1970–71 San Diego Rockets season
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NBA season
| team = San Diego Rockets
| team_link = Houston Rockets
| end_year = 1971
| wins = 40
| losses = 42
| division = Pacific
| division_place = 3
| conf_place = 7
| coach = Alex Hannum
| gm = Pete Newell
| owner = Bob Breitbard
| arena = San Diego Sports Arena
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| bbr_team = SDR
| television = KCST-TV
| radio = KOGO
| next_name = Houston Rockets
}}
The 1970–71 NBA season was the Rockets' 4th season in the NBA.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SDR/1971.html 1970–71 San Diego Rockets] It was also the team's final season in San Diego, as the franchise relocated to Houston, Texas following the season.
Offseason
=Draft picks=
{{main article|1970 NBA draft}}
Roster
{{NBA roster header|team=San Diego Rockets|season=1970–71}}
{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Don | last = Adams| link = Don Adams (basketball) | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1947-11-27 | college = Northwestern}}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = John | last = Block | dab = basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 207 | DOB = 1944-04-16 | college = USC}}
{{player2| num = 21| first = Johnny | last = Egan | dab = basketball | pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 11 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1939-01-31 | college = Providence}}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Elvin | last = Hayes | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 235 | DOB = 1945-11-17 | college = Houston}}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Toby | last = Kimball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 220 | DOB = 1942-09-07 | college = Connecticut}}
{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Stu | last = Lantz | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1946-07-13 | college = Nebraska}}
{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Calvin | last = Murphy | pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 165 | DOB = 1948-05-09 | college = Niagara}}
{{player2 | num = 54 | first = Curtis | last = Perry | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1948-09-13 | college = Missouri State}}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Larry | last = Siegfried | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1939-05-22 | college = Ohio State}}
{{player2 | num = 45 | first = Rudy | last = Tomjanovich | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 218 | DOB = 1948-11-24 | college = Michigan}}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = John Q. | last = Trapp | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1945-10-02 | college = UNLV}}
{{player2 | num = 35 | first = Bernie | last = Williams | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1945-12-30 | college = La Salle}}
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
| asst_coach =
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SDR/1971.html
| accessdate = December 9, 1970
}}
Regular season
=Season standings=
{{1970–71 NBA Pacific standings|team=SDR}}
{{1970–71 NBA West standings|team=SDR}}
=Record vs. opponents=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||||
| colspan=18|1970–71 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100|Team
!style="background:#003EA4;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL !style="background:#E45206;color:#012854;width=35"|BAL !style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS !style="background:#012F6B;color:#D9AA00;width=35"|BUF !style="background:#BA0C2F;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CHI !style="background:#012F6B;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CIN !style="background:#FFA402;color:#77222F;width=35"|CLE !style="background:#012F6B;color:#D40032;width=35"|DET !style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL !style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|MIL !style="background:#003EA4;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK !style="background:#C90F2E;color:#022167;width=35"|PHI !style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO !style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|POR !style="background:#00843D;color:#FFCC00;width=35"|SDR !style="background:#FFC62C;color:#012F6B;width=35"|SFW !style="background:#173F36;color:#EBAA00;width=35"|SEA | |||||||||||||||||
| style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Baltimore | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Boston | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 5–7 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Chicago | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 7–5 | 0–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–10 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Detroit | 5–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | 5–1 |
| style="text-align:left;" | New York | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–4 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Portland | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 10–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | San Diego | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | 5–1 |
