15 Reasons NBA 1970-71 Kicks the Butt of NBA 2010-11
There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the 2010-2011 NBA season.
The rise to MVP of Derrick Rose. Upstarts such as the Memphis Grizzlies making waves. LeBron James' "The Decision" and subsequent rise, and the fall and rise of the Miami Heat.
But that all pales in comparison to the 1970-71 NBA season.
In fact, some might say that the NBA of 40 years ago would kick the butt of today's NBA.
And that the NBA's best players of 1970-71 would put a bad hurtin' on the best players of 2010-11—not just in their prime, but if they suited up and hit the court this week!
The 1970-71 season marked the 25th anniversary of the NBA.
The Eastern and Western Conferences were created.
The league added three teams (Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves—now the Los Angeles Clippers) for a grand total of 17 teams. This meant fewer watered-down benches, no one-and-down college players and a lot less cup-of-coffee replacements from places like the D-League.
And the All-Star Game was not a joke. The West beat the East, 108-107, and 60 percent of the athletes on the roster are now in the Hall of Fame.
Head-to-head, the NBA of 40 years ago overpowers the NBA of today.
MVP vs. MVP
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Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is a fine, young player and, at 22, has the potential to become an all-time great.
The MVP of 1970-71 was 24-year-old Lew Alcindor (who changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar one day after the season ended).
In just his sophomore season, he scored 2,596 points, averaged 31.7 points per game and grabbed 1,311 rebounds.
He led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship.
In just two years out of UCLA, he had already scored almost 5,000 points and grabbed more than 2,500 rebounds.
He changed the game and the way other teams played. He retired in 1989 and still holds the record for most career points.
Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers retired his No. 33 jersey.
And he had a great role in Airplane.
Enough said.
Rookie of the Year vs. Rookie of the Year
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Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers is this season's ROY. His dunks have given the NBA national marketing attention and he was among the top five in rebounds.
But does he have game? Will he ever make the playoffs?
The ROYs of 1970-71 (one from each Conference) were Dave Cowens of the Boston Celtics and Geoff Petrie of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Cowens was a seven-time All-Star and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Petrie was a two-time All-Star who has really made his mark as an NBA executive, being named Executive of the Year twice with the Sacramento Kings, where he is still team president.
Among those who didn't win the ROY that season were Pete Maravich, Bob Lanier and Calvin Murphy.
Coach of the Year vs. Coach of the Year
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2010-11 Coach of the Year is Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls.
Coach of the Year in 1970-71 was Dick Motta (pictured), then with the Chicago Bulls.
Thibodeau is a rookie head coach but paid his dues as one of the NBA's most respected assistant coaches from 1989-2010.
He could win his first NBA title this season; he likely will have several in his future. But he has yet to prove he has the chops to go the distance.
Motta's NBA head coaching career spanned 20 years (Chicago, Washington Bullets, Dallas), including an NBA title with Washington in 1977-78.
He retired with a regular-season record of 935-1,017 (plus 56 playoff wins).
NBA Champion: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Any of the Final 8 Teams
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The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks were an NBA best 66-16.
In the playoffs, the team went 12-2 en route to the championship, including a 4-0 sweep of the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals.
Milwaukee's center was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During the playoffs, he was unstoppable, averaging 26.6 ppg and pulling down 238 rebounds in 14 games.
Prior to the season, the team traded for Oscar Robertson (pictured), among the all-time NBA great players.
Robertson, in his 10th NBA season, had never won an NBA title. Like LeBron James 40 years later, he left the only NBA team for which he had played to join another superstar in an attempt to win an NBA crown.
The Bucks had a Big Four: Bob Dandridge averaged 18.4 ppg for the season, Jon McGlocklin 15.8 ppg.
At one point during the season, the Bucks won what was then a record 20 consecutive games.
Abdul-Jabbar was regular season and NBA Finals MVP and league scoring champion.
Of the Elite Eight in 2010-11, perhaps a healthy Boston Celtics squad would best match up with and extend the Bucks to seven games before succumbing in the NBA Finals.
And perhaps the Dallas Mavericks would give the Bucks fits with outside shooting for a game or two.
But only if they mirror their Game 4 ouster of the Los Angeles Lakers, during which the Mavs shot a blistering 17-21 three-pointers against an overwhelmed opponent.
