1973–74 Detroit Pistons season

{{Short description|NBA team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| logo =

| team = Detroit Pistons

| end_year = 1974

| wins = 52

| losses = 30

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 3

| conf_place = 4

| coach = Ray Scott

| gm = Ed Coil

| owner = Fred Zollner

| arena = Cobo Arena

| playoffs = Conference semifinals
(lost to Bulls 3–4)

| bbr_team = DET

| television = WKBD-TV

| radio = WJR

}}

The 1973–74 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 26th season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.

The Pistons finished with a 52-30 (.634) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division, only their second winning season since moving to Detroit in 1957. The team was led by guard Dave Bing (18.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, NBA All-Star) and center Bob Lanier (22.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, NBA All-Star and NBA All-Star Game MVP).{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1974.html|title = 1973-74 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats}}{{Cite web|url=https://pistonpowered.com/2011/12/06/chevette-to-corvette-no-12-the-1973-74-detroit-pistons/|title = Chevette to Corvette No. 12: The 1973-74 Detroit Pistons|date = 6 December 2011}} Pistons coach Ray Scott was recognized as the NBA Coach of the Year, the first black coach in the league to win the award.{{Cite web|url=https://nbacoaches.com/ray-scott-the-nbas-first-black-coach-of-the-year/#:~:text=Great%20work%20by%20Omari%20Sankofa,Coach%20of%20the%20Year%20Award|title = Ray Scott, the NBA's first Black Coach of the Year | the Official Website of the NBA Coaches Association|date = 23 February 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/scottra01c.html#all_coach-awards|title = Ray Scott}} It wouldn't be until 1991 when Don Chaney won the award that another black coach was so honored.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2021/02/21/ray-scott-first-black-nba-coach-year-followed-mentor-history/6799953002/|title = Ray Scott, NBA's first Black Coach of the Year, followed another trailblazer into history|website = USA Today}}

Detroit advanced to the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the team's first playoff appearance since the 1967-68 Detroit Pistons season, losing the Western Conference semi-finals 4–3 to the Chicago Bulls, dropping the deciding 7th game 96–94 in Chicago. In the 7th game at Chicago Stadium, after a furious Detroit rally, Dennis Awtrey of the Bulls tipped an inbounds pass by Bing with 3 seconds remaining and Norm Van Lier dribbled out the clock to preserve the Chicago victory.{{Cite news|date=1974-04-14|title=Bulls Top Pistons, 96‐94, For 4‐3 Victory in Series|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/14/archives/bulls-top-pistons-9694-for-43-victory-in-series-bulls-down-pistons.html|access-date=2022-02-20|issn=0362-4331}}

Draft picks

{{main|1973 NBA draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Round

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Pick

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="20%"| Player

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="15%"| Position

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="20%"| College / Team

style="text-align: center"

| 8

| 129

| Ben Kelso

| Guard

| {{flagicon|USA}} United States

| Central Michigan

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Detroit Pistons

| bg1 = #002FA7 | color1 = #FFFFFF

| bg2 = #eb003c | color2 = #FFFFFF

}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Don | last = Adams | link= Don Adams (basketball) | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1947-11-27 | college = Northwestern}}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Dave | last = Bing | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1943-11-24 | college = Syracuse }}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Jim | last = Davis | link = Jim Davis (basketball player) | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 225 | DOB = 1941-12-18 | college = Colorado}}

{{player2 | num = 42 | first = Chris | last = Ford | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1949-01-11 | college = Villanova}}

{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Ben | last = Kelso | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1949-04-11 | college = Central Michigan}}

{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Bob | last = Lanier | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 250 | DOB = 1948-09-10 | college = St. Bonaventure }}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Stu | last = Lantz | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1946-07-13 | college = Nebraska}}

{{player2 | num = 15 | first = John | last = Mengelt | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1949-10-16 | college = Auburn}}

{{player2 | num = 33 | first = Bob | last = Nash | link = Bob Nash (basketball)| pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1950-08-24 | college = Hawaii}}

{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Willie | last = Norwood | link = Willie Norwood (basketball) | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 220 | DOB = 1947-08-08 | college = Alcorn State}}

{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Curtis | last = Rowe | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 225 | DOB = 1949-07-02 | college = UCLA}}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = George | last = Trapp | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 1948-07-11 | college = Cal State Long Beach}}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1974.html

| accessdate = October 8, 1973

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1973–74 NBA Midwest standings|team=DET}}

{{1973–74 NBA West standings|team=DET}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=18|1973–74 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#000000;color:#F15110;width=35"|BUF

