Oscar Robertson joined Lew Alcindor and the Milwaukee Bucks for the 1971 Season *photo courtesy of nba.com

For the 1971 Season, the NBA added three new expansion teams, the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers.  With this, the NBA went to the 4 Division format.  The Atlantic Division and Central Division were in the Eastern Conference.  While the Midwest Division and Pacific Division were in the Western Conference.  The standings looked like this for the 1971 Season, take a guess on who made the playoffs and who would have home court advantage in the Semifinal series (it was still the 4-team per conference format).

• Atlantic Division
  
• New York Knicks               (52-30)
• Philadelphia 76ers              (47-35)
• Boston Celtics                   (44-38)
• Buffalo Braves                    (22-60)

• Central Division
  
• Baltimore Bullets               (42-40)
• Atlanta Hawks                   (36-46)
• Cincinnati Royals               (33-49)
• Cleveland Cavaliers             (15-67)

• Midwest Division
  
• Milwaukee Bucks                (66-16)
• Chicago Bulls                     (51-31)
• Phoenix Suns                     (48-34)
• Detroit Pistons                    (45-37)

• Pacific Division
  
• Los Angeles Lakers            (48-34)
• San Francisco Warriors      (41-41)
• San Diego Rockets            (40-42)
• Seattle Supersonics           (38-44)
• Portland Trailblazers           (29-53)

Now if we’re judging by today’s format (or more accurately while the NBA was still in 4 divisions), the division winners would be the top 2 seeds.  So, Baltimore would play 3-seed Philadelphia but Philadelphia would have the home court advantage because they had the better record.  While New York would be playing Boston (with the 4th best record in the East) in the Semifinals.  On the other side, Los Angeles would be playing Chicago but Chicago would have the home-court advantage while Milwaukee would be playing Phoenix (4th best record in the West).

Well, the only thing from the first paragraph that materialized in the first year of the 4 division format was that the division winners were the top 2 seeds.  As was structured for the 1971 and 1972 playoffs before it was changed in 1973, the top two teams in each division made the playoffs and the division winner would play the second place team in the other division in the same conference (so the Atlantic Division winner played the 2nd place team in the Central.. and on and on).  Also, the division winner would have home court advantage against the 2nd place team in the other division.

So as it worked out Atlanta with its stalwart 36-46 record made the playoffs while Boston and its 44-38 record didn’t.  On the other side, the San Francisco Warriors finishing 41-41 beat out the 48-34 Phoenix Suns for a playoff spot.  And while Philadelphia and Baltimore as well as Chicago and Los Angeles did meet in the Semifinals, Baltimore and Los Angeles despite worse records than their counterparts had home court advantage.  This would turn out to be huge as both series went to 7 games.  Baltimore would win Game 7 against Philadelphia, 128-120, to move into the Eastern Conference Finals against New York, who easily defeated Atlanta.  We’ll cover that series as well as Los Angeles/Chicago later.

But first, it was a early regular season matchup between what would turn out to be the two best teams in the NBA.

November 27, 1970 – New York Knicks 103 @Milwaukee Bucks 94

A big early season matchup between the World Champions and the up-and-coming team that had the most dominant young player in the game and had traded for a veteran superstar in the off-season that was billed to turn them from good to great.

The champion Knicks returned everybody important from their championship team except backup center Nate Bowman who was traded to Buffalo.  But the zen master himself was back after missing the entire 1970 season to be the backup center, that would be none other than Phil Jackson.  The starters of Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett at guard, Bill Bradley and Dave DeBusschere at forward and Willis Reed in the middle returned intact along with Cazzie Russell, Mike Riordan and Dave Stallworth off the bench.  Russell was out for this game with a broken wrist (he would be traded to Golden State after the season for Jerry Lucas).  But Riordan and Stallworth (both of whom would be traded to Baltimore early in the 1972 season for Earl Monroe) would contribute in this game.

With the addition of two Eastern Conference expansion teams, the Milwaukee Bucks moved to the Western Conference for the 1971 season.  They had 1970 Rookie of the Year award winner Lew Alcindor as well as a young nucleus from the 1970 team that lost to New York in the Eastern Finals.  That nucleus would be forwards Greg Smith and Bob Dandridge and sharpshooter Jon McGlocklin.  But an off-season trade for Oscar Robertson was predicted to make the Bucks a contender.

Milwaukee got off to a strong start, to say the least, with a 17-1 record and a 16-game winning streak coming into their first matchup of the season versus the Knicks.  New York came in with an 18-7 record and had the previous consecutive games won record with 18 (set the season before).  ABC’s Keith Jackson and Jack Twyman called this one at the Milwaukee Arena, where there was a sellout of 10,746 fans.  The Knicks led by Reed got off to an early 12-7 lead but Milwaukee sparked by Alcindor and Dandridge grabbed a 32-20 lead late in the 1st quarter on an Alcindor jumper from the middle of the lane.  But New York made a run as Frazier got a fast break layup then Barnett stole an inbounds pass and got it to Frazier for another layup.  Then Stallworth completed an 8-0 run with a jumper.  With the score 33-28, Frazier came off a Reed screen for a jumper and it was 33-30 Milwaukee after the first quarter.

It was 9:36 in the 2nd quarter when the Bucks made their first substitutions as veteran forward Bob Boozer and young quick guard Lucius Allen (who played with Alcindor at UCLA) came into the game.  Boozer and Allen would contribute for the Bucks during the season but gave them nothing in this game, literally.  The 2nd quarter was back-and-forth.  Reed made three consecutive shots to tie the game at 42.  The Knicks, as noticed by Twyman, seemed to be depending on Reed a little too much for offense and Jack wondered how this would affect them in the second half.  McGlocklin nailed several outside shots for Milwaukee as there was 9 first half ties.  But the Knicks would take the halftime advantage at 56-55.  Reed finished with 22 points, while Frazier and Stallworth off the bench followed with 11 and 10, respectively.  Milwaukee’s Alcindor had 14 points while Dandridge and McGlocklin contributed 12.