With Abdul-Jabbar in the middle, the Miami Heat would be forced to shoot long jumpers. His rebounding on the offense glass would limit the Heat's running attack.
Against any of the remaining teams in the NBA playoffs, the Bucks would be crowned NBA champions!
All-Stars vs. All-Stars
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In 1970-71, 17 of the 28 players in the All-Star Game are now in the Hall of Fame. That's 60 percent.
In 2010-11, 16 of the 24 players in the All-Star Game (pictured) currently have or are building Hall of Fame credentials. That's 66 percent.
So the most recent rosters actually top their counterparts from 40 years ago in terms of percentage.
But the difference comes down to body of work.
The 14-man roster on the East included future Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, John Havlicek, Billy Cunningham, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld and Gus Johnson.
The 14-man roster on the West included future Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dave Bing, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Roberson, Jerry West, Lenny Wilkins, Connie Hawkins, Elvin Hayes and Jerry Lucas.
At the 2010-11 All-Star Game, players in the East who are building Hall of Fame credentials are Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo. The others need much more: Chris Bosh, Al Horford and Joe Johnson.
In the West, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Manu Ginobili can be mentioned in the same breath as the Hall of Fame
Yao Ming was voted onto the West roster but did not play. He, too, has Hall of Fame credentials.
The others would still need to buy tickets to get into the Hall of Fame: Kevin Love (who replaced Ming), Deron Williams, Pau Gasol and Russell Westbrook.
Perhaps 40 years from now this changes. But the All-Star team of 1970-71 has already withstood the test of time.
Who's Your Center?
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The top centers in 1970-71 were men around whom championship teams could be built.
The group was led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain (pictured), Willis Reed, Nate Thurmond, Dave Cowens and Bob Lanier.
Chamberlain at age 34 averaged 18.2 rebounds per game during the regular season and 20.2 rebounds per game during the playoffs.
In 2010-11, the top centers (position defined by All-Star ballot) include a smattering of great stars, but mainly a crew of wannabes and maybe never will be's.
Dwight Howard needs a new team.
Joakin Noah and Nené are solid but not your classic, dominating centers.
Yao Ming is a shadow of his dominating past.
Tim Duncan, Marcus Camby and Shaquille O'Neal are winding down their careers.
Kevin Love needs a new team.
Andrew Bynum will be on a new team.
The jury is still out on Al Jefferson, Andrew Bogut, Al Horford, Andrea Bargnani, Marc Gasol, Tyson Chandler, Emeka Okafor, Marcin Gortat, DeMarcus Cousins, Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez.
Dude, Let's Play Some Defense
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In 1970-71, defensive strategies were so good that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek and Jerry Sloan, among the all-time great defensive players, were on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, along with Paul Silas and Norm Van Lier.
The NBA All-Defensive First Team was Dave DeBusschere, Gus Johnson, Nate Thurmond, Walt Frazier and Jerry West.
In 2010-11, Dwight Howard (pictured) has solid stats as the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Coaches try to preach defense but they have few players in the choir.
Among them are Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, Tony Allen and Kevin Garnett.
Players from 1970-71 are scratching their collective heads wondering in 2010-11 where the "eff" the "D" went!
The Curse of the NBA 3 Point Line
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The NBA did not initiate the three-point line until the 1979-80 season, one of the leftover gimmicks from the ABA.
Players were capable of making it from that distance, but plays were not designed for it as they are today.
So even though there was an array of long-distance shooting, many more plays were designed to create havoc closer to the paint and rim.
No fast-break opportunities that stopped 23' 9" from the rim with 20 seconds on the clock.
No passing up strong plays around the hoop for 22' kickout passes to the corner.
This is not to deny the importance of the three-point shot. Dallas used it to their advantage in Game 4 of their playoff series against Los Angeles.
It is, however, more to show how teams have become too dependent on it.
In 2010-11, only the Boston Celtics as a team shot better than 40 percent from the three-point line (48.7 percent).
Including the Celtics, just 10 of the NBA's 30 teams shot better than 33 percent, meaning they made only one in three for the season.
Twenty teams barely made three in 10, and half averaged about two in 10.
Of the 452 players who attempted at least one three-point shot this past season, only 41 shot 40 percent or better.
Blake Griffin Has Ruined the Dunk
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In 1970-71, opposing teams feared Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, Elvin Hayes and Bob Love when they got the ball near the rim.
