INTRODUCTION from The Sports Time Traveler™
Home court advantage has always been a huge factor in the NBA. 50 years ago the New York Knickerbockers were looking to seal home court advantage for possibly 2 of what they hope will be 3 playoff series needed to win a championship.
They were in L.A. on March 16, 1973, and a win would clinch home court for the 1st round of the playoffs. It would also help them close in on possible home court advantage if they were to reach the Finals vs. the Lakers again. With 2 weeks to go in the season this was an important game for playoff posturing.
The game was equally important for the Lakers who were just 2 games ahead of the Bucks, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in the Western Conference.
So, I went virtually to the Forum 50 years ago last night to cover the game for you.
INGLEWOOD, CA - March 17, 1973
The Knicks and Lakers faced off here last night in a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals in which Jerry West finally won a championship after losing in the Finals 7 times.
It began as a game of streaks. The Lakers opened the game 6 - 0, with their sensational backcourt of West and Gail Goodrich scoring the points.
But the Knicks came right back with an 18 - 6 stretch to take the lead. Bill Bradley was hot early for the Knicks hitting 6 of his 1st 7 shots.
The Knicks led 31 - 22 early in the 2nd when the Lakers went on an 11 - 2 run to tie the game at 33 getting help from bench players Mel Counts and Keith Erickson.
Then it was the Knick turn again, scoring 13 straight and finishing the half with a 56 - 44 lead. Most of the scoring coming on long range bombs from Jerry Lucas and Dave Debusschere.
In the 3rd quarter the Knicks, playing great team basketball, extended the lead to 18 points.
One play in particular epitomized the Knicks offense as Joe O’Day described it in today’s New York Daily News:
“The Knicks really were finding the open man and Bradley and Monroe (that’s Earl “the Pearl” Monroe) combined on a beauty down the middle. Brads gave the Pearl a leading pass and Monroe split Chamberlain and West to can a driving hook.”
But the Lakers came back again and drew within 1 point at 86 - 85 with 7 minutes to go in the game. Then Lakers coach Bill Sharman put cold shooting Gail Goodrich and Bill Bridges back in the game. Goodrich, the Lakers leading scorer, averaging 24 points a game had just 4 points in the game on 2 for 15 shooting. Another starter, Bill Bridges finished with just 3 points in 37 minutes.
Goodrich remained cold on this night and the Knicks used a final spurt of 11 straight points to seal the game, winning by a final score of 109 - 98.
Lakers reserve Keith Erickson who had 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting was asked after the game if he and Mel Counts (5 for 9 with 12 points) should have been removed in the 4th quarter. He replied, “I have nothing to say.” Counts was more content, remarking, “Bill put in his starting five and did what he thought was best. I’m not going to 2nd guess him.”
For the Knicks it was a complete team effort. On defense they shut down the Lakers leading scorer and on offense each of their top 6 players had at least 7 field goals. Monroe led the Knicks with 23. Debusschere had 15 points and 11 boards. Reed playing 30 minutes against Chamberlain went for 18 & 14. And Bradley had 12 assists.
The Knicks have now clinched home court advantage against the Baltimore Bullets who they will play in the first round of the playoffs. And they are just a half game behind the Lakers in case they meet them in the Finals.
The Knicks however have no chance of catching the Boston Celtics in the East. The Celtics, who had an 8 game winning streak snapped by the Bullets last night, stand at 60 - 14, and have clinched home court advantage for every series they might play.
The 1973 NBA Playoffs are shaping up to be an exciting tournament with 8 teams that all have a strong case for reaching the Finals.
The Sports Time Traveler™ will be closely following the 1973 NBA playoffs when they get underway in a couple of weeks.
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