The 1970–71 season was the 10th season of the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA and eighth season under the Baltimore Bullets name. This would be its first year in the newly created Central Division inside the Eastern Conference.[1] Despite playing close to .500 basketball all season, the Bullets would capture the Central Division with a 42–40 record.[2]
See main article: article and 1970 NBA draft. The Baltimore Bullets made seventeen selections in the 1970 NBA Draft.[3]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Stephen F. Austin | ||||
| 3 | 49 | Seaburn Hill | Arizona State | |||
| 4 | 54 | Pacific | ||||
| 4 | 66 | Billy Jones | Louisiana College | |||
| 5 | 83 | Drake | ||||
| 6 | 100 | Marvin Polnick | Stephen F. Austin | |||
| 7 | 117 | Charlie Wallace | Oklahoma City | |||
| 8 | 134 | Tom Dyksera | Wheaton (IL) | |||
| 9 | 151 | Will Hetzel | Maryland | |||
| 10 | 168 | Ron Becker | New Mexico Lobos | |||
| 11 | 183 | Mel Bell | Houston | |||
| 12 | 193 | Ben McGilmer | Iowa | |||
| 13 | 203 | Dan Debardabi | Northern Arizona | |||
| 14 | 213 | Mike Williams | Northern Arizona | |||
| 15 | 222 | Ted Rose | Northern Michigan | |||
| 16 | 229 | Don Rather | Northern Arizona | |||
| 17 | 233 | Vince Fritz | Oregon State |
| 1970–71 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–2 | ||
| Baltimore | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | |
| 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 5–7 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | ||
| 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 7–5 | 0–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–10 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | ||
| 5–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | ||
| 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–4 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | ||
| 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 10–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | ||
| 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | ||
| 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | ||
| 1970–71 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 14 | 105–123 | Jack Marin (28) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 17 | 116–118 (OT) | Jack Marin (25) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 20 | 125–105 | Fred Carter (24) | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | October 21 | 117–105 | Gus Johnson (27) | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | October 23 | 92–98 | Carter, Monroe (21) | 4–1 | ||
| 6 | October 24 | 120–122 (2OT) | Wes Unseld (27) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 28 | 109–103 | Marin, Unseld (21) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | October 30 | 123–110 | Earl Monroe (30) | 5–3 | ||
| 9 | October 31 | 103–106 | Kevin Loughery (21) | 6–3 | ||
| 10 | November 4 | @ San Francisco | 100–111 | Earl Monroe (30) | 6–4 | |
| 11 | November 5 | 131–135 | Gus Johnson (43) | 6–5 | ||
| 12 | November 6 | @ San Diego | 125–118 | Earl Monroe (27) | 7–5 | |
| 13 | November 8 | @ Los Angeles | 105–124 | Gus Johnson (28) | 7–6 | |
| 14 | November 1 | Philadelphia | 119–107 | Wes Unseld (28) | 7–7 | |
| 15 | November 12 | @ New York | 110–108 | Eddie Miles (25) | 8–7 | |
| 16 | November 14 | 101–122 | Eddie Miles (22) | 9–7 | ||
| 17 | November 15 | @ Milwaukee | 90–105 | Jack Marin (20) | 9–8 | |
| 18 | November 16 | 86–98 | Gus Johnson (33) | 10–8 | ||
| 19 | November 18 | @ Cleveland | 111–98 | Kevin Loughery (20) | 11–8 | |
| 20 | November 20 | Phoenix | 110–121 | Earl Monroe (30) | 12–8 | |
| 21 | November 21 | 103–130 | Johnson, Miles, Monroe (16) | 12–9 | ||
| 22 | November 24 | Portland | 104–156 | Jack Marin (25) | 13–9 | |
| 23 | November 27 | @ Boston | 107–153 | Gus Johnson (22) | 13–10 | |
