The 1973–74 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 26th season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.
The Pistons finished with a 52-30 (.634) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division, only their second winning season since moving to Detroit in 1957. The team was led by guard Dave Bing (18.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, NBA All-Star) and center Bob Lanier (22.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, NBA All-Star and NBA All-Star Game MVP).[1] [2] Pistons coach Ray Scott was recognized as the NBA Coach of the Year, the first black coach in the league to win the award.[3] [4] It wouldn't be until 1991 when Don Chaney won the award that another black coach was so honored.[5]
Detroit advanced to the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the team's first playoff appearance since the 1967-68 Detroit Pistons season, losing the Western Conference semi-finals 4-3 to the Chicago Bulls, dropping the deciding 7th game 96-94 in Chicago. In the 7th game at Chicago Stadium, after a furious Detroit rally, Dennis Awtrey of the Bulls tipped an inbounds pass by Bing with 3 seconds remaining and Norm Van Lier dribbled out the clock to preserve the Chicago victory.[6]
See main article: 1973 NBA draft.
| 1973–74 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CAP | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| — | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | ||
| 5–1 | — | 5–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 7–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 4–2 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | ||
| 4–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–3 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 3–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | ||
| Detroit | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | |
| 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–5 | — | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | ||
| 2–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | ||
| 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | ||
| 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–3 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2–4 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | ||
| 5–1 | 2–5 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | ||
| 3–3 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–4 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–3 | 4–3 | ||
| 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | ||
| 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — | ||
| 1973–74 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 9 | 100–101 | Bob Lanier (29) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 12 | 105–122 | Bob Lanier (20) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 13 | 94–101 | Bob Lanier (22) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 14 | 95–83 | Bob Lanier (20) | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 19 | 96–94 | Bob Lanier (28) | 2–3 | ||
| 6 | October 20 | 107–104 | Bob Lanier (33) | 3–3 | ||
| 7 | October 24 | 115–99 | Bob Lanier (23) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | October 26 | 92–94 | Curtis Rowe (18) | 4–4 | ||
| 9 | October 27 | 111–98 | Bob Lanier (32) | 5–4 | ||
| 10 | October 28 | 115–93 | Bing, Mengelt (21) | 6–4 | ||
| 11 | October 31 | Seattle | 107–114 | Dave Bing (26) | 7–4 | |
| 12 | November 2 | Phoenix | 107–114 | Chris Ford (24) | 8–4 | |
| 13 | November 3 | @ Milwaukee | 115–123 (OT) | Bob Lanier (28) | 8–5 | |
| 14 | November 8 | @ Atlanta | 129–115 | Don Adams (23) | 9–5 | |
| 15 | November 10 | 97–102 | Bob Lanier (29) | 9–6 | ||
| 16 | November 14 | Portland | 111–108 | Bob Lanier (41) | 9–7 | |
| 17 | November 16 | 98–125 | Willie Norwood (15) | 10–7 | ||
| 18 | November 17 | 98–94 | Bob Lanier (30) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 18 | Chicago | 104–102 | Bob Lanier (27) | 11–8 | |
| 20 | November 21 | Phoenix | 104–107 | Bob Lanier (29) | 12–8 | |
| 21 | November 24 | @ Chicago | 112–114 (OT) | Bob Lanier (32) | 12–9 | |
| 22 | November 28 | Cleveland | 96–91 | Bing, Lanier (23) | 12–10 | |
| 23 | November 30 | @ Houston | 95–110 | Bob Lanier (19) | 12–11 | |
| 24 | December 1 | @ Phoenix | 121–109 | John Mengelt (30) | 13–11 | |
| 25 | December 2 | @ Los Angeles | 114–108 | Dave Bing (27) | 14–11 | |
| 26 | December 4 | 112–93 | Dave Bing (27) | 15–11 | ||
| 27 | December 6 | @ Seattle | 110–108 | Dave Bing (33) | 16–11 | |
| 28 | December 8 | Portland | 91–106 | Bob Lanier (28) | 17–11 | |
| 29 | December 9 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 86–80 | Adams, Bing (19) | 18–11 | |
| 30 | December 12 | Los Angeles | 96–114 | Bob Lanier (33) | 19–11 | |
| 31 | December 14 | 96–93 | Dave Bing (26) | 19–12 | ||
| 32 | December 15 | @ Philadelphia | 99–89 | Bob Lanier (24) | 20–12 | |
| 33 | December 16 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 104–105 | Dave Bing (22) | 20–13 | |
