1967 NBA Playoffs Part 2

The 1967 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1966-1967 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Western Conference champion San Francisco Warriors, four games to two in the NBA Finals.

It was the 76ers' second NBA championship in franchise history; their first title had come in 1955 as the Syracuse Nationals.

The Boston Celtics were denied the chance to win their ninth consecutive championship, though they would win the title in the following two seasons.

The expansion Chicago Bulls made the playoffs in their debut season, and the New York Knicks returned to the postseason for the first time since 1959. As of 2006, the seven-year gap between playoff appearances is the longest such gap in Knicks franchise history.

The 1967 NBA playoffs marked a change in playoff format for the league; every tournament since 1955 had given the top-ranked team in each conference a first-round bye, but starting this season the NBA upped the number of playoff teams from six to eight and removed the bye privilege from the regular-season conference champion.

Category:

Sports

[Ariamaluum]

ABC didn't do Game 6 in San Fran. It was carried by a local Philly station.

[WiltatKansas]

You have a lot of good stuff.

[ChristopherRosato]

Jack Ramsey, who became coach (he was GM) after Hannum left, destroyed the team. Ramsey stupidly traded Chamberlain and Walker. Big Luke Jackson, who was stronger and more athletic than Willis Reed, assumed the center position and the 76ers actually got off to a great start in 68-69 (with Jackson averaging 15 points, 15 Rebounds), but then Jackson broke his Achilles Tendon about a third of the way into the season and he was never the same. It all backfired on the know-it-all "Dr. Ramsey."

[theponsmed]

bootay shorts for da win

[lukeno23]

LeBron traveled.

[Nickcat5]

@TheTweeter53 I also remember the 76ers playing pretty good ball with Jackson at CTR but then he got hurt and was never the same player. The draft choices under Ramsey didn't exactly help the team.

[Nickcat5]

@Ariamaluum Always wished I could have gotten a copy of that game. They won and the station (17?) carried it a couple of nights later in a rebroadcast. It was a great game!

[Nickcat5]

@TheTweeter53 I too blamed Ramsey for what happened,But I doubt Wilt could have been a player-coach. He did coach the San Diego Conquistadors in the ABA but it was later learned that he was really no more than a figure head. Wilt didn't shoot in the 2nd half of the last loss to Boston claiming that Hannum didn't tell him too. Hannum shouldn't have had to, but in hindsight why didn't he? And yes,they should have went on for several years dominating the league.

[TheTweeter53]

@Nickcat5 When you say "and some" I assume you mean that they should have won more championships after 67. I totally agree. I blame Jack Ramsey and Sixer management entirely. They totally messed up. They needed to resign Wilt as a Player Coach and keep the nucleus of the team intact. Billy, Hal, Luke, Walli and Chet were all in their prime. The team would have been right there with the Knicks from 69-73. Instead, they trade Wilt, Chet, and Walli, let Billy walk, and misuse Luke and Hal.

[TheTweeter53]

@Nickcat5 You are correct. They ABSOLUTELY should have repeated in 68. Several reasons why they didn't: 1. They were "rewarded" for 62 wins in regular season by playing powerful Knick team, while Celtics were "punished" by playing sub .500 Piston team. 2.. Billy got hurt vs. Knicks 3. MLK was murdered on April 4th, upsetting most of team before Celtics series. 4. They got complacent after going up 3-1. 5. Wilt lacked "a champion's heart." He needed to shoot much more in game 7.

[TheTweeter53]

@Ariamaluum You are correct. In those days, ABC only broadcast NBA games on the weekends. In 67, ABC did games 2 and 5, both in Philly. The NBA was still a growing league in 67; they had not learned about marketing the way they do now. As a Sixer fan, I vividly recall trying to get the radio signal from WCAU in Philly during non weekend games.

[Nickcat5]

They should have repeated and some.Cunningham broke his wrist,Jackson played on one leg and Chamberlain didn't got to the hoop enough in the deciding game against Boston in'68. Still Loved them!!