Reed had been using his strength to force Alcindor into tough shots and had been drawing Alcindor outside.  But Alcindor had a strong third quarter with 12 points as Reed looked more tired as the game went along (as predicted by Twyman) but the Knicks still held a 70-69 lead with 5 minutes left.  Then after a Frazier missed free throw, McGlocklin took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup to give the Bucks the lead and ‘wake up’ the crowd.  Oscar then made a jumper from the elbow for his 8th point of the third and 16th of the game.  Then Robertson contributed an assist to Dandridge.  After another Frazier missed free throw (he missed 3 late in the 3rd), Alcindor got a quick fast break dunk for a 77-70 Bucks lead that completed a Milwaukee 10-0 run.  After four quick Knicks points, the Bucks brought in Allen for Robertson and pressed the Knicks (even though Robertson ‘was playing defense for the first time in his career’ as said by former teammate Twyman, the Bucks put on the press with him resting as to not tire him out.. Oscar had turned 32 three days earlier).  The press and swarming defense contributed a 6-0 run to end the third for Milwaukee, as they led 83-74.

However, Allen’s youth showed early in the fourth as he couldn’t get the Bucks into their offense.  After two DeBusschere jumpers and a Reed jumper over Alcindor, as well as a Reed basket on a goaltending, the Bucks called timeout up one and Oscar came back in.  Oscar settled them down for a few minutes as the Bucks went up 89-85 with 7:08 left.  It was at this point where fouls became a factor.  Alcindor, Dandridge, and Robertson had 4 for the Bucks.  Reed, DeBusschere, and Barnett had 4 for the Knicks.  The Knicks bench then came to the rescue.  Stallworth made two straight shots to tie the game.  Then Reed got his 5th foul on an Alcindor post-up move (Lew missed the two free throws).  Phil Jackson came into the game for him and made two straight buckets of his own (his second shot was a corner jumper over Alcindor, who committed his 5th foul on the play, Jackson missed the free throw but the Knicks were on a 10-2 run and all 10 of those points were by the bench).  After a Frazier right wing jumper it was 95-89 New York.  Alcindor and McGlocklin made jumpers to break a Milwaukee cold streak in which they barely went to Alcindor against Jackson.  But then with 2 minutes left, Frazier made a tough shot over Greg Smith after a pump fake for his 20th point.  The Knicks called a timeout after an Alcindor free throw and Reed came back in.  After Stallworth made a jumper for his 18th point to make it 99-94 Knicks, Reed closed the game with a fadeaway over Alcindor and an offensive rebound bucket.  The top defensive team in the NBA that early season, the Knicks, had outscored the top scoring team in the 4th quarter 29-11.

New York starters (points scored)

Bill Bradley (6) – Small Forward

Dave DeBusschere (14) – Power Forward

Willis Reed (34) – Center

Walt Frazier (20) – Point Guard

Dick Barnett (5) – Shooting Guard

New York bench (points scored)

Dave Stallworth (18)

Mike Riordan (2)

Phil Jackson (4)

New York Coach: Red Holzman

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Milwaukee starters (points scored)

Bob Dandridge (14) – Small Forward

Greg Smith (11) – Power Forward

Lew Alcindor (33) – Center

Oscar Robertson (18) – Point Guard

Jon McGlocklin (18) – Shooting Guard

Milwaukee bench (points scored)

Bob Boozer (0)

Lucius Allen (0)

Dick Cunningham (0)

Bill Zopf (0)

Milwaukee Coach: Larry Costello

The Knicks beat Milwaukee at Madison Square Garden the next night 100-99 without Frazier.  Milwaukee would end up breaking the consecutive games won streak by winning 20 in a row later in the season (it would be annihilated the next season by the Lakers 33-game streak).  New York would beat the Bucks 4-1 in the season series (this was the Knicks only win of in Milwaukee).  In a great what-if, this would have been a excellent NBA Finals matchup in 1971.  But the Knicks would lose the 7th game to an injured Baltimore Bullets team, 93-91, at the Garden.  The Knicks had won the first three games of the series at Madison Square Garden (although two were close) but had been killed three times in Baltimore.  New York would never quite be the same as Reed only played 11 games in the 1972 season, but they would make two straight Finals appearances with Frazier taking the scoring load from Reed.  Milwaukee easily made it through the first two rounds of the playoffs, beating San Francisco and Los Angeles in 4-1 series, and they wouldn’t have much problem with the Bullets.

Alcindor and Reed would have great battles in 1971, including this game where Willis outscored Lew 34 to 33 *photo courtesy of ebay

December 25, 1970 – Atlanta Hawks 115 @Phoenix Suns 127

ABC’s annual Christmas tradition for the NBA since the Phoenix Suns came into the league in 1968-69 was to broadcast a game from Phoenix.  So Keith Jackson and Jack Twyman were back as the young talented Suns took on the Atlanta Hawks, who were in their first season in the Eastern Division.  The Hawks came into the game with a 12-23 record while the Suns were 20-17.  Guess which team made the playoffs? as we covered up top, it was the team that didn’t deserve to (Atlanta on Christmas were 3 games behind Cincinnati for 2nd in the Central while Phoenix was 4 games behind Detroit and Chicago for 3rd place in the Midwest).

Atlanta did have one of the most exciting rookies to come into the league at that point.  Still the top scorer in the history of College Basketball, ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich was just starting to get adjusted to the pro game after a slow start.  Atlanta also had superstar Lou Hudson.  Hudson wasn’t flashy but got his shots moving without the ball as one could see watching this game – really none of the Hawks were flashy, so Maravich and his style was a bit of a clash covered a bit in this SI article:

“Maravich was the third pick in the 1970 draft and signed a $1.5 million, five-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Then things began to go sour. The Hawks pressured Maravich to play a team game, while the seats were packed with fans screaming for showtime, Maravich-style.”

Phoenix had made the playoffs the season before and had young stars like Dick Van Arsdale, Connie Hawkins and Paul Silas (as well as the consolation prize for losing the coin flip for the 1st pick in the 1969 draft, 6’10″ slow and clumsy Neal Walk.. the first pick was Alcindor).

