1973–74 Buffalo Braves season

1973–74 Buffalo Braves season
Head coach	Jack Ramsay
Arena	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Maple Leaf Gardens
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Conference Semifinals (Eliminated 2-4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	MSG Network, WBEN, CFTO
Radio	WBEN, CJBC

The 1973–74 Buffalo Braves season was the fourth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's second season under head coach Jack Ramsay.^[1] The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.

Bob McAdoo, who finished second in the NBA MVP Award voting, led the league in scoring; Ernie DiGregorio, who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, led the league in assists and free throw percentage, and every starter on the team was among the league's top ten in at least one statistical category.

The team finished third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. After three consecutive 60-loss seasons, the team made the NBA playoffs for the first time and became the youngest team to have ever done so in terms of average player age. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics.

Draft picks

1973 NBA Draft^[2]

Round	Pick	Player	College
1	3	Ernie DiGregorio	Providence College
3	3 (38th overall)	Ken Charles	Fordham University
6	2 (88th overall)	Mike Macaluso	Canisius College
17	2 (204th overall)	Jim Garvin	Boston University

Roster

Buffalo Braves 1973-74 roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Nat.	Name	Ht.	Wt.
1.5 !G	14	TRI !	Charles, Ken	7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Fordham
1.5 !G	15	USA !	DiGregorio, Ernie	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Providence
4.0 !F	30	USA !	Garvin, Jim	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Boston
4.0 !F	4	USA !	Guokas, Matt	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	St. Joseph's (PA)
4.0 !F	24	USA !	Heard, Gar	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Oklahoma
4.0 !F	44	USA !	Kauffman, Bob	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Guilford College
6.0 !C	43	USA !	Kunnert, Kevin	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Princeton
1.5 !G	21	USA !	Macaluso, Mike	7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Canisius College
4.0 !F	42	USA !	Marin, Jack	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Duke
6.0 !C	11	USA !	McAdoo, Bob	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	North Carolina
1.5 !G	5	USA !	McMillian, Jim	7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Columbia University
6.0 !C	22	USA !	Ruffner, Paul	7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Brigham Young
1.5 !G	9	USA !	Smith, Randy	7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Buffalo State
1.5 !G	3	USA !	Winfield, Lee	7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	174 lb (79 kg)	North Texas State
1.5 !G	13	USA !	Wohl, Dave	7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Pennsylvania

Head coach

Jack Ramsay

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Regular season

The Braves played most of their home games in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (dark rimmed building in front of the HSBC Arena, pictured in 2007).

McAdoo had an outstanding second season and led the league in scoring with 30.6 ppg.^[3]^[4] The Braves led the league in team scoring (111.60) but were last in team defense (111.8).^[5] They totaled 427,270 in attendance in their 41 home games, ranking them 4th of 17 teams.^[5] The Braves played several home games at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, in order to expand their fan base into Canada.^[3] This season was the first of three consecutive scoring titles for McAdoo.^[4] McAdoo also posted 15.1 rebounds per game and 3.3 blocked shots per game, which were each third in the league.^[4] It was the most recent time that one player averaged both 30 points and 15 rebounds in the same NBA season.^[6]^[7] In addition to McAdoo, the Braves were led by Ernie DiGregorio, who became the second straight Brave (following McAdoo) to capture NBA Rookie of the Year honors by leading the league in assists with 8.2 per game.^[3] 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year DiGregorio earned the first of two NBA free throw percentage championships (90.2%) and led the NBA in assists (8.2).^[8] That season DiGregorio set the NBA single-game rookie assists record (25), which still stands as unbroken (tied by Nate McMillan).^[9] Jim McMillan would finish fifth in the NBA in minutes played (3322) and tenth in free throw percentage (85.8%).^[10] He also finished second on the Braves in scoring (18.6).^[11] Heard went on to rank in the top ten in rebounds (11.7, 10th) and blocked shots (2.8, 6th) that season.^[12] Randy Smith, who was third on the team in scoring with a 15.5 average,^[11] finished third in the league in steals (2.5/game).^[13]