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|CAP

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCO

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta1–52–44–41–34–30–41–35–21–34–01–31–53–31–32–24–0
style="text-align:left;" | Boston5–15–22–42–24–23–13–14–23–12–22–25–27–13–14–02–2
style="text-align:left;" | Buffalo4–22–53–31–35–11–31–34–22–20–41–34–46–13–13–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Capital4–44–23–31–36–12–23–14–33–12–21–33–34–22–23–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago3–12–23–13–14–05–24–24–05–21–53–32–23–14–24–24–2
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland3–42–41–51–60–42–20–44–40–43–10–41–55–11–34–02–2
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit4–01–33–12–22–52–25–13–14–24–23–41–32–26–05–15–1
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State3–11–33–11–32–44–01–54–03–34–23–31–33–15–23–43–3
style="text-align:left;" | Houston2–52–42–43–40–44–41–30–42–22–20–44–24–22–23–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Kansas City-Omaha3–11–32–21–32–54–02–43–32–21–50–71–31–34–24–22–4
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles0–42–24–02–25–11–32–42–42–25–14–22–24–04–24–34–3
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee3–12–23–13–13–34–04–33–34–07–02–42–24–05–16–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | New York5–12–54–43–32–25–13–13–12–43–12–22–24–33–12–24–0
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia3–31–71–62–41–31–52–21–32–43–10–40–43–43–12–20–4
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix3–11–31–32–22–43–10–62–52–22–42–41–51–31–33–34–3
style="text-align:left;" | Portland2–20–41–31–32–40–41–54–31–32–43–40–62–22–23–33–3
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle0–42–22–22–22–42–21–53–33–14–23–42–40–44–03–43–3

=Game log=

class="toccolours collapsible" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"
colspan=11 style="background:#00519a; color:white;" | 1973–74 game log
align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"

| #

DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 1

October 9@ New York100–101Bob Lanier (29)0–1
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 2

October 12Atlanta105–122Bob Lanier (20)1–1
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 3

October 13@ Chicago94–101Bob Lanier (22)1–2
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 4

October 14@ Cleveland95–83Bob Lanier (20)2–2
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 5

October 19Milwaukee96–94Bob Lanier (28)2–3
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 6

October 20@ Houston107–104Bob Lanier (33)3–3
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 7

October 24@ Phoenix115–99Bob Lanier (23)4–3
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 8

October 26@ Los Angeles92–94Curtis Rowe (18)4–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 9

October 27@ Portland111–98Bob Lanier (32)5–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 10

October 28@ Seattle115–93Bing, Mengelt (21)6–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 11

October 31Seattle107–114Dave Bing (26)7–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 12

November 2Phoenix107–114Chris Ford (24)8–4
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 13

November 3@ Milwaukee115–123 (OT)Bob Lanier (28)8–5
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 14

November 8@ Atlanta129–115Don Adams (23)9–5
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 15

November 10N Boston97–102Bob Lanier (29)9–6
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 16

November 14Portland111–108Bob Lanier (41)9–7
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 17

November 16Kansas City–Omaha98–125Willie Norwood (15)10–7
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 18

November 17@ Buffalo98–94Bob Lanier (30)11–7
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 19

November 18Chicago104–102Bob Lanier (27)11–8
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 20

November 21Phoenix104–107Bob Lanier (29)12–8
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 21

November 24@ Chicago112–114 (OT)Bob Lanier (32)12–9
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 22

November 28Cleveland96–91Bing, Lanier (23)12–10
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 23

November 30@ Houston95–110Bob Lanier (19)12–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 24

December 1@ Phoenix121–109John Mengelt (30)13–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 25

December 2@ Los Angeles114–108Dave Bing (27)14–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 26

December 4@ Golden State112–93Dave Bing (27)15–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 27

December 6@ Seattle110–108Dave Bing (33)16–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 28

December 8Portland91–106Bob Lanier (28)17–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 29

December 9@ Kansas City–Omaha86–80Adams, Bing (19)18–11
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 30

December 12Los Angeles96–114Bob Lanier (33)19–11
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 31

December 14Philadelphia96–93Dave Bing (26)19–12
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 32

December 15@ Philadelphia99–89Bob Lanier (24)20–12
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 33

December 16@ Kansas City–Omaha104–105Dave Bing (22)20–13
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 34

December 19Chicago87–89Bob Lanier (30)21–13
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 35

December 21Golden State104–107George Trapp (21)22–13
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 36

December 22@ New York88–99Bob Lanier (35)22–14
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 37

December 26New York96–91Dave Bing (22)22–15
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 38

December 28Capital93–102Bob Lanier (30)23–15
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 39

December 29@ Chicago103–108Willie Norwood (29)23–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 40

December 30@ Milwaukee98–91Dave Bing (22)24–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 41

January 2Milwaukee92–106Bob Lanier (34)25–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 42

January 4Boston101–106Bob Lanier (29)26–16
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 43

January 5@ Capital90–93Dave Bing (21)26–17
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 44

January 9Los Angeles94–123Bob Lanier (32)27–17
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 45

January 11@ Cleveland106–96Curtis Rowe (28)28–17
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 46

January 12Cleveland117–112 (OT)Bob Lanier (32)28–18
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 47

