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1969–70 Phoenix Suns season

1969–70 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record39–43 (.476)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishDivision semifinals
(lost to Lakers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR
< 1968–69 1970–71 >

The 1969–70 Phoenix Suns season was the second season of the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, who was a star in the ABA before switching to the NBA to join the Suns. Head coach Johnny "Red" Kerr was replaced by general manager Jerry Colangelo after the Suns started 15–23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6 points per game, which was also sixth in the league. He teamed with Dick Van Arsdale's 21.3 points to create the highest-scoring season for a Suns duo until the 1977–78 Suns season, when Paul Westphal and Walter Davis combined for 49.4 points.

After a 16–66 finish in 1968–69, Hawkins and the Suns made a 23-game improvement to 39–43, making their first playoff appearance in only their second season. Facing off against Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division semifinals, the Suns took an improbable 3–1 lead, before falling to the Lakers in seven games. The Suns wouldn't return to the playoffs again until their cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 1976.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1969 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 2 Neal Walk Center  United States Florida
2 24 Gene Williams Forward  United States Kansas State
3 30 Floyd Kerr Guard  United States Colorado State
3 33 Lamar Green Forward  United States Morehead State
3 39 Lloyd Kerr Guard  United States Colorado State
4 41 Dennis Stewart Forward  United States Michigan
5 58 Rich Jones Forward  United States Memphis
6 72 Dan Sadlier Forward  United States Dayton
7 86 Bill Sweek Guard  United States UCLA
8 100 Bob Edwards Center  United States Arizona State
9 14 Steve Jennings Guard  United States USC
10 128 Rich Abrahamson Guard  United States Oregon
11 142 Fred Lind Forward  United States Duke
12 156 Bob Miller Forward  United States Toledo
13 169 Andy White Guard  United States UTEP
14 180 Marv Schmidt Guard  United States Western New Mexico
15 189 Bob Beamon Guard  United States UTEP
16 195 Wayne Huckel Guard  United States Davidson
17 201 Howie Dickenman Center  United States Central Connecticut
18 207 Al Nuness Guard  United States Minnesota
19 212 Solomon Davis Forward  United States Kentucky State
20 216 Jim Plump Forward  United States Northern Arizona

Prior to the inception of the NBA draft lottery, the first pick in the draft was decided by a coin flip between the teams with the worst record in the league's two divisions. The NBA's two expansion teams from 1968, the Suns (16–66) and the Milwaukee Bucks (27–55), finished last in the Western Division and Eastern Division, respectively. Prior to the flip, Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo chose "heads", losing the first pick to the Bucks when the coin landed "tails".[1] According to Jerry Colangelo, the coin flip originally landed on heads from what he heard on the phone, but then-commissioner J. Walter Kennedy flip the coin onto his hand to showcase tails instead.[2] The Bucks would select prized UCLA center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) with the first pick. Alcindor, in three years at UCLA, led the Bruins to three national championships and an 88–2 record. Considered by many to be the greatest college basketball player of all-time,[3][4][5] Abdul-Jabbar would lead the Bucks to a championship in just his second season, and would eventually win six Most Valuable Player awards, six NBA Championships, and retire as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

The Suns would use the second pick to select center Neal Walk from Florida. Walk averaged 25.2 points and 18.4 rebounds per game in his final two seasons with the Gators.[6] Walk would play five seasons with the Suns before being traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974. While overshadowed by Abdul-Jabbar, Walk was productive for the Suns, averaging a double-double in two consecutive seasons (20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in 1972–73 and 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in 1973–74).[7] The only other draft pick who played for the franchise was Lamar Green, who, like Walk, would play five seasons with the Suns before being drafted by the Jazz in the 1974 Expansion Draft. "Leapin' Lamar" was known for his vertical leap and rebounding ability,[8] averaging a career high 9.3 rebounds per game in 1972–73 while playing 25.6 minutes a game.[9] In the fifteenth round, the Suns selected Bob Beamon, a famous track and field athlete who broke Jesse Owens' 25-year world record in the long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[10]

