The Baltimore Bullets' weird season
With the 2010 NBA playoffs in full swing, here's a look back at the 1971-72 Baltimore Bullets and the strange season they had. In spite of a losing record (38-44), Coach Gene Shue's club won the NBA Central Division before falling to the New York Knicks, 4 games to 2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Here, in a matchup between the two teams, the Bullets' Archie Clark (center) is fouled by the Knicks' Jerry Lucas, who looks like he's giving an eye exam. Clark led Baltimore in scoring that season (25 points per game) after the Bullets dealt disgruntled star guard Earl Monroe (left, above) to New York earlier that year.
Comments
anybody know where I can find a replica jersey like the one Archie is wearing in this photo?
Posted by: DNo | May 28, 2010 1:04 PM
I'm still trying to decide. Did I just read the biggest non-sequitur in the history of sports journalism? Or is that actually the point of the Toy Department blog?
Posted by: Shas | May 28, 2010 1:09 PM
not paying earl monroe and trading him to the knicks was absolutely horrible.
Posted by: freddy from boca | May 28, 2010 1:31 PM
I see the Knicks are wearing Converse "Chuck Taylors" but Archie Clark seems to be wearing low-top sneakers purchased at Pick-n-Pay.
Posted by: BigBill | May 28, 2010 1:42 PM
I consider the uniforms worn by the Bullets in its last two seasons in Baltimore (1972 & 1973) the best ever in the history of basketball. If you thought the white ones (see photo above) looked great, the orange ones worn on the road were even more gorgeous! Easily the most colorful & unique ensemble in NBA history.
Archie Clark's shoes in the picture were obviously made by adidas. It's color was either red or red-orange. And whatever happened to calf-covering socks with stripes on its upper parts?
Posted by: Attila the Hon | May 28, 2010 9:10 PM