October–November

In his October 9, 1973 NBA debut against the Houston Rockets, Ernie DiGregorio had 14 assists.^[14] DiGregrorio had 17 points but it was a 25-foot basket with two seconds left in overtime by McAdoo, who had 31 points and 21 rebounds, that earned the Braves a 107–105 victory.^[15]^[16] An October 30 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics gave the Braves a half game lead over the Celtics in the Atlantic Division with a 6–4 record.^[17] The Braves only won one of their next nine games.^[5] It came on November 14 when McAdoo set the franchise single game rebound record with 28 against the Atlanta Hawks. That night, he also scored 31 points for the fourth game in a row.^[18] Two weeks later on November 28, the Braves lost when Pete Maravich, who entered the game in the second quarter and posted 42 points off the bench, led the Atlanta Hawks over the Braves by 130–106.^[19]

December–January

The Braves' December 12 game against the Celtics was played in Providence, Rhode Island, making it a homecoming game for DiGregorio, the former Providence Friar. The Braves lost for the 20th consecutive time to the Celtics that night.^[20] Following a December 30 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Braves fell to a 16–22 record at the end of 1973 but began the New Year with a season high seven-game winning streak.^[5] Heard set a career high with 22 rebounds in game five of the streak on January 8.^[21] The fifth game of the streak set a new franchise record for consecutive wins and gave the team 21 wins, which matched their total of the prior season.^[22]^[23] The resulting 23–22 record following the January 12 victory over the Capital Bullets gave them their first winning record since their 6–5 start.^[5] McAdoo, who would go on to finish second in the NBA Most Valuable Player Award balloting, represented the team in the January 15, 1974 NBA All-Star Game.^[4] By the end of the month the Braves had fallen back to a 26–29 record.^[5]

February–March

On February 1, the Braves traded Kunnert and Wohl to the Rockets for Goukas and Marin.^[24]^[25] The team then went 10–5 in February.^[5] On February 27, the Braves earned their first victory over the Boston Celtics after 22 defeats.^[26] By late February, the team had the top scoring offense in the league.^[27] They clinched their first playoff experience in a victory at a home game held at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens against the Portland Trail Blazers as McAdoo again had 28 rebounds as well as 29 points.^[28]^[29] The clinching game on March 10 was the Braves 74th game.^[11] The team reached five games over .500 three times following their 40th, 41st and 42nd wins but lost the last three games of a five-game western road trip to conclude the season at 42–40.^[5] The team made the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division.^[3]

Season standings

**Atlantic Division**^[30]
Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
Boston Celtics C	56	26	.683	-
New York Knicks	49	33	.598	7
Buffalo Braves	42	40	.512	14
Philadelphia 76ers	25	57	.305	31

Record vs. opponents

1973-74 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	BUF	CAP	CHI	CLE	DET	GSW	HOU	KCO	LAL	MIL	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SEA
Atlanta	—	1–5	2–4	4–4	1–3	4–3	0–4	1–3	5–2	1–3	4–0	1–3	1–5	3–3	1–3	2–2	4–0
Boston	5–1	—	5–2	2–4	2–2	4–2	3–1	3–1	4–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	5–2	7–1	3–1	4–0	2–2
Buffalo	4–2	2–5	—	3–3	1–3	5–1	1–3	1–3	4–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	4–4	6–1	3–1	3–1	2–2
Capital	4–4	4–2	3–3	—	1–3	6–1	2–2	3–1	4–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–3	4–2	2–2	3–1	2–2
Chicago	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	—	4–0	5–2	4–2	4–0	5–2	1–5	3–3	2–2	3–1	4–2	4–2	4–2
Cleveland	3–4	2–4	1–5	1–6	0–4	—	2–2	0–4	4–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–5	5–1	1–3	4–0	2–2
Detroit	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–5	2–2	—	5–1	3–1	4–2	4–2	3–4	1–3	2–2	6–0	5–1	5–1
Golden State	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–4	4–0	1–5	—	4–0	3–3	4–2	3–3	1–3	3–1	5–2	3–4	3–3
Houston	2–5	2–4	2–4	3–4	0–4	4–4	1–3	0–4	—	2–2	2–2	0–4	4–2	4–2	2–2	3–1	1–3
Kansas City-Omaha	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–5	4–0	2–4	3–3	2–2	—	1–5	0–7	1–3	1–3	4–2	4–2	2–4
Los Angeles	0–4	2–2	4–0	2–2	5–1	1–3	2–4	2–4	2–2	5–1	—	4–2	2–2	4–0	4–2	4–3	4–3
Milwaukee	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–3	4–0	4–3	3–3	4–0	7–0	2–4	—	2–2	4–0	5–1	6–0	4–2
New York	5–1	2–5	4–4	3–3	2–2	5–1	3–1	3–1	2–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	4–3	3–1	2–2	4–0
Philadelphia	3–3	1–7	1–6	2–4	1–3	1–5	2–2	1–3	2–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	3–4	—	3–1	2–2	0–4
Phoenix	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–4	3–1	0–6	2–5	2–2	2–4	2–4	1–5	1–3	1–3	—	3–3	4–3
Portland	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–4	0–4	1–5	4–3	1–3	2–4	3–4	0–6	2–2	2–2	3–3	—	3–3
Seattle	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–4	2–2	1–5	3–3	3–1	4–2	3–4	2–4	0–4	4–0	3–4	3–3	—