Free agency

Despite losing the number one draft pick to the Bucks, the Suns would win another significant coin flip. The Suns bested the Seattle SuperSonics for the rights to ABA star Connie Hawkins. In his freshman year with Iowa, Hawkins was implicated, without evidence, in a point shaving scandal, which led to his expulsion from the university. While eligible, Hawkins went undrafted in the 1964, 1965 and 1966 NBA drafts, before being officially barred from the league.[11] Hawkins would star in the upstart American Basketball League (ABL), winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the ABL's inaugural 1961–62 season.[12] Hawkins would then spend four years with the Harlem Globetrotters, before joining the Pittsburgh Pipers of the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. Hawkins led the league in scoring, while leading the Pipers to the first ABA championship, and receiving the ABA's first Most Valuable Player Award in 1968.[13] In 1966, Hawkins' attorneys filed a $6 million anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA. In 1969, a Time Magazine article absolved Hawkins from involvement in the point shaving scandal, leading the NBA to pay a $1.3 million settlement and allow Hawkins into the league.[14] "The Hawk" would become the Suns first official star, making the All-NBA First Team in 1970, and appearing in four consecutive All-Star Games. On November 19, 1976, Hawkins became the first player in Suns franchise history to have his number retired.[15] On September 11, 1969, the Suns waived swingman Bob Warlick. Warlick would sign as a free agent with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA.[16] On October 1, 1969, Dave "Big Daddy D" Lattin was waived. Lattin would later sign with the Pittsburgh Condors of the ABA.[17]

Trades

On May 8, 1969, the Suns traded Gary Gregor to the Atlanta Hawks for Paul Silas. Gregor, the Suns first draft pick, was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1969 after averaging 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.[18] Silas would join Connie Hawkins and Jim Fox to form a formidable starting frontcourt that would combine to average over 50 points and 29 rebounds a game. As a Sun, Silas would become an All-Star, and be selected to two All-Defensive teams.[19] The Suns also traded the rights to expansion draft picks Bill Melchionni and Bumper Tormohlen for a 1970 second-round draft pick (Joe DePre) and a 1970 third-round draft pick (Vann Williford). Neither pick would play for the franchise.[20]

Roster

Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
F 44 Chambers, Jerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1943-07-18 Utah
C 31 Fox, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1943-04-07 South Carolina
G 25 Goodrich, Gail 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1943-04-23 UCLA
F 16 Green, Lamar 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State
G 23 Harris, Art 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947-01-13 Stanford
F 42 Hawkins, Connie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa
F 11 Johnson, Neil 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-04-17 Creighton
G/F 40 McKenzie, Stan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-10-06 NYU
F 29 Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-07-12 Creighton
G/F 5 Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
C 41 Walk, Neal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Standings

Western Division
 W L PCT GB
x-Atlanta Hawks 48 34 .585 –
x-Los Angeles Lakers 46 36 .561 2
x-Chicago Bulls 39 43 .476 9
x-Phoenix Suns 39 43 .476 9
Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 12
San Francisco Warriors 30 52 .366 18
San Diego Rockets 27 55 .329 21

