1969–70 Phoenix Suns season
1969–70 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach |
|
General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch |
Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 39–43 (.476) |
Place | Division: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Division semifinals (lost to Lakers 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KTAR-TV |
Radio | KTAR |
The
Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6
After a 16–66 finish in 1968–69, Hawkins and the Suns made a 23-game improvement to 39–43, making their first playoff appearance in only their second season. Facing off against Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division semifinals, the Suns took an improbable 3–1 lead, before falling to the Lakers in seven games. The Suns wouldn't return to the playoffs again until their cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 1976.
Offseason
NBA draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Neal Walk | Center | United States | Florida |
2 | 24 | Gene Williams | Forward | United States | Kansas State |
3 | 30 | Floyd Kerr | Guard | United States | Colorado State |
3 | 33 | Lamar Green | Forward | United States | Morehead State |
3 | 39 | Lloyd Kerr | Guard | United States | Colorado State |
4 | 41 | Dennis Stewart | Forward | United States | Michigan |
5 | 58 | Rich Jones | Forward | United States | Memphis |
6 | 72 | Dan Sadlier | Forward | United States | Dayton |
7 | 86 | Bill Sweek | Guard | United States | UCLA |
8 | 100 | Bob Edwards | Center | United States | Arizona State |
9 | 14 | Steve Jennings | Guard | United States | USC |
10 | 128 | Rich Abrahamson | Guard | United States | Oregon |
11 | 142 | Fred Lind | Forward | United States | Duke |
12 | 156 | Bob Miller | Forward | United States | Toledo |
13 | 169 | Andy White | Guard | United States | UTEP |
14 | 180 | Marv Schmidt | Guard | United States | Western New Mexico |
15 | 189 | Bob Beamon | Guard | United States | UTEP |
16 | 195 | Wayne Huckel | Guard | United States | Davidson |
17 | 201 | Howie Dickenman | Center | United States | Central Connecticut |
18 | 207 | Al Nuness | Guard | United States | Minnesota |
19 | 212 | Solomon Davis | Forward | United States | Kentucky State |
20 | 216 | Jim Plump | Forward | United States | Northern Arizona |
Prior to the inception of the
The Suns would use the second pick to select center
Free agency
Despite losing the number one draft pick to the Bucks, the Suns would win another significant coin flip. The Suns bested the
Trades
On May 8, 1969, the Suns traded Gary Gregor to the Atlanta Hawks for Paul Silas. Gregor, the Suns first draft pick, was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1969 after averaging 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.[18] Silas would join Connie Hawkins and Jim Fox to form a formidable starting frontcourt that would combine to average over 50 points and 29 rebounds a game. As a Sun, Silas would become an All-Star, and be selected to two All-Defensive teams.[19] The Suns also traded the rights to expansion draft picks Bill Melchionni and Bumper Tormohlen for a 1970 second-round draft pick (Joe DePre) and a 1970 third-round draft pick (Vann Williford). Neither pick would play for the franchise.[20]
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Regular season
Standings
W | L | PCT | GB | |
---|---|---|---|---|
x-Atlanta Hawks | 48 | 34 | .585 | – |
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2 |
x-Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
Seattle SuperSonics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 12 |
San Francisco Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 |
San Diego Rockets | 27 | 55 | .329 | 21 |
Record vs. opponents
1969–70 NBA records | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–2 | 4–2 |
Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 |
Boston | 0–6 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 1–6 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 |
Chicago | 2–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 4–3 |
Cincinnati | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 |
Detroit | 3–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
Los Angeles | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 5–2 | 6–0 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 |
New York | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 |
Philadelphia | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–6 |
Phoenix | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | — | 7–0 | 3–3 | 4–3 |
San Diego | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–7 | — | 5–2 | 4–2 |
San Francisco | 2–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–5 | — | 3–4 |
Seattle | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — |
Game log
1969–70 game log Total: 39–43 (home: 25–16; road: 14–27) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 7–8 (home: 5–4; road: 2–4)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 9–10 (home: 6–4; road: 3–6)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 9–7 (home: 4–2; road: 5–5)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 6–3 (home: 4–1; road: 2–2)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1969–70 season schedule |
Team-by-team results
Opponent | Home | Road | Total | All-time record | Suns leading scorer | Opp. leading scorer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Hawks | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–8 (.333%) | Connie Hawkins (25.8) | Joe Caldwell (24.0) |
Baltimore Bullets
|
2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 3–9 (.250%) | Dick Van Arsdale (22.7) | Earl Monroe (20.2) |
Boston Celtics | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 4–8 (.333%) | Dick Van Arsdale (25.5) | John Havlicek (24.8) |
Chicago Bulls | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–5 | 4–9 (.308%) | Dick Van Arsdale (25.4) | Bob Love (27.1) |
Cincinnati Royals
|
2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Connie Hawkins (26.5) | Oscar Robertson (24.7) |
Detroit Pistons | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Dick Van Arsdale (23.0) | Dave Bing (22.2) |
Los Angeles Lakers | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 4–9 (.308%) | Connie Hawkins (22.4) | Elgin Baylor (29.0) |
Milwaukee Bucks | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 2–12 (.143%) | Connie Hawkins (26.5) | Lew Alcindor (25.8)
|
New York Knicks | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 1–11 (.083%) | Connie Hawkins (28.0) | Willis Reed (27.3) |
Philadelphia 76ers | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 3–9 (.250%) | Dick Van Arsdale (21.5) | Billy Cunningham (25.8) |
San Diego Rockets
|
4–0 | 3–0 | 7–0 | 8–7 (.533%) | Connie Hawkins (25.7) | Elvin Hayes (28.7) |
San Francisco Warriors
|
2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Connie Hawkins (24.5) | Jerry Lucas (19.5) |
Seattle SuperSonics | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 7–6 (.538%) | Connie Hawkins (29.9) | Bob Rule (24.3) |
Playoffs
Game log
Awards and honors
All-Star
- Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Hawkins led all Western Conference forwards in voting. It was his first All-Star selection in the NBA.
- Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.
Season
- All-NBA First Team. Hawkins also finished fifth in MVPvoting.
Player statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | ||
MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | ||
FT% | Free-throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | ||
APG | Assists per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jerry Chambers | 79 | 14.4 | .430 | .728 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 8.3 |
Jim Fox | 81 | 25.2 | .524 | .770 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
Gail Goodrich | 81 | 39.9 | .454 | .808^ | 4.2 | 7.5 | 20.0 |
Lamar Green | 58 | 12.1 | .432 | .586 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 4.2 |
Art Harris* | 76 | 18.1 | .395 | .656 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 7.8 |
Connie Hawkins | 81 | 40.9 | .490 | .779 | 10.4 | 4.8 | 24.6 |
Neil Johnson | 28 | 4.9 | .333 | .667 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 |
Stan McKenzie (basketball) | 58 | 9.1 | .393 | .795 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 |
Paul Silas | 78 | 36.4 | .464 | .607 | 11.7 | 2.7 | 12.8 |
Dick Snyder* | 6 | 24.5 | .489 | .875^ | 2.5 | 1.5 | 8.5 |
Dick Van Arsdale | 77 | 38.5 | .508 | .798 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 21.3 |
Neal Walk | 82 | 17.0 | .470 | .640 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 8.2 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 70 games played.
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jerry Chambers | 7 | 0 | 10.4 | .378 | .625 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.7 |
Jim Fox | 6 | 6 | 29.0 | .362 | .708 | 10.7 | 1.3 | 11.2 |
Gail Goodrich | 7 | 7 | 37.9 | .475 | .857 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 20.3 |
Lamar Green | 6 | 0 | 11.5 | .286 | .400 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 |
Art Harris | 7 | 0 | 12.7 | .357 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 4.3 |
Connie Hawkins | 7 | 7 | 46.9 | .413 | .818 | 13.9 | 5.9 | 25.4 |
Neil Johnson | 2 | 0 | 3.5 | .333 | . | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Stan McKenzie (basketball) | 7 | 0 | 10.1 | .276 | .800 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.9 |
Paul Silas | 7 | 7 | 40.9 | .422 | .656 | 15.9 | 4.3 | 16.1 |
Dick Van Arsdale | 7 | 7 | 36.4 | .430 | .879 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 16.4 |
Neal Walk | 5 | 1 | 12.6 | .395 | .750 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 8.0 |
Transactions
Trades
May 8, 1969 | To Atlanta Hawks
Gary Gregor |
To Phoenix Suns
Paul Silas |
September 13, 1969 | To Philadelphia 76ers
Bill Melchionni |
To Phoenix Suns
1970 second-round draft pick ( Joe DePre) |
September 20, 1969 | To Atlanta Hawks
Bumper Tormohlen |
To Phoenix Suns
1970 third-round draft pick ( Vann Williford) |
October 26, 1969 | To Seattle SuperSonics
Dick Snyder |
To Phoenix Suns
Art Harris |
Free agents
Additions
Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
---|---|---|---|
June 20, 1969 | Connie Hawkins | Undisclosed | Minnesota Pipers (ABA )
|
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
---|---|---|---|
September 11, 1969 | Bob Warlick | Waived | Los Angeles Stars (ABA )
|
October 1, 1969 | Dave Lattin | Waived | Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) |
References
- ^ "Tip-Off Timer: How '69 Coin Flip Cursed The Phoenix Suns". AOLnews.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ Phoenix Suns Since '68: The Coin Flip (Television production). July 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chuck Klosterman on Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, and the 50 greatest basketball players in college basketball history". Grantland.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "100 Best Players in College Basketball History". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "25 Greatest Players In College Basketball". ESPN.go.com. March 8, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Neal Walk". TheDraftReview.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Neal Walk NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Green leaping into spotlight". Rome News-Tribune. January 7, 1973. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Lamar Green NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "NBA.com: Draft Oddities". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Layups: More Info on Connie Hawkins". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "NBA.com: Connie Hawkins Summary". NBA. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Remember the ABA: Connie Hawkins". RemembertheABA.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Connie Hawkins Biography". vegasbettinglines.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "SUNS: The Starting Five". NBA.com/Suns. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Bob Warlick NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dave Lattin NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Gary Gregor NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Paul Silas NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "1969–70 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.