1973–74 Virginia Squires season

The 1973–74 Virginia Squires season was the 4th season of the Squires in the American Basketball Association. The team finished 6th in points scored at 106.3 points per game and 9th in points allowed at 111.3 points per game. The team was 15–27 midway through the season, but they went 13–29 in the second half of the season. Their biggest losing streak was 6 games, with their highest winning streak being 3 games, done twice. Despite this, they clinched the fourth and final playoff spot by 7 games. The Squires lost to Dr. J and the New York Nets in the Semifinals in 5 games. The money troubles that had troubled the franchise meant that the Squires were forced to trade away pivotal players of the franchise in order to provide short term stability. Julius Erving (along with Willie Sojourner) was traded to the New York Nets for George Carter and cash before the season started.[1] Swen Nater was traded on November 21, 1973 to the San Antonio Spurs. The night of the All-Star Game, it was announced that the Squires sold George Gervin to the San Antonio Spurs for $225,000. Gervin's last game with the team was on February 1, but a court battle delayed his play with the Spurs, though it was all settled in favor of the Spurs by March 3.[2] This was the last season the Squires made the playoffs as they went into a tailspin for the next two season, losing over 60 games each season.[3]

1973–74 Virginia Squires season
Head coachAl Bianchi
ArenaNorfolk Scope
Hampton Coliseum
Richmond Coliseum
Results
Record28–56 (.333)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in the Eastern Division Semifinals

Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division
TeamWL%GB
New York Nets5529.655-
Kentucky Colonels5331.6312
Carolina Cougars4737.5608
Virginia Squires2856.33327
Memphis Tams2163.25034

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals[4]

GameDateLocationScoreRecordAttendance
1March 29New York96–1080–19,784
2April 1New York110–1290–210,747
3April 4Hampton (Virginia)116–1151–22,544
4April 7Norfolk (Virginia)88–1161–34,220
5April 8New York96–1081–41,1903

Squires lose series, 4–1

Awards and honors

1974 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 30, 1974) at Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia

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References
  1. http://www.nba.com/history/players/erving_bio.html
  2. http://www.remembertheaba.com/ABAArticles/KingArticleGervin.html
  3. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/VIR/1974_games.html
  4. "1973-74 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
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