Record vs. opponents

1969–70 NBA records
Team ATL BAL BOS CHI CIN DET LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO SDR SFW SEA
Atlanta — 2–4 6–0 5–2 3–3 3–3 4–3 3–3 4–2 3–3 2–4 4–2 5–2 4–2
Baltimore 4–2 — 5–2 5–1 4–3 5–2 4–2 3–3 1–5 3–4 3–3 6–0 2–4 5–1
Boston 0–6 2–5 — 3–3 3–3 4–3 2–4 1–6 4–3 2–4 2–4 4–2 5–1 2–4
Chicago 2–5 1–5 3–3 — 3–3 3–3 4–2 4–2 0–6 3–3 5–2 3–4 4–2 4–3
Cincinnati 3–3 3–4 3–3 3–3 — 4–2 2–4 2–5 2–5 4–3 3–3 4–2 2–4 1–5
Detroit 3–3 2–5 3–4 3–3 2–4 — 3–3 1–6 1–6 1–5 3–3 3–3 3–3 3–3
Los Angeles 3–4 2–4 4–2 2–4 4–2 3–3 — 3–3 2–4 4–2 3–4 5–2 5–2 6–0
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 6–1 2–4 5–2 6–1 3–3 — 2–4 5–2 6–0 6–0 4–2 5–1
New York 2–4 5–1 3–4 6–0 5–2 6–1 4–2 4–2 — 5–2 6–0 5–1 5–1 4–2
Philadelphia 3–3 4–3 4–2 3–3 3–4 5–1 2–4 2–5 2–5 — 4–2 4–2 6–0 0–6
Phoenix 4–2 3–3 4–2 2–5 3–3 3–3 4–3 0–6 0–6 2–4 — 7–0 3–3 4–3
San Diego 2–4 0–6 2–4 4–3 2–4 3–3 2–5 0–6 1–5 2–4 0–7 — 5–2 4–2
San Francisco 2–5 4–2 1–5 2–4 4–2 3–3 2–5 2–4 1–5 0–6 3–3 2–5 — 3–4
Seattle 2–4 1–5 4–2 3–4 5–1 3–3 0–6 1–5 2–4 6–0 3–4 2–4 4–3 —