Season schedule

1973–74 game log

October: 6–4 (Home: 4–1; Road: 2–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
1	October 9	Houston Rockets	107–105 (OT)	1–0	Win 1
2	October 12	@ Boston Celtics	112–118	1–1	Loss 1
3	October 13	Los Angeles Lakers	122–125	1–2	Loss 2
4	October 16	@ New York Knicks	91–117	1–3	Loss 3
5	October 20	Philadelphia 76ers	116–110	2–3	Win 1
6	October 24	@ Milwaukee Bucks	113–130	2–4	Loss 1
7	October 26	Cleveland Cavaliers (at Toronto, Canada)	104–97	3–4	Win 1
8	October 27	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	111–101	4–4	Win 2
9	October 28	@ Kansas City-Omaha Kings	112–100	5–4	Win 3
10	October 30	Seattle SuperSonics	105–103	6–4	Win 4

November: 4–11 (Home: 3–5; Road: 1–6)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
11	November 2	@ Chicago Bulls	97–107	6–5	Loss 1
12	November 3	Golden State Warriors	121–124 (OT)	6–6	Loss 2
13	November 4	Chicago Bulls (at Toronto, Canada)	95–101 (OT)	6–7	Loss 3
14	November 7	@ Seattle SuperSonics	113–130	6–8	Loss 4
15	November 9	@ Portland Trail Blazers	108–122	6–9	Loss 5
16	November 10	@ Golden State Warriors	105–128	6–10	Loss 6
17	November 13	Atlanta Hawks	121–114	7–10	Win 1
18	November 15	@ New York Knicks	86–97	7–11	Loss 1
19	November 17	Detroit Pistons	94–98	7–12	Loss 2
20	November 18	@ Capital Bullets	112–101	8–12	Win 1
21	November 20	Phoenix Suns	127–100	9–12	Win 2
22	November 24	Kansas City-Omaha Kings	143–131	10–12	Win 3
23	November 27	Milwaukee Bucks	110–115	10–13	Loss 1
24	November 28	@ Atlanta Hawks	106–130	10–14	Loss 2
25	November 30	Capital Bullets	113–121	10–15	Loss 3

December: 6–7 (Home: 3–5; Road: 3–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
26	December 5	Portland Trail Blazers	114–110	11–15	Win 1
27	December 7	New York Knicks	108–113	11–16	Loss 1
28	December 9	Boston Celtics (at Toronto, Canada)	114–118	11–17	Loss 2
29	December 11	@ Atlanta Hawks	132–127 (OT)	12–17	Win 1
30	December 12	Boston Celtics (at Providence, RI)	119–126	12–18	Loss 1
31	December 14	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	102–98	13–18	Win 1
32	December 18	Cleveland Cavaliers	100–93	14–18	Win 2
33	December 21	New York Knicks	117–115	15–18	Win 3
34	December 22	@ Kansas City-Omaha Kings	112–122	15–19	Loss 1
35	December 23	Capital Bullets (at Toronto, Canada)	85–110	15–20	Loss 2
36	December 26	Boston Celtics	123–125	15–21	Loss 3
37	December 29	@ Phoenix Suns	120–108	16–21	Win 1
38	December 30	@ Los Angeles Lakers	105–108	16–22	Loss 1