This game started off well for the Hawks, Maravich got a break-away layup and Hawkins committed three fouls in the first 2:15 of the game.  Hawkins stayed in the game for the first quarter and wouldn’t commit his fourth until the third quarter but he also wouldn’t score until the third.  Hudson and Maravich had the Hawks first 10 points (each with 5) before a Walt Bellamy three-point play put Atlanta up 13-11.  But with the Hawks up 17-13, Walk and Clem Haskins scored the next 10 points for the Suns.  After an Atlanta 6-0 run to tie the game, Phoenix finished the first quarter on a 7-2 run to go up 30-25.  The Suns then scored the first 8 points of the 2nd quarter as Haskins got assists on layups by Mel Counts and Lamar Green off the bench.  Then Counts scored on an offensive rebound and Van Arsdale got a basket off an inbounds pass.  Van Arsdale in particular was taking of Maravich’s defense (I guess about as bad as his offense was good) by moving without the ball and back-cutting for easy baskets.  A Van Arsdale steal and layup gave the Suns their biggest lead at 45-28.  The Phoenix bench was key in the second quarter as well as Van Arsdale.  Counts, Green and Fred Taylor scored 19 points in the quarter.  It all added to a 63-51 lead for the Suns at halftime.  Van Arsdale led the Suns with 18 points while Haskins and Counts followed with 11 and 10, respectively.  Hudson and Maravich were the only Hawks in double figures with 15 and 12, respectively.

Atlanta got going in the third quarter as Bellamy started being a presence on defense as well as grabbing defensive boards along with Bill Bridges.  Walt Hazzard also started scoring (2 points at halftime, 12 at the end of the third).  Hudson also added 14 points on 6-for-6 from the field in the quarter.  It all added to Atlanta outscoring Phoenix 40-30 to cut it to 93-91 going into the fourth.  It was Hawkins who got the Suns going in the fourth.  On the first possession, he drove to the lane from the right corner past reserve Jim Davis and finished with his left hand on a little scoop as he was being fouled by Bellamy.  Connie made the free throw for his 11th point.  Van Arsdale hit a jumper, Hawkins got another drive by Davis and Haskins hit 2 free throws before Atlanta scored again.  Phoenix continued this execution in front of about 10,000 excited fans to pull away and beat the Hawks.

Atlanta starters (points scored)

Lou Hudson (33) – Small Forward

Bill Bridges (9) – Power Forward

Walt Bellamy (16) – Center

Walt Hazzard (14) – Point Guard

Pete Maravich (28) – Shooting Guard

Atlanta bench (points scored)

Jim Davis (7)

Bob Christian (8)

Atlanta Coach: Richie Guerin

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Phoenix starters (points scored)

Connie Hawkins (20) – Small Forward

Paul Silas (16) – Power Forward

Neal Walk (15) – Center

Clem Haskins (17) – Point Guard

Dick Van Arsdale (32) – Shooting Guard

Phoenix bench (points scored)

Mel Counts (12)

Lamar Green (4)

Fred Taylor (11)

Phoenix Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons

Two under-rated stars, Hawkins (left) had big hands and Maravich (right) was a dribbling wizard *photos courtesy of NBA.com and Peach Tree Hoops

April 4, 1971 – West Semifinals, Game 6: Los Angeles Lakers 99 @Chicago Bulls 113

There are some times in sports where home court advantage is over-rated.  This series was not an example of that.  It went the full 7 games with every home team winning.  In all other sports nowadays, the division winner has home court advantage automatically (even if the team they’re playing has a better record).  But this is not the case in basketball.  But, as we covered earlier, it was in 1971 when the NBA first went to four divisions.  So in this series the 48-34 Pacific Division-winning Lakers had home court advantage over the 51-31 Bulls, who finished behind Milwaukee in the Midwest.

Despite the home court disadvantage, the Bulls did have a 15-point lead at halftime of Game 1.  But the Lakers came back to win 100-99.  The Lakers did not have Elgin Baylor or Jerry West for the entire playoffs (Baylor only played 2 games that season).  West in fact, interestingly, was a commentator with Keith Jackson for this game on ABC.  Talk about your awkward situations.  West, however, I feel did a great job of being as objective as possible.  He did refer to the Lakers as ‘we’ a lot.  There were also 2 other playoff games being broadcast on this day (Sunday, April 4), so I guess ABC was short of NBA analysts.  But I don’t think West would get away with broadcasting his team’s playoff game for a national network instead of sitting in street clothes on the bench today (Rick Barry throughout the 70′s routinely would broadcast for the national network when the Warriors season was over – it was just a different time period).

The Lakers had re-acquired guard Gail Goodrich in the off-season, and he took up for West’s absence against the Bulls by averaging 31.4 points per game in the first 5 games.  Meanwhile, Jackson and West highlighted the struggles of Bulls star forward Chet Walker so far in the series (only averaging 15 ppg after 22 during the season).  Walker hit the first shot of Game 6 in front of over 16,000 at Chicago Stadium (the Bulls, in fact, hit their first three shots to take an early lead).  Chicago came out with forward Bob Love guarding Goodrich to put some height on him.  It didn’t work as Goodrich scored 8 early points and the Lakers other guard Keith Erickson hit his first 3 shots being guarded by the shorter Chicago point guard Bob Weiss (the Bulls would acquire Norm Van Lier the next season).  The first quarter went back and forth, but with 2:30 to go Walker hit a short wing jumper and was fouled.  ’Chet the Jet’ hit the free throw and the Bulls were up 25-21.  The Lakers then got 6 straight points as Goodrich hit a fade-away, Wilt Chamberlain got a dunk on a pass from forward Happy Hairston, then the other forward rookie Jim McMillian hit a jumper.  The Lakers would end the first quarter up 30-29 as Goodrich scored 14 points.

