1971–72 Virginia Squires season

The 1971–72 Virginia Squires season was the second season of the Virginia Squires in the American Basketball Association. This was the debut season of future Hall of Famer Julius Erving. In the first half of the season, the Squires were 26–16, with a season-high five-game losing streak and one five-game winning streak in that half. In the second half, they went 19–23. The Squires finished 2nd in points scored at 118.9 per game, but 9th in points allowed at 118.0 per game. Just before the season ended, Charlie Scott left the team and joined the NBA's Phoenix Suns, completing a trade with the Boston Celtics (who held his original draft rights) for Paul Silas. Scott set the all-time ABA individual single-season scoring record by averaging 34.6 points per game. In the playoffs, the Squires swept the Floridians (with Game 2 even being broadcast on CBS), but the Squires lost to the New York Nets in the Division Finals.[1] After the season, the Squires stopped playing in Roanoke, electing to focus on Norfolk, Hampton, and Richmond only.

1971–72 Virginia Squires season
Head coachAl Bianchi
ArenaNorfolk Scope
Hampton Coliseum
Richmond Coliseum
Roanoke Civic Center
Results
Record45–39 (.536)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in Division Finals
< 1970–71 1972–73 >

Roster

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Final standings

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Eastern Division

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Team W L % GB
Kentucky Colonels 68 16 .810
Virginia Squires 45 39 .536 23
New York Nets 44 40 .524 24
The Floridians 36 48 .429 32
Carolina Cougars 35 49 .417 33
Pittsburgh Condors 25 59 .298 43

Playoffs

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Eastern Division Semifinals[2]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 2 Norfolk (Virginia) 114–107 (OT) 1–0 3,770
2 April 4 Hampton (Virginia) 125–100 2–0 2,921
3 April 6 Florida 118–113 3–0 2,965
4 April 8 Florida 115–106 4–0 3,117

Squires win series, 4–0

Eastern Division Finals vs. New York Nets

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 13 Richmond (Virginia) 138–91 1–0 5,526
2 April 15 Norfolk (Virginia) 115–106 2–0 10,410
3 April 24 New York 117–119 2–1 11,893
4 April 26 New York 107–118 2–2 11,164
5 April 29 Hampton (Virginia) 116–107 3–2 6,309
6 May 1 New York 136–146 3–3 11,152
7 May 4 Norfolk (Virginia) 88–94 3–4 10,410

Squires lose series, 4–3

Awards and honors

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1972 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 29, 1972)

References

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  1. ^ "1971-72 Virginia Squires Schedule and Results".
  2. ^ "1971–72 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
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