1974–75 New York Knicks season

1974–75 New York Knicks season
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerRed Holzman
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast First Round
(lost to Rockets 1–2)

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWOR-TV
Manhattan Cable Television[1]
RadioWNEW[2]

The 1974–75 New York Knicks season was the 29th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks had a 40–42 win–loss record, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division and qualifying for the NBA playoffs. New York lost to the Houston Rockets in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs, two games to one.[3]

In the first round of the 1974 NBA draft, the Knicks did not select any players; their first pick was the 32nd overall choice in the second round, which they used to acquire Jesse Dark.[4] The team alternated between wins and losses in their first eight games of the season, and were 6–6 before winning 11 of their next 13 games. They then lost six of the following seven contests, and by February 11 they fell below .500 for the season, at 27–28. New York remained with more losses than wins for the rest of the season, but still reached the postseason.[5]

The Knicks were seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference and faced the fourth-seeded Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs. After a 15-point loss in Houston, the Knicks required a victory at home to extend their season, and defeated the Rockets 106–96 to force a decisive third game in the series. The Rockets won the final game, by a score of 118–86, to end New York's season.[6]

Draft picks

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.[7]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
2 32 Jesse Dark G  United States VCU
5 86 Greg Jackson G  United States Guilford

Roster

1974–75 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
SF 46 Dennis Bell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1951-06-02 Drake
SF 24 Bill Bradley 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943-07-28 Princeton
G 25 Jim Barnett 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1944-07-07 Oregon
SG 11 Jesse Dark 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-09-02 VCU
PF 31 Mel Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950-11-09 St. John's
PG 10 Walt Frazier 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945-03-29 Southern Illinois
C 40 John Gianelli 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950-06-10 Pacific
PF 18 Phil Jackson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945-09-17 North Dakota
G 15 Earl Monroe 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1944-11-21 Winston-Salem State
C 6 Tom Riker 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1950-02-28 South Carolina
C 41 Neal Walk 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
PF 43 Harthorne Wingo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-09-09 Friendship College
Head coach

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 60 22 .732 28–13 32–9 17–9
x-Buffalo Braves 49 33 .598 11 30–11 19–22 15–11
x- 40 42 .488 20 23–18 17–24 9–17
Philadelphia 76ers 34 48 .415 26 20–21 14–27 11–15
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 60 22 .732
2 y-Washington Bullets 60 22 .732
3 x-Buffalo Braves 49 33 .598 11
4 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 19
5 x- 40 42 .488 20
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 40 42 .488 20
7 Philadelphia 76ers 34 48 .415 26
8 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 29
9 New Orleans Jazz 23 59 .280 37

Notes

  • y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1974–75 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta 0–4 1–3 0–4 3–4 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–5
Boston 4–0 5–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 4–0 7–2 5–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2
Buffalo 3–1 4–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 4–0 5–3 6–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 3–5 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3
Cleveland 4–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 6–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5
Detroit 2–2 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–6 3–1 3–6 4–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3
Golden State 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–3 5–3 4–3 1–3
Houston 5–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 5–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–5
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–4 2–2 6–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 6–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3
Los Angeles 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 1–3 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–4 2–5 2–6 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 0–4 3–1 5–3 3–1 6–3 1–3 1–3 3–6 0–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4
New Orleans 5–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–6 0–4 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–7
New York 4–0 2–7 3–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 3–5 3–6 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3
Phoenix 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–6 4–3 1–3
Portland 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–5 2–2 1–3 5–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 6–1 2–6 1–3
Seattle 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 3–4 3–1 3–1 6–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–4 6–2 1–3
Washington 5–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–3 3–1 3–1 5–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 7–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1