Early in 2nd quarter, Laker reserve Willie McCarter hit back-to-back jumpers to put the Lakers up 36-31.  The Lakers offense continued in sync despite Chamberlain committing 3 fouls.  On one possession, Erickson hit a jumper in which three players would have gotten an assist if this was hockey and on another Goodrich got a layup after a give-and-go with Wilt.  After Erickson hit another jumper on a Wilt feed, the Lakers had their biggest lead at 52-41.  on a critical Bulls possession, Chicago center Tom Boerwinkle had the ball at the elbow.  Weiss cut around him and got the ball as big Tom set a screen.  Weiss then nailed a jumper and then after a Laker miss, Weiss took it himself and hit a pull-up at the free throw line.  After an Erickson jumper, Walker got a three-point play and Weiss hit another jumper and the Bulls cut it to 54-50.  The Lakers ended the half up 57-52.  Goodrich had 19 points and Chamberlain had 19 rebounds.  Erickson had finished with 13.  The Bulls were led by Walker and Weiss with 11 each.

Early in the 3rd quarter, Wilt Chamberlain connected with a behind-the-back pass from the post to Erickson for a layup and a foul.  The Lakers were up 62-53 after that three-point play.  After Walker hit another jumper in the lane, the teams traded a free throw.  Then the Bulls got going.  Boerwinkle hit from the elbow, Love hit a pull-up on the break, and then Sloan got a layup on another break and it was timeout LA.  The Bulls took the lead, 64-63, on their first possession after the timeout when Weiss drove and fed to Boerwinkle for a baseline jumper.  Wilt then committed his 4th foul on an offensive foul but he stayed in the game (he had never fouled out of a game at that point – he never would foul out of one).  Even with Wilt still in the game, the Bulls gained confidence.  Walker hit a jumper in the lane that gave the Bulls the lead for good at 68-66 (it was Chet’s 16th and last point).  Love then followed with a baseline jumper, Weiss hit from the top of the circle and Sloan completed the run with another jumper.  After Weiss took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup, the Bulls had their biggest lead at 78-68.  Chicago was up 80-72 after the quarter.

For the fourth quarter, reserve guard Jim King (a former Laker) made such a great impact for the Bulls that Walker didn’t play in the quarter.  King started with a jumper from Boerwinkle to put the Bulls up 10.  The Bulls kept that lead helped by a key possession in which Sloan hit a jumper after Chicago got 5 offensive rebounds (3 by King).  After the future longtime Utah Jazz coach hit another jumper off great ball movement, the Bulls were up 97-83.  The Lakers cut it to 101-93 after Happy Hairston’s jumper completed a 6-0 run.  The Bulls turned the ball over when King lost it out of bounds.  As ABC was showing the replay of the turnover, King stole an inbounds pass and then tipped in a Weiss miss (after the action got back live).  Hairston then fouled out but a Chamberlain fade-away made the game 104-95 with 2:30 left.  The Bulls put it away at that point.  Sloan hit another short jumper, then King got a steal from Wilt in the post as Chamberlain was double-teamed.  Jimmy got it ahead to Weiss for a layup.  Then the Lakers got the ball inbounds and called a timeout as McCarter was dribbling up.. or they thought they did.  McCarter dropped the ball on the floor as he and other Lakers headed to the bench.  Weiss then picked up the loose ball and laid it in and referee Manny Sokol counted it for a 110-95 Bulls lead.  The Lakers argued vehemently but got nowhere (except for a technical).

Los Angeles won Game 7 109-98 at the Forum but would lose to Milwaukee 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals.

Los Angeles starters (points scored)

Jim McMillian (16) – Small Forward

Happy Hairston (11) – Power Forward

Wilt Chamberlain (13) – Center

Gail Goodrich (25) – Point Guard

Keith Erickson (13) – Shooting Guard

Los Angeles bench (points scored)

Willie McCarter (12)

Pat Riley (0)

Fred Hetzel (2)

Los Angeles Coach: Joe Mullaney

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Chicago starters (points scored)

Bob Love (21) – Small Forward

Chet Walker (16) – Power Forward

Tom Boerwinkle (12) – Center

Bob Weiss (25) – Point Guard

Jerry Sloan (23) – Shooting Guard

Chicago bench (points scored)

Jim Fox (6)

Matt Guokas (2)

Jim King (8)

Chicago Coach: Dick Motta

three key contributors to the early 70′s Bulls – from left to right: Chet Walker, Bob Love, and Jerry Sloan *photos courtesy of bleacher report (x2), and Chicago Sun Times 

April 30, 1971 – NBA Finals, Game 4: Milwaukee Bucks 118 @Baltimore Bullets 106

The 1971 NBA Finals turned out to be a huge mis-match.  The injured Baltimore Bullets had managed to survive the Champion Knicks in the 7th game at Madison Square Garden and would go on to be swept by the Bucks and deny the NBA a possible great Finals matchup.  Isn’t it sad that Stern wasn’t around to rig the 1971 Eastern Conference Finals so that the Knicks would win (Wait! I didn’t say that!).

To be frank, this could have been a great Finals matchup had Baltimore had a healthy Gus Johnson (who missed 7 playoff games in 1971, including 2 in the Finals.. he played in Game 4 though) and/or a healthy Earl Monroe (who was slowed by a pulled groin muscle and averaged only 13 ppg in the Finals minus a 26-point Game 1).  But Milwaukee had a really dominant team that season that I think only New York would have had a chance against.  Oscar Robertson was too powerful physically for Baltimore point guard Fred Carter and Lew Alcindor was 6 inches taller than his counterpart Wes Unseld.  Baltimore also had to survive 7 game wars with Philadelphia and New York while Milwaukee had ho-hum 5-game series’ versus San Francisco and Los Angeles (of Milwaukee’s 10 playoff games in those two series, 3 were decided by less than 12 points and the Bucks were 1-2 in those games).  So all those factors combined for a Milwaukee sweep with their closest victory being 8 points in Game 3.

For this game, there was only a broadcast of most of the second half.  Milwaukee had a 60-47 halftime lead at the Baltimore Civic Center (after leading 31-22 after the 1st quarter).  But in the first minute of the 2nd half, Baltimore scored 6 unanswered points.  However, when action resumed Bob Dandridge nailed a jumper in the lane after an offensive rebound then Monroe got re-injured and had to go get re-taped in the locker room (he would return but didn’t score for the rest of the game).  Oscar Robertson then took over as he dished to McGlocklin for two jumpers and to Greg Smith for a layup on the fast break.  Oscar completed his rally with a scoop in the lane on an Alcindor assist.  This shot completed a 10-0 Bucks run and it was 70-53.