January 18Chicago95–113Bob Lanier (32)29–18
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 48

January 20Kansas City–Omaha79–105George Trapp (21)30–18
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 49

January 23Portland95–121Curtis Rowe (20)31–18
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 50

January 25Houston89–93Bob Lanier (26)32–18
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 51

January 26Seattle83–94Bob Lanier (27)33–18
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 52

January 27@ Chicago91–109Bob Lanier (20)33–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 53

January 30Buffalo96–111Bob Lanier (36)34–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 54

February 1New York91–96Dave Bing (18)35–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 55

February 3@ Seattle114–100Bob Lanier (25)36–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 56

February 5@ Portland104–102Willie Norwood (27)37–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 57

February 7@ Golden State110–86Willie Norwood (27)38–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 58

February 8@ Phoenix99–94Bob Lanier (24)39–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 59

February 12Kansas City–Omaha106–113Willie Norwood (27)40–19
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 60

February 14Milwaukee102–99Dave Bing (19)40–20
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 61

February 15@ Buffalo116–118Bob Lanier (45)40–21
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 62

February 17@ Philadelphia118–107Bob Lanier (27)41–21
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 63

February 19@ Boston97–107Dave Bing (21)41–22
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 64

February 20Los Angeles110–112Bob Lanier (29)42–22
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 65

February 22Capital83–84Bob Lanier (24)43–22
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 66

February 23Phoenix107–119Bob Lanier (25)44–22
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 67

February 24@ Capital84–94Dave Bing (18)44–23
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 68

February 26Boston86–83Dave Bing (22)44–24
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 69

February 28@ Milwaukee90–113George Trapp (17)44–25
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 70

March 1Seattle105–103John Mengelt (24)44–26
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 71

March 3@ Portland99–95Bob Lanier (30)45–26
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 72

March 5@ Golden State95–93Dave Bing (23)46–26
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 73

March 8@ Los Angeles113–129Curtis Rowe (24)46–27
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 74

March 10@ Atlanta116–111Bob Lanier (31)47–27
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 75

March 11Golden State120–108Willie Norwood (19)47–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 76

March 12Golden State108–113Dave Bing (28)48–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 77

March 15Milwaukee89–93Don Adams (21)49–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 78

March 17Buffalo109–116Bing, Lanier (23)50–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 79

March 20Houston99–103Dave Bing (18)51–28
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 80

March 22@ Kansas City–Omaha105–107George Trapp (18)51–29
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 81

March 23Philadelphia97–89Dave Bing (27)51–30
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 82

March 26Atlanta108–109Bob Lanier (25)52–30

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=1974|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#00519A|color=#FFFFFF}}

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Conference semifinals|first=yes|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#EB003C|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 3

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| March 30

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197403300CHI.html W 97–88]

| Bob Lanier (27)

| Lanier, Rowe (13)

| Don Adams (6)

| Chicago Stadium
10,711

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| April 1

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404010DET.html L 103–108]

| Bob Lanier (38)

| Bob Lanier (19)

| Dave Bing (7)

| Cobo Arena
11,499

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| April 5

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404050CHI.html L 83–84]

| Dave Bing (23)

| Bob Lanier (16)

| Lanier, Rowe (2)

| Chicago Stadium
17,634

| 1–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| April 7

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404070DET.html W 102–87]

| Bob Lanier (26)

| Bob Lanier (18)

| Dave Bing (8)

| Cobo Arena
11,287

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| April 9

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404090CHI.html L 94–98]

| Bob Lanier (23)

| Bob Lanier (17)

| Dave Bing (6)

| Chicago Stadium
14,236

| 2–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 6

| April 11

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404110DET.html W 92–88]

| Bob Lanier (28)

| Bob Lanier (14)

| Dave Bing (10)

| Cobo Arena
11,134

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 7

| April 13

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197404130CHI.html L 94–96]

| Stu Lantz (25)

| Lanier, Rowe (10)

| Stu Lantz (5)

| Chicago Stadium
13,133

| 3–4

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=1974|playoffs=yes}}

Player stats

=Season=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" | Games Played

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" | Minutes

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" | Points

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" |Rebounds

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" | Assists

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" | Steals

! style="background:#00519a; color:white" width="7%" |Blocks

Bob Lanier81304718221074343110247
Dave Bing813124152028155510917
Curtis Rowe8224998785151364936
George Trapp821489765313814733
Don Adams74229875944814111012
John Mengelt771555680206148687
Willie Norwood74117858922958609
Chris Ford82205958530427914814
{{cite web|title=1973–74 Detroit Pistons|publisher=basketball-reference.com|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1974.html}}

Awards and records

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{1973–74 NBA season by team}}

{{Detroit Pistons seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1973-74 Detroit Pistons Season}}

Detroit

Category:Detroit Pistons seasons

Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons

Category:1973 in Detroit

Category:1974 in Detroit