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 YearLew 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
Game 1 @ San Francisco : Milwaukee 107, San Francisco 96
Game 2 @ Madison : Milwaukee 104, San Francisco 90
Game 3 @ Madison : Milwaukee 114, San Francisco 102
Game 4 @ San Francisco : San Francisco 106, Milwaukee 104
Game 5 @ Madison : Milwaukee 136, San Francisco 86
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
Game 1 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 100, Chicago 99
Game 2 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 105, Chicago 95
Game 3 @ Chicago : Chicago 106, Los Angeles 98
Game 4 @ Chicago : Chicago 112, Los Angeles 102
Game 5 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 115, Chicago 89
Game 6 @ Chicago : Chicago 113, Los Angeles 99
Game 7 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 109, Chicago 98
Last Playoff Meeting: 1968 Western Division Semifinals Conference Finals Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Bucks win series 4-1
Game 1 @ Milwaukee : Milwaukee 106, Los Angeles 85
Game 2 @ Milwaukee : Milwaukee 91, Los Angeles 73
Game 3 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 118, Milwaukee 107
Game 4 @ Los Angeles : Milwaukee 117, Los Angeles 94
Game 5 @ Milwaukee : Milwaukee 116, Los Angeles 98
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
Game 1 @ Baltimore : Philadelphia 126, Baltimore 112
Game 2 @ Philadelphia : Baltimore 119, Philadelphia 107
Game 3 @ Baltimore : Baltimore 111, Philadelphia 103
Game 4 @ Philadelphia : Baltimore 120, Philadelphia 105
Game 5 @ Baltimore : Philadelphia 104, Baltimore 103
Game 6 @ Philadelphia : Philadelphia 98, Baltimore 84
Game 7 @ Baltimore : Baltimore 128, Philadelphia 120
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
