The 1970-71 Atlanta Hawks season marked their third year in the city after relocating from St. Louis. Under head coach Richie Guerin, the Hawks finished with a 36-46 record, positioning them third in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. Despite a losing record, they managed to secure a playoff spot, largely due to the standout performances of Pete Maravich and Lou Hudson, both prolific scorers during the season.
In the playoffs, the Hawks faced the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series was a tough battle, but Atlanta ultimately fell to the defending champions, losing the series 4-1. The season was notable for Maravich’s rookie campaign, where he averaged 23.2 points per game, showcasing his potential as a future franchise player. Although the Hawks struggled with consistency, the season laid a foundation for the team’s future development in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1970-71 Season
POINTS
Lou Hudson
26.8
REBOUNDS
Bill Bridges
14.9
ASSISTS
Walt Hazzard
6.3
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Lou Hudson | 76 | 26.8 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 25.4 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pete Maravich | 81 | 23.2 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 22.0 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Hazzard | 82 | 16.5 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 14.0 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Bellamy | 82 | 14.7 | 12.8 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 20.8 | 14.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Bridges | 82 | 11.9 | 14.9 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.8 | 20.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Chambers | 65 | 8.9 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Davis | 82 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 11.2 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Len Chappell | 42 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Vallely | 51 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Christian | 54 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Herb White | 38 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Riley | 8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1971 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. New York Knicks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-101 | |
| Mar 27, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-104 | |
| Mar 28, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-95 | |
| Mar 30, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | L 113-107 | |
| Apr 01, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-107 |
Atlanta Hawks 1970-71 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1970-71 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-98 | |
| Oct 21, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 102-100 | |
| Oct 22, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-101 | |
| Oct 24, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 113-109 | |
| Oct 26, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 126-107 | |
| Oct 31, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | L 121-117 | |
| Nov 01, 1970 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 131-107 | |
| Nov 04, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 117-105 | |
| Nov 06, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-112 | |
| Nov 07, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 107-100 | |
| Nov 10, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-104 | |
| Nov 11, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 134-118 | |
| Nov 13, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-114 | |
| Nov 14, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 120-116 | |
| Nov 17, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-105 | |
| Nov 18, 1970 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 146-131 | |
| Nov 21, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 130-103 | |
| Nov 22, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-115 | |
| Nov 24, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 128-119 | |
| Nov 25, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 114-111 | |
| Nov 27, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 128-127 | |
| Nov 29, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-107 | |
| Dec 01, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 113-106 | |
| Dec 02, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-112 | |
| Dec 05, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-100 | |
| Dec 08, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 118-106 | |
| Dec 11, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 87-86 | |
| Dec 12, 1970 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 13, 1970 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 110-91 | |
| Dec 16, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 128-117 | |
| Dec 18, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 116-112 | |
| Dec 19, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-104 | |
| Dec 22, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 119-115 | |
| Dec 23, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 133-102 | |
| Dec 25, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-115 | |
| Dec 26, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 130-118 | |
| Dec 28, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 115-104 | |
| Dec 29, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 99-97 | |
| Dec 31, 1970 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-85 | |
| Jan 02, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 112-108 | |
| Jan 03, 1971 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 140-128 | |
| Jan 05, 1971 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 98-90 | |
| Jan 07, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 110-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 115-104 | |
| Jan 10, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 116-105 | |
| Jan 15, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 134-123 | |
| Jan 16, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 127-123 | |
| Jan 18, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 123-113 | |
| Jan 20, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-108 | |
| Jan 22, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-110 | |
| Jan 24, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 142-120 | |
| Jan 26, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-122 | |
| Jan 27, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-108 | |
| Jan 29, 1971 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-111 | |
| Jan 31, 1971 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 131-120 | |
| Feb 02, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 101-99 | |
| Feb 04, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 137-123 | |
| Feb 05, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-120 | |
| Feb 07, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 121-118 | |
| Feb 09, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-109 | |
| Feb 10, 1971 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 114-102 | |
| Feb 12, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | W 125-116 | |
| Feb 14, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-88 | |
| Feb 16, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-102 | |
| Feb 20, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 122-115 | |
| Feb 21, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 121-119 | |
| Feb 24, 1971 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 136-129 | |
| Feb 27, 1971 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 134-117 | |
| Feb 28, 1971 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 106-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-116 | |
| Mar 03, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 05, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-104 | |
| Mar 07, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 122-112 | |
| Mar 10, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 139-98 | |
| Mar 12, 1971 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-107 | |
| Mar 13, 1971 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 136-127 | |
| Mar 14, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 16, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 130-125 | |
| Mar 19, 1971 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 112-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 138-121 |