Season schedule

1974–75 game log
Total: 40–42 (home: 23–18; road: 17–24)
October: 4–3 (home: 4–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 October 17 New Orleans 74–89 Earl Monroe (20) John Gianelli (18) Bill Bradley (8) Madison Square Garden
15,883
1–0
2 October 19 Philadelphia 99–86 Henry Bibby (20) Bill Bradley (7) Henry Bibby (5) Madison Square Garden
15,682
1–1
3 October 22 Houston 100–110 Bill Bradley (22) Phil Jackson (7) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
14,555
2–1
4 October 24 @ Buffalo 91–111 Earl Monroe (18) John Gianelli (8) Walt Frazier (7) Maple Leaf Gardens
5,981
2–2
5 October 26 Boston 86–97 Walt Frazier (26) Walt Frazier (10) Frazier, Monroe (5) Madison Square Garden
19,694
3–2
6 October 30 @ Washington 86–94 Walt Frazier (24) Phil Jackson (10) Walt Frazier (2) Capital Centre
7,842
3–3
7 October 31 Atlanta 90–93 Earl Monroe (35) John Gianelli (13) Henry Bibby (8) Madison Square Garden
15,413
4–3
November: 9–5 (home: 4–3; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
8 November 2 Chicago 95–90 Henry Bibby (27) Harthorne Wingo (8) Henry Bibby (6) Madison Square Garden
19,543
4–4
9 November 5 @ Houston 106–93 Bill Bradley (30) Harthorne Wingo (13) Henry Bibby (8) Hofheinz Pavilion
3,855
5–4
10 November 8 @ Los Angeles 117–105 Bill Bradley (32) Frazier, Wingo (11) Walt Frazier (10) The Forum
13,304
6–4
11 November 9 @ Golden State 93–97 Walt Frazier (23) John Gianelli (12) Bill Bradley (5) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9,556
6–5
12 November 12 @ Portland 103–105 Earl Monroe (33) John Gianelli (12) Walt Frazier (9) Memorial Coliseum
10,791
6–6
13 November 14 Cleveland 89–94 Earl Monroe (26) John Gianelli (12) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
15,337
7–6
14 November 16 Seattle 94–104 Earl Monroe (30) John Gianelli (15) Bibby, Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
18,932
8–6
15 November 19 Washington 85–86 Earl Monroe (22) Walt Frazier (16) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
18,444
9–6
16 November 20 @ Philadelphia 105–95 Walt Frazier (30) Howard Porter (15) Walt Frazier (11) The Spectrum
8,101
10–6
17 November 21 @ Atlanta 101–95 Earl Monroe (28) Harthorne Wingo (13) Earl Monroe (4) Omni Coliseum
5,885
11–6
18 November 23 Milwaukee 90–72 Earl Monroe (17) John Gianelli (9) John Gianelli (4) Madison Square Garden
19,694
11–7
19 November 26 Detroit 99–88 Walt Frazier (27) Harthorne Wingo (6) Bradley, Frazier (3) Madison Square Garden
18,254
11–8
20 November 29 @ Boston 96–86 Earl Monroe (27) Gianelli, Wingo (9) Walt Frazier (7) Boston Garden
15,320
12–8
21 November 30 Buffalo 111–118 Walt Frazier (30) Mel Davis (12) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
13–8
December: 6–7 (home: 4–4; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
22 December 3 Los Angeles 95–100 Phil Jackson (22) Harthorne Wingo (11) Earl Monroe (7) Madison Square Garden
19,011
14–8
23 December 6 @ Philadelphia 96–88 Walt Frazier (26) Walt Frazier (9) Bradley, Frazier (4) The Spectrum
7,104
15–8
24 December 7 Portland 112–120 Walt Frazier (24) Harthorne Wingo (9) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
16–8
25 December 10 Kansas City–Omaha 102–106 Walt Frazier (34) Phil Jackson (9) Walt Frazier (4) Madison Square Garden
16,366
17–8
26 December 13 @ Buffalo 104–108 Walt Frazier (22) Mel Davis (16) Walt Frazier (8) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
12,774
17–9
27 December 14 Buffalo 118–102 Walt Frazier (26) Frazier, Jackson, Wingo (8) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
19,694
17–10
28 December 17 Golden State 126–108 Earl Monroe (28) Phil Jackson (10) Walt Frazier (9) Madison Square Garden
19,694
17–11
29 December 19 @ Kansas City–Omaha 117–113 Bradley, Frazier (27) Harthorne Wingo (12) Bill Bradley (6) Kemper Arena
6,622
18–11