Game log

1969–70 game log
Total: 39–43 (home: 25–16; road: 14–27)
October: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 16 San Diego W 116–114 Jim Fox (29) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,053 		1–0
2 October 18 @ Atlanta L 116–121 Gail Goodrich (28) Paul Silas (23) Connie Hawkins (7) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
3,742 		1–1
3 October 21 @ New York L 116–140 Connie Hawkins (27) Jim Fox (12) Gail Goodrich (8) Madison Square Garden
15,116 		1–2
4 October 22 @ Philadelphia L 119–122 Gail Goodrich (24) Connie Hawkins (16) Gail Goodrich (19) The Spectrum
7,215 		1–3
5 October 24 Chicago L 115–116 (OT) Jim Fox (28) Jim Fox (14) Connie Hawkins (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,576 		1–4
6 October 25 @ San Diego W 115–107 Gail Goodrich (31) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (13) San Diego Sports Arena
5,269 		2–4
7 October 26 Milwaukee L 99–119 Jim Fox (22) Connie Hawkins (14) Dick Van Arsdale (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,149 		2–5
8 October 30 Cincinnati W 106–104 Gail Goodrich (27) Neal Walk (13) Gail Goodrich (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,699 		3–5
November: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
9 November 4 New York L 99–116 Connie Hawkins (39) Paul Silas (9) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (4) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,552 		3–6
10 November 7 @ Los Angeles W 122–120 Gail Goodrich (37) Paul Silas (14) Dick Van Arsdale (7) The Forum
10,557 		4–6
11 November 9 Detroit W 140–129 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,500 		5–6
12 November 13 Philadelphia L 110–124 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Jim Fox (14) Gail Goodrich (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,440 		5–7
13 November 14 @ Los Angeles L 112–127 Jim Fox (39) Jim Fox (23) Connie Hawkins (7) The Forum
8,902 		5–8
14 November 15 Los Angeles W 114–111 Gail Goodrich (31) Connie Hawkins (18) Gail Goodrich (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,318 		6–8
15 November 16 Atlanta W 139–118 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (8) 		University Arena
5,094 		7–8
16 November 18 @ Boston L 119–120 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (32) Connie Hawkins (17) Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (6) 		Baltimore Civic Center
6,028 		7–9
17 November 19 @ Baltimore L 118–133 Gail Goodrich (29) Lamar Green (16) Dick Van Arsdale (11) The Spectrum
9,287 		7–10
18 November 21 @ Baltimore L 116–126 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Connie Hawkins (18) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (5) 		Baltimore Civic Center
5,215 		7–11
19 November 22 @ New York L 114–128 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich (12) Madison Square Garden
19,401 		7–12
20 November 23 @ Cincinnati L 123–137 Jerry Chambers (31) Connie Hawkins (9) Gail Goodrich (9) Cincinnati Gardens
2,866 		7–13
21 November 25 Baltimore L 124–134 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Connie Hawkins (16) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,776 		7–14
22 November 29 @ Seattle L 129–130 Jim Fox (31) Jim Fox (13) Dick Van Arsdale (9) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,418 		7–15
23 November 30 Seattle W 116–108 Connie Hawkins (26) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,621 		8–15
December: 7–8 (home: 5–4; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
24 December 2 Chicago W 121–110 Dick Van Arsdale (38) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (9) Salt Palace
3,220 		9–15
25 December 4 Los Angeles W 119–109 Connie Hawkins (28) Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,165 		10–15
26 December 5 Chicago W 114–113 Gail Goodrich (28) Neal Walk (16) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,021 		11–15
27 December 7 Detroit L 113–118 Gail Goodrich (29) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,335 		11–16
28 December 9 @ Chicago L 102–109 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (8) Chicago Stadium
10,833 		11–17
29 December 10 @ Baltimore W 137–107 Jim Fox (24) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (7) Baltimore Civic Center
2,842 		12–17
30 December 12 @ Seattle W 130–116 Connie Hawkins (37) Lamar Green (7) Gail Goodrich (11) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,146 		13–17
31 December 13 Cincinnati W 126–110 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Jim Fox (12) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,786 		14–17
32 December 14 Cincinnati L 130–137 (2OT) Connie Hawkins (37) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,075 		14–18
33 December 16 Philadelphia L 119–141 Jerry Chambers (23) Jim Fox,
Paul Silas (10) 		Gail Goodrich,
Art Harris (8) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,268 		14–19
34 December 20 @ Detroit L 113–114 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Paul Silas (12) Paul Silas (6) Cobo Arena
5,021 		14–20
35 December 21 @ Milwaukee L 111–118 Connie Hawkins (28) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (12) Milwaukee Arena
10,201 		14–21
36 December 25 Boston W 127–116 Jim Fox (31) Paul Silas (18) Gail Goodrich (14) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,137 		15–21
37 December 28 New York L 116–135 Connie Hawkins (31) Paul Silas (12) Gail Goodrich (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,286 		15–22
38 December 30 @ Seattle L 121–134 Connie Hawkins (37) Lamar Green (13) Gail Goodrich (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,201 		15–23
January: 9–10 (home: 6–4; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
39 January 2 San Diego W 121–120 Connie Hawkins (24) Connie Hawkins (13) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,875 		16–23
40 January 3 Detroit W 114–109 Jim Fox (29) Paul Silas (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,551 		17–23
41 January 4 @ Los Angeles L 112–120 Jim Fox (27) Jim Fox (14) Connie Hawkins (6) The Forum
11,055 		17–24
42 January 6 @ Cincinnati L 124–128 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Gail Goodrich (10) Gail Goodrich (10) Cincinnati Gardens
3,426 		17–25
43 January 8 @ Chicago L 123–152 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (8) Gail Goodrich (10) Chicago Stadium