January: 10–7 (Home: 5–4; Road: 5–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
39	January 1	@ Portland Trail Blazers	120–119	17–22	Win 1
40	January 2	@ Seattle SuperSonics	115–111	18–22	Win 2
41	January 5	@ New York Knicks	111–110	19–22	Win 3
42	January 6	Atlanta Hawks (at Toronto, Canada)	117–109	20–22	Win 4
43	January 8	Atlanta Hawks	100–96	21–22	Win 5
44	January 11	Houston Rockets	117–99	22–22	Win 6
45	January 12	@ Capital Bullets	97–96	23–22	Win 7
46	January 13	Houston Rockets (at Toronto, Canada)	112–121	23–23	Loss 1
47	January 18	Capital Bullets	98–94	24–23	Win 1
48	January 20	@ Philadelphia 76ers	112–129	24–24	Loss 1
49	January 22	Philadelphia 76ers	119–109	25–24	Win 1
50	January 23	Milwaukee Bucks (at Madison, WI)	88–114	25–25	Loss 1
51	January 25	Kansas City-Omaha Kings	113–118	25–26	Loss 2
52	January 26	@ Atlanta Hawks	122–132	25–27	Loss 3
53	January 27	@ Houston Rockets	122–108	26–27	Win 1
54	January 29	Golden State Warriors	121–128	26–28	Loss 1
55	January 30	@ Detroit Pistons	96–111	26–29	Loss 2

February: 9–6 (Home: 6–3; Road: 3–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
56	February 3	Philadelphia 76ers (at Toronto, Canada)	112–98	27–29	Win 1
57	February 6	@ Philadelphia 76ers	114–98	28–29	Win 2
58	February 8	Chicago Bulls	106–101	29–29	Win 3
59	February 9	@ New York Knicks	103–100 (OT)	30–29	Win 4
60	February 10	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	121–125	30–30	Loss 1
61	February 12	New York Knicks	93–100	30–31	Loss 2
62	February 13	@ Philadelphia 76ers	129–106	31–31	Win 1
63	February 15	Detroit Pistons	118–116	32–31	Win 2
64	February 16	@ Capital Bullets	92–101	32–32	Loss 1
65	February 17	@ Houston Rockets	135–118	33–32	Win 1
66	February 19	Milwaukee Bucks	145–109	34–32	Win 2
67	February 21	New York Knicks (at Toronto, Canada)	119–97	35–32	Win 3
68	February 22	Boston Celtics	109–116	35–33	Loss 1
69	February 26	Los Angeles Lakers	112–119	35–34	Loss 2
70	February 27	Boston Celtics (at Providence, RI)	122–104	36–34	Win 1

March: 6–6 (Home: 4–1; Road: 2–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Record	Streak
71	March 1	Boston Celtics	110–94	37–34	Win 2
72	March 2	@ Philadelphia 76ers	103–99	38–34	Win 3
73	March 8	Seattle SuperSonics	117–123 (OT)	38–35	Loss 1
74	March 10	Portland Trail Blazers (at Toronto, Canada)	122–112	39–35	Win 1
75	March 12	Phoenix Suns	124–94	40–35	Win 2
76	March 15	@ Chicago Bulls	97–114	40–36	Loss 1
77	March 16	Cleveland Cavaliers	114–105	41–36	Win 1
78	March 17	@ Detroit Pistons	109–116	41–37	Loss 1
79	March 21	@ Golden State Warriors	115–102	42–37	Win 1
80	March 22	@ Phoenix Suns	119–126	42–38	Loss 1
81	March 24	@ Los Angeles Lakers	124–150	42–39	Loss 2
82	March 26	@ Houston Rockets	96–119	42–40	Loss 3

Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Playoffs

In the 1974 NBA Playoffs the Braves were matched up against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had won 22 of 24 matches between the teams. However, the Braves had won the most recent two matches after 22 straight defeats, including 5 earlier that season.^[31] Through four games, the series was even at two games apiece. However the Celtics would pull away with two more wins to take the series in six games.^[3] With rookie DiGregorio and 2nd year McAdoo leading the way, the team became the youngest NBA playoff team (24.42, using data going back to 1952) based on average age weighted by minutes played. The 1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks (23.82) would surpass this record.^[32] The Celtics went on to win the NBA championship in the 1974 NBA Finals.^[3]

