1970 Overview
From Hoopedia
1969-70 NBA Season
Ding-dong the witch is dead. That was the NBA’s euphoric theme in 1969 after the dominant Bill Russell finally retired, taking the Celtics’ dynasty with him. Sam Jones also retired, leaving Red Auerbach the job of rebuilding.
The new team to beat in the East was the New York Knicks, who served notice by winning a league-record 18 straight games early in the season. They played as a team on both ends of the floor, no one player dominating the spotlight. The selfless play of starters Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett made them immensely popular with fans at Madison Square Garden and throughout the city.
Coach Red Holzman made ample use of his bench, beginning with Cazzie Russell for instant offense. Mike Riordan, a hustling defender, was the third guard, while Nate Bowman and Dave “the Rave” Stallworth provided solid play in the frontcourt.
The other team to be reckoned with in the East was Milwaukee, which catapulted to 56 wins in just its second season with the addition of 7-2 rookie center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then called Lew Alcindor.
New York was extended to seven games in the Eastern Semifinals by Baltimore before advancing, but had a much easier time with Milwaukee, ousting the Bucks in five games.
In the West, Jerry West won the league scoring title (31.2 points per game) almost out of necessity as Wilt Chamberlain hurt his knee nine games into the season and didn’t return until three games remained. As a result Atlanta won the division by two games over the Lakers. But with Chamberlain back for the playoffs, Los Angeles swept the Hawks to meet the Knicks in the Finals.
The first six games were classic battles, with the Knicks winning one, then the Lakers tying the series. Reed, until he tore a leg muscle in Game 5, had been having a marvelous Finals, dominating the injury-slowed Chamberlain. The Knicks scrambled with undersized players against Chamberlain and hung on to win that game, but with Reed out of Game 6, Chamberlain poured in 45 points to tie the series.
The Knicks left the locker room before Game 7 in New York not knowing if Reed would be able to play. Just before tipoff, Reed hobbled through the tunnel and onto the floor of Madison Square Garden. The fans erupted, Reed scored New York’s first two baskets and the inspired Knicks went on to a 113-99 victory.
Frazier finished with 36 points and 19 assists, Barnett scored 21 and DeBusschere had 17 rebounds, but their efforts were overshadowed by the drama of Reed’s last-minute appearance. “He gave us a tremendous lift just going out there,” Holzman said. “He couldn’t play his normal game, but he did a lot of things out there. And he means a lot to the spirit of the other players.”
The outcome stung the Lakers. “They played well together, were well-coached and played good team defense. They were exciting to watch,” Elgin Baylor said. “But that was disgusting, frustrating, because I felt we were the better team. Willis played hurt and gave them a tremendous lift. Willis was a great player and a great competitor. Just his mere presence did so much for the team.”
It’s a moment forever etched in basketball history. “There isn’t a day in my life that people don’t remind me of that game,” he said more than two decades later.