| style="text-align:left;" | San Francisco | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Seattle | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — |
=Game log=
| class="toccolours collapsible" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center" | |||||
| colspan=11 style="{{NBA color cell|San Diego Rockets}}" | 1970–71 Game log | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 1 | October 13 | @ Chicago | 96–111 | Stu Lantz (24) | 0–1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 2 | October 14 | @ Baltimore | 105–123 | John Trapp (20) | 0–2 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 3 | October 16 | @ Philadelphia | 119–127 | Elvin Hayes (34) | 0–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 4 | October 17 | @ Buffalo | 102–93 | Elvin Hayes (30) | 1–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 5 | October 20 | Phoenix | 114–115 | Stu Lantz (43) | 2–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 6 | October 22 | Cleveland | 110–140 | Elvin Hayes (40) | 3–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 7 | October 24 | Philadelphia | 111–116 | John Block (32) | 4–3 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 8 | October 25 | @ Phoenix | 98–117 | Hayes, Murphy (29) | 4–4 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 9 | October 27 | @ Milwaukee | 113–126 | Elvin Hayes (34) | 4–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 10 | October 28 | @ Cleveland | 110–99 | Elvin Hayes (40) | 5–5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 11 | October 29 | @ New York | 107–114 | Calvin Murphy (23) | 5–6 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 12 | October 31 | @ Atlanta | 121–117 | Elvin Hayes (32) | 6–6 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 13 | November 4 | New York | 109–100 | Stu Lantz (28) | 6–7 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 14 | November 6 | Baltimore | 125–118 | Elvin Hayes (35) | 6–8 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 15 | November 7 | @ San Francisco | 102–114 | Elvin Hayes (45) | 6–9 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 16 | November 11 | Cincinnati | 120–127 | Stu Lantz (38) | 7–9 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 17 | November 13 | San Francisco | 107–102 | Stu Lantz (23) | 7–10 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 18 | November 14 | Detroit | 101–112 | Stu Lantz (29) | 8–10 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 19 | November 16 | @ Portland | 136–118 | Elvin Hayes (29) | 9–10 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 20 | November 18 | Milwaukee | 117–111 | Don Adams (23) | 9–11 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 21 | November 20 | Seattle | 106–121 | Elvin Hayes (50) | 10–11 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 22 | November 21 | @ Seattle | 115–114 | Elvin Hayes (33) | 11–11 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 23 | November 24 | @ Detroit | 104–111 | Hayes, Siegfried (28) | 11–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 24 | November 25 | @ Cincinnati | 138–120 | Elvin Hayes (48) | 12–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 25 | November 27 | Atlanta | 127–128 | Don Adams (33) | 13–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 26 | November 28 | @ Phoenix | 117–116 | Elvin Hayes (37) | 14–12 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 27 | November 29 | @ Los Angeles | 112–130 | Don Adams (28) | 14–13 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 28 | December 1 | @ Portland | 120–114 | Elvin Hayes (37) | 15–13 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 29 | December 5 | Los Angeles | 116–119 | Elvin Hayes (38) | 16–13 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 30 | December 6 | @ Phoenix | 102–108 | Elvin Hayes (31) | 16–14 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 31 | December 11 | Phoenix | 104–110 | Elvin Hayes (33) | 17–14 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 32 | December 12 | @ Chicago | 98–103 | Elvin Hayes (25) | 17–15 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 33 | December 13 | @ Cleveland | 118–95 | Elvin Hayes (40) | 18–15 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 34 | December 15 | @ Philadelphia | 98–122 | Don Adams (16) | 18–16 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 35 | December 16 | @ Atlanta | 117–128 | Stu Lantz (31) | 18–17 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 36 | December 18 | Detroit | 129–116 | Elvin Hayes (23) | 18–18 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 37 | December 19 | N Portland | 118–108 | Elvin Hayes (35) | 19–18 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 38 | December 20 | @ Seattle | 110–108 | Elvin Hayes (35) | 20–18 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 39 | December 23 | Atlanta | 102–133 | Elvin Hayes (29) | 21–18 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 40 | December 27 | Chicago | 110–101 | Elvin Hayes (28) | 21–19 