1965 Overview

From Hoopedia

1964-65 NBA Season

Something had to change. Bill Russell’s Celtics kept on winning titles and Wilt Chamberlain continued to lead the league in scoring, so the NBA tried a move to lessen the dominance of big men and keep the action moving. The foul lane was widened from 12 to 16 feet. That helped some, but it didn’t stop Chamberlain or the celebrations in Boston.

A major trade took place at the All-Star break that would have far-reaching implications. The financially strapped San Francisco Warriors dealt Chamberlain, in the midst of his greatness at 28 years old, to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul Neumann, Connie Dierking, Lee Shaffer and cash. The immediate results: San Francisco went from 48-32 the season before to 17-63, while Philadelphia with Chamberlain leading the league at 34.7 points per game, improved from 34-46 to 40-40. More important, Chamberlain was back in the Celtics’ division and would have to be dealt with before the Finals.

Celtics founder Walter Brown had died in August, putting more of the team’s administrative load on Auerbach. Boston, however, broke its own league record with 62 victories despite the retirements of Frank Ramsey and Jim Loscutoff.

The Lakers led the West with 49 wins as West (31.0) and Baylor (27.1) finished in the top five in scoring. While the Lakers defeated Baltimore in six games in the West Finals, Boston and Philadelphia used the full seven in the East. The Celtics won Game 7 by a point, with John Havlicek’s deflection producing the famous “Havlicek stole the ball!” radio call from Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most.

The Finals were almost anti-climatic as Boston closed out the Lakers, who were without the injured Baylor, in five games.