5,086 		17–26
44 January 9 @ Milwaukee L 116–120 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Jim Fox (9) Gail Goodrich,
Art Harris,
Connie Hawkins (5) 		Milwaukee Arena
7,237 		17–27
45 January 10 @ Philadelphia W 119–117 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Jim Fox (15) Gail Goodrich (11) Baltimore Civic Center
7,423 		18–27
46 January 11 @ Cincinnati W 125–118 Connie Hawkins (39) Paul Silas (14) Art Harris (4) Omaha Civic Auditorium
6,129 		19–27
47 January 12 New York L 114–130 Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (26) 		Connie Hawkins,
Paul Silas (13) 		Gail Goodrich (6) Salt Palace
12,384 		19–28
48 January 15 Baltimore W 124–115 Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (29) 		Lamar Green (12) Gail Goodrich (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,636 		20–28
49 January 17 Seattle L 131–134 Connie Hawkins (35) Connie Hawkins (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,094 		20–29
50 January 18 Baltimore W 134–133 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Connie Hawkins (11) Connie Hawkins (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,009 		21–29
All-Star Break
51 January 22 Seattle W 129–120 Art Harris (23) Lamar Green (12) Gail Goodrich,
Art Harris (9) 		Pan American Center
2,805 		22–29
52 January 23 San Francisco L 132–138 Connie Hawkins (28) Connie Hawkins (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,024 		22–30
53 January 24 @ San Francisco W 109–99 Connie Hawkins (25) Jim Fox (15) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (5) 		Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
6,466 		23–30
54 January 25 @ Los Angeles L 106–118 Gail Goodrich (22) Connie Hawkins (10) Connie Hawkins (10) The Forum
11,483 		23–31
55 January 29 Atlanta W 111–102 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Jim Fox (10) Dick Van Arsdale (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,658 		24–31
56 January 30 @ San Francisco L 116–125 Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (28) 		Connie Hawkins (11) Art Harris,
Stan McKenzie (basketball) (5) 		Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
6,308 		24–32
57 January 31 Milwaukee L 106–107 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (20) Connie Hawkins (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,814 		24–33
February: 9–7 (home: 4–2; road: 5–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
58 February 1 @ San Diego W 105–103 Connie Hawkins (24) Jim Fox,
Connie Hawkins (12) 		Gail Goodrich (7) San Diego Sports Arena
4,582 		25–33
59 February 3 Philadelphia W 131–123 Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (28) 		Connie Hawkins (13) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,543 		26–33
60 February 6 San Francisco W 122–117 Paul Silas (23) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,599 		27–33
61 February 7 Los Angeles W 121–117 (OT) Connie Hawkins (37) Paul Silas (13) Art Harris,
Connie Hawkins (6) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,459 		28–33
62 February 10 @ Boston W 122–117 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (21) Gail Goodrich (8) Boston Garden
4,761 		29–33
63 February 11 @ Milwaukee L 120–127 Connie Hawkins (32) Paul Silas (11) Connie Hawkins (6) Milwaukee Arena
10,746 		29–34
64 February 12 @ Chicago L 121–122 Connie Hawkins (37) Connie Hawkins,
Paul Silas (10) 		Gail Goodrich (9) Chicago Stadium
11,190 		29–35
65 February 13 @ Detroit L 120–132 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Connie Hawkins,
Paul Silas (10) 		Dick Van Arsdale (6) Cobo Arena
3,029 		29–36
66 February 15 @ Philadelphia L 125–159 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Paul Silas (15) Art Harris (4) The Spectrum
8,163 		29–37
67 February 17 @ Seattle W 129–118 Gail Goodrich (44) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (10) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,220 		30–37
68 February 18 Boston L 113–116 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Connie Hawkins (14) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,818 		30–38
69 February 20 San Diego W 126–117 Gail Goodrich (31) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,136 		31–38
70 February 22 Milwaukee L 124–144 Connie Hawkins (25) Connie Hawkins (14) Gail Goodrich,
Dick Van Arsdale (5) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,541 		31–39
71 February 24 @ New York L 105–121 Connie Hawkins (26) Connie Hawkins (21) Art Harris (8) Madison Square Garden
19,011 		31–40
72 February 26 @ Detroit W 131–123 Connie Hawkins (33) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (7) Cobo Arena
2,552 		32–40
73 February 27 @ Boston W 134–125 Dick Van Arsdale (37) Connie Hawkins (10) Connie Hawkins,
Paul Silas (6) 		Boston Garden
8,933 		33–40
March: 6–3 (home: 4–1; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
74 March 1 @ Atlanta W 109–98 Connie Hawkins (30) Connie Hawkins (17) Gail Goodrich (6) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,735 		34–40
75 March 3 Boston L 111–123 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich,
Dick Van Arsdale (7) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,699 		34–41
76 March 6 @ San Francisco L 97–107 Connie Hawkins (27) Connie Hawkins (15) Paul Silas (4) Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Arena
4,316 		34–42
77 March 8 Atlanta W 130–119 Gail Goodrich (24) Paul Silas (17) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,526 		35–42
78 March 15 @ Atlanta L 111–126 Connie Hawkins (30) Paul Silas (19) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (5) 		Alexander Memorial Coliseum
6,066 		35–43
79 March 17 San Francisco L 133–121 Gail Goodrich (36) Paul Silas (17) Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (7) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,486 		36–43
80 March 19 Boston W 127–123 Gail Goodrich (32) Connie Hawkins (14) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,570 		37–43
81 March 20 San Diego W 127–104 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (12) Connie Hawkins (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,026 		38–43
82 March 22 @ San Diego W 130–129 Connie Hawkins (44) Connie Hawkins (20) Gail Goodrich,
Connie Hawkins (8) 		San Diego Sports Arena
4,558 		39–43
1969–70 season schedule