Fred Carter hit 3 consecutive jumpers and a Jack Marin jumper completed a 10-4 Bullets run to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 74-63.  It was the closest Baltimore got for the rest of the game.  Alcindor got two dunks (one after great ball movement and the other over Unseld) and Greg Smith got a fast break layup and the lead was 82-64.  Baltimore in a desperate attempt to come back put Gus Johsnon at center to try and draw Alcindor outside.  But Gus’ knees just weren’t themselves as highlighted on a big play at the end of the 3rd quarter.  After Baltimore cut the lead to 89-77 there was a fast break with Monroe going one-on-one and Johnson trailing.  Monroe got his man in the air and threw a slick behind-the-back pass to Gus, but Johnson’s dunk attempt hit the front rim and caromed into the air after hitting the back rim.

In the fourth quarter, the lead ranged from 12-17 but Baltimore never made a serious threat.  Oscar won his first championship finishing with 30 points in Game 4 on 11-for-15 shooting from the field and 8-for-9 from the line.  Robertson and Alcindor were subdued in the post-game, thinking the best was ahead of them (or because their personalities were naturally subdued).  But in an era where there turned out to be 4 great teams that won championships, a long-frustrated franchise would get theirs the next season.

Lew Alcindor would officially change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that summer.  For the Baltimore Bullets, the team broke up in the next few seasons.  Fred Carter would be traded to Philadelphia along with Kevin Loughery for Archie Clark early in the 1972 season.  A month later, Monroe was shipped to New York for Dave Stallworth and Mike Riordan.  Before the end of the season, Gus Johnson was traded to Phoenix for a 2nd round pick.  Then in the summer of ’72, Marin was traded to the Houston Rockets for Elvin Hayes.  Hayes, Unseld, Riordan, Clark and 1971 draftee Phil Chenier formed the nucleus of the Bullets as they moved to Landover, Maryland.

Milwaukee starters (points scored)

Bob Dandridge (21) – Small Forward

Greg Smith (14) – Power Forward

Lew Alcindor (27) – Center

Oscar Robertson (30) – Point Guard

Jon McGlocklin (12) – Shooting Guard

Milwaukee bench (points scored)

Bob Boozer (5)

Lucius Allen (4)

McCoy McLemore (5)

Marv Winkler (0)

Dick Cunningham (0)

Bob Greacen (0)

Jeff Webb (0)

Milwaukee Coach: Larry Costello

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Baltimore starters (points scored)

Jack Marin (12) – Small Forward

Gus Johnson (11) – Power Forward

Wes Unseld (11) – Center

Fred Carter (28) – Point Guard

Earl Monroe (12) – Shooting Guard

Baltimore bench (points scored)

Kevin Loughery (18)

John Tresvant (8)

George Johnson (0)

Dorie Murrey (0)

Gary Zeller (6)

Baltimore Coach: Gene Shue

Lew Alcindor was the 1971 NBA Finals MVP after averaging 27 ppg versus the Bullets *photo courtesy of Spokeo

OUR RATING: Do It!

“Cheezborger, Cheezborger, Cheezborger. No Pepsi. Coke.”

–

(billygoattavern.com)

The Billy Goat Tavern is more than a Chicago staple, it’s a piece of the city’s history, tied to anything from the Chicago Cubs and the Curse of the Billy Goat, to Saturday Night Live and the likes of Jim Belushi and Bill Murray. The original tavern was founded near the Chicago Stadium in 1934, moving to its current location under Michigan Avenue in 1964, and is now joined by numerous chain locations, including Navy Pier and Merchandise Mart. Sure, there’s now one open in D.C., but the Billy Goat Tavern will always be a Chicago native.

(billygoattavern.com)

One thing that makes this city so special is its multilevel streets, putting the tavern in the unique location of lower Michigan Avenue. It’s pretty easy to miss the place too, if you don’t know where to look. But if you do find it, it’s nothing but “Cheezborger, Cheezborger!” from the moment you walk in, and the fast-paced, fun environment of a dive bar will get your appetite up and ready for the feast that awaits you.

(billygoattavern.com)

Alicia: I must admit that I’m not the biggest burger eater, but when I am, I prefer the kind that come in wax paper with a brown bag of fries, rather than with a fancy cheese on a clean plate. I mean, the experience is a huge part of my ‘fast food’ eating decisions. So, when you order a burger and it comes with a thin patty but a fluffy bun in wax paper, and you can add on all the pickles, ketchup and mustard you want…and it’s cheap…well then, that’s good enough for me.

(billygoattavern.com)

Now, the thing to get at Billy Goat is a double cheeseburger ($4.55), according to the tavern itself and most of the tourists and locals who go there. Now, I am not the biggest cheeseburger fan, nor am I the biggest eater, so a single hamburger ($2.65) is more my thing. Sure, I got a little push back from the cashier for not getting the double with cheese, or any chips, but that’s their thing, part of their personality.

Ultimately, the burgers are greasy and the ratio of bun to patty is a bit off (with a bit too much bread), but for the location the prices are very affordable, and it’s a super fun place to go with friends. Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but go at an off-peak hour and you’ve got yourself a comfy no-frills dive bar experience with legit burgers.

(billygoattavern.com)

Adam: I needed help to discover this place. I’ve been coming to Chicago all my life and yet I’d never set foot in the Billy Goat, even though it’s been around since the ‘30s! But, on a special occasion, I tend to try new and exciting places, and Alicia knew of just the locale. It’s not fancy, but that’s not what I want from a burger joint. After descending down a rather treacherous set of steps and past the neon lit signs, I felt I was entering the belly of the world, as a frenetic energy enveloped us.

(billygoattavern.com)

It’s old fashioned and has a slightly timeless nature to it as well. If you’re going to get a burger you should get what’s recommended: the wonderful double cheeseburger, or cheezborger, as the staff call it (and no, it has nothing to do with Star Trek). In fact, these staff are shouting it, and moving patrons along fast. I would mind anywhere else, but at Billy Goat it’s part of the charm. It’s good to have your order ready before you approach the counter, otherwise you might get a little lost. Bear in mind that fries are not served, only potato chips and Coke is available in lieu of Pepsi.

