Washington Bullets vs. New York Nets.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

This would have been one hell of match up during the early/mid 1970s.
Overall, which team would you say was more dominant during this time period?

[Ruzious]

Can't say I was an ABA aficionado, but young Drs J and K (Larry Kenon) could light it up. Gotta figure that - while the ABA had some star power, there was a general lack of depth of quality players, so it'd be hard to pick any ABA team over a good NBA team.

[penbeast0]

More dominant was clearly the Nets . . . what they were dominating wasn't as impressive at least until 75 (when the Nets didn't dominate) but they clearly were the more dominant team. Who would win head to head could be very different though . . . especially if everyone was healthy.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Exhibition games
On September 18, 1973 the Nets opened the ABA vs. NBA exhibition season against the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. Playing in Binghamton, New York, the Nets beat the 76ers 94-88. On September 28 the Nets again faced the 76ers, this time in Trenton, New Jersey. The Nets also won this matchup, 118-100.
On September 29 in White Plains, New York the Nets faced the Washington Bullets. Julius Erving scored a game-high 42 points as the Nets prevailed 127-121.
On October 2, 17,226 fans showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch the Nets play the New York Knicks. Erving scored 27 points, 12 of them in the third quarter, as the Nets won 97-87.
On October 7 the Nets took their 4–0 streak against NBA teams into a contest with the Boston Celtics in Uniondale, New York. Erving scored 23 points, but John Havlicek scored 37 for Boston as the Celtics won, 121-102.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973%E2%80 ... ets_season

I remember hearing about the Nets playing several exhibitions against NBA teams.
However an exhibition is still an exhibition so I am curious to know how long the starters played in each game.

[penbeast0]

In Terry Pluto's "Loose Balls" he quoted some sources about a series of exhibitions between the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics earlier in the 70s when they were two of the top teams. The Pacers won more of them and Red Auerbach said, "it's just an exhibition" . . . . but played his top players 35-45 minutes each.

[FreeBalling]

...

[montestewart]

Exhibition games
On September 18, 1973 the Nets opened the ABA vs. NBA exhibition season against the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. Playing in Binghamton, New York, the Nets beat the 76ers 94-88. On September 28 the Nets again faced the 76ers, this time in Trenton, New Jersey. The Nets also won this matchup, 118-100.
On September 29 in White Plains, New York the Nets faced the Washington Bullets. Julius Erving scored a game-high 42 points as the Nets prevailed 127-121.
On October 2, 17,226 fans showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch the Nets play the New York Knicks. Erving scored 27 points, 12 of them in the third quarter, as the Nets won 97-87.
On October 7 the Nets took their 4–0 streak against NBA teams into a contest with the Boston Celtics in Uniondale, New York. Erving scored 23 points, but John Havlicek scored 37 for Boston as the Celtics won, 121-102.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973%E2%80 ... ets_season

I remember hearing about the Nets playing several exhibitions against NBA teams.
However an exhibition is still an exhibition so I am curious to know how long the starters played in each game.

The Sixers had just compiled the worst record in NBA history, while the Nets were ABA elite. The Bullets might have been a tougher opponent.

The ABA Washington Capitals started Larry Brown at PG if that tells anything.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Being the tech nerd that I am, I think I will look up the box scores along with any game recaps I can find.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[montestewart]

That Nets lineup has five players who had significant or at least extended post-merger NBA careers, including john Williamson, who ended his career as a Bullet. Not surprising they won they ABA championship.

Rich Rinaldi must have gotten cut by the Bullets, and ended up playing a few games with the Nets that year before his career ended.

Big Wes sat that one out, which maybe paved the way to the basket. i wonder if that was Weatherspoon's best game ever?

Great find WTA.

[fishercob]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[Ruzious]

I'm so old that... I still remember Nick Weatherspoon's rookie year - and the big fundamental weakness that stuck out about his offensive game (other than being a tweener forward in a bad way). Spooooooon (as the crowd would shout whenever he made a big bucket) could not shoot without putting the ball on the floor first. Saw many times he'd catch a pass or rebound open under the basket - he'd automatically dribble it - giving the D time to adjust. So frustrating to see him seemingly not be able to break that habit.

Spooooooonnoooooo!

Dave "the Rave" Stallworth - a so-so backup forward. He and Riordan came in the infamous Earl Monroe trade.

[fishercob]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

That Nets lineup has five players who had significant or at least extended post-merger NBA careers, including john Williamson, who ended his career as a Bullet. Not surprising they won they ABA championship.

Rich Rinaldi must have gotten cut by the Bullets, and ended up playing a few games with the Nets that year before his career ended.

Big Wes sat that one out, which maybe paved the way to the basket. i wonder if that was Weatherspoon's best game ever?

Great find WTA.

Since I enjoy this type of research I think I may start a Bullets game recap & box score thread from the beginning up until the 1996-1997 season only. NO WIZARDS!

[verbal8]

I found a map for WTA:

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I found a map for WTA:

I know a few STATION WAGON LAND natives who are more DC than all the trendy gentrifying transplant scumbags will ever be.