1974 NBA playoffs


The 1974 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1973-74 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion [1973–74 1973–74 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics] defeating the Western Conference champion [1973–74 1973–74 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks] 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. John Havlicek was named NBA Finals MVP.
It was the Celtics' twelfth NBA title, and first accomplished in the post-Bill Russell era. It was the last Finals appearance for Milwaukee until 2021.
This is the last postseason with only 3 rounds and using only 8 teams. The 1975 NBA Playoffs added a First Round and the number of teams was expanded to 10.
Using the revised playoff format adopted in 1973, two third-place teams qualified for the playoffs, while the second-place finishers in the Central and Pacific divisions did not. Also, since the top three Western qualifiers were in the Midwest Division, the two divisional champions in the Western Conference played in the conference semifinals.
With a 4–3 series victory over the Pistons in the first round, the Bulls earned their first playoff series victory. In their first eight years of existence, the Bulls made the playoffs seven times.
The Bulls–Pistons rivalry started in their conference semifinal encounter, which Chicago won, 4–3. But it wasn't until the next four meetings that the rivalry became even more intense, particularly due to the intense battles that made both teams legitimate contenders in the East.
As a matter of historical curiosity, 3 of the 4 teams in the 1974 Western Conference bracket now reside in the Eastern Conference.
This was the only appearance of the [1973–74 1973–74 Capital Bullets season|Capital Bullets season|Capital Bullets] in the playoffs under that moniker; they assumed the "Capital" name for one year before changing to the Washington Bullets the next season. It was the playoff debut of the [1973–74 1973–74 Buffalo Braves season|Buffalo Braves season|Buffalo Braves], who had joined the league in 1970.
For the first time in BAA/NBA history, neither the Lakers or Warriors participated in a conference finals series.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) Boston Celtics">1973–74 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (4) Buffalo Braves season|Buffalo Braves]]

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

(2) [1973–74 [New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] vs. (3) Capital Bullets">1973–74 Capital Bullets season">Capital Bullets

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning four of the previous five meetings.
New York leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference semifinals

(1) Milwaukee Bucks">1973–74 Milwaukee Bucks season">Milwaukee Bucks vs. (4) [1973–74 [Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the prior two meetings.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


(2) Chicago Bulls">1973–74 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]]

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) Boston Celtics">1973–74 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (2) New York Knicks">1973–74 New York Knicks season">New York Knicks

This was the 10th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning five of the previous nine meetings.
New York leads 5–4 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference finals

(1) Milwaukee Bucks">1973–74 Milwaukee Bucks season">Milwaukee Bucks vs. (2) Chicago Bulls">1973–74 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

NBA Finals: (W1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (E1) Boston Celtics

  • Dave Cowens hits the game-tying shot with 1 minute left in regulation to force the first OT; John Havlicek rebounds his missed-shot and makes the game-tying basket with 5 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hits the game-winning sky-hook with 3 seconds left in the second OT.
  • Oscar Robertson’s final NBA game.
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.