1971 NBA playoffs


The 1971 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1970–71 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeating the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.
Led by Finals MVP and the previous season's Rookie of the Year Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson, the Bucks became the fastest expansion team in NBA history to win the championship, and did so in dominating fashion, finishing 12-2 in the playoffs with a postseason average point differential of 14.5.
The playoff format changed from the previous 2-division format. There were now 4, with each division qualifying its champion and second-place team. In the Conference Semifinals, the champion of each division played the 2nd place team in the other, with the divisional champion having home-court advantage. The two winners then played for the conference championship.
This was the first NBA Finals appearance for the Bullets, and their only trip to the championship round in Baltimore; they made 3 more appearances later in the decade.
The 1971 playoffs was the last for the San Francisco Warriors under that moniker; the following season, symbolizing their already-established home base of Oakland, they changed their name to the Golden State Warriors.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Milwaukee Bucks
Conference Semifinals
Milwaukee Bucks vs. San Francisco Warriors: Bucks win series 4-1
All three Milwaukee home games in the series were played at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison due to a scheduling conflict with the Milwaukee Arena.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Warriors.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls: Lakers win series 4-3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1968 Western Division Semifinals
Conference Finals
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Bucks win series 4-1
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Lakers.

Eastern Conference

Champion: Baltimore Bullets
Conference Semifinals
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Knicks win series 4-1
This is the first meeting in the playoffs between the Knicks and the Hawks.
Baltimore Bullets vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Bullets win series 4-3
This is the first meeting in the playoffs between the Bullets and the 76ers.
Conference Finals
New York Knicks vs. Baltimore Bullets: Bullets win series 4-3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1969 Eastern Division Semifinals

NBA Finals

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Baltimore Bullets: Bucks win series 4-0
This is the first meeting in the playoffs between the Bucks and the Bullets.