In game 1, the Braves lost a 17-point lead as Dave Cowens led a fourth quarter rally despite five personal fouls.^[33]^[34] In game 2, the Braves evened the series 1–1 with a 115–105 victory despite balanced scoring by the Celtics who had three 20-point scorers: Jo Jo White had 27, Don Nelson had 21 and John Havlicek had 20. McAdoo had 23 and DiGregorio had 18 for Buffalo.^[35] The Braves led most of game 2 and held on for the victory.^[36] In game 3, the Celtics scored 39 first quarter points on their way to a 120–107 victory. Havlicek had 43 points (26 in the first half), and Cowens added 23 (17 in the first half).^[37] The Braves recovered from an early fourth quarter 10-point deficit to win game 4 104–102.^[38] The game had a frenetic final 15 seconds as McMillian lost the ball on a drive resulting in a game-tying fast break by the Celtics. Then when a McAdoo shot rolled off the rim, McMillian tipped the ball in as time expired for the victory. The Braves had rallied from an 84–74 deficit to tie the score at 98 largely on the performance of McAdoo.^[39] In the game the lead changed hands 9 times, and the Braves outrebounded the Celtics 62–38, including 20–3 offensive rebounds (11 by McMillian).^[40] The Celtics won game 5 by a 100–97 margin.^[41] Although McAdoo was held to 16 points on the night, the Braves led 89–85 with four minutes left.^[42] The Celtics won game 6 of the series when White sank two free throws after time expired in regulation play for a 106–104 victory.^[43] McAdoo had tied the score at 104 with 7 seconds left, but he fouled White at midcourt.^[44]

In the playoffs, Heard bettered his regular season 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds averages with 16.8 points and 14.7 rebounds.^[12] Likewise, McAdoo contributed 31.7 points and 13.7 rebounds.^[4] McMillian contributed 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds.^[10] Following the season the team lost Bob Kauffman to the New Orleans Jazz in the May 20, 1974 NBA Expansion Draft.^[45]

Playoff Schedule

Date	'	Opponent	'	Tm	Opp
Sat, Mar 30, 1974	@	Boston Celtics	L	97	107
Tue, Apr 2, 1974		Boston Celtics	W	115	105
Wed, Apr 3, 1974	@	Boston Celtics	L	107	120
Sat, Apr 6, 1974		Boston Celtics	W	104	102
Tue, Apr 9, 1974	@	Boston Celtics	L	97	100
Fri, Apr 12, 1974		Boston Celtics	L	104	106

Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Player stats

Legend
GP	Games played	MPG	Minutes per game	FG	Field-goals per game	FGA	Field-goals attempted per Game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	FT	Free-throws per game	FTA	Free-throws attempted per Game	FT%	Free-throw percentage
ORPG	Offensive rebounds per game	DRPG	Defensive rebounds per game	RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game
SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	PFPG	Personal fouls per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	MPG	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORPG	DRPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PFPG	PPG
McAdoo, BobBob McAdoo	74	43	12.2	22.3	0.547	6.2	7.8	0.793	3.8	11.3	15.1	2.3	1.2	3.3	3.4	30.6
McMillian, JimJim McMillian	82	40.5	7.3	14.8	0.494	4	4.6	0.858	2.6	4.8	7.4	3.1	1.6	0.3	2.3	18.6
Smith, RandyRandy Smith	82	33.5	6.5	13.2	0.492	2.5	3.5	0.712	1.1	2.8	3.8	4.7	2.5	0	3.2	15.5
Heard, GarGar Heard	81	35.7	6.5	14.9	0.435	2.4	3.6	0.65	3.3	8.4	11.7	2.2	1.7	2.8	3.7	15.3
DiGregorio, ErnieErnie DiGregorio	81	35.9	6.5	15.6	0.421	2.1	2.4	0.902	0.6	2.1	2.7	8.2	0.7	0.1	3	15.2
Marin, JackJack Marin	27	25.2	5.4	9.9	0.545	2.6	3	0.877	1.1	3.4	4.5	1.7	0.9	0.7	3.4	13.4
Kauffman, BobBob Kauffman	74	17.6	2.3	4.9	0.467	1.4	2	0.713	1.3	3.1	4.4	1.9	0.5	0.2	2.1	6.1
Guokas, MattMatt Guokas	27	20.3	2.3	4.1	0.555	0.4	0.7	0.5	0.4	1	1.5	2.6	0.7	0.2	2.1	4.9
Wohl, DaveDave Wohl	41	14.8	1.5	3.7	0.4	1	1.5	0.7	0.2	0.5	0.7	3.1	0.8	0	1.8	4
Charles, KenKen Charles	59	11.7	1.5	3.1	0.476	0.9	1.3	0.671	0.4	0.7	1.1	0.9	0.5	0.2	1.5	3.9
Winfield, LeeLee Winfield	36	12	1	2.9	0.352	0.9	1.4	0.635	0.5	0.7	1.2	1.3	0.4	0.1	1.2	3
Kunnert, KevinKevin Kunnert	39	8.7	1.3	2.6	0.485	0.3	0.4	0.688	1.1	1.6	2.7	0.6	0.1	0.6	2.1	2.8
Macaluso, MikeMike Macaluso	30	3.7	0.6	1.5	0.432	0.3	0.6	0.588	0.3	0.5	0.8	0.1	0.2	0	1	1.6
Ruffner, PaulPaul Ruffner	20	2.6	0.6	1.4	0.407	0.4	0.7	0.615	0.2	0.4	0.6	0	0.1	0.1	0.5	1.5
Garvin, JimJim Garvin	6	1.8	0.2	0.7	0.25	0	0		0.2	0.7	0.8	0	0	0	0.2	0.3

