The referee number 5 is the great Mendy Rudolph. This was one of the last games he called. On April 25, 1975 in a game between the Braves and the Bullets, Rudolph collapsed due to a blood clot in his leg breaking free and lodging in his lung. Rudolph survived but had to retire from refereeing. He was inducted into the basketball HOF in 2007.
I like to dedicate this Sonics game in memory of my late father who was a big fan and telling me those stories about the players from the 70's. I do remember watching this game with him, I was five years old and that time. This was the Sonics first playoff appearance and four years later they were champions in 1979.
That's my favorite NBA theme. I remember it well watching the NBA as a young 7 yr old fan. Sure it's cheesy as hell, but it brings back memories of watching these games with my dad.
Great upload, Dave!!! As a lifelong Chicago Bulls fan, the 1975 NBA playoffs was one of the most painful sports memories of my childhood. The Bulls had a 3-1 advantage over the Warriors in the Western Conference finals, but Rick Barry just wouldn't let them lose. From the start of the '75 playoffs until the final buzzer of the finals, Rick Barry's performance was one of the greatest sustained playoff performances in NBA history, and nobody ever talks about it. He almost single-handedly willed them to the NBA championship.
Once again, sir, you’ve done yourself to me a kid that grew up in the 70s to me. This was the ultimate NBA. I find myself watching these old games more than I do anything today. These were the good old days.
I could probably still name the starting 5 on every team in the early 70's from watching the lakers games broadcast on ktla5. Len Shackleford was a #1 draft pick of the then san diego rockets and was the color analyst along side the all time great Chick Hearn and was announcing in this game too.
Thank you for this! Any vintage Sonic games is very much welcomed and appreciated. At 7 years old the first Sonics game I ever went to at the Coliseum was against these same two teams in this same season just a few months before. The Warriors blew us out of the gym by about 25 or so but that was the day I became a sports fan and Sonics fan for life. Seeing this brings it all back and I thank you a million for that.
Great stuff! This is the final loss for the Warriors in the 1975 playoffs. Closed with six consecutive wins to complete the greatest upset in NBA postseason history.
Dave, another gem. Please post more 1970's NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WHA & ABA games. The enhancements are outstanding. I know it takes time editing & converting VHS tapes & DVD's. I've been using Pinnacle Studio for years when I upload TWIPF DVD's that I purchase to my RU-vid channel.
So many of these players made an impression on my young self. ...Slick Watts, starting here over "downtown" Freddy Brown, was a man with a "brand" before his time.
Keep up the great work Dave...even commercials ...lol.. Miss the great 70s NBA games..was wondering if you can add more 70s NBA Games..List - maybe 1 game Cleveland Cavs vs Celtics 1976 series ..maybe some 1979 Sonics vs Bullets series or even a NY Nets ABA game if you can find it..
My dad used to complain about his no power Forum Gold Gremlin(no blue) that he drove every day including taking us kids to the Lakers games to see the newly acquired Lew Alcindor in fall 1975. We went to a lot of games. Cant believe he didnt pay the 69 extra dollars for the upgraded engine.
This was the Sonics' (they really need to be back in Seattle) first year in the playoffs. They had beaten the Pistons in the first round and would force this series with the eventual NBA champions to six games.
The high water mark for Bill Russel's post-Boston coaching career...Nick to see 'Slick' Watts with the headband and the high socks and Spencer Heywood Again!
I was always a big Rick Barry fan but back in the day only being able to see him on 📺 was very rare and was depressing watching him play poorly and fouling out after watching this game only because of him. Thank you so much for this game and loved the commericials along with some of your other viewers. Dont like the game now with the 3pt free for all and love these old games. 👍
Nice time capsule before the great rivalry between Magic and Bird, then the appearance of Jordan, that exploded interest in the NBA and made it what it is today.
I remember when Daryl Dawkins broke the backboard at kemper arena, I turned on the radio and they were in a delay,the kings player who got the worst of it was Bill robinzine
The game sure has changed since. Notice how they run more, the pace is faster and no one is standing around. Everyone is moving. The only problem I have is the camera work is not nearly as good.
And this was also a VERY physical and chippy series. There were several fights throughout. In fact, the Warriors literally had to fight their way off the floor after closing out the series in Seattle in Game 6.
Alex Karras was a real joker and saw him as a guest on Johnny Carson a few times while he described the 63 yard Dempsey field that kept his lions out of the playoffs
Tom Burleson looked pretty damn good for a rookie in this game, great touch, good D and rebounding I'm surprised he didnt become a star later if this game was any indication.
It was great they added the disco tunes before the commercial breaks -- Blue Eyed Soul by Carl Douglas (20:22), Never Can Say Goodbye (45:00) and Honeybee (37:41) by Gloria Gaynor and Shame, Shame, Shame by Shirley and Company (28:00).
Dial it up on utube as pete maravich 68pt game against the new york knicks after Atlanta traded him to the jazz. Best complete game I've ever seen a player have.
Although Seattle won this game they lost this series to the 1975 NBA champs . They gave the Warriors a better series than did the KC Jones led Bullets in the finals .
Wow, not a good night for Mendy Rudolph 17:47-19:49-22:30-23:43-24:25. All crappy calls. He was considered a great ref, but all the refs sucked back then. I know that there is a lot of criticism of modern-day refs but they are WAY better than the old timers
