1960–61 Detroit Pistons season
{{Short description|NBA team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{NBA season
| team = Detroit Pistons
| end_year = 1961
| wins = 34
| losses = 45
| division = Western
| division_place = 3
| coach = Dick McGuire
| arena = Detroit Olympia
| television =
| radio =
| playoffs = West Division Semifinals
(eliminated 2–3)
| bbr_team = DET
}}
The 1960–61 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 13th season in the NBA and fourth season in the city of Detroit.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1961.html 1960–61 Detroit Pistons] The team played home games at Olympia Stadium.
The Pistons finished 34-45{{Cite web |last=Proballers |title=Detroit Pistons Schedule (1960-1961) |url=https://www.proballers.com/basketball/team/107/detroit-pistons/schedule/1960 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Proballers |language=en}} (.430), 3rd in the Western Division. The team advanced to the playoffs, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 3–2 as Laker Elgin Baylor dominated the series with a 39.4 ppg average in the series. Detroit was led on the season by forward Bailey Howell (23.6 ppg, 14.4 rpg, NBA All-Star), center Walter Dukes (11.7 ppg, 14.1 rpg, NBA All-Star) and guard Gene Shue (22.6 ppg, 6.8 apg, NBA All-Star).
The 1960-61 Detroit Pistons were an offensive minded team, finishing their season at 2nd overall in Offensive Rating in the 1960-61 NBA season, which included eight NBA teams. However, Detroit had one of the poorer defenses in the NBA, ranking 6th overall in Defensive Rating.
Detroit ranked 6th overall in field goal attempts and 4th overall in field goal percentage and Effective Field Goal Percentage. The high-powered 1960-61 Pistons offense relied heavily on the free throw, ranking 1st in free throw attempt rate and free throws per field goal percentage.
The 1960-61 Pistons had a slightly more successful season than their previous year, winning 4 more games than the 1959-1960 season. However, Detroit still ended the year with the same amount of losses as the 1959-60 season. This is because the NBA expanded their schedule from 75 to 79 games in the 1960-61 season, so the Pistons played four more games than the 1959-1960 season.
Although the Pistons had a 34-45 (.430) losing record, they still made it to the 1961 NBA playoffs where they played the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers hosted the first two games of the series, beating the Pistons 120–102 on March 14, 1961, and 127–118 on March 15th. The Pistons were able to tie the series after beating the Lakers twice in Detroit with scores of 124–113 on March 17 and 123–114 on March 18. The March 17th victory was bolstered by a defensive assignment switch which placed Walter Dukes on Laker's star, Elgin Baylor. Baylor, who had averaged 44.5 points in the first two games in Los Angeles, was held to 26 points with only 10 of those points coming in the second half.{{Cite news |date=March 18, 1961 |title=PISTONS DEFEAT LAKERS, 124-113: FERRY AND LEE PACE DETROIT IN N.B.A. PLAY-OFF WITH SECOND-PERIOD SURGE. |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pistons-defeat-lakers-124-113/docview/115248159/se-2 |work=New York Times}} The Pistons lost to the Lakers in the final game of the series 137–120, and were eliminated from the playoffs.{{Cite web |title=1961 NBA Playoffs: Scores by Day |url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/yearbyyear/1960_1961_playoff_results.htm |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.landofbasketball.com}}
Regular season
=Season standings=
{{1960–61 NBA West standings|team=DET}}
:x – clinched playoff spot
= Regular season by month =
October 1960: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 2-1 through 3 games in October.
- Points Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (25.3)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (1)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (6)
November 1960: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 5-11 through 16 games in November.
- Points Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (22.9)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (3.1)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (10.4)
December 1960: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 7-7 through 14 games in December.
- Points Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (27.1)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (2)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (13)
January 1961: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 11-10 through 21 games in January.
- Points Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (23.3)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (3.4)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Walter Dukes (9.4)
February 1961: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 5-12 through 17 games in February.
- Points Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (22.4)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Gene Shue (1.9)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (4.8)
March 1961: The Detroit Pistons had a record of 4-4 through 8 games in March.