30 December 21 Boston 109–91 Walt Frazier (25) John Gianelli (11) Bill Bradley (5) Madison Square Garden
19,694
18–12
31 December 25 Philadelphia 104–97 Earl Monroe (29) Mel Davis (7) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
18,766
18–13
32 December 26 @ Detroit 83–84 Earl Monroe (24) John Gianelli (12) Walt Frazier (6) Cobo Arena
11,265
18–14
33 December 28 New Orleans 94–101 Phil Jackson (18) Phil Jackson (10) Bradley, Frazier, Gianelli (4) Madison Square Garden
18,555
19–14
34 December 29 @ Milwaukee 89–115 Harthorne Wingo (16) Phil Jackson (11) Earl Monroe (6) MECCA Arena
10,938
19–15
January: 7–8 (home: 3–2; road: 4–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
35 January 2 Phoenix 113–117 (OT) Walt Frazier (32) John Gianelli (13) Earl Monroe (8) Madison Square Garden
16,570
20–15
36 January 4 Cleveland 102–103 Walt Frazier (24) Frazier, Jackson, Monroe, Wingo (7) Bradley, Frazier, Monroe (4) Madison Square Garden
19,694
21–15
37 January 7 @ Portland 92–106 Walt Frazier (23) John Gianelli (13) Walt Frazier (6) Memorial Coliseum
9,715
21–16
38 January 8 @ Seattle 113–102 Earl Monroe (38) Phil Jackson (12) Walt Frazier (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,203
22–16
39 January 9 @ Golden State 96–132 Henry Bibby (23) John Gianelli (10) Walt Frazier (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,392
22–17
40 January 11 @ Phoenix 107–113 Walt Frazier (43) John Gianelli (12) Walt Frazier (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,592
22–18
41 January 17 @ Kansas City–Omaha 90–107 Earl Monroe (26) Mel Davis (14) Walt Frazier (6) Kemper Arena
10,022
22–19
42 January 18 @ Chicago 104–91 Frazier, Monroe (25) Mel Davis (12) Earl Monroe (6) Chicago Stadium
17,422
23–19
43 January 21 Chicago 97–94 Earl Monroe (26) John Gianelli (10) Frazier, Monroe (5) Madison Square Garden
19,694
23–20
44 January 23 @ Cleveland 100–89 Phil Jackson (29) Phil Jackson (13) Frazier, Gianelli, Jackson (3) Richfield Coliseum
9,251
24–20
45 January 24 @ Buffalo 99–105 Walt Frazier (20) John Gianelli (14) Walt Frazier (7) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
18,194
24–21
46 January 25 Kansas City–Omaha 112–103 Walt Frazier (29) Mel Davis (18) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
24–22
47 January 28 Atlanta 111–115 Walt Frazier (39) Mel Davis (10) Walt Frazier (10) Madison Square Garden
17,754
25–22
48 January 29 @ Philadelphia 92–98 Walt Frazier (29) Mel Davis (15) Walt Frazier (5) The Spectrum
9,082
25–23
49 January 30 @ Atlanta 117–115 Earl Monroe (30) John Gianelli (10) Walt Frazier (5) Omni Coliseum
7,395
26–23
February: 4–10 (home: 2–5; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
50 February 1 Houston 95–93 Bill Bradley (23) John Gianelli (10) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
18,284
26–24
51 February 2 @ New Orleans 114–118 Earl Monroe (25) Phil Jackson (12) Bradley, Frazier (5) Loyola Field House
6,419
26–25
52 February 4 Los Angeles 94–109 Frazier, Monroe (20) Davis, Gianelli (9) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
18,112
27–25
53 February 8 Boston 128–102 Walt Frazier (27) Davis, Gianelli (6) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
19,694
27–26
54 February 9 @ Boston 88–105 Jim Barnett (19) John Gianelli (10) Davis, Monroe (4) Boston Garden
15,320
27–27
55 February 11 @ Chicago 84–101 Phil Jackson (16) John Gianelli (11) Walt Frazier (8) Chicago Stadium
12,317
27–28
56 February 15 Washington 108–106 (OT) Mel Davis (24) Mel Davis (17) Walt Frazier (9) Madison Square Garden
19,694
27–29
57 February 16 @ Washington 104–125 Jim Barnett (22) John Gianelli (9) Jim Barnett (5) Capital Centre
19,035
27–30
58 February 18 Golden State 98–99 Walt Frazier (34) Walt Frazier (6) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
19,694
28–30
59 February 19 @ Detroit 109–94 Walt Frazier (35) John Gianelli (12) John Gianelli (6) Cobo Arena
8,056
29–30
