1973-1974 Buffalo Braves: Western New York’s Team

1973-1974 Buffalo Braves: Western New York’s Team

1973-1974 Buffalo Braves: Western New York’s Team

The history of the Los Angeles Clippers franchise traces all the way back to the northern tip of New York where the team used to call home. The franchise began its operations in the NBA as the Buffalo Braves, a team that ended up having some success in their first home, though they could never get over the hump and make an appearance in the NBA Finals. From 1970 to 1978 the Braves were accepted as Western New York’s team even though they already had other professional franchises such as the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.

In the 1973-1974 NBA season the Buffalo Braves went 42-40, finishing 14 games behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. November and December were rough months for the Braves, but they managed to play winning basketball in every other month as they went 6-4 in October, 10-7 in January, 9-6 in February and 6-6 in March.

Before the regular season began the Braves managed to execute a couple of key trades that would improve their team for the time being. While they sent center and power forward John Hummer to the Chicago Bulls along with 2nd Round picks in the 1974 and 1975 NBA Drafts, the Braves would get back power forward Gar Heard and center Kevin Kunnert in return. The more controversial trade the Braves pulled off at the time was the act of sending center Elmore Smith, who had led the team in scoring, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for small forward Jim McMillian.

Center Bob McAdoo was the standout player on the Braves for a few seasons. McAdoo was often a scoring machine for Buffalo as he took the ball to the basket with ease. McAdoo had 2,261 points with 1,117 rebounds, 170 assists, 88 steals and 246 blocks, making 901 of 1,647 field goal shots and 459 of 579 free throws. McAdoo led the NBA in scoring, made the All-NBA 2nd Team and made the All-Star Game.

Jim McMillian had 1,525 points, 610 rebounds, 256 assists and 129 steals, making 600 of 1,214 field goal shots and 325 of 379 free throws. Shooting guard Randy Smith had 1,267 points, 383 assists and 203 steals, making 531 of 1,079 field goal shots and 205 of 288 free throws. Gar Heard had 1,239 points, 947 rebounds, 136 steals and 230 blocks, making 191 of 294 free throws. Point guard Ernie DiGregorio had 1,234 points and 663 assists, making 174 of 193 free throws. DiGregorio was the young player to break out for the Braves and he would be recognized as such as he would be named NBA Rookie of the Year. DiGregorio led the NBA in assists and in free throw percentage with .902. Power forward Bob Kauffman had 449 points and 326 rebounds, making 107 of 150 free throws.

The 42-40 record of the Buffalo Braves was an accurate description of the team as they went an even 3-3 in games that went to overtime, and they also went an even 6-6 in games that were technically played on a neutral court. The Braves traveled to places such as Toronto, Ontario, Providence, Rhode Island and Madison, Wisconsin to play neutral site games.

On the bright side of things the Braves enjoyed a 7-game winning streak which began on January 1 with a breath-taking 120-119 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and the streak ended on January 12 with a razor thin 97-96 win over the Capital Bullets, who would later be known as the Washington Bullets. In this game against the Bullets Jim McMillian had 37 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, making the majority of his shots. McMillian made 12 of 20 field goal shots and 13 of 15 free throws. Gar Heard had made good on Buffalo’s belief that they could rely on him to perform well as he 19 points, a staggering 18 rebounds and 3 assists. Bob McAdoo had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists.

In the Semifinal Round of the Eastern Conference playoffs the Buffalo Braves would be staring down a daunting task, which was to take down one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA in the Boston Celtics. That task proved to be too great for the Braves as they would go down to the Celtics 4 games to 2. Nonetheless the Braves did have their moments in this series.

In Game 2 on April 2 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium the Braves beat the Celtics 115-105. Bob McAdoo showed leadership for the Braves as he had 23 points and an amazing 20 rebounds, making 7 of 10 free throws. Gar Heard had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jim McMillian had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Ernie DiGregorio had 18 points, 4 rebounds and an impressive 12 assists. Randy Smith had 16 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists.

In Game 4 on April 6 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium the Braves managed to just get past the Celtics in a tight 104-102 win. Bob McAdoo absolutely exploded in offensive firepower for Buffalo as he had 44 points to go along with 16 rebounds, and he made 21 of 40 field goal shots. McMillian had 15 points, an amazing 18 rebounds and 2 assists. Heard had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists.

Considering where they had been previously with 3 straight 60-loss seasons to begin the franchise’s history, the Buffalo Braves made the playoffs for the first time and appeared to be headed in the right direction as an NBA franchise. The next 2 years saw the Braves return to the playoffs, but only for them to see an early exit from the Conference Semfinals each time. For a brief period in the mid 1970’s, Western New York’s team was playing good and respectable basketball.