1960–61 St. Louis Hawks season
{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{NBA season
| team = St. Louis Hawks
| DivisionWin = yes
| end_year = 1961
| wins = 51
| losses = 28
| division = Western
| division_place = 1
| coach = Paul Seymour
| arena = Kiel Auditorium
| playoffs = NBA Finals
(Eliminated 1–4)
}}
the 1960–61 Saint Louis Hawks season owner Ben Kerner changed coaches despite reaching the 1960 NBA Finals. Ed Macauley was replaced with Paul Seymour.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/stlhawks/stlhawks.html|title = St. Louis Hawks – Sports Ecyclopedia}} On the court, rookie Lenny Wilkens was averaging 11.7 points per game in his first year. The brunt of the scoring came from the Hawks' front line of Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, and Clyde Lovellette. They combined for 72.0 points per game, and the Hawks won the West by 15 games. The Hawks finished the season with a record of 51–28. In the playoffs, the Hawks needed a 1-point overtime win in Game 6 on the road to force a 7th game with the Los Angeles Lakers. Game 7 was played in St. Louis and the Hawks beat the Lakers by 2 points. The Hawks then were up against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Hawks fell in 5 games as the Celtics won their 4th NBA Title in 5 seasons.
Roster
{{NBA roster header|team=St. Louis Hawks|season=1960–61}}
{{player2 | num =12| first =Ernie | last =Beck | pos =SG| ft =6| in =4 | lbs =190| DOB =1931-12-11 | college = Penn}}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Al | last = Ferrari | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 190 | college = Michigan State | DOB = 1933–07–06}}
{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Larry | last = Foust | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | college = La Salle | DOB = 1928–06–24}}
{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Si | last = Green | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | college = Duquesne | DOB = 1933–08–20}}
{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Cliff | last = Hagan | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 210 | college = Kentucky | DOB = 1931–12–09}}
{{player2 | num = 19|first=Fred| last =LaCour| pos = SF | ft =6| in =5 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1938-02-07| college =San Francisco}}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Clyde | last = Lovellette | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 234 | college = Kansas | DOB = 1929–09–07}}
{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Johnny | last = McCarthy | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 185 | college =Canisius | DOB = 1934–04–25}}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Bob | last = Pettit | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 205 | college = LSU | DOB = 1932–12–12}}
{{player2 | num = 25 | first = Dave | last = Piontek | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 230 | college = Xavier | DOB = 1934–08–27}}
{{player2 | num =12 | first =Phil | last =Rollins| pos =G| ft = 6| in =2| lbs =185 | DOB =1934-01-19 | college =Louisville}}
{{player2 | num =21 | first =Woody | last =Sauldsberry| pos =PF| ft = 6| in =7 | lbs =220 | DOB =1934-07-11| college =Texas Southern}}
{{player2 | num =32 | first =Lenny | last =Wilkens| pos =PG| ft = 6| in =1 | lbs =180 | DOB = 1937-10-28| college =Providence}}
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach = Paul Seymour
| asst_coach =
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/STL/1961.html
| transaction_url =
| accessdate =
}}
Regular season
=Standings=
{{1960–61 NBA West standings|team=STL}}
=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:#00004d; color:#C41E3A;" | 1960–61 Game log | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 1 | October 22 | Los Angeles | 96–112 | Clyde Lovellette (28) | 1–0 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 2 | October 23 | @ Cincinnati | 103–114 | Cliff Hagan (25) | 1–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 3 | October 25 | Syracuse | 100–123 | Bob Pettit (35) | 2–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 4 | October 29 | Cincinnati | 97–113 | Green, Pettit (19) | 3–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 5 | November 2 | @ Detroit | 132–117 | Bob Pettit (22) | 4–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 6 | November 5 | New York | 104–119 | Cliff Hagan (35) | 5–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 7 | November 9 | Detroit | 120–126 | Bob Pettit (39) | 6–1 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 8 | November 11 | @ Philadelphia | 112–117 | Cliff Hagan (22) | 6–2 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 9 | November 12 | Philadelphia | 105–107 | Clyde Lovellette (24) | 7–2 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 10 | November 16 | @ Boston | 106–124 | Bob Pettit (22) | 7–3 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 11 | November 17 | N Detroit | 112–105 | Hagan, Lovellette, Pettit (26) | 8–3 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 12 | November 18 | @ Cincinnati | 128–129 (OT) | Cliff Hagan (36) | 8–4 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 13 | November 19 | Cincinnati | 120–121 | Clyde Lovellette (33) | 9–4 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 14 | November 22 | @ New York | 120–119 | Clyde Lovellette (32) | 10–4 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 15 | November 24 | Syracuse | 97–132 | Bob Pettit (31) | 11–4 