Awards and honors

Ernie DiGregorio, NBA Rookie of the Year^[8]
Ernie DiGregorio, led NBA in assists (663)^[14]
Ernie DiGregorio, led NBA in free throw percentage^[8]
Bob McAdoo led the NBA in scoring.^[4]
Bob McAdoo All-NBA Team (2nd team)^[4]
Bob McAdoo 1974 NBA All-Star Game^[4]

Transactions

Prior to this season the Braves had lost 60 games or more each year and failed to make the NBA Playoffs.^[46] Over the course of the season, the team made a series of player transactions that were part of the résumé that earned Buffalo Braves General Manager Eddie Donovan the NBA Executive of the Year Award and put the team into the playoffs for the first time.^[47] Donovan's season bolstered his reputation as a wheeler and dealer.^[48]

The Braves drafted four players in the 1973 NBA Draft who played for the team during the 1973–74 season: DiGregorio, Ken Charles, Mike Macaluso, and Jim Garvin.^[2] In addition, the team made two free agent signings. On September 11, 1973, the team signed Paul Ruffner.^[49] On September 17, 1973, the team waived Dick Garrett and Bill Hewitt.^[50]^[51] The other members of the 1972–73 team who were not traded or waived and did not play on the 1973–74 team were Howard Komives, Fred Hilton and Harold Fox.^[52]^[53]^[54] On November 24, 1973, the Braves waived Garvin.^[55] On November 27, 1973, the team signed Lee Winfield.^[56]

Prior to the 1973–74 NBA season, Gar Heard and Kevin Kunnert were traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Buffalo Braves for John Hummer, a 1974 NBA Draft 2nd round pick and a 1975 NBA Draft 2nd round pick.^[12] Also before the season, the Braves also traded Elmore Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jim McMillian.^[3]^[57] The trade of Smith, who had been the team's leading scorer and rebounder the prior year,^[58] was controversial at first.^[3] Other trades during the season included the February 1, 1974 trade of Kunnert and Dave Wohl for Matt Goukas and 1973 NBA All-Star Jack Marin.^[24]

