1973–74 Capital Bullets season

The 1973–74 Capital Bullets season was the team's first in Washington, D.C. area, southeast from nearby Baltimore. Prior to the 1973–74 season, the Baltimore Bullets relocated to Landover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, and became the Capital Bullets.[1]

1973–74 Capital Bullets season
Division champions
Head coachK. C. Jones
ArenaCapital Centre
Cole Field House (until Dec)
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Semifinals
(Eliminated 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWDCA
RadioWTOP
(Frank Herzog)

The Bullets finished with a 47–35 record and won the Central Division. Wes Unseld was limited to 56 games due to injuries. In the playoffs, the Bullets fell to the New York Knicks for the fifth time in six years, eliminated in seven games.[1] Following the season, the team was renamed as the Washington Bullets.

The new Capital Centre opened on December 2, 1973; the Bullets played their earlier home games this season at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland in College Park. They played several home games at Cole during their last seasons in Baltimore.[2][3]

Draft picks
Main article: 1973 NBA draft

Roster
Roster listing
Capital Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 21 Clark, Archie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Minnesota
C 11 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston
PF 22 Kozelko, Tom 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Toledo
G 15 Nelson, Louie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Washington
SG 6 Riordan, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Providence
F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville
F 12 Weatherspoon, Nick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Illinois
C 44 Wesley, Walt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Kansas
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Capital Bullets 4735.573–31–1015–251–014–8
Atlanta Hawks 3547.4271223–1812–250–413–9
Houston Rockets 3250.3901518–2313–251–29–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 2953.3541818–2311–280–28–14
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics5626.683–
2 x-New York Knicks4933.5987
3 y-Capital Bullets4735.5739
4 x-Buffalo Braves4240.51214
5 Atlanta Hawks3547.42721
6 Houston Rockets3250.39024
7 Cleveland Cavaliers2953.35427
8 Philadelphia 76ers2557.30531


Record vs. opponents
1973–74 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CAP CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta —1–52–44–41–34–30–41–35–21–34–01–31–53–31–32–24–0
Boston 5–1—5–22–42–24–23–13–14–23–12–22–25–27–13–14–02–2
Buffalo 4–22–5—3–31–35–11–31–34–22–20–41–34–46–13–13–12–2
Capital 4–44–23–3—1–36–12–23–14–33–12–21–33–34–22–23–12–2
Chicago 3–12–23–13–1—4–05–24–24–05–21–53–32–23–14–24–24–2
Cleveland 3–42–41–51–60–4—2–20–44–40–43–10–41–55–11–34–02–2
Detroit 4–01–33–12–22–52–2—5–13–14–24–23–41–32–26–05–15–1
Golden State 3–11–33–11–32–44–01–5—4–03–34–23–31–33–15–23–43–3
Houston 2–52–42–43–40–44–41–30–4—2–22–20–44–24–22–23–11–3
Kansas City-Omaha 3–11–32–21–32–54–02–43–32–2—1–50–71–31–34–24–22–4
Los Angeles 0–42–24–02–25–11–32–42–42–25–1—4–22–24–04–24–34–3
Milwaukee 3–12–23–13–13–34–04–33–34–07–02–4—2–24–05–16–04–2
New York 5–12–54–43–32–25–13–13–12–43–12–22–2—4–33–12–24–0
Philadelphia 3–31–71–62–41–31–52–21–32–43–10–40–43–4—3–12–20–4
Phoenix 3–11–31–32–22–43–10–62–52–22–42–41–51–31–3—3–34–3
Portland 2–20–41–31–32–40–41–54–31–32–43–40–62–22–23–3—3–3
Seattle 0–42–22–22–22–42–21–53–33–14–23–42–40–44–03–43–3—

Playoffs

East Conference Semifinals
  • (2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Capital Bullets: Knicks win series 4-3
  • Game 1 @ New York: New York 102, Capital 91
  • Game 2 @ Capital: Capital 99, New York 87
  • Game 3 @ New York: Capital 88, New York 79
  • Game 4 @ Capital: New York 101, Capital 93 (OT)
  • Game 5 @ New York: New York 106, Capital 105
  • Game 6 @ Capital: Capital 109, New York 92
  • Game 7 @ New York: New York 91, Capital 81

Awards and honors

References
  1. Washington Wizards (1963–Present)
  2. "Yule-conscious Bullets facing crowded schedule". Baltimore Afro-American. December 26, 1970. p. 16.
  3. "Bullets set 8 games at College Park". Baltimore Afro-American. July 24, 1971. p. D9.
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