1970–71 Indiana Pacers season

1970–71 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coach	Bobby Leonard
Arena	Indiana State Fair Coliseum
Results
Record	58–26 (.690)
Place	Division: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division finals (lost to Stars 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference

The 1970–71 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's fourth season in the American Basketball Association and fourth as a team.

1970 ABA Draft

Player	School/Club Team
Dennis Awtrey	Santa Clara
Vince Fritz	Oregon State
Surry Oliver	Stephen F. Austin
Don Curnutt	Miami
Rick Erickson	Washington State
Billy Jones	Louisiana College
Jerry Kroll	Davidson
Bob Reily	Mt. St. Mary's
Heyward Dotson	Columbia
Mickey Foster	Arizona
Seaburn Hill	Arizona State
Ted Hillery	St. Joseph's (IN)
Jeff Sewell	Marquette

Roster

1969–70 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From SG 12 Barnhill, John 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) March 20, 1938 Tennessee State PF 43 Becker, Art 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) January 12, 1942 Arizona State SF 35 Brown, Roger 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) May 22, 1942 Dayton SF 22 Chapman, Wayne 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) June 15, 1945 Western Kentucky C 34 Daniels, Mel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) July 20, 1944 New Mexico PF 23 Higgins, Earle 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) December 30, 1946 Eastern Michigan SG 15 Jabali, Warren 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) August 29, 1946 Wichita State SG 11 Keller, Billy 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 177 lb (80 kg) August 30, 1947 Purdue PG 14 Lewis, Freddie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) July 1, 1943 Arizona State SF 32 Miller, Jay 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) July 19, 1943 Notre Dame SG 10 Mount, Rick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) January 5, 1947 Purdue PF 24 Netolicky, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) August 2, 1942 Drake PF 33 Sidle, Don 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) June 21, 1946 Oklahoma PG 44 Thacker, Tom 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) November 2, 1939 Cincinnati

Head coach Bobby Leonard Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Season standings

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.
Indiana Pacers	58	26	.690
Utah Stars	57	27	.679
Memphis Pros	41	43	.488
Texas Chaparrals	30	54	.357
Denver Rockets	30	54	.357

Awards, records, and honors

• Mel Daniels (averaged 21.0 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) won the ABA MVP award for the second time in four years; he last won the award in the 1968–69 ABA season. Mel Daniels also won the ABA All-Star Game MVP

ABA All-Stars

• Roger Brown
• Mel Daniels
• Bob Netolicky

Team leaders

Stat	Player	Average per game
Points	Mel Daniels	21.0
Assists	Bill Keller and Freddie Lewis	5.3
Rebounds	Mel Daniels	18.0 (4.8 offensive and 13.2 defensive rebounds)
FG%	Donald Sidle	.548
Minutes	Roger Brown	41.0

Playoffs

Western Division semifinals vs Memphis Pros

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 2	Indiana	114–98	1–0	7,562
2	April 3	Indiana	106–104	2–0	8,701
3	April 5	Memphis	91–90	3–0	4,107
4	April 7	Memphis	102–101	4–0	3,681

Western Division Finals vs Utah Stars

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 12	Indiana	118–120	0–1	7,734
2	April 14	Indiana	120–107	1–1	9,458
3	April 17	Utah	107–121	1–2	12,711
4	April 20	Utah	99–126	1–3	12,761
5	April 22	Indiana	127–109	2–3	8,279
6	April 24	Utah	105–102	3–3	13,208
7	April 28	Indiana	101–108	3–4	11,202