1970–71 Virginia Squires season

The 1970–71 Virginia Squires season was the first season of the Virginia Squires in the American Basketball Association. After one season each in Oakland and Washington, owner Earl Foreman was convinced by the league to move his team to Virginia. Like the Carolina Cougars and The Floridians, the Squires played as a regional franchise, primarily playing games in Norfolk, Hampton and Richmond, with Salem and Roanoke having occasional games. The Squires started play on October 17, 1970, in Norfolk, winning 133–116 over the Pittsburgh Condors. They proceeded to win their next five games, while having a 30–12 first half of the season, highlighted by a seven-game winning streak. They went 25–17 in the second half, though they never lost more than two games in a row. They finished 1st in points scored at 123.3 per game, but 7th in points allowed at 119.7 per game. In the playoffs, they beat the Kentucky Colonels in six games to advance to the Division Finals, but they were beaten in six games themselves by the New York Nets.

1970–71 Virginia Squires season
Division champions
Head coachAl Bianchi
ArenaOld Dominion University Fieldhouse
Hampton Coliseum
Richmond Coliseum
Richmond Arena
Norfolk Scope
Salem Civic Center
Roanoke Civic Center
Results
Record55–29 (.655)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in Division Finals
1971–72 >

Prior to the season on September 1, the Squires traded an unhappy Rick Barry to the New York Nets for $200,000 cash. Offsetting this loss was rookie Charlie Scott from the University of North Carolina. Scott averaged 27.1 points per game and was named ABA Rookie of the Year.

Roster

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Final standings

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Eastern Division

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Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Virginia Squires * 55 29 .655
Kentucky Colonels * 44 40 .524 11.0
New York Nets * 40 44 .476 15.0
The Floridians * 37 47 .440 18.0
Pittsburgh Condors 36 48 .429 19.0
Carolina Cougars 34 50 .405 21.0

Playoffs

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Eastern Division Semifinals vs. New York Nets

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 2 Hampton (Virginia) 113–105 1–0 6,149
2 April 4 Hampton (Virginia) 114–108 2–0 7,143
3 April 6 New York 131–135 2–1 3,504
4 April 7 New York 127–130 2–2 4,134
5 April 9 Richmond (Virginia) 127–124 3–2 4,250
6 April 10 New York 118–114 4–2 3,016

Squires win series, 4–2

Eastern Division Finals vs. Kentucky Colonels

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 15 Richmond (Virginia) 132–136 0–1 4,250
2 April 17 Norfolk (Virginia) 142–122 1–1 5,000
3 April 19 Kentucky 150–137 2–1 4,777
4 April 21 Kentucky 110–128 2–2 5,221
5 April 23 Hampton (Virginia) 107–115 2–3 10,013
6 April 24 Kentucky 117–129 2–4 12,822

Squires lose series, 4–2

Awards and honors

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

Bianchi was selected to coach the Eastern Division.

References

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