1970–71 Memphis Pros season

Technopedia Center

Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science
S1 Informatics S1 Information Systems S1 Information Technology S1 Computer Engineering S1 Electrical Engineering S1 Civil Engineering

faculty of Economics and Business
S1 Management S1 Accountancy

Faculty of Letters and Educational Sciences
S1 English literature S1 English language education S1 Mathematics education S1 Sports Education

1970–71 Memphis Pros season - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1970–71 Memphis Pros season

Head coach

Babe McCarthy

Arena

Mid-South Coliseum

Results

Record

41–43 (.488)

Place

Division: 3rd (ABA)

Playoff finish

Lost in ABA Semifinals

< 1969–70

1971–72 >

The 1970–71 Memphis Pros season was the 1st season of the Pros in the American Basketball Association after three seasons in New Orleans as the Buccaneers, with P.W. Blake of Mississippi buying the team on August 21, 1970, and moving the team 10 days later to Memphis. Due to having to reuse the Bucs' jerseys with a name that would fit the four letters they had put on the home and road jerseys, the team was named "Pros". However the Pros had to deal with limited dates to book for games at the Mid-South Coliseum, with some of the games being played in Jackson, Mississippi. On October 20, 1970, the Pros played their first ever game, playing the New York Nets in Memphis, losing 108–103. The biggest losing streak was 8, coming near the end of the season, with them losing 20 out of their last 30 games. However, they sneaked into the playoffs, finishing 3rd over the Texas Chaparrals and Denver Rockets by 11 games. The Pros finished dead last in points scored per game with 109.2, but finished first in points allowed at 109.9 per game. In the playoffs, they were swept by the Indiana Pacers.^[1]

Meanwhile, Blake had decided to let the league take over operations of the team less than midway through the season, claiming losses of $200,000. With the threat of the team being bought and relocated somewhere else, the city of Memphis attempted to save the team with a public offering named "Save the Pros" on February 12, 1971, in which people could buy stock certificates of either $5, $10, or $50. In total, over 4,000 people bought stock in the team. The plan worked, and subsequently the Pros would now be owned by Memphis Area Sports Inc., with a 24-member board of directors.

Roster

22 Al Cueto - Center
34 Lee Davis - Power forward
12 Coby Dietrick - Center
25 Gerald Govan - Center
15 Jimmy Jones - Point guard
23 Steve Jones - Shooting guard
11 Wil Jones - Power forward
33 Wendell Ladner - Small forward
32 Craig Raymond - Center
24 Skeeter Swift - Shooting guard
21 Bob Warren - Shooting guard
10 Charlie Williams - Shooting guard

Final standings

Western Division

Western Division	W	L	PCT	GB
Indiana Pacers *	58	26	.690	-
Utah Stars *	57	27	.679	1.0
Memphis Pros *	41	43	.488	17.0
Texas Chaparrals *	30	54	.357	28.0
Denver Rockets *	30	54	.357	28.0

Playoffs

Western Division Semifinals vs Indiana Pacers

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 2	Indiana	98–114	0–1	7,562
2	April 3	Indiana	104–106	0–2	8,701
3	April 5	Memphis	90–91	0–3	4,107
4	April 7	Memphis	101–102	0–4	3,681

Pros lose series, 4–0

Awards and honors

1971 ABA All-Star Game selection (game played on January 23, 1971)

References

^ "1970-71 Memphis Pros Schedule and Results".

External links

v t e 1970–71 ABA season by team
All-Star Game Draft Playoffs
Eastern Division	Carolina Cougars Kentucky Colonels New York Nets Pittsburgh Condors The Floridians Virginia Squires
Western Division	Denver Rockets Indiana Pacers Memphis Pros Texas Chaparrals Utah Stars

Categories:

Hidden categories: