1974–75 Detroit Pistons season

The 1974–75 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 27th season in the NBA and 18th season in the city of Detroit.^[1] The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.

1974–75 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach	Ray Scott
General manager	Ed Coil
Owner(s)	Bill Davidson
Arena	Cobo Arena
Results
Record	40–42 (.488)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to SuperSonics 1–2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
< 1973–74 1975–76 >

The Pistons finished with a 40–42 (.488) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division. The team was led guard Dave Bing (19.0 ppg, 7.7 apg, NBA All-Star), who held out over a contract dispute in the pre-season^[2] and center Bob Lanier (24.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, NBA All-Star).^[3] The steady improvement of the previous three seasons (26 to 40 to 52 wins) came to a halt, as injuries played a significant role in derailing the promising season. In Sports Illustrated, the team was discussing Lanier playing through injury, "He’s our savior," says Rowe. Our healer, says Adams. Our leader, says Bing. Listen to those guys, says Lanier. They think I'm Moses."^[4]

Detroit advanced to the 1975 NBA Playoffs, losing a first round series of the Western Conference playoffs 2–1 to the Seattle SuperSonics, dropping the deciding 3rd game 100–94 in Seattle, with each team winning at home in the series.^[5] Lanier was limited in the series, averaging 20.3 ppg vs. his season average of 24.0 ppg, Howard Porter, picked up in a December trade with the Chicago Bulls, had an excellent series with 17.3 ppg, but the team could not overcome the stellar shooting of Downtown Freddie Brown, who averaged 23.7 ppg and Tom Burleson with a double-double of 22.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg.^[6]

Draft picks

Main article: 1974 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	15	Al Eberhard	Forward	United States	Missouri
2	33	Eric Money	Guard	United States	Arizona
10	175	Bill Ligon	Guard	United States	Vanderbilt

Roster

1974–75 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From SF 10 Don Adams 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-11-27 Northwestern PG 21 Dave Bing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1943-11-24 Syracuse C 20 Jim Davis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-12-18 Colorado SF 44 Al Eberhard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1952-05-10 Missouri SG 42 Chris Ford 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949-01-11 Villanova C 16 Bob Lanier 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1948-09-10 St. Bonaventure SG 26 Bill Ligon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1952-05-29 Vanderbilt SG 15 John Mengelt 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1949-10-16 Auburn SG 14 Eric Money 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-02-06 Arizona C 43 Otto Moore 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1946-08-27 Texas–Pan American SF 8 Willie Norwood 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1947-08-08 Alcorn State SF 54 Howard Porter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-08-31 Villanova PF 18 Curtis Rowe 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949-07-02 UCLA PF 31 George Trapp 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1948-07-11 Long Beach State

Head coach Ray Scott Assistant(s) Jim Davis Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 18, 1975

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	47	35	.573	–	29–12	18–23	11–15
x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings	44	38	.537	3	29–12	15–26	17–9
x-Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488	7	26–15	14–27	10–16
Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	9	25–16	13–28	14–12

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Golden State Warriors	48	34	.585	–
2	y-Chicago Bulls	47	35	.573	1
3	x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings	44	38	.537	4
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	43	39	.524	5
5	x-Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488	8
6	Portland Trail Blazers	38	44	.463	10
6	Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	10
8	Phoenix Suns	32	50	.390	16
9	Los Angeles Lakers	30	52	.366	18

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1974–75 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CLE	DET	GSW	HOU	KCO	LAL	MIL	NOJ	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SEA	WAS
Atlanta	—	0–4	1–3	0–4	3–4	2–2	1–3	2–5	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–5	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	3–5
Boston	4–0	—	5–4	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	2–2	4–0	4–0	4–0	7–2	5–3	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–2
Buffalo	3–1	4–5	—	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	4–0	1–3	4–0	5–3	6–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2
Chicago	4–0	1–3	3–1	—	2–2	4–5	3–1	2–2	4–5	3–1	3–5	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–3
Cleveland	4–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	—	2–2	2–2	4–4	2–2	2–2	1–3	6–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–5
Detroit	2–2	1–3	2–2	5–4	2–2	—	1–3	2–2	2–6	3–1	3–6	4–0	2–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3
Golden State	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	2–2	5–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	5–3	5–3	4–3	1–3
Houston	5–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	4–4	2–2	2–2	—	4–0	2–2	3–1	5–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–5
Kansas City-Omaha	2–2	2–2	3–1	5–4	2–2	6–2	2–2	0–4	—	3–1	6–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3
Los Angeles	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–5	2–2	1–3	—	4–0	3–1	0–4	3–1	4–4	2–5	2–6	1–3
Milwaukee	2–2	0–4	3–1	5–3	3–1	6–3	1–3	1–3	3–6	0–4	—	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4
New Orleans	5–3	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–6	0–4	2–2	3–5	2–2	1–3	1–3	—	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–7
New York	4–0	2–7	3–5	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–2	—	4–5	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3
Philadelphia	2–2	3–5	3–6	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	5–4	—	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3
Phoenix	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–5	2–2	1–3	4–4	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	—	1–6	4–3	1–3
Portland	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–5	2–2	1–3	5–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	6–1	—	2–6	1–3
Seattle	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	3–4	3–1	3–1	6–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–4	6–2	—	1–3
Washington	5–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	5–3	3–1	3–1	5–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	7–0	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	—

Season schedule

1974–75 game log Total: 40–42 (home: 26–15; road: 14–27)
October: 3–4 (home: 0–1; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 18 @ Seattle 100–95 Bob Lanier (30) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (7) Seattle Center Coliseum 9,537 1–0 2 October 19 @ Portland 122–99 Dave Bing (24) Bob Lanier (9) Dave Bing (10) Memorial Coliseum 11,831 2–0 3 October 23 @ Phoenix 90–100 Bob Lanier (24) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,924 2–1 4 October 25 @ Los Angeles 110–107 Dave Bing (25) Curtis Rowe (16) Dave Bing (6) The Forum 12,044 3–1 5 October 26 @ Golden State 104–105 Dave Bing (26) Bob Lanier (12) Dave Bing (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,436 3–2 6 October 30 Atlanta 104–96 Dave Bing (25) Bob Lanier (16) John Mengelt (11) Cobo Arena 6,716 3–3 7 October 31 @ Cleveland 101–118 Bob Lanier (41) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (10) Richfield Coliseum 5,584 3–4
November: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 8 November 1 New Orleans 93–103 Eric Money (21) Bob Lanier (21) Bob Lanier (8) Cobo Arena 4,237 4–4 9 November 2 @ Philadelphia 100–94 Bob Lanier (26) Curtis Rowe (14) Dave Bing (11) The Spectrum 6,890 5–4 10 November 6 Kansas City–Omaha 104–118 Dave Bing (30) Bob Lanier (17) Chris Ford (9) Cobo Arena 7,202 6–4 11 November 8 @ Boston 105–104 Dave Bing (32) Bob Lanier (20) Dave Bing (7) Boston Garden 9,542 7–4 12 November 9 @ Buffalo 100–109 Bob Lanier (20) Bob Lanier (16) Bing, Money, Rowe, Trapp (3) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 12,113 7–5 13 November 10 Buffalo 124–117 Bob Lanier (45) Bob Lanier (15) Dave Bing (15) Cobo Arena 4,301 7–6 14 November 13 Milwaukee 91–98 Bob Lanier (40) Bob Lanier (24) Dave Bing (8) Cobo Arena 4,994 8–6 15 November 15 Seattle 103–117 John Mengelt (20) Bob Lanier (10) Bing, Lanier (6) Cobo Arena 6,789 9–6 16 November 16 @ Houston 98–118 Dave Bing (16) Bob Lanier (10) — Hofheinz Pavilion 2,457 9–7 17 November 17 @ New Orleans 99–85 Bob Lanier (26) Bob Lanier (17) Dave Bing (4) Municipal Auditorium 3,441 10–7 18 November 19 @ Kansas City–Omaha 87–97 Bob Lanier (25) Don Adams (16) Dave Bing (6) Kemper Arena 4,847 10–8 19 November 20 Phoenix 114–106 Dave Bing (27) Bob Lanier (16) Bob Lanier (9) Cobo Arena 3,807 10–9 20 November 23 Golden State 110–98 Bob Lanier (25) Bob Lanier (18) Dave Bing (9) Cobo Arena 6,902 10–10 21 November 26 @ New York 99–88 Bob Lanier (36) Bob Lanier (10) Bob Lanier (6) Madison Square Garden 18,254 11–10
December: 8–7 (home: 6–2; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 4 Houston 69–86 Bob Lanier (24) Bob Lanier (10) Bob Lanier (4) Cobo Arena 3,445 12–10 23 December 6 Cleveland 91–117 Dave Bing (24) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (8) Cobo Arena 4,763 13–10 24 December 7 @ Washington 89–94 Dave Bing (30) Don Adams (10) Dave Bing (6) Capital Centre 9,094 13–11 25 December 8 Kansas City–Omaha 96–92 Bob Lanier (32) Bob Lanier (10) Dave Bing (13) Cobo Arena 5,134 13–12 26 December 10 @ Milwaukee 82–90 Dave Bing (21) Bob Lanier (13) Bing, Ford, Lanier (4) MECCA Arena 9,625 13–13 27 December 11 Washington 89–103 Bob Lanier (37) Bob Lanier (20) Dave Bing (11) Cobo Arena 5,376 14–13 28 December 13 @ Kansas City–Omaha 84–88 Curtis Rowe (20) Bob Lanier (17) Dave Bing (3) Omaha Civic Auditorium 4,702 14–14 29 December 14 Philadelphia 93–100 John Mengelt (33) Jim Davis (9) Bob Lanier (8) Cobo Arena 4,812 15–14 30 December 18 Seattle 100–97 Lanier, Rowe (21) Bob Lanier (17) Bob Lanier (7) Cobo Arena 4,365 15–15 31 December 20 @ Los Angeles 103–102 Bob Lanier (34) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (11) The Forum 9,667 16–15 32 December 21 @ Portland 97–108 Dave Bing (19) Jim Davis (15) Dave Bing (6) Memorial Coliseum 11,005 16–16 33 December 22 @ Seattle 90–108 Curtis Rowe (22) Jim Davis (9) Dave Bing (8) Seattle Center Coliseum 13,346 16–17 34 December 26 New York 83–84 Bob Lanier (27) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (11) Cobo Arena 11,265 17–17 35 December 28 Chicago 70–79 Dave Bing (21) Bob Lanier (10) Bob Lanier (6) Cobo Arena 11,015 18–17 36 December 30 @ Chicago 86–81 Bob Lanier (26) Bob Lanier (19) Dave Bing (6) Chicago Stadium 10,846 19–17
January: 11–4 (home: 8–1; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 37 January 2 New Orleans 95–99 Bob Lanier (36) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (15) Cobo Arena 5,176 20–17 38 January 3 @ Buffalo 111–92 Bob Lanier (23) Davis, Lanier (7) Dave Bing (11) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 13,464 21–17 39 January 4 Philadelphia 82–89 Dave Bing (28) Bob Lanier (17) Bob Lanier (7) Cobo Arena 6,168 22–17 40 January 8 Milwaukee 102–92 Dave Bing (28) Bob Lanier (13) Dave Bing (6) Cobo Arena 11,388 22–18 41 January 10 @ Milwaukee 89–81 Bob Lanier (29) Lanier, Rowe (9) Chris Ford (7) MECCA Arena 10,938 23–18 42 January 11 @ Atlanta 118–113 Bob Lanier (43) Bob Lanier (14) — Omni Coliseum 8,288 24–18 43 January 17 @ Boston 90–96 Bob Lanier (30) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (10) Boston Garden 15,320 24–19 44 January 18 Phoenix 77–86 Dave Bing (21) Lanier, Trapp (10) Dave Bing (14) Cobo Arena 6,053 25–19 45 January 19 Cleveland 98–100 John Mengelt (23) Bob Lanier (13) Dave Bing (7) Cobo Arena 5,390 26–19 46 January 22 Portland 94–96 Lanier, Rowe (25) Curtis Rowe (13) Dave Bing (7) Cobo Arena 9,180 27–19 47 January 24 Atlanta 103–113 George Trapp (24) Bob Lanier (9) Dave Bing (10) Cobo Arena 5,638 28–19 48 January 25 @ Chicago 96–116 Dave Bing (21) Jim Davis (10) Chris Ford (3) Chicago Stadium 18,720 28–20 49 January 26 Chicago 93–102 (OT) Bob Lanier (31) Curtis Rowe (15) Dave Bing (11) Cobo Arena 10,210 29–20 50 January 29 Golden State 90–93 Bob Lanier (30) Bob Lanier (15) Dave Bing (12) Cobo Arena 9,538 30–20 51 January 30 @ Houston 88–103 Bob Lanier (22) Jim Davis (8) Dave Bing (7) Hofheinz Pavilion 2,317 30–21
February: 3–12 (home: 3–5; road: 0–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 52 February 1 Buffalo 113–119 Bob Lanier (39) Bob Lanier (20) Dave Bing (11) Cobo Arena 11,245 31–21 53 February 2 @ Cleveland 96–116 Bob Lanier (29) Bob Lanier (8) Adams, Bing (4) Richfield Coliseum 5,144 31–22 54 February 3 Boston 114–100 Bob Lanier (27) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (9) Cobo Arena 10,962 31–23 55 February 6 @ Atlanta 98–111 Bob Lanier (32) Bob Lanier (9) Dave Bing (8) Omni Coliseum 2,992 31–24 56 February 7 @ Chicago 83–95 Bob Lanier (17) Bob Lanier (15) Ford, Lanier (4) Chicago Stadium 18,836 31–25 57 February 9 Los Angeles 96–97 Bob Lanier (31) Curtis Rowe (11) Dave Bing (9) Cobo Arena 7,227 32–25 58 February 10 @ Milwaukee 109–130 Howard Porter (22) Curtis Rowe (12) Eric Money (8) MECCA Arena 10,309 32–26 59 February 12 Chicago 103–93 Howard Porter (20) Bob Lanier (8) Bob Lanier (6) Cobo Arena 10,706 32–27 60 February 14 @ Philadelphia 101–103 Bob Lanier (27) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (15) The Spectrum 5,595 32–28 61 February 15 Kansas City–Omaha 93–81 Howard Porter (19) Bob Lanier (15) Dave Bing (12) Cobo Arena 7,174 32–29 62 February 16 @ Kansas City–Omaha 99–102 Bob Lanier (27) Lanier, Rowe (12) Ford, Lanier (6) Kemper Arena 13,981 32–30 63 February 19 New York 109–94 Bob Lanier (20) Howard Porter (7) Bob Lanier (8) Cobo Arena 8,056 32–31 64 February 21 Washington 121–96 Bob Lanier (22) Bob Lanier (14) Bing, Lanier (5) Cobo Arena 9,571 32–32 65 February 26 Milwaukee 84–104 Bob Lanier (26) Howard Porter (10) Dave Bing (9) Cobo Arena 10,190 33–32 66 February 28 @ Washington 95–106 Bob Lanier (20) Bob Lanier (14) Dave Bing (9) Capital Centre 11,121 33–33
March: 6–7 (home: 4–2; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 67 March 1 Chicago 94–95 Dave Bing (27) Howard Porter (13) Bob Lanier (9) Cobo Arena 10,666 34–33 68 March 2 @ Kansas City–Omaha 112–122 Bing, Lanier (25) Curtis Rowe (9) Dave Bing (8) Kemper Arena 14,843 34–34 69 March 4 @ Milwaukee 83–101 Howard Porter (18) Lanier, Porter (7) Dave Bing (8) MECCA Arena 10,575 34–35 70 March 8 @ New York 100–118 Dave Bing (26) Jim Davis (7) Dave Bing (6) Madison Square Garden 19,694 34–36 71 March 9 Kansas City–Omaha 99–106 John Mengelt (30) Curtis Rowe (16) Dave Bing (13) Cobo Arena 7,979 35–36 72 March 11 Los Angeles 95–94 Bob Lanier (29) Bob Lanier (12) Dave Bing (9) Cobo Arena 6,263 35–37 73 March 14 @ Chicago 94–97 Bing, Mengelt (21) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (11) Chicago Stadium 14,377 35–38 74 March 18 Boston 116–90 George Trapp (23) Howard Porter (10) John Mengelt (6) Cobo Arena 9,379 35–39 75 March 21 Houston 110–121 John Mengelt (28) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (13) Cobo Arena 9,048 36–39 76 March 23 @ New Orleans 125–114 Dave Bing (29) Lanier, Rowe (13) Dave Bing (6) Municipal Auditorium 4,182 37–39 77 March 26 Portland 107–110 Dave Bing (28) Bob Lanier (11) Dave Bing (7) Cobo Arena 6,457 38–39 78 March 27 @ Phoenix 91–79 Bob Lanier (26) Bob Lanier (11) Bob Lanier (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,629 39–39 79 March 29 @ Golden State 112–115 John Mengelt (27) Bob Lanier (12) Dave Bing (8) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 39–40
April: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 80 April 1 @ Milwaukee 91–98 Bob Lanier (19) George Trapp (11) Dave Bing (13) MECCA Arena 10,021 39–41 81 April 2 Chicago 89–97 Bob Lanier (26) Howard Porter (12) Chris Ford (6) Cobo Arena 9,336 40–41 82 April 5 Milwaukee 119–106 Howard Porter (20) Jim Davis (18) Davis, Ford (6) Cobo Arena 9,107 40–42
Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Playoffs

1975 playoff game log
First Round: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 8 @ Seattle L 77–90 Howard Porter (21) Bob Lanier (14) Bob Lanier (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082 0–1 2 April 10 Seattle W 122–106 Bing, Trapp (24) George Trapp (14) Dave Bing (11) Cobo Arena 10,490 1–1 3 April 12 @ Seattle L 93–100 Bob Lanier (29) Curtis Rowe (13) Dave Bing (10) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082 1–2
1975 schedule