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 16 | November 26 | Los Angeles | 113–126 | Bob Pettit (41) | 12–4 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 17 | November 29 | Boston | 119–109 | Cliff Hagan (26) | 12–5 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 18 | November 30 | N Syracuse | 135–126 | Bob Pettit (32) | 12–6 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 19 | December 2 | @ New York | 139–133 (OT) | Bob Pettit (44) | 13–6 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 20 | December 3 | @ Philadelphia | 131–127 | Bob Pettit (37) | 14–6 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 21 | December 6 | Detroit | 110–146 | Hagan, Lovellette (18) | 15–6 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 22 | December 7 | @ Detroit | 83–113 | Bob Pettit (13) | 15–7 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 23 | December 9 | N Syracuse | 118–131 | Bob Pettit (36) | 16–7 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 24 | December 10 | Los Angeles | 108–111 | Bob Pettit (30) | 17–7 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 25 | December 12 | @ Los Angeles | 114–103 | Bob Pettit (32) | 18–7 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 26 | December 14 | @ Los Angeles | 113–124 | Cliff Hagan (23) | 18–8 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 27 | December 16 | N Philadelphia | 112–107 | Clyde Lovellette (24) | 19–8 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 28 | December 17 | New York | 103–116 | Bob Pettit (36) | 20–8 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 29 | December 18 | @ Syracuse | 104–103 | Bob Pettit (26) | 21–8 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 30 | December 21 | @ Boston | 108–120 | Bob Pettit (37) | 21–9 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 31 | December 26 | Syracuse | 112–133 | Bob Pettit (25) | 22–9 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 32 | December 28 | Boston | 99–105 | Bob Pettit (35) | 23–9 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 33 | December 29 | @ Detroit | 89–112 | Hagan, Pettit (19) | 23–10 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 34 | December 30 | Los Angeles | 99–107 | Cliff Hagan (28) | 24–10 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 35 | January 1 | @ Cincinnati | 112–114 | McCarthy, Pettit (25) | 24–11 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 36 | January 5 | @ Los Angeles | 96–110 | Bob Pettit (23) | 24–12 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 37 | January 6 | @ Los Angeles | 108–104 | Bob Pettit (35) | 25–12 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 38 | January 8 | Boston | 104–133 | Cliff Hagan (37) | 26–12 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 39 | January 10 | Cincinnati | 110–119 | Cliff Hagan (33) | 27–12 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 40 | January 11 | @ Syracuse | 128–133 | Clyde Lovellette (31) | 27–13 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 41 | January 12 | @ Philadelphia | 102–111 | Clyde Lovellette (29) | 27–14 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 42 | January 14 | Detroit | 113–135 | Cliff Hagan (31) | 28–14 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 43 | January 15 | @ Detroit | 122–137 | Bob Pettit (31) | 28–15 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 44 | January 18 | @ Boston | 125–114 | Bob Pettit (37) | 29–15 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 45 | January 19 | @ Philadelphia | 127–129 | Bob Pettit (42) | 29–16 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 46 | January 21 | New York | 122–145 | Bob Pettit (45) | 30–16 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 47 | January 22 | @ Cincinnati | 108–115 | Bob Pettit (26) | 30–17 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 48 | January 24 | Philadelphia | 112–114 | Bob Pettit (37) | 31–17 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 49 | January 25 | N New York | 116–109 | Clyde Lovellette (25) | 32–17 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 50 | January 28 | Cincinnati | 116–136 | Cliff Hagan (32) | 33–17 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 51 | January 29 | Syracuse | 108–125 | Lovellette, Pettit (25) | 34–17 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 52 | January 31 | Boston | 109–103 | Bob Pettit (26) | 34–18 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 53 | February 1 | N Detroit | 137–131 | Cliff Hagan (33) | 35–18 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 54 | February 2 | N Los Angeles | 115–116 | Bob Pettit (25) | 35–19 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 55 | February 4 | @ New York | 128–111 | Lenny Wilkens (24) | 36–19 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 56 | February 5 | @ Boston | 121–123 | Bob Pettit (35) | 36–20 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 57 | February 7 | Philadelphia | 124–127 | Bob Pettit (35) | 37–20 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 58 | February 8 | @ Los Angeles | 103–120 | Clyde Lovellette (23) | 37–21 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 59 | February 9 | @ Los Angeles | 123–113 | Bob Pettit (40) | 38–21 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 60 | February 11 | Cincinnati | 122–123 | Lenny Wilkens (28) | 39–21 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 61 | February 12 | Los Angeles | 105–95 | Cliff Hagan (25) | 39–22 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 62 | February 