- Points Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (24.5)
- Assists Per Game Leader: Chuck Noble (1.1)
- Rebounds Per Game Leader: Bailey Howell (6.1)
=Record vs. opponents=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| colspan=9|1960-61 NBA Records | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100|Team
!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS !style="background:#012F6B;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CIN !style="background:#012F6B;color:#D40032;width=35"|DET !style="background:#004B87;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|LAL !style="background:#003EA4;color:#E45206;width=35"|NYK !style="background:#012F6B;color:#FEC72E;width=35"|PHI !style="background:#C90F2E;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|STL !style="background:#D40032;color:#022E6B;width=35"|SYR | ||||||||
| style="text-align:left;" | Boston | — | 7–3 | 8–2 | 8–2 | 10–3 | 8–5 | 6–4 | 10–3 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Cincinnati | 3–7 | — | 2–11 | 8–5 | 8–2 | 2–8 | 6–7 | 4–6 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Detroit | 2–8 | 11–2 | — | 4–9 | 5–5 | 5–5 | 3–10 | 4–6 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles | 2–8 | 5–8 | 9–4 | — | 7–3 | 2–8 | 5–8 | 6–4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | New York | 3–10 | 2–8 | 5–5 | 3–7 | — | 2–11 | 1–9 | 5–8 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia | 5–8 | 8–2 | 5–5 | 8–2 | 11–2 | — | 3–7 | 6–7 |
| style="text-align:left;" | St. Louis | 4–6 | 7–6 | 10–3 | 8–5 | 9–1 | 7–3 | — | 6–4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Syracuse | 3–10 | 6–4 | 6–4 | 4–6 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 4–6 | — |
=Game log=
| class="toccolours collapsible" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center" | |||||
| colspan=11 style="background:#00519a; color:white;" | 1960–61 Game log | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 1 | October 22 | @ Boston | 116–118 | Bailey Howell (27) | 0–1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 2 | October 26 | Cincinnati | 117–131 | Gene Shue (30) | 1–1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 3 | October 29 | New York | 110–115 | Bailey Howell (23) | 2–1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 4 | November 2 | St. Louis | 132–117 | Gene Shue (18) | 2–2 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 5 | November 4 | @ Philadelphia | 121–136 | Don Ohl (24) | 2–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 6 | November 5 | N Philadelphia | 130–123 | Howell, Shue (27) | 2–4 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 7 | November 9 | @ St. Louis | 120–126 | Gene Shue (20) | 2–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 8 | November 12 | Cincinnati | 112–116 | Gene Shue (31) | 3–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 9 | November 13 | @ Cincinnati | 125–113 | Don Ohl (31) | 4–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 10 | November 15 | N Boston | 115–114 (OT) | Gene Shue (26) | 5–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 11 | November 16 | Philadelphia | 118–119 | Bailey Howell (30) | 6–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 12 | November 17 | N St. Louis | 112–105 | Gene Shue (25) | 6–6 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 13 | November 19 | @ Los Angeles | 122–130 | Walter Dukes (32) | 6–7 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 14 | November 20 | N Los Angeles | 135–131 | Bailey Howell (36) | 6–8 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 15 | November 23 | Syracuse | 115–122 | Gene Shue (24) | 7–8 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 16 | November 25 | Los Angeles | 141–128 (OT) | Bailey Howell (43) | 7–9 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 17 | November 26 | N New York | 127–119 | Bailey Howell (28) | 7–10 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 18 | November 29 | @ New York | 107–118 | Bailey Howell (25) | 7–11 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 19 | November 30 | Boston | 125–110 | Jackie Moreland (22) | 7–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 20 | December 4 | N Cincinnati | 116–115 | Bailey Howell (31) | 8–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 21 | December 6 | @ St. Louis | 110–146 | Bailey Howell (18) | 8–13 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 22 | December 7 | St. Louis | 83–113 | Bailey Howell (25) | 9–13 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 23 | December 10 | Syracuse | 117–107 | Ohl, Shue (19) | 9–14 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 24 | December 13 | N Philadelphia | 110–108 | Gene Shue (25) | 9–15 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 25 | December 14 | Philadelphia | 126–134 | Bailey Howell (38) | 10–15 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 26 | December 16 | New York | 108–104 | Bailey Howell (30) | 10–16 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 27 | December 19 | N Los Angeles | 107–103 | Gene Shue (30) | 10–17 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 28 | December 20 | N Los Angeles | 94–97 | Bailey Howell (31) | 11–17 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 29 | December 24 | @ Boston | 106–150 | Bailey Howell (18) | 11–18 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 30 | December 25 | @ Cincinnati | 119–126 | Bailey Howell (30) | 11–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 31 | December 26 | Cincinnati | 132–137 | Gene Shue (33) | 12–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 32 | December 29 | St. Louis | 89–112 | Bailey Howell (31) | 13–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 33 | December 30 | N Syracuse | 112–121 | Bailey Howell (33) | 14–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 34 | January 1 | Los Angeles | 105–116 | Bailey Howell (26) | 15–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 35 | January 2 | N Los Angeles | 123–113 | Don Ohl (25) | 15–20 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 36 | January 3 | N Philadelphia | 128–125 (OT) | George Lee (26) | 15–21 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 37 | January 5 | N New York | 104–102 | Bailey Howell (19) | 15–22 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 38 | January 6 | Boston | 108–102 | Shellie McMillon (20) | 15–23 