Team-by-team results

Opponent Home Road Total All-time record Suns leading scorer Opp. leading scorer
Atlanta Hawks 3–0 1–2 4–2 4–8 (.333%) Connie Hawkins (25.8) Joe Caldwell (24.0)
Baltimore Bullets 2–1 1–2 3–3 3–9 (.250%) Dick Van Arsdale (22.7) Earl Monroe (20.2)
Boston Celtics 2–1 2–1 4–2 4–8 (.333%) Dick Van Arsdale (25.5) John Havlicek (24.8)
Chicago Bulls 2–2 0–3 2–5 4–9 (.308%) Dick Van Arsdale (25.4) Bob Love (27.1)
Cincinnati Royals 2–1 1–2 3–3 5–7 (.417%) Connie Hawkins (26.5) Oscar Robertson (24.7)
Detroit Pistons 2–1 1–2 3–3 5–7 (.417%) Dick Van Arsdale (23.0) Dave Bing (22.2)
Los Angeles Lakers 3–0 1–3 4–3 4–9 (.308%) Connie Hawkins (22.4) Elgin Baylor (29.0)
Milwaukee Bucks 0–3 0–3 0–6 2–12 (.143%) Connie Hawkins (26.5) Lew Alcindor (25.8)
New York Knicks 0–3 0–3 0–6 1–11 (.083%) Connie Hawkins (28.0) Willis Reed (27.3)
Philadelphia 76ers 1–2 1–2 2–4 3–9 (.250%) Dick Van Arsdale (21.5) Billy Cunningham (25.8)
San Diego Rockets 4–0 3–0 7–0 8–7 (.533%) Connie Hawkins (25.7) Elvin Hayes (28.7)
San Francisco Warriors 2–1 1–2 3–3 5–7 (.417%) Connie Hawkins (24.5) Jerry Lucas (19.5)
Seattle SuperSonics 2–1 2–2 4–3 7–6 (.538%) Connie Hawkins (29.9) Bob Rule (24.3)

Playoffs

Game log

Main article: 1970 NBA playoffs
1970 playoff game log
Division semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 25 @ Los Angeles L 112–128 Paul Silas (26) Paul Silas (18) Connie Hawkins (6) The Forum
15,046 		0–1
2 March 29 @ Los Angeles W 114–101 Connie Hawkins (34) Connie Hawkins (20) Hawkins, Van Arsdale (7) The Forum
17,501 		1–1
3 April 2 Los Angeles W 112–98 Gail Goodrich (29) Paul Silas (16) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,324 		2–1
4 April 4 Los Angeles W 112–102 Gail Goodrich (34) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,356 		3–1
5 April 5 @ Los Angeles L 121–138 Connie Hawkins (28) Connie Hawkins (19) three players tied (5) The Forum
17,475 		3–2
6 April 7 Los Angeles L 93–104 Connie Hawkins (24) Paul Silas (21) Goodrich, Van Arsdale (4) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,386 		3–3
7 April 9 @ Los Angeles L 94–129 Connie Hawkins (25) Connie Hawkins (15) Hawkins, Silas (4) The Forum
17,519 		3–4
1970 schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star

  • Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Hawkins led all Western Conference forwards in voting. It was his first All-Star selection in the NBA.
  • Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.

