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1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachBill Fitch
ArenaCleveland Arena
Results
Record23–59 (.280)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWEWS-TV
RadioWERE
< 1970–71 1972–73 >

The 1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the second season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 23–59 record, finishing last in the Central Division and 7th in the Eastern Conference. Rookie top pick Austin Carr was named to the All-Rookie team and John Johnson and Butch Beard were named All-Stars.

Offseason

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Trades

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August 13: Forward Greg Howard obtained from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for undisclosed future draft choices and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Draft picks

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
1 1 Austin Carr SG/SF  United States Notre Dame
2 18 Steve Patterson C  United States UCLA
2 35 Willie Long PF/C  United States New Mexico
  • Note: This table only lists players drafted through the second round.

Roster

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1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 21 Beard, Butch 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 4, 1947 Louisville
G 22 Carr, Austin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mar. 10, 1948 Notre Dame
G 18 Davis, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Sep. 7, 1949 Wake Forest
F 40 Howard, Greg 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jan. 8, 1948 New Mexico
F 32 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Oct. 18, 1947 Iowa
C 50 Patterson, Steve 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun. 24, 1948 UCLA
G 23 Ridgle, Jackie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb. 13, 1948 California
F/C 30 Roberson, Rick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 231 lb (105 kg) Jul. 7, 1947 Cincinnati
G/F 7 Smith, Bingo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb. 26, 1946 Tulsa
F 15 Sorenson, Dave 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jul. 8, 1948 Ohio State
G 11 Warren, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jul. 7, 1947 St. John's
G 17 Washington, Bobby 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul. 11, 1947 Eastern Kentucky
C 44 Wesley, Walt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jan. 25, 1945 Kansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

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Season standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Baltimore Bullets 38 44 .463 18–15 16–24 4–5 9–9
x-Atlanta Hawks 36 46 .439 2 22–19 13–26 1–1 9–9
Cincinnati Royals 30 52 .366 8 20–18 8–32 2–2 11–9
Cleveland Cavaliers 23 59 .280 15 13–28 8–30 2–1 9–11
#
Team W L PCT
1 z-Boston Celtics 56 26 .683
2 y-Baltimore Bullets 38 44 .463
3 x-New York Knicks 48 34 .585
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 36 46 .439
5 Philadelphia 76ers 30 52 .366
5 Cincinnati Royals 30 52 .366
7 Cleveland Cavaliers 23 59 .280
8 Buffalo Braves 22 60 .268

Record vs. opponents

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1971–72 NBA Records
Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CIN CLE DET GSW HOU LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta 2–4 0–4 4–2 0–5 3–3 4–2 3–2 3–2 1–4 0–5 2–3 3–1 3–3 3–2 4–0 1–4
Baltimore 4–2 2–2 3–3 1–4 4–2 1–5 3–2 1–4 3–2 1–4 0–5 2–4 4–0 4–1 3–1 2–3
Boston 4–0 2–2 6–0 3–2 4–2 5–1 5–0 2–3 5–0 1–4 2–3 3–3 6–0 2–3 4–0 2–3
Buffalo 2–4 3–3 0–6 1–3 3–3 4–2 2–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–5 3–3 0–4 2–4 0–4
Chicago 5–0 4–1 2–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 5–1 3–3 5–1 1–3 2–4 3–2 4–1 5–1 6–0 2–3
Cincinnati 3–3 2–4 2–4 3–3 1–3 6–2 2–3 2–3 0–4 1–4 0–5 2–2 2–2 2–3 2–2 0–5
Cleveland 2–4 5–1 1–5 2–4 0–4 2–6 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–5 2–4 0–4 4–2 0–4
Detroit 2–3 2–3 0–5 4–2 1–5 3–2 3–1 0–5 3–3 1–4 1–5 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–2 0–4
Golden State 2–3 4–1 3–2 3–1 3–3 3–2 4–0 5–0 5–1 1–5 2–2 2–3 4–1 2–3 4–2 4–2
Houston 4–1 2–3 0–5 4–0 1–5 4–0 2–2 3–3 1–5 1–5 0–5 0–5 4–1 1–3 4–2 3–3
Los Angeles 5–0 4–1 4–1 4–0 3–1 4–1 3–1 4–1 5–1 5–1 4–1 4–1 5–0 4–2 6–0 5–1
Milwaukee 3–2 5–0 3–2 4–0 4–2 5–0 4–0 5–1 2–2 5–0 1–4 2–3 4–1 4–2 6–0 6–0
New York 1–3 4–2 3–3 5–1 2–3 2–2 5–1 4–1 3–2 5–0 1–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 3–1 3–2
Philadelphia 3–3 0–4 0–6 3–3 1–4 2–2 4–2 4–1 1–4 1–4 0–5 1–4 3–3 1–4 2–2 4–1
Phoenix 2–3 1–4 3–2 4–0 1–5 3–2 4–0 4–2 3–2 3–1 2–4 2–4 4–1 4–1 6–0 3–2
Portland 0–4 1–3 0–4 4–2 0–6 2–2 2–4 2–2 2–4 2–4 0–6 0–6 1–3 2–2 0–6 0–6
Seattle 4–1 3–2 3–2 4–0 3–2 5–0 4–0 4–0 2–4 3–3 1–5 0–6 2–3 1–4 2–3 6–0