| 34 | December 19 | Chicago | 87–89 | Bob Lanier (30) | 21–13 | |
| 35 | December 21 | Golden State | 104–107 | George Trapp (21) | 22–13 | |
| 36 | December 22 | @ New York | 88–99 | Bob Lanier (35) | 22–14 | |
| 37 | December 26 | New York | 96–91 | Dave Bing (22) | 22–15 | |
| 38 | December 28 | 93–102 | Bob Lanier (30) | 23–15 | ||
| 39 | December 29 | @ Chicago | 103–108 | Willie Norwood (29) | 23–16 | |
| 40 | December 30 | @ Milwaukee | 98–91 | Dave Bing (22) | 24–16 | |
| 41 | January 2 | Milwaukee | 92–106 | Bob Lanier (34) | 25–16 | |
| 42 | January 4 | Boston | 101–106 | Bob Lanier (29) | 26–16 | |
| 43 | January 5 | @ Capital | 90–93 | Dave Bing (21) | 26–17 | |
| 44 | January 9 | Los Angeles | 94–123 | Bob Lanier (32) | 27–17 | |
| 45 | January 11 | @ Cleveland | 106–96 | Curtis Rowe (28) | 28–17 | |
| 46 | January 12 | Cleveland | 117–112 (OT) | Bob Lanier (32) | 28–18 | |
| 47 | January 18 | Chicago | 95–113 | Bob Lanier (32) | 29–18 | |
| 48 | January 20 | Kansas City–Omaha | 79–105 | George Trapp (21) | 30–18 | |
| 49 | January 23 | Portland | 95–121 | Curtis Rowe (20) | 31–18 | |
| 50 | January 25 | Houston | 89–93 | Bob Lanier (26) | 32–18 | |
| 51 | January 26 | Seattle | 83–94 | Bob Lanier (27) | 33–18 | |
| 52 | January 27 | @ Chicago | 91–109 | Bob Lanier (20) | 33–19 | |
| 53 | January 30 | Buffalo | 96–111 | Bob Lanier (36) | 34–19 | |
| 54 | February 1 | New York | 91–96 | Dave Bing (18) | 35–19 | |
| 55 | February 3 | @ Seattle | 114–100 | Bob Lanier (25) | 36–19 | |
| 56 | February 5 | @ Portland | 104–102 | Willie Norwood (27) | 37–19 | |
| 57 | February 7 | @ Golden State | 110–86 | Willie Norwood (27) | 38–19 | |
| 58 | February 8 | @ Phoenix | 99–94 | Bob Lanier (24) | 39–19 | |
| 59 | February 12 | Kansas City–Omaha | 106–113 | Willie Norwood (27) | 40–19 | |
| 60 | February 14 | Milwaukee | 102–99 | Dave Bing (19) | 40–20 | |
| 61 | February 15 | @ Buffalo | 116–118 | Bob Lanier (45) | 40–21 | |
| 62 | February 17 | @ Philadelphia | 118–107 | Bob Lanier (27) | 41–21 | |
| 63 | February 19 | @ Boston | 97–107 | Dave Bing (21) | 41–22 | |
| 64 | February 20 | Los Angeles | 110–112 | Bob Lanier (29) | 42–22 | |
| 65 | February 22 | Capital | 83–84 | Bob Lanier (24) | 43–22 | |
| 66 | February 23 | Phoenix | 107–119 | Bob Lanier (25) | 44–22 | |
| 67 | February 24 | @ Capital | 84–94 | Dave Bing (18) | 44–23 | |
| 68 | February 26 | Boston | 86–83 | Dave Bing (22) | 44–24 | |
| 69 | February 28 | @ Milwaukee | 90–113 | George Trapp (17) | 44–25 | |
| 70 | March 1 | Seattle | 105–103 | John Mengelt (24) | 44–26 | |
| 71 | March 3 | @ Portland | 99–95 | Bob Lanier (30) | 45–26 | |
| 72 | March 5 | @ Golden State | 95–93 | Dave Bing (23) | 46–26 | |
| 73 | March 8 | @ Los Angeles | 113–129 | Curtis Rowe (24) | 46–27 | |
| 74 | March 10 | @ Atlanta | 116–111 | Bob Lanier (31) | 47–27 | |
| 75 | March 11 | Golden State | 120–108 | Willie Norwood (19) | 47–28 | |
| 76 | March 12 | Golden State | 108–113 | Dave Bing (28) | 48–28 | |
| 77 | March 15 | Milwaukee | 89–93 | Don Adams (21) | 49–28 | |
| 78 | March 17 | Buffalo | 109–116 | Bing, Lanier (23) | 50–28 | |
| 79 | March 20 | Houston | 99–103 | Dave Bing (18) | 51–28 | |
| 80 | March 22 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 105–107 | George Trapp (18) | 51–29 | |
| 81 | March 23 | Philadelphia | 97–89 | Dave Bing (27) | 51–30 | |
| 82 | March 26 | Atlanta | 108–109 | Bob Lanier (25) | 52–30 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 30| @ Chicago| W 97–88| Bob Lanier (27)| Lanier, Rowe (13)| Don Adams (6)| Chicago Stadium
10,711| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 1| Chicago| L 103–108| Bob Lanier (38)| Bob Lanier (19)| Dave Bing (7)| Cobo Arena
11,499| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 5| @ Chicago| L 83–84| Dave Bing (23)| Bob Lanier (16)| Lanier, Rowe (2)| Chicago Stadium
17,634| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 7| Chicago| W 102–87| Bob Lanier (26)| Bob Lanier (18)| Dave Bing (8)| Cobo Arena
11,287| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 9| @ Chicago| L 94–98| Bob Lanier (23)| Bob Lanier (17)| Dave Bing (6)| Chicago Stadium
14,236| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 11| Chicago| W 92–88| Bob Lanier (28)| Bob Lanier (14)| Dave Bing (10)| Cobo Arena
11,134| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 13| @ Chicago| L 94–96| Stu Lantz (25)| Lanier, Rowe (10)| Stu Lantz (5)| Chicago Stadium
13,133| 3–4|-
| Player | Games Played | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Lanier | 81 | 3047 | 1822 | 1074 | 343 | 110 | 247 | |
| Dave Bing | 81 | 3124 | 1520 | 281 | 555 | 109 | 17 | |
| Curtis Rowe | 82 | 2499 | 878 | 515 | 136 | 49 | 36 | |
| George Trapp | 82 | 1489 | 765 | 313 | 81 | 47 | 33 | |
| Don Adams | 74 | 2298 | 759 | 448 | 141 | 110 | 12 | |
| John Mengelt | 77 | 1555 | 680 | 206 | 148 | 68 | 7 | |
| Willie Norwood | 74 | 1178 | 589 | 229 | 58 | 60 | 9 | |
| Chris Ford | 82 | 2059 | 585 | 304 | 279 | 148 | 14 |