It’s a great place to sit and eat with lots of friends. Long benches make munching on burgers a truly communal experience. There’s nothing else like it in Chicago, so I would say go for it and load up your bun!

(billygoattavern.com)

Final thoughts: If you’re in the city with friends and don’t want to to break the bank, step inside this little place and follow the neon signs as you head down the stairs – you won’t be disappointed. It’s also perhaps the most worthwhile place to eat at Navy Pier if you ever find yourself there with a growling stomach. Don’t be afraid of the Curse of the Cubs, you’re sure to win here!

Chicago Bears beat the Portsmouth Spartans at the Chicago Stadium

December 18, 1932: The Chicago Bears beat the Portsmouth Spartans (later to become the Detroit Lions) at Chicago Stadium. The National Football League was formed on September 17, 1920 and is the highest level of professional football in America. There were eleven teams in 1920 coming together as the American Professional Football Association. Two years later, the name changed to the National Football League. Today, there are 32 teams from the US divided into two conferences – the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference). Each conference has four divisions with each division having four teams.

In the beginning, league titles were awarded to the team with the best season record based on winning percentage (ties were excluded). Four out of the first six titles were disputed and once (in 1921) two teams tied for first place. Today, ties are given a half-a-win, half-a-loss credit in figuring out which teams are the winners of the season. However in 1932, that was not the case. Both the Bears and the Spartans had identical 0.857 winning percentages. The Green Bay Packers score was 0.769 winning percentage. Today, with scoring done differently, the Packers would have won the title of champion. Instead, it was decided that the tied teams would play against each other to break the tie.

The Bears’ home stadium was at Wrigley Field and that was to be the venue for the game. However, the weather that day was bitterly cold with sub-zero wind chill and a severe blizzard raging. Rather than play outside at Wrigley, the game was moved to Chicago Stadium. However, the indoor stadium had a smaller playing field and so special rules were adopted for the game. The field was only 80 yards long rather than the normal 100 and was 10 yards narrower than standard. The sidelines were against the stands. As soon as any play crossed the midline, the ball was automatically moved back to accommodate the shorter playing field.

The defense for both teams played hard and kept the game 0-0 for the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the Bears scored on a controversial play where Charles Brumbaugh handed off to Bronko Nagurski who passed to Red Grange in the end zone for a touchdown. It was argued that Nagurski’s pass was illegally made. Later the Bears scored a safety and took the victory with a score of 9 to 0. This playoff game was so popular that the League decided to divide itself into two divisions and have the top team from each division play a game to determine the NFL Championship. This game was also the first major indoor football game.

Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. – Vince Lombardi

You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. – Dan Birdwell

There is no defense against a perfect pass. I can throw the perfect pass. – Dan Marino

The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else. – John Madden

Also on this day:

The Grinch – The Dr. Seuss tales came to television for the first time.
Ancient Pueblo Housing – In 1888, Cliff Palace was discovered.
Nuke Power – In 1957, the first nuclear power plant in the US began producing power.

Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning will unveil its latest weapon — a digital theatre organ which recreates the sounds of a thunderstorm.

“The thunder effect for this organ was recorded from an actual thunder storm and it is awesome and it goes from the organ loft all the way across the building,”  the head of the American Theatre Organ Society, Ken Double, told Tampa’s 10News.

The Lightning removed about 500 seats in the St. Pete Times Forum to make way for what Double calls “the largest digital theatre organ in the world ” and a party deck for fans.

Until 1994, the Chicago Blackhawks were known for having the loudest and largest pipe organ in the NHL. It’s now owned by businessman Phil Maloof, who installed the 3,663-pipe Barton organ in his Las Vegas, Nevada home after it was removed from the team’s old arena, Chicago Stadium. A smaller instrument is used in the team’s new home, United Center.)

Al Megard, a nine-fingered musician, was the team’s organist for four decades and even released a series of albums recorded on the Chicago Stadium organ.

Click here to read more about music at NHL games and team DJs, including Oilers music man Dragan Jargic.

We asked three Edmonton acts to write hockey anthems. Vote here for your favourite. You have until noon on Monday, Oct. 24 to cast your digital ballot. The winner will receive $500. We’ll announce the results on Thursday, Oct. 27.

(Artist rendering courtesy of Tampa Bay Lightning.)

It’s been many years since I’ve felt the need to dust off the horns. Many years. I realize the Chicago Bulls have entered post-season play six out of the past seven years, but this is the first year I feel this team can bring a championship back to the Windy City.

But I’m well aware of the challenges. The Bulls are 1-5 in playoff series since capping off their Repeat 3-peat in 1998, but this team does have plenty of playoff experience. And while they don’t have the bling and ego of the 3-ring circus that is the Miami Heat, they do have Derrick Rose. Many would argue Rose is all the Bulls have, but with Deng, Boozer, Gibson, Korver, and Noah, I see options. Many options. No, there is no Pippen to compliment Rose, no Keeper of the Plain, as I used to call Scottie, but Derrick believes in his teammates.  Even when the need arises for Rose to place an outcome of a game on his tattooed shoulders, it isn’t because he lacks confidence in his team, but the fact he knows by kicking it into gear he can create plays.

Sure, the highlight reels obscure this when all you see is Rose splitting the defense, zigzagging between three defenders, and hanging under the rim. But Rose is always looking as he penetrates the defense, collapsing it from all sides, and if a teammate is open they will get the ball. He is not Ben Gordon (thank the basketball Gods, and don’t get me started on that guy!).

All the way from Chicago, I feel the buzz. It’s there, like a humming in another room. Not yet a roar, not like the crowds in the late 80s at the old Chicago Stadium whenever Jordan took the ball into his hands, that almost slow-motion-to-your-feet-louder-and-louder until the rafters shred from the sound. Not yet.

But I’m keeping the faith, donning the horns and reminiscing. I even pulled out my red tub of Bulls stuff: t-shirts from all six championships, newspaper clippings,  a Bulls lamp, Bulls mugs, a Jordan watch, a stuffed Bennie the Bull, an autographed hat, Bulls jerseys, and all the other stuff I can’t part with, not ever.