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 39 | January 8 | @ Syracuse | 115–138 | Gene Shue (24) | 15–24 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 40 | January 10 | N Boston | 98–118 | Ferry, Shue (17) | 15–25 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 41 | January 11 | Cincinnati | 122–126 | Gene Shue (32) | 16–25 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 42 | January 12 | N Cincinnati | 124–112 | Bailey Howell (33) | 17–25 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 43 | January 14 | @ St. Louis | 113–135 | Gene Shue (24) | 17–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 44 | January 15 | St. Louis | 122–137 | Don Ohl (25) | 18–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 45 | January 18 | N Cincinnati | 144–128 | Gene Shue (41) | 19–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 46 | January 20 | New York | 128–132 | Bailey Howell (29) | 20–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 47 | January 21 | N Cincinnati | 130–106 | Bailey Howell (29) | 21–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 48 | January 22 | Philadelphia | 128–136 | Gene Shue (32) | 22–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 49 | January 24 | @ Cincinnati | 106–104 | Bailey Howell (29) | 23–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 50 | January 25 | Cincinnati | 125–138 | Gene Shue (24) | 24–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 51 | January 27 | @ Boston | 111–140 | Dukes, Howell (18) | 24–27 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 52 | January 29 | @ Los Angeles | 113–137 | Gene Shue (21) | 24–28 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 53 | January 30 | @ Los Angeles | 116–117 | Bailey Howell (27) | 24–29 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 54 | January 31 | N Los Angeles | 112–121 | Gene Shue (26) | 25–29 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 55 | February 1 | N St. Louis | 137–131 | Don Ohl (22) | 25–30 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 56 | February 3 | Syracuse | 118–121 | Bailey Howell (26) | 26–30 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 57 | February 4 | N Syracuse | 104–111 | Gene Shue (31) | 27–30 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 58 | February 5 | Los Angeles | 125–120 | Bailey Howell (34) | 27–31 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 59 | February 7 | @ New York | 120–131 | Don Ohl (33) | 27–32 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 60 | February 8 | Philadelphia | 123–125 | Gene Shue (28) | 28–32 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 61 | February 10 | Boston | 134–137 | Gene Shue (35) | 29–32 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 62 | February 11 | N Syracuse | 141–111 | Gene Shue (21) | 29–33 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 63 | February 12 | @ Syracuse | 122–148 | Bob Ferry (25) | 29–34 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 64 | February 14 | @ St. Louis | 134–135 | George Lee (31) | 29–35 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 65 | February 16 | Los Angeles | 129–106 | Bob Ferry (25) | 29–36 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 66 | February 17 | N Syracuse | 115–113 | Bob Ferry (31) | 29–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 67 | February 18 | St. Louis | 141–138 | Bob Ferry (39) | 29–38 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 68 | February 21 | N Syracuse | 123–118 | Gene Shue (35) | 29–39 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 69 | February 22 | New York | 117–123 | Gene Shue (29) | 30–39 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 70 | February 23 | @ Philadelphia | 121–129 | Bob Ferry (29) | 30–40 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 71 | February 26 | Boston | 113–99 | Bailey Howell (17) | 30–41 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 72 | March 1 | @ Cincinnati | 122–137 | Don Ohl (33) | 30–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 73 | March 3 | N New York | 112–129 | George Lee (30) | 31–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 74 | March 4 | @ St. Louis | 102–104 | Gene Shue (29) | 31–43 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 75 | March 5 | St. Louis | 127–122 | Bailey Howell (30) | 31–44 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 76 | March 8 | Los Angeles | 103–120 | Bailey Howell (28) | 32–44 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 77 | March 9 | N Boston | 118–119 | Gene Shue (30) | 32–45 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 78 | March 10 | N Philadelphia | 103–120 | Bailey Howell (35) | 33–45 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 79 | March 12 | @ New York | 120–106 | Howell, Lee (24) | 34–45 |
Playoffs
{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=1961|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#00519A|color=#FFFFFF}}
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Division Semifinals|first=yes|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#EB003C|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 3
| hide_assists = yes
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| March 14
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103140LAL.html L 102–120]
| Gene Shue (20)
| Walter Dukes (11)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2
| March 15
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103150LAL.html L 118–127]
| Walter Dukes (12)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
4,253
| 0–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| March 17
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103170DET.html W 124–113]
| Bob Ferry (30)
| —
| Detroit Olympia
3,422
| 1–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 4
| March 18
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103180DET.html W 123–114]
| Gene Shue (29)
| —
| 2–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| March 19
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103190LAL.html L 120–137]
| Bob Ferry (25)
| Bob Ferry (16)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
3,705
| 2–3
|-
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=1961|playoffs=yes}}
Awards and records
References
{{reflist}}
{{1960-61 NBA season by team}}
{{Detroit Pistons seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1960-61 Detroit Pistons Season}}