14 | Detroit | 134–135 | Cliff Hagan (38) | 40–22 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 63 | February 15 | N Philadelphia | 135–98 | Bob Pettit (26) | 41–22 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 64 | February 16 | @ Cincinnati | 107–133 | Bob Pettit (30) | 41–23 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 65 | February 18 | @ Detroit | 141–138 | Bob Pettit (57) | 42–23 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 66 | February 19 | New York | 123–100 | Bob Pettit (26) | 42–24 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 67 | February 21 | Cincinnati | 114–126 | Cliff Hagan (31) | 43–24 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 68 | February 23 | @ Syracuse | 116–144 | Clyde Lovellette (26) | 43–25 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 69 | February 24 | @ New York | 122–119 | Lenny Wilkens (29) | 44–25 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 70 | February 25 | Boston | 122–109 | Bob Pettit (31) | 44–26 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 71 | February 26 | @ Cincinnati | 148–122 | Clyde Lovellette (30) | 45–26 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 72 | February 28 | N Cincinnati | 105–131 | Al Ferrari (18) | 45–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 73 | March 1 | @ Boston | 110–97 | Lenny Wilkens (23) | 46–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 74 | March 4 | Detroit | 102–104 | Clyde Lovellette (27) | 47–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 75 | March 5 | @ Detroit | 127–122 | Cliff Hagan (30) | 48–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 76 | March 7 | Los Angeles | 136–137 (2OT) | Bob Pettit (48) | 49–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 77 | March 8 | N New York | 117–94 | Bob Pettit (21) | 50–27 |
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 78 | March 9 | @ Syracuse | 119–129 | Hagan, Pettit (34) | 50–28 |
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 79 | March 11 | Philadelphia | 87–130 | Cliff Hagan (24) | 51–28 |
Playoffs
{{NBA game log start|St. Louis Hawks|end_year=1961|playoffs=yes}}
{{NBA game log section|St. Louis Hawks|Division Finals|first=yes|show=no|playoffs=yes
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 1
| hide_assists = yes
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| March 21
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103210STL.html L 118–122]
| Bob Pettit (28)
| Bob Pettit (20)
| Kiel Auditorium
8,147
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| March 22
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103220STL.html W 121–106]
| Clyde Lovellette (28)
| Bob Pettit (19)
| Kiel Auditorium
8,472
| 1–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 3
| March 24
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103240LAL.html L 112–118]
| Bob Pettit (26)
| Bob Pettit (13)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
5,006
| 1–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 4
| March 25
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103250LAL.html W 118–117]
| Bob Pettit (40)
| Bob Pettit (18)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
4,923
| 2–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| March 27
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103270STL.html L 112–121]
| Cliff Hagan (26)
| Bob Pettit (21)
| 2–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 6
| March 29
| @ Los Angeles
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196103290LAL.html W 114–113 (OT)]
| Bob Pettit (31)
| Bob Pettit (21)
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
14,840
| 3–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 7
| April 1
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104010STL.html W 105–103]
| Bob Pettit (31)
| Bob Pettit (17)
| 4–3
|-
{{NBA game log section|St. Louis Hawks|NBA Finals|show=no|playoffs=yes
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 1
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 3
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| April 2
| @ Boston
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104020BOS.html L 95–129]
| Cliff Hagan (33)
| Cliff Hagan (13)
| Hagan, Sauldsberry (4)
| Boston Garden
11,531
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2
| April 5
| @ Boston
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104050BOS.html L 108–116]
| Cliff Hagan (40)
| Bob Pettit (19)
| Cliff Hagan (6)
| Boston Garden
13,909
| 0–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| April 8
| Boston
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104080STL.html W 124–120]
| Bob Pettit (31)
| Bob Pettit (24)
| Si Green (7)
| Kiel Auditorium
8,468
| 1–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4
| April 9
| Boston
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104090STL.html L 104–119]
| Bob Pettit (40)
| Bob Pettit (18)
| Cliff Hagan (7)
| Kiel Auditorium
10,442
| 1–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| April 11
| @ Boston
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196104110BOS.html L 112–121]
| Bob Pettit (24)
| Pettit, Sauldsberry (11)
| Johnny McCarthy (6)
| Boston Garden
13,909
| 1–4
|-
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=STL|end_year=1961|playoffs=yes}}
Awards and honors
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/STL/1961.html Hawks on Basketball Reference]
{{1960-61 NBA season by team}}
{{Atlanta Hawks seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1960-61 St. Louis Hawks season}}