My hope is to buy a new tub, a bigger tub.

Let the playoffs begin.

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“It’s something that I’ll never take for granted, because not a lot of arenas in the NBA, you know, have that kind of mystique, being able to play in front of die hard fans,” Bulls’ center Joakim Noah said.

The United Center, and the crowd, have become the Bulls biggest advantage this season, outside of Derrick Rose of course. The Bulls are 27-4 at home, good for the second best home record in the NBA, only behind the San Antonio Spurs (29-3). In contrast the Bulls are just 17-14 on the road, an aspect of their game they’ll have to improve if they want to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs.

In my last post I wrote about pieces of music that have formed indelible impressions on me. Vivid memories evoked every time I listen to a particular track. Several of those songs are from seventies-era rock bands: Heart, Boston & Yes. High school lives!

Thinking about that period, I was reminded of another rock-related event in my life, which, as fate would have it, also served as precursor to my eventual career in advertising. In the late seventies, before I had any inkling of being a copywriter, I actually participated in an ambitious marketing program for the science fiction movie, Saturn 3 starring Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett Majors and Harvey Keitel. In the very likely event you never heard of it, here is the link.

The movie wasn’t all bad.

The production company (Transatlantic Films) wanted to bolster interest in the film among teenagers. Being one, I volunteered and was chosen to be among several young people asked to don a space suit and hand out propaganda for the film at a rock concert. I’m not positive but I believe the venue was the old Chicago Stadium (since demolished) and the act was Judas Priest (still chugging).

Free tickets to see Priest plus the chance to wear a space suit was basically a fantasy come true for a goofy fifteen year old such as myself. Unlike the music-induced memories I wrote about last time I have virtually no recollection of the concert. I do remember being asked over and over and over again if I had any weed. Kids just equated the space suit with getting high. On top of that back then smoking up at concerts was commonplace. But I digress…

Thankfully, my mother took the above photograph of me wearing the space suit before my gig at the Stadium. I wish I still had the suit; it would make a killer Halloween costume. Alas, like my flowing brown locks, it is only a memory. I never saw the spacesuit again.

Or did I?

My second poster for Altoids.

NBA crowds used to affect the games. You didn’t go into the Boston Garden in the 1980’s and come out with a win. The Boston faithful just would not allow it. The crowd would propel the Celtics to victory when they needed an extra push. The same was true in the Palace of Auburn Hills. The crowd would give the Pistons extra energy that they players would say was actually tangible. Michael Jordan receive the same benefit when the Bulls played in the old Chicago Stadium. Homecourt advantage actually meant something then.

 Today, those crowds just don’t exist anymore. The fan has been priced out. With new stadiums come suits. NBA games become corporate meetings. The majority of hardcore fans are exiled to the upper reaches of stadiums, or to the Buffalo Wild Wings 3 blocks from their home. NBA stadiums have become sensory and entertainment overload. Fans have no clue what to focus on. There is the dance teams, the jumbotron, blaring music, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, crazy mascots, and oh yeah, the game. Crowds no longer have the sense when to cheer, when their teams need an extra lift, when a big moment is. If the jumbotron doesn’t say clap, they don’t. If it doesn’t say, “make some noise,” they don’t. Then the effort from the crowd feels forced to them, so they stop.

Watching an NBA game has become depressing. Watch an Atlanta Hawks game. For as good as a team as the Hawks, their crowd is ridiculously sparse. And those that are their could easily be mistaken for corpses. It won’t be long until Josh Smith throws down an unbelievable dunk on 3 people that gets, yet again, no reaction for the crowd. Followed by Smith going Gladiator, throwing the ball into the stands, shouting, “Are you not entertained?” Don’t rule this out for the Game 7 against Milwaukee tomorrow.

And then, Oklahoma City came through. In the NBA’s cheapest stadium, the crowd channeled the old Boston Garden and affected the game. They cheered their hearts out. They lifted their team to another level. Watch the Thunder’s games at LA versus those at OKC. You can actually see the difference. They stood the whole time, had a great sense of the moment, and help lift their team to the verge of forcing a Game 7 against the defending champion Lakers. Up one in the closing moments, the Thunder forced a miss by the games top assassin, Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol followed Bryant’s shop with a tip in with 0.05 seconds remaining. Russell Westbrook missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer, ending the Thunder’s season. Moments after the buzzer sounded, the OKC crowd serenaded the Thunder with a standing ovation. They didn’t hang their heads. They didn’t obsess about what might have been. They didn’t blame Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison for missing a blockout on Gasol. They gave an emotional ovation of thanks to their team. It was a special moment.

From here on, I will root for teams with a crowd like that. OKC, I’m with you. Milwaukee, I will “Fear the Deer.” Utah, gasp…I will respect you. (You have no idea how hard that was for me.) Any game is infinitely better when the crowd is going crazy. The rest of the NBA, it’s time to step up.

Michael Jordan, seen here gambling on NBA games.

Okay, so I may have come off as a bit of a homer with my last post on how the Kronwall hit on Havlat was not a penalty (though I still stand by that).

That being the case, here is a post dedicated to your beloved Chicago Blackhawks. I start with Michael Jordan being at the game the other night, and end with the Hawks scoring 22 goals in 10 minutes. Enjoy.

From Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com

CHICAGO — So I’m standing in the United Center suite with Mr. Hockey himself, Michael Jordan, and his buddy, Kid Rock. We’re killing time between the first and second periods of the Chicago Blackhawks-Detroit Red Wings playoff game, and I’m thinking, “NHL, where have you been all my life?”

I mean, when’s the last time you saw MJ at a hockey game? Even more incredible, when’s the last time Jordan slipped on a personalized No. 23 Hawks sweater (but only after team officials sewed a red patch over the maker’s company logo), walked out to his seat and happily posed and waved to the geeked crowd as the Versus cameras recorded every surreal moment? After all, who thought MJ would commit to the Indian?

“That’s never happened,” says an amazed Jay Blunk, the team’s senior vice president of business operations. “We celebrate the little things.”