Game log

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October

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Record: 2–8 ; Home: 0–6 ; Road: 1–2 ; Neutral: 1–0

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
1 October 15 H Buffalo Braves L 109–111 (OT) 0–1
2 October 16 A Buffalo Braves W 93–89 1–1
3 October 17 H New York Knicks L 120–121 (OT) 1–2
4 October 19 A Milwaukee Bucks L 82–116 1–3
5 October 20 H San Francisco Warriors L 98–115 1–4
6 October 23 N Baltimore Bullets W 109–101 2–4 at College Park, Maryland
7 October 24 H Philadelphia 76ers L 93–111 2–5
8 October 27 A Philadelphia 76ers L 106–120 2–6
9 October 29 H Atlanta Hawks L 97–98 2–7
10 October 31 H Milwaukee Bucks L 102–118 2–8

November

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Record: 6–6 ; Home: 4–2 ; Road: 2–4

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
11 November 5 H Phoenix Suns L 87–107 2–9
12 November 7 H Portland Trail Blazers W 120–99 3–9
13 November 11 A Seattle SuperSonics L 91–110 3–10
14 November 12 A Portland Trail Blazers W 106–104 4–10
15 November 14 A Phoenix Suns L 105–119 4–11
16 November 16 A Los Angeles Lakers L 90–108 4–12
17 November 19 A Portland Trail Blazers L 105–118 4–13
18 November 21 H Boston Celtics L 105–128 4–14
19 November 23 H Baltimore Bullets W 104–102 5–14
20 November 26 H Cincinnati Royals W 128–114 6–14
21 November 27 A Atlanta Hawks W 103–95 7–14
22 November 28 H Philadelphia 76ers W 124–120 8–14

December

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Record: 7–10 ; Home: 5–4 ; Road: 1–6 ; Neutral: 1–0

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
23 December 1 H Houston Rockets W 116–106 9–14
24 December 3 A Buffalo Braves L 90–91 9–15
25 December 5 H Seattle SuperSonics L 91–99 9–16
26 December 7 A Chicago Bulls L 99–115 9–17
27 December 8 A Boston Celtics L 107–126 9–18
28 December 10 H Detroit Pistons W 112–111 10–18
29 December 11 A Cincinnati Royals L 95–103 10–19
30 December 12 H New York Knicks L 92–103 10–20
31 December 14 A Baltimore Bullets W 88–85 11–20
32 December 17 H Boston Celtics L 109–115 11–21
33 December 18 A New York Knicks L 84–104 11–22
34 December 19 H Chicago Bulls L 101–119 11–23
35 December 22 A Detroit Pistons L 94–104 11–24
36 December 23 H Atlanta Hawks W 115–110 12–24
37 December 26 H Baltimore Bullets W 108–102 13–24
38 December 28 H Portland Trail Blazers W 112–111 14–24
39 December 29 N Philadelphia 76ers W 103–102 15–24 at Hershey, Pennsylvania

