegraph (Nashua).
  18. (1974-01-09). "McAdoo Sparks Buffalo To Fifth Straight Win". [[The Palm Beach Post]].
  19. (1974-01-08). "Surging Braves Roar By Hawks, 100–96". [[Rome News-Tribune]].
  20. (1974-02-01). "Two Rocket Vets Traded To Buffalo". [[Bangor Daily News]].
  21. (1974-02-22). "Knicks' Offense Beats Buffalo Braves' Defense". [[Lewiston Evening Journal]].
  22. (1974-03-11). "Braves Gain Playoffs". [[The New York Times]].
  23. (1974-03-11). "Buffalo moves into playoffs with victory over Blazers". [[The Bulletin (Bend).
  24. Pike, Marvin R.. (1974-03-29). "Consistency Key to Win For Braves". [[Schenectady Gazette]].
  25. Biderman, David. (2010-04-16). "Youngest Playoff Teams". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
  26. (1974-03-31). "Cowens Rallies Celtics Over Braves, 107-97". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  27. White, Gordon S. Jr.. (1974-03-31). "Celtics, Behind 1 7 Points, Set Back Braves, 107-97; Celtic Rally Tops Braves In Playoffs". [[The New York Times]].
  28. Brown, Frank. (1974-04-01). "Surprising Braves tie Celtics at one game apiece in playoffs". [[Daily News (Bowling Green).
  29. White, Gordon S. Jr.. (1974-04-03). "Braves Defeat Celtics; Special to The New York Times". [[The New York Times]].
  30. (1974-04-04). "Celtics Romp By Braves". [[Daytona Beach Morning Journal]].
  31. McGowen, Deane. (1974-04-07). "Braves Top Celtics in Last Second". [[The New York Times]].
  32. (1974-04-03). "Buffalo, Celts deadlocked". [[Tri City Herald]].
  33. (1974-04-08). "Boston's Rebounding Needs Improvement Versus Braves". [[Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
  34. White, Gordon S. Jr.. (1974-04-10). "Celtics Win, Lead by 3-2 In Playoffs Bulls Take 3-2 Lead". [[The New York Times]].
  35. (1974-04-10). "Cowens, Havlicek, White pace Celts past Braves". [[Bangor Daily News]].
  36. White, Gordon S. Jr.. (1974-04-13). "Celtics Top Braves, Win Series, 4-2". [[The New York Times]].
  37. (1974-04-13). "Celts End Buffalo Hopes". [[Eugene Register-Guard]].
  38. "Bob Kauffman". Sports Reference LLC.
  39. "Los Angeles Clippers Franchise Index". Sports Reference LLC.
  40. (2009-05-03). "Denver's Mark Warkentien named NBA Executive of the Year". [[NBA.com]].
  41. Goldaper, Sam. (1974-02-05). "Donovan Dealing Braves Into Playoffs". [[The New York Times]].
  42. "1973 NBA Draft". Sports Reference LLC.
  43. "Paul Ruffner". Sports Reference LLC.
  44. "Bill Hewitt". Sports Reference LLC.
  45. "Dick Garrett". Sports Reference LLC.
  46. "Howard Komives". Sports Reference LLC.
  47. "Fred Hilton". Sports Reference LLC.
  48. "Harold Fox". Sports Reference LLC.
  49. "James Garvin (basketball)". Sports Reference LLC.
  50. "Lee Winfield". Sports Reference LLC.
  51. Goldaper, Sam. (1973-09-18). "Lakers Trade McMillian For Braves' 7-1 Smith". [[The New York Times]].
  52. (1973-09-17). "Braves Trade Smith To LA". [[Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
  53. "Jack Marin". Sports Reference LLC.
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