| 24 | November 28 | 91–99 | Gus Johnson (21) | 14–10 | ||
| 25 | November 30 | @ Philadelphia | 98–104 | Gus Johnson (20) | 14–11 | |
| 26 | December 1 | Los Angeles | 97–93 | Earl Monroe (33) | 14–12 | |
| 27 | December 4 | 116–131 | Johnson, Marin (28) | 15–12 | ||
| 28 | December 6 | Cincinnati | 118–126 | Earl Monroe (28) | 16–12 | |
| 29 | December 9 | Milwaukee | 97–127 | Marin, Unseld (25) | 17–12 | |
| 30 | December 12 | San Francisco | 96–119 | Earl Monroe (32) | 18–12 | |
| 31 | December 15 | @ Chicago | 97–115 | Jack Marin (25) | 18–13 | |
| 32 | December 18 | N Atlanta | 112–116 | Earl Monroe (24) | 18–14 | |
| 33 | December 19 | Boston | 128–134 | Gus Johnson (30) | 19–14 | |
| 34 | December 23 | @ Cincinnati | 115–120 | Earl Monroe (37) | 19–15 | |
| 35 | December 25 | Chicago | 112–128 | Earl Monroe (25) | 20–15 | |
| 36 | December 27 | @ New York | 105–110 | Earl Monroe (31) | 20–16 | |
| 37 | December 30 | 90–106 | Jack Marin (24) | 21–16 | ||
| 38 | January 1 | @ Cleveland | 128–105 | Marin, Monroe (22) | 22–16 | |
| 39 | January 2 | @ Detroit | 108–99 | Jack Marin (29) | 23–16 | |
| 40 | January 5 | Seattle | 101–109 | Johnson, Monroe (24) | 24–16 | |
| 41 | January 7 | @ Atlanta | 110–102 | Earl Monroe (32) | 25–16 | |
| 42 | January 8 | Atlanta | 104–115 | Gus Johnson (31) | 26–16 | |
| 43 | January 10 | @ Milwaukee | 99–151 | Gus Johnson (17) | 26–17 | |
| 44 | January 14 | @ Seattle | 110–114 | Earl Monroe (22) | 26–18 | |
| 45 | January 15 | @ San Diego | 124–117 | Jack Marin (29) | 27–18 | |
| 46 | January 16 | @ Phoenix | 100–117 | Earl Monroe (23) | 27–19 | |
| 47 | January 17 | @ Seattle | 111–96 | Fred Carter (22) | 28–19 | |
| 48 | January 20 | Milwaukee | 120–116 | Earl Monroe (24) | 28–20 | |
| 49 | January 22 | @ Boston | 136–117 | Earl Monroe (26) | 29–20 | |
| 50 | January 23 | San Diego | 120–127 | Gus Johnson (31) | 30–20 | |
| 51 | January 26 | San Francisco | 98–103 | Earl Monroe (26) | 31–20 | |
| 52 | January 27 | @ Cincinnati | 113–115 | Jack Marin (26) | 31–21 | |
| 53 | January 29 | Cincinnati | 118–145 | Jack Marin (22) | 32–21 | |
| 54 | January 31 | N New York | 125–95 | Earl Monroe (25) | 32–22 | |
| 55 | February 2 | @ Detroit | 113–116 | Earl Monroe (30) | 32–23 | |
| 56 | February 3 | Chicago | 124–102 | Earl Monroe (19) | 32–24 | |
| 57 | February 5 | @ Buffalo | 98–90 | Fred Carter (29) | 33–24 | |
| 58 | February 7 | Detroit | 105–108 | Earl Monroe (25) | 34–24 | |
| 59 | February 9 | Phoenix | 120–115 | Earl Monroe (38) | 34–25 | |
| 60 | February 12 | Boston | 113–109 (OT) | Jack Marin (24) | 34–26 | |
| 61 | February 14 | N Philadelphia | 103–112 | Earl Monroe (33) | 35–26 | |
| 62 | February 16 | @ Detroit | 95–110 | Wes Unseld (25) | 35–27 | |
| 63 | February 17 | Buffalo | 118–114 | Earl Monroe (26) | 35–28 | |
| 64 | February 19 | @ Buffalo | 120–113 | Earl Monroe (34) | 36–28 | |
| 65 | February 20 | Atlanta | 122–115 | Earl Monroe (33) | 36–29 | |
| 66 | February 21 | @ Atlanta | 121–119 | Jack Marin (34) | 37–29 | |
| 67 | February 23 | Los Angeles | 114–107 | Wes Unseld (28) | 37–30 | |
| 68 | February 26 | Portland | 97–114 | Kevin Loughery (26) | 38–30 | |
| 69 | February 28 | New York | 110–104 | Fred Carter (30) | 38–31 | |
| 70 | March 2 | @ New York | 95–109 | Earl Monroe (22) | 38–32 | |
| 71 | March 3 | Cincinnati | 133–132 (OT) | Fred Carter (33) | 38–33 | |
| 72 | March 6 | @ San Francisco | 103–109 | Jack Marin (29) | 38–34 | |
| 73 | March 7 | @ Phoenix | 117–108 | Jack Marin (28) | 39–34 | |
| 74 | March 9 | @ Los Angeles | 107–95 | Earl Monroe (25) | 40–34 | |
| 75 | March 11 | @ Portland | 118–136 | Fred Carter (24) | 40–35 | |
| 76 | March 13 | @ San Diego | 115–121 | Jack Marin (27) | 40–36 | |
| 77 | March 14 | @ Seattle | 121–124 | Earl Monroe (29) | 40–37 | |