January

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Record: 1–13 ; Home: 0–5 ; Road: 1–6 ; Neutral: 0–2

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
40 January 2 H Philadelphia 76ers L 119–148 15–25
41 January 5 H Los Angeles Lakers L 103–113 15–26
42 January 7 A Seattle SuperSonics L 111–125 15–27
43 January 8 A Portland Trail Blazers L 102–125 15–28
44 January 11 N San Francisco Warriors L 92–101 15–29 at Oakland, California
45 January 14 A Phoenix Suns L 107–117 15–30
46 January 15 A Houston Rockets L 109–112 15–31
47 January 16 N Cincinnati Royals L 108–128 15–32 at Las Cruces, New Mexico
48 January 21 A Milwaukee Bucks L 91–120 15–33
49 January 22 A Cincinnati Royals L 96–113 15–34
50 January 25 H San Francisco Warriors L 111–117 15–35
51 January 26 A Boston Celtics W 112–108 16–35
52 January 29 H Cincinnati Royals L 118–120 16–36
53 January 30 H Buffalo Braves L 98–99 16–37

February

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Record: 4–12 ; Home: 3–6 ; Road: 1–6

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
54 February 1 A Buffalo Braves W 104–99 17–37
55 February 2 A Detroit Pistons L 108–133 17–38
56 February 4 H Seattle SuperSonics L 112–118 17–39
57 February 5 A Atlanta Hawks L 117–120 17–40
58 February 6 H Buffalo Braves L 108–121 17–41
59 February 8 A Chicago Bulls L 90–114 17–42
60 February 9 H Milwaukee Bucks L 121–126 17–43
61 February 12 A New York Knicks L 91–106 17–44
62 February 13 H Detroit Pistons L 121–136 17–45
63 February 16 A Philadelphia 76ers L 116–121 17–46
64 February 18 H Cincinnati Royals W 133–109 18–46
65 February 19 A Cincinnati Royals L 92–112 18–47
66 February 20 H New York Knicks W 111–109 19–47
67 February 23 H Boston Celtics L 111–113 19–48
68 February 25 H Portland Trail Blazers W 113–104 20–48
69 February 27 H Phoenix Suns L 125–127 20–49

March

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Record: 3–10 ; Home: 1–5 ; Road: 2–4 ; Neutral: 0–1

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record
70 March 1 A Boston Celtics L 105–115 20–50
71 March 4 A Houston Rockets W 130–123 21–50
72 March 7 N San Francisco Warriors L 112–119 21–51 at Oakland
73 March 10 A Los Angeles Lakers L 98–132 21–52
74 March 12 A Atlanta Hawks L 114–135 21–53
75 March 14 A Baltimore Bullets W 127–118 (OT) 22–53
76 March 16 H Baltimore Bullets L 101–105 22–54
77 March 18 H Chicago Bulls L 91–109 22–55
78 March 19 H Atlanta Hawks L 105–115 22–56
79 March 22 H Los Angeles Lakers W 124–120 23–56
80 March 24 H Houston Rockets L 119–127 23–57
81 March 25 A New York Knicks L 83–98 23–58
82 March 26 H Cincinnati Royals L 122–135 23–59


1971–72 game log
Total: 23–59 (Home: 13–28; Road: 8–30; Neutral: 2–1)
October: 2–8 (home: 0–6; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
9 October 29, 1971 Atlanta L 97–98 Cleveland Arena
3,442
2–7
November: 6–6 (home: 4–2; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
21 November 27, 1971 @ Atlanta W 103–95 Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,101
7–14
December: 7–10 (home: 5–4; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
36 December 23, 1971 Atlanta W 115–110 Cleveland Arena
4,562
12–24
January: 1–13 (home: 0–5; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
February: 4–12 (home: 3–6; road: 1–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
57 February 5, 1972 @ Atlanta L 117–120 Alexander Memorial Coliseum
6,281
17–40
March: 3–10 (home: 1–5; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
74 March 12, 1972 @ Atlanta L 114–135 Alexander Memorial Coliseum
4,915
21–53
78 March 19, 1972 Atlanta L 105–115 Cleveland Arena
8,049
22–56
1971–72 schedule

Awards and honors

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References

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