“It’s validation,” says Hawks president John McDonough, who has known Jordan for years. “It’s validation.”

Keep Reading at ESPN

Now – after the jump – for video of the old Chicago Stadium and The Blackhawks scoring 22 goals in 10 minutes. It is a must see.

The Pink Floyd jams only add to the mystique:

Dig some NHL 94 (though it looks more like 93 to me):

“There must be some way out of here,” said the joker to the thief,
“There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth.”

“No reason to get excited,” the thief, he kindly spoke,
“There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we’ve been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late.”

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

(All Along The Watchtower, 1968 )

Om den förra låten på Dagens Dylan, Sad-Eyed Lady of The Lowlands, tillhör de sånger som Bob Dylan aldrig framfört live, innehar All Along The Watchtower den motsatta positionen.

Det är helt enkelt den låt han framfört allra flest gånger.

För den med intresse för mer exakta siffror rekommenderas läsning i Michael Grays bibel The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, där författaren under uppslagsordet All Along The Watchtower levererar utförlig statistik, som rundas av så här:

But nothing could be more dramatic, effective or welcome than if he were to come on stage with an acoustic guitar and try to sing it as he’d heard and recorded it in the first place, in late 1967, before Jimi Hendrix.

Dylan har nämligen, ända sedan han framförde All Along The Watchtower första gången, spelat den så som Jimi Hendrix valde att göra sin version, som kom ut på albumet Electric Ladyland, i september 1968. Hendrix påbörjade dock arbetet med All Along The Watchtower redan i januari 1968, bara veckorna efter att Dylan släppt sitt åttonde album, John Wesley Harding.

Men eftersom Dylan inte turnerade mellan 1966 och 1974 hann Jimi Hendrix köra den live ett antal gånger först. Och hans betydligt rockigare version kom att inspirera Dylan.

Första gången Dylan spelade sången live var under den så kallade comeback-turnén, efter nyåret 1974. Det allra första framträdandet var den 3 januari, på Chicago Stadium i Chicago, då han framförde den som nionde nummer.

Bob Dylan förklarar själv sin fascination för Hendrix’ version i texthäftet till Biograph, där en lysande inspelning från 1974 års turné (14 februari Los Angeles) är inkluderad:

I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way. Funny though, his way of doing it and my way of doing it weren’t that dissimilar, I mean the meaning of the song doesn’t change like when some artists do other artists’ songs. Strange though how when I sing it I always feel like it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way. He did a lot of my other songs too from that period … “Drifters Escape”, “Like A Rolling Stone”, “Crawl Out Your Window”, some others I don’t remember. He would have done “Masters of War” exactly the way I do it now. First time I saw him, he was playing with John Hammond. He was incredible then. I’d already been to England and beyond, and although he didn’t sing, I kinda had a feeling that he figured into things. The last time I saw him was a couple of months before he died. He was in that band with Buddy Miles. It was an eerie scene. He was slouched down in the back of a limousine. I was riding by on a bicycle. I remember saying something about that song “Wind Cried Mary”, it was a long way from playing behind John Hammond. That was my favorite song of his-that and “Dolly Dagger” … I don’t know, it was strange, both of us were a little lost for words, he’d gone through like a fireball without knowing it, I’d done the same thing like being shot out of a cannon … I was thinking about him the other night – I really miss him a lot, him and Lennon … “All Along The Watchtower”, it probably came to me during a thunder and lightning storm. I’m sure it did.

Would you believe I never took guitar lessons?

When I lived in Back of the Yards, I met a wide variety of Mexicans. Rubén Martínez was an unusual acquaintance of mine in that he was more the friend of a friend rather than a direct friend. He always seemed so full of energy for someone who was always high. He looked like your typical drug burnout with shoulder length hair that he parted down the middle.

In the seventies, no one wanted to part their hair in the middle lest anyone think that they smoked pot. Rubén, however, always parted his hair down the middle to flaunt the fact that he was a burnout and smoked pot. And he wore a miniature coke spoon around his neck just in case the occasion to get high on cocaine presented itself. Because of the thousands of people like Rubén, McDonald’s had to change their coffee stirrer from a little spoon on a long stem because people like Rubén used it to snort coke, to a flat paddle and later a small straw. Needless to say, he was always high and always looking to get higher. Sometimes he wouldn’t even respond to his own name. I once had to explain to him that he was Rubén and that’s why people who wanted to talk to him called his name. He was too high to understand me, though.

Anyway, thanks to Rubén, I attended my first rock concert. Led Zeppelin came to Chicago in January of 1975 and word was out that all the tickets would sell out immediately. We went to old Chicago Stadium box office about two hours before it opened at 10:00 a.m. We didn’t want to oversleep the time of the first ticket sales, so we stayed up all night drinking wine. We also contemplated doing immoral and illegal deeds, but we decided against that in order to buy the Led Zeppelin tickets without incident.

When we arrived at the ticket office at 8:00 a.m., we were tired, but determined to obtain tickets. I drove my 1975 Pontiac Firebird as close to the box office as the police permitted me. Rubén collected our ticket money and ran toward the Stadium like a deranged lunatic. Several policemen tried to stop him, but he dodged them, jumped onto the hood of their unmarked police car, then to the car roof, before leaping to the front of the ticket line. When he dissolved into the crowd, the police stop chasing him. We waited patiently for him in my Firebird that was parked a block away, but within view of the ticket office. An elderly woman, perhaps the grandmother of one of the expectant concertgoers, passed out hot chocolate from a thermos into Styrofoam cups. About four hours later, Rubén emerged from the ticket office with six concert tickets! We were going to see Led Zeppelin in concert!

When we went to the concert, I was shocked that everyone was smoking pot. I had never smoked pot in my life, but I got high just breathing in the concert air. I’ll never forget my first concert!

The last time I saw Rubén was at that Led Zeppelin concert, partying, getting high, and bouncing his head to the music. Years later, I heard that he was arrested several times for drug sales. He finally made the big time and was arrested for a million dollar drug bust. For me, he just vanished into the crowd of drug dealers and addicts, never to emerge again.