Defenses and game plans were designed to prevent that from happening.
In 2010-11, too many players have become enamored with slam dunks that have become show-stoppers rather than show-toppers.
Blake Griffin made the nightly highlight reels and finished with the second-most dunks this past season with 214. The Los Angeles Clippers were a lowly 32-50.
Dwight Howard was far less flashy and led the NBA with 227. But how many were game-changers that put fear into the opposition?
Posturing after a dunk does not necessarily mean your opponent has been "posterized."
Show Time
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In 1970-71 rookie Pete Maravich redefined what it meant to play with an NBA basketball in addition to playing NBA basketball.
John Havlicek, no slacker with the ball, recently called Maravich "the best ball-handler of all-time."
He is a member of the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
His jersey No. 7 was retired by both the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets (despite the fact that he played for the New Orleans Jazz).
He died in 1988 while playing a game of pickup basketball.
NBA showtime pretenders to the throne in 2010-11 still can be the real deal via NBA 2K11, in which Maravich appears.
Rebounders vs. Rebounders
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In 1970-71, the top five rebounders averaged about 16 per game or better.
The top rebounder was Wilt Chamberlain (18.2 rpg, 1,493 total during the regular season).
Elvin Hayes (16.6, 1,362), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16.0, 1,311), Jerry Lucas (15.8, 1,265) and Wes Unseld (16.9, 1,253) were also in the top five.
In 2010-11, the top rebounder was Kevin Love (15.2, 1,112). He would not have been in the top 10 40 years ago.
Dwight Howard (14.1, 1,098), second behind Love (pictured), would not have been in the top 10 in 1970-71.
Zach Randolph (12.2, 914), Blake Griffin (12.1, 989) and Kris Humphries (10.4, 771) would not have been among the top 15.
Clutch Players
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Although the game itself changes from era to era, players who are clutch have ice water in their veins and know what to do with the ball with the game on the line.
In 1970-71, guys you wanted to see with the ball in their hands with the game on the line would literally fill a wing at the Hall of Fame.
That included Walt Frazier, Dave Bing, Oscar Roberson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lenny Wilkins, Connie Hawkins, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, Calvin Murphy, Bill Bradley, Gail Goodrich, Hal Greer, Jerry Sloan, Nate Archibald and Earl Monroe.
Among the clutch players that year who are not in the Hall of Fame were Norm Van Lier, Johnny Green, Jeff Mullins, Dick Van Arsdale, Bob Love, Dick Barnett and Jo Jo White.
In 2010-11, there are players who have earned the term clutch.
Among them are LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony (pictured), Amar'e Stoudemire, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce and Derrick Rose.
In the clutch, 1970-71 beats 2010-11 over the course of the season.
Coaches vs. Coaches
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Although the 2010-11 season included some of the top all-time NBA coaches, the coaching ranks of 40 years ago epitomized what the position meant and what it would become.
Among the head coaches in 1970-71 were Red Holtzman, Jack Ramsay, Tommy Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, Dick Motta, Bob Weiss and player/coaches Al Attles and Lenny Wilkens.
And among the players who would go on to become head coaches and/or NBA executives were Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Willis Reed, Billy Cunningham, Dave Cowens, Kevin Loughery, Wes Unseld, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Rudy Tomjanovich, Rod Thorn and Rick Adelman.
The 2010-11 season puts up a great fight in this category.
Among the top all-time coaches this past season were Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, George Karl and Gregg Popovich.
Some of the top coaches of the recent NBA era were replaced prior to or during the season.
That included Don Nelson, Larry Brown, Jim O'Brien and Jerry Sloan. Rick Adleman made it through the season but has since been removed.
Ultimately, 2010-11 may be remembered more for the bounty of head coaches who were new to their respective teams.
That included Doug Collins, Monty Williams, Larry Drew, Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Vinny Del Negro, Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau (pictured) and Keith Smart (who has since been fired).
Check back in 40 years.
Cheerleaders
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Here's where 1970-71 falls way flat: No Cheerleaders!
The Los Angeles Lakers were the first NBA team to have cheerleaders, the Laker Girls, formed by team owner Jerry Buss in 1979.
In 2010-11, the team cheerleaders feature some of the best assets in the NBA.
Barry Janoff is the Executive Editor for NYSportsJournalism.com.
