2. 1972-73: The Last Championship Team
- Regular season record: 57-25
- Head coach: Red Holzman
- Scoring leader: Walt Frazier (21.1 PPG)
- Rebounding leader: Dave DeBusschere (10.7 RPG)
- Assists leader: Walt Frazier (5.9 APG)
- ORtg+: 102.2, DRtg+: 95.6
To say the game was different in the ’70s is an incredible understatement.
The Knicks estimated 105.9 possessions per 48 minutes and ranked 16th of 17 teams in Pace factor. In 2015-16, the average number of possessions per 48 minutes was 95.8. The Kings were first in Pace factor, at an even 100.
In Lehman’s terms, everybody played way faster back in the day.
This team was loaded.
The Knicks needed just five games to beat the mighty Lakers in the finals. It was New York’s third finals matchup against the Lakers in four years and their second win.
https://youtu.be/ob3C0V5JcJ0
DeBusschere and Frazier were both All-Star Starters and NBA All-Defensive First Team. The league didn’t start recording steals and blocks until the 73-74 season so before that NBA watchers gauged great defense with the more traditional eye test.
This was a well-rounded squad. They ranked in the top five in offensive and defensive points per 100 possessions, and first in opponent’s field goal percentage.