References

↑ "Jack Ramsay". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 "1973 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Buffalo Braves (1970–1978)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bob McAdoo". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1973-74 Buffalo Braves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
↑ "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Rebounds Per Game". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points Per Game". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 3 "Ernie DiGregorio". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Coaches: Nate McMillan". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 "Jim McMillian". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 3 "1973-74 Buffalo Braves Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
1 2 3 "Gar Heard". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
↑ "Randy Smith". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
1 2 Lemire, Joe (2008-10-27). "Grand Entrances: Who had the best first games in sports?". Sports Illustrated. 109 (16): 24. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
↑ "McAdoo Hits, 107-105". Los Angeles Times. 1973-10-10. p. E4. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Lakers Don't Think They'll Miss Wilt All That Much". The Bulletin. 1973-10-10. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ Keese, Parton (1973-10-31). "Braves Win, Take First In Division; Basketball Roundup Bucks 112, Kings 78". The New York Times. p. 54. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Braves Snap Losing Spin Against Atlanta, 121–114". Herald-Journal. 1973-11-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ "Pete Maravich Takes Control, Scores 42". Reading Eagle. 1973-11-29. p. 49. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ "Celts Down Braves". The Telegraph. 1973-10-13. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Braves Down Hawks". Herald-Journal. 1974-01-09. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "McAdoo Sparks Buffalo To Fifth Straight Win". The Palm Beach Post. 1974-01-09. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Surging Braves Roar By Hawks, 100–96". Rome News-Tribune. 1974-01-08. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
1 2 "Jack Marin". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Two Rocket Vets Traded To Buffalo". Bangor Daily News. 1974-02-01. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Braves Win, 122-104, Now 1-22 Against Celts". Los Angeles Times. 1974-02-28. p. C4. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
↑ "Knicks' Offense Beats Buffalo Braves' Defense". Lewiston Evening Journal. 1974-02-22. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Braves Gain Playoffs". The New York Times. 1974-03-11. p. 40. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Buffalo moves into playoffs with victory over Blazers". The Bulletin. 1974-03-11. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ 1973-74 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
↑ Pike, Marvin R. (1974-03-29). "Consistency Key to Win For Braves". Schenectady Gazette. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
↑ Biderman, David (2010-04-16). "Youngest Playoff Teams". The Wall Street Journal. p. W4.
↑ "Cowens Rallies Celtics Over Braves, 107-97". Los Angeles Times. 1974-03-31. p. C5. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ White, Gordon S. Jr. (1974-03-31). "Celtics, Behind 1 7 Points, Set Back Braves, 107-97; Celtic Rally Tops Braves In Playoffs". The New York Times. p. 217. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ Brown, Frank (1974-04-01). "Surprising Braves tie Celtics at one game apiece in playoffs". Daily News. p. 22. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
↑ White, Gordon S. Jr. (1974-04-03). "Braves Defeat Celtics; Special to The New York Times". The New York Times. p. 52. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Celtics Romp By Braves". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 1974-04-04. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ McGowen, Deane (1974-04-07). "Braves Top Celtics in Last Second". The New York Times. p. 219. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Buffalo, Celts deadlocked". Tri City Herald. 1974-04-03. p. 70. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
↑ "Boston's Rebounding Needs Improvement Versus Braves". Herald-Journal. 1974-04-08. p. 21. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
↑ White, Gordon S. Jr. (1974-04-10). "Celtics Win, Lead by 3-2 In Playoffs Bulls Take 3-2 Lead". The New York Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Cowens, Havlicek, White pace Celts past Braves". Bangor Daily News. 1974-04-10. p. 14. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ White, Gordon S. Jr. (1974-04-13). "Celtics Top Braves, Win Series, 4-2". The New York Times. p. 31. Retrieved 2010-08-06. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Celts End Buffalo Hopes". Eugene Register-Guard. 1974-04-13. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
↑ "Bob Kauffman". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Los Angeles Clippers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
↑ "Denver's Mark Warkentien named NBA Executive of the Year". NBA.com. 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
↑ Goldaper, Sam (1974-02-05). "Donovan Dealing Braves Into Playoffs". The New York Times. p. 43. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Paul Ruffner". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Bill Hewitt". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Dick Garrett". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Howard Komives". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Fred Hilton". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "Harold Fox". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ "James Garvin (basketball)". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
↑ "Lee Winfield". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
↑ Goldaper, Sam (1973-09-18). "Lakers Trade McMillian For Braves' 7-1 Smith". The New York Times. p. 53. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Braves Trade Smith To LA". Herald-Journal. 1973-09-17. Retrieved 2010-10-17.

External links

1973–74 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Buffalo New York Philadelphia

Central	Atlanta Capital Cleveland Houston

Western

Midwest	Chicago Detroit Kansas City-Omaha Milwaukee

Pacific	Golden State Los Angeles Phoenix Portland Seattle

Buffalo Braves seasons

1970s

Sports teams based in New York State

Baseball	MLB New York Mets New York Yankees IL Buffalo Bisons Rochester Red Wings Syracuse Chiefs EL Binghamton Rumble Ponies NYPL Auburn Doubledays Batavia Muckdogs Brooklyn Cyclones Hudson Valley Renegades Staten Island Yankees Tri-City ValleyCats ALPB Long Island Ducks CanAm Rockland Boulders ACBL Hampton Whalers Prospect League Jamestown Jammers NYCBL Olean Oilers Wellsville Nitros

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See also: Sports in New York City, Sports in Buffalo, Sports in Rochester, Sports in Syracuse, and Sports in New York's Capital District

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