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 41 | December 29 | Boston | 110–108 | Elvin Hayes (37) | 21–20 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 42 | January 1 | @ Los Angeles | 117–106 | Elvin Hayes (40) | 22–20 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 43 | January 2 | Los Angeles | 108–109 (OT) | Elvin Hayes (25) | 23–20 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 44 | January 5 | @ Chicago | 103–116 | Calvin Murphy (36) | 23–21 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 45 | January 6 | @ Detroit | 99–100 | Elvin Hayes (23) | 23–22 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 46 | January 8 | San Francisco | 120–117 | Elvin Hayes (28) | 23–23 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 47 | January 9 | @ San Francisco | 103–109 | Don Adams (21) | 23–24 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 48 | January 15 | Baltimore | 124–117 | Elvin Hayes (29) | 23–25 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 49 | January 17 | Philadelphia | 106–105 | Stu Lantz (28) | 23–26 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 50 | January 19 | @ New York | 113–117 (OT) | Elvin Hayes (29) | 23–27 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 51 | January 20 | @ Boston | 112–142 | Elvin Hayes (30) | 23–28 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 52 | January 22 | @ Buffalo | 94–101 | Elvin Hayes (30) | 23–29 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 53 | January 23 | @ Baltimore | 120–127 | Stu Lantz (26) | 23–30 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 54 | January 25 | Buffalo | 106–114 | Stu Lantz (37) | 24–30 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 55 | January 27 | Chicago | 111–106 | Stu Lantz (26) | 24–31 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 56 | January 29 | @ Detroit | 104–131 | Stu Lantz (27) | 24–32 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 57 | January 30 | @ Cincinnati | 110–116 | Elvin Hayes (44) | 24–33 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 58 | January 31 | @ Atlanta | 120–131 | Elvin Hayes (39) | 24–34 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 59 | February 2 | @ Los Angeles | 105–133 | Elvin Hayes (27) | 24–35 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 60 | February 3 | Milwaukee | 108–101 | Elvin Hayes (41) | 24–36 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 61 | February 5 | Cleveland | 105–116 | Elvin Hayes (32) | 25–36 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 62 | February 6 | Los Angeles | 115–108 | Elvin Hayes (33) | 25–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 63 | February 7 | @ Seattle | 124–107 | Elvin Hayes (32) | 26–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 64 | February 9 | Seattle | 115–132 | Elvin Hayes (36) | 27–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 65 | February 11 | San Francisco | 111–119 | Stu Lantz (31) | 28–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 66 | February 13 | Cincinnati | 116–120 | Don Adams (24) | 29–37 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 67 | February 18 | New York | 116–115 | Elvin Hayes (33) | 29–38 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 68 | February 19 | @ San Francisco | 109–103 | Calvin Murphy (30) | 30–38 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 69 | February 20 | Boston | 118–128 | Elvin Hayes (33) | 31–38 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 70 | February 23 | @ New York | 126–109 | Hayes, Murphy (29) | 32–38 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 71 | February 24 | @ Milwaukee | 104–139 | Elvin Hayes (23) | 32–39 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 72 | March 2 | @ Philadelphia | 111–103 | Calvin Murphy (27) | 33–39 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 73 | March 3 | @ Boston | 113–128 | Elvin Hayes (35) | 33–40 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 74 | March 5 | Seattle | 111–110 | Hayes, Lantz (27) | 33–41 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"
| 75 | March 6 | N Chicago | 99–105 | Elvin Hayes (27) | 33–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 76 | March 7 | Portland | 121–135 | Elvin Hayes (39) | 34–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 77 | March 9 | Buffalo | 96–106 | Elvin Hayes (27) | 35–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 78 | March 11 | Boston | 91–115 | Stu Lantz (29) | 36–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 79 | March 13 | Baltimore | 115–121 | John Block (30) | 37–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 80 | March 17 | Detroit | 99–106 | Elvin Hayes (28) | 38–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 81 | March 19 | Milwaukee | 99–111 | John Trapp (24) | 39–42 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"
| 82 | March 21 | Phoenix | 114–132 | Elvin Hayes (34) | 40–42 |
Awards and records
- Calvin Murphy, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
References
{{reflist}}
{{1970-71 NBA season by team}}
{{Houston Rockets seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1970-71 San Diego Rockets Season}}