60 February 22 Buffalo 92–85 Walt Frazier (24) John Gianelli (13) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
8,832
29–31
61 February 25 Seattle 102–101 Walt Frazier (23) Mel Davis (10) Walt Frazier (9) Madison Square Garden
17,096
29–32
62 February 26 @ Boston 103–121 Earl Monroe (20) Mel Davis (12) Frazier, Monroe (4) Boston Garden
13,169
29–33
63 February 28 @ Buffalo 114–106 Walt Frazier (28) Frazier, Wingo (7) Walt Frazier (6) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
15,519
30–33
March: 8–7 (home: 4–3; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
64 March 1 Philadelphia 100–94 Bill Bradley (22) John Gianelli (13) Earl Monroe (7) Madison Square Garden
19,465
30–34
65 March 2 @ Philadelphia 87–91 Walt Frazier (20) Phil Jackson (10) Walt Frazier (4) The Spectrum
9,823
30–35
66 March 4 Boston 126–111 Dennis Bell (20) Harthorne Wingo (8) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
30–36
67 March 8 Detroit 100–118 Bill Bradley (32) John Gianelli (15) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
31–36
68 March 11 Phoenix 98–103 Earl Monroe (31) Walt Frazier (9) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
17,443
32–36
69 March 13 Portland 103–116 Earl Monroe (29) John Gianelli (13) Frazier, Gianelli, Monroe (5) Madison Square Garden
17,247
33–36
70 March 14 @ Houston 103–94 Earl Monroe (22) John Gianelli (9) Walt Frazier (8) Hofheinz Pavilion
9,471
34–36
71 March 16 @ Seattle 94–97 Earl Monroe (30) Phil Jackson (13) Earl Monroe (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082
34–37
72 March 18 @ Los Angeles 109–100 Walt Frazier (27) Walt Frazier (13) Walt Frazier (11) The Forum
10,963
35–37
73 March 19 @ Phoenix 101–96 Earl Monroe (30) Harthorne Wingo (16) Walt Frazier (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,492
36–37
74 March 22 Boston 90–81 Walt Frazier (20) John Gianelli (10) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
19,694
36–38
75 March 23 @ Boston 86–96 Earl Monroe (20) Phil Jackson (16) Bill Bradley (4) Boston Garden
12,656
36–39
76 March 26 @ Philadelphia 128–98 Earl Monroe (26) Phil Jackson (14) Walt Frazier (11) The Spectrum
6,730
37–39
77 March 28 @ New Orleans 102–111 Earl Monroe (28) Phil Jackson (15) Bradley, Monroe (4) Municipal Auditorium
8,002
37–40
78 March 30 Milwaukee 99–111 Earl Monroe (24) Gianelli, Wingo (10) Walt Frazier (14) Madison Square Garden
19,694
38–40
April: 2–2 (home: 2–0; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
79 April 1 Philadelphia 95–99 Earl Monroe (26) Harthorne Wingo (10) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
17,888
39–40
80 April 3 @ Cleveland 95–100 Earl Monroe (21) Phil Jackson (13) Walt Frazier (6) Richfield Coliseum
20,239
39–41
81 April 4 @ Milwaukee 101–109 Walt Frazier (25) Phil Jackson (12) Walt Frazier (7) MECCA Arena
10,938
39–42
82 April 6 Buffalo 93–105 Walt Frazier (26) John Gianelli (11) Walt Frazier (12) Madison Square Garden
19,694
40–42
Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Playoffs

1975 playoff game log
First Round: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 8 @ Houston W 99–84 Walt Frazier (21) Phil Jackson (13) Walt Frazier (11) Hofheinz Pavilion
10,218
0–1
2 April 10 Houston L 96–106 Walt Frazier (26) Phil Jackson (10) Harthorne Wingo (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694
1–1
3 April 12 @ Houston W 118–86 Walt Frazier (24) Harthorne Wingo (10) Walt Frazier (4) Hofheinz Pavilion
10,218
1–2
1975 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  3. ^ "1974–75 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  4. ^ "1974 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "1974–75 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "1974–75 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "1974 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  9. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 31, 2013.