| 78 | March 16 | @ Chicago | 99–113 | Earl Monroe (24) | 40–38 | |
| 79 | March 17 | Cleveland | 109–113 | Earl Monroe (32) | 41–38 | |
| 80 | March 19 | @ Boston | 117–125 | Kevin Loughery (32) | 41–39 | |
| 81 | March 20 | Philadelphia | 112–124 | Kevin Loughery (32) | 42–39 | |
| 82 | March 21 | @ Philadelphia | 108–120 | Kevin Loughery (24) | 42–40 |
In the playoffs the Bullets would get off to a quick start as they grabbed a 3–1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Bullets would find themselves in a 7th game and that game the Bullets would emerge victorious 128–120.[2] The Bullets would face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The Bullets would finally break through in Game 5 and break the tie in the series by beating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden 89–84.[2] The Bullets would have a chance to close the series out at home, but the Knicks would bounce back with a 113–96 win to force a 7th and deciding game in New York. In the seventh game, the Bullets would triumph, winning in New York by 2 points to reach the NBA Finals.However, the Bullets would be swept in 4 straight games by the Milwaukee Bucks.[1] |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| March 24| Philadelphia| L 112–126| Loughery, Gus Johnson (19)| Wes Unseld (20)| Kevin Loughery (4)| Baltimore Civic Center
6,707| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| March 26| @ Philadelphia| W 119–107| Marin, Monroe (24)| Wes Unseld (18)| Earl Monroe (6)| Spectrum
10,369| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| March 28| Philadelphia| W 111–103| Earl Monroe (29)| Wes Unseld (24)| Kevin Loughery (7)| Baltimore Civic Center
5,589| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| March 30| @ Philadelphia| W 120–105| Jack Marin (27)| Gus Johnson (14)| Earl Monroe (6)| Spectrum
8,909| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 1| Philadelphia| L 103–104| Earl Monroe (26)| Wes Unseld (18)| Kevin Loughery (5)| Baltimore Civic Center
10,998| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 3| @ Philadelphia| L 94–98| Earl Monroe (30)| Wes Unseld (18)| Kevin Loughery (5)| Spectrum
7,059| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| April 4| Philadelphia| W 128–120| Jack Marin (33)| Wes Unseld (22)| Gus Johnson (8)| Baltimore Civic Center
6,662| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 6| @ New York| L 111–112| Earl Monroe (29)| Wes Unseld (22)| Earl Monroe (4)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 9| @ New York| L 88–107| John Tresvant (20)| Wes Unseld (20)| Kevin Loughery (16)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 11| New York| W 114–88| Earl Monroe (31)| Wes Unseld (26)| Wes Unseld (9)| Baltimore Civic Center
8,083| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 14| New York| W 101–80| Jack Marin (27)| John Tresvant (17)| Wes Unseld (6)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 16| @ New York| L 84–89| Jack Marin (25)| John Tresvant (17)| Wes Unseld (3)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 18| New York| W 113–96| Earl Monroe (27)| Wes Unseld (15)| Earl Monroe (7)| Baltimore Civic Center
11,211| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| April 19| @ New York| W 93–91| Earl Monroe (26)| Wes Unseld (20)| Earl Monroe (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 21| @ Milwaukee| L 88–98| Earl Monroe (26)| John Tresvant (14)| Fred Carter (4)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 25| Milwaukee| L 83–102| Jack Marin (22)| Wes Unseld (20)| Earl Monroe (6)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 28| @ Milwaukee| L 99–107| Jack Marin (21)| Wes Unseld (23)| Wes Unseld (6)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 30| Milwaukee| L 106–118| Fred Carter (28)| Wes Unseld (23)| Wes Unseld (10)| Baltimore Civic Center
11,842| 0–4|-