Season

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started
 MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage
 FT%  Free-throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
Jerry Chambers 79 14.4 .430 .728 2.8 0.7 8.3
Jim Fox 81 25.2 .524 .770 7.0 1.1 12.9
Gail Goodrich 81 39.9 .454 .808^ 4.2 7.5 20.0
Lamar Green 58 12.1 .432 .586 4.8 0.3 4.2
Art Harris* 76 18.1 .395 .656 1.9 2.8 7.8
Connie Hawkins 81 40.9 .490 .779 10.4 4.8 24.6
Neil Johnson 28 4.9 .333 .667 1.7 0.4 1.7
Stan McKenzie (basketball) 58 9.1 .393 .795 1.6 0.9 3.8
Paul Silas 78 36.4 .464 .607 11.7 2.7 12.8
Dick Snyder* 6 24.5 .489 .875^ 2.5 1.5 8.5
Dick Van Arsdale 77 38.5 .508 .798 3.4 4.4 21.3
Neal Walk 82 17.0 .470 .640 5.5 1.0 8.2

* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 70 games played.

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
Jerry Chambers 7 0 10.4 .378 .625 2.4 1.0 4.7
Jim Fox 6 6 29.0 .362 .708 10.7 1.3 11.2
Gail Goodrich 7 7 37.9 .475 .857 4.6 5.4 20.3
Lamar Green 6 0 11.5 .286 .400 3.8 0.8 3.0
Art Harris 7 0 12.7 .357 .000 1.9 1.7 4.3
Connie Hawkins 7 7 46.9 .413 .818 13.9 5.9 25.4
Neil Johnson 2 0 3.5 .333 . 2.0 0.0 1.0
Stan McKenzie (basketball) 7 0 10.1 .276 .800 1.3 0.4 2.9
Paul Silas 7 7 40.9 .422 .656 15.9 4.3 16.1
Dick Van Arsdale 7 7 36.4 .430 .879 2.6 4.1 16.4
Neal Walk 5 1 12.6 .395 .750 7.0 0.4 8.0

Transactions

Trades

May 8, 1969 To Atlanta Hawks
United States Gary Gregor 		To Phoenix Suns
United States Paul Silas
September 13, 1969 To Philadelphia 76ers
United States Bill Melchionni 		To Phoenix Suns
1970 second-round draft pick (United States Joe DePre)
September 20, 1969 To Atlanta Hawks
United States Bumper Tormohlen 		To Phoenix Suns
1970 third-round draft pick (United States Vann Williford)
October 26, 1969 To Seattle SuperSonics
United States Dick Snyder 		To Phoenix Suns
United States Art Harris

Free agents

Additions

Date Player Contract Former Team
June 20, 1969 Connie Hawkins Undisclosed Minnesota Pipers (ABA)

Subtractions

Date Player Reason Left New Team
September 11, 1969 Bob Warlick Waived Los Angeles Stars (ABA)
October 1, 1969 Dave Lattin Waived Pittsburgh Condors (ABA)

References

  1. ^ "Tip-Off Timer: How '69 Coin Flip Cursed The Phoenix Suns". AOLnews.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  2. ^ Phoenix Suns Since '68: The Coin Flip (Television production). July 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Chuck Klosterman on Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, and the 50 greatest basketball players in college basketball history". Grantland.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "100 Best Players in College Basketball History". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  5. ^ "25 Greatest Players In College Basketball". ESPN.go.com. March 8, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "Neal Walk". TheDraftReview.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "Neal Walk NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "Green leaping into spotlight". Rome News-Tribune. January 7, 1973. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  9. ^ "Lamar Green NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  10. ^ "NBA.com: Draft Oddities". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  11. ^ "Layups: More Info on Connie Hawkins". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  12. ^ "NBA.com: Connie Hawkins Summary". NBA. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  13. ^ "Remember the ABA: Connie Hawkins". RemembertheABA.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  14. ^ "Connie Hawkins Biography". vegasbettinglines.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  15. ^ "SUNS: The Starting Five". NBA.com/Suns. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  16. ^ "Bob Warlick NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  17. ^ "Dave Lattin NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  18. ^ "Gary Gregor NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  19. ^ "Paul Silas NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  20. ^ "1969–70 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
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