1965–66 Detroit Pistons season

The 1965–66 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 18th season in the NBA and its ninth season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at Cobo Arena in Detroit.[2]

1965–66 Detroit Pistons season
Head coachDave DeBusschere
ArenaCobo Arena
Results
Record22–58 (.275)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1964–65 1966–67 >

Before the start of the 1965–66 season, the Pistons lost their leading scorer, Terry Dischinger, due to military service, and starting center, Reggie Harding, due to suspension. On September 28, 1965, general manager Don Wattrick died of a heart attack.[3] The team's first round pick in the 1965 NBA draft, Bill Buntin did not sign until October due to a contract dispute.[4]

The Pistons struggled on the season, finishing 22-58 (.275), 5th in the Western Division and with the worst record in the NBA. The team was led on the season by guard Eddie Miles (19.6 ppg, NBA All-Star) and player-coach Dave DeBusschere (16.4 ppg, 11.6 rpg, NBA All-Star). Rookie guard Tom Van Arsdale (10.5 ppg, NBA First-Team All-Rookie) added to the cause. Adding insult on the year, two Baltimore Bullets, Don Ohl and Bailey Howell, made the NBA All-Star game, having been traded the year prior by the Pistons.[5][6]

Roster

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1965–66 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 21 Barnhill, John 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1938–03–20 Tennessee State
C 17 Buntin, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1942–05–05 Michigan
G 24 Butcher, Donnis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1936–02–08 Pikeville
F 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–10–16 Detroit Mercy
C 19 Harding, Reggie (S) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 249 lb (113 kg) 1942–05–04 Nashville Christian Institute (TN)
F 16 Kojis, Don 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939–01–15 Marquette
G 14 Miles, Eddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1940–07–05 Seattle
F 20 Reed, Ron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1942–11–02 Notre Dame
F 12 Scott, Ray 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1938–07–12 Portland
C 16 Strawder, Joe 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1940–09–21 Bradley
F 23 Tresvant, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939–11–06 Seattle
G 5 Van Arsdale, Tom 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1943–02–22 Indiana
G 10 Vaughn, Chico 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1940–02–19 Southern Illinois
G 18 Warlick, Bob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1941–03–20 Pepperdine
Head coach

Dave DeBusschere


Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 1965–12–28

Regular season

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Season standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 35 .563 28–11 13–21 4–3 29–11
x-Baltimore Bullets 38 42 .475 7 29–9 4–25 5–8 20–20
x-St. Louis Hawks 36 44 .450 9 22–10 6–22 8–12 19–21
San Francisco Warriors 35 45 .438 10 12–14 8–19 15–12 21–19
Detroit Pistons 22 58 .275 23 13–17 4–22 5–19 11–29

Record vs. opponents

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1965-66 NBA Records
Team BAL BOS CIN DET LAL NYK PHI SFW STL
Baltimore 3–7 3–7 5–5 4–6 7–3 5–5 4–6 7–3
Boston 7–3 5–5 6–4 7–3 10–0 4–6 8–2 7–3
Cincinnati 7–3 5–5 8–2 4–6 7–3 4–6 5–5 5–5
Detroit 5–5 4–6 2–8 2–8 2–8 3–7 2–8 2–8
Los Angeles 6–4 3–7 6–4 8–2 5–5 2–8 7–3 8–2
New York 3–7 0–10 3–7 8–2 5–5 2–8 5–5 4–6
Philadelphia 5–5 6–4 6–4 7–3 8–2 8–2 8–2 7–3
San Francisco 6–4 2–8 5–5 8–2 3–7 5–5 2–8 4–6
St. Louis 3–7 3–7 5–5 8–2 2–8 6–4 3–7 6–4

Game log

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1965–66 Game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 16 @ New York 103–111 Dave DeBusschere (23) 0–1
2 October 20 New York 103–116 Joe Caldwell (18) 1–1
3 October 23 @ Philadelphia 103–120 Eddie Miles (21) 1–2
4 October 26 Baltimore 117–98 Don Kojis (15) 1–3
5 October 27 @ Baltimore 108–107 Bill Buntin (25) 2–3
6 October 29 Boston 106–108 Eddie Miles (36) 3–3
7 October 30 @ St. Louis 95–122 Dave DeBusschere (20) 3–4
8 October 31 @ Cincinnati 107–113 Eddie Miles (29) 3–5
9 November 3 Philadelphia 100–110 Eddie Miles (27) 4–5
10 November 5 Cincinnati 120–114 Tom Van Arsdale (24) 4–6
11 November 6 @ San Francisco 100–110 Rod Thorn (29) 4–7
12 November 9 @ San Francisco 102–107 DeBusschere, Miles (24) 4–8
13 November 10 @ Los Angeles 125–133 Eddie Miles (30) 4–9
14 November 12 San Francisco 103–102 Eddie Miles (21) 4–10
15 November 13 @ Boston 93–122 Donnis Butcher (15) 4–11
16 November 16 @ New York 95–120 Ray Scott (26) 4–12
17 November 19 New York 116–109 Ray Scott (23) 4–13
18 November 20 @ St. Louis 101–110 Rod Thorn (20) 4–14
19 November 23 N Cincinnati 118–115 DeBusschere, Miles (25) 5–14
20 November 24 Baltimore 124–130 Ray Scott (31) 6–14
21 November 26 N Boston 114–134 Ray Scott (25) 6–15
22 November 28 Los Angeles 128–110 Rod Thorn (21) 6–16
23 December 1 St. Louis 110–101 Ray Scott (23) 6–17
24 December 4 Baltimore 119–130 Eddie Miles (36) 7–17
25 December 8 San Francisco 113–115 Eddie Miles (30) 8–17
26 December 10 @ Philadelphia 116–114 Ray Scott (32) 9–17
27 December 14 N Baltimore 129–142 Dave DeBusschere (30) 9–18
28 December 17 Boston 114–112 Ray Scott (32) 9–19
29 December 18 @ Baltimore 114–143 Ray Scott (21) 9–20
30 December 22 N San Francisco 114–104 Eddie Miles (20) 9–21
31 December 23 @ Los Angeles 112–122 Ray Scott (19) 9–22
32 December 25 @ Los Angeles 106–115 Eddie Miles (35) 9–23
33 December 28 N San Francisco 120–107 Eddie Miles (24) 9–24
34 December 29 Philadelphia 113–112 Dave DeBusschere (28) 9–25
35 December 30 N Los Angeles 114–117 Dave DeBusschere (20) 10–25
36 January 1 @ Baltimore 112–116 John Tresvant (21) 10–26
37 January 2 N San Francisco 136–113 Kojis, Scott (16) 10–27
38 January 5 N Cincinnati 103–117 Ray Scott (26) 10–28
39 January 6 N Cincinnati 97–109 Eddie Miles (20) 10–29
40 January 7 St. Louis 97–137 Ray Scott (25) 11–29
41 January 9 Los Angeles 111–98 Barnhill, Van Arsdale (16) 11–30
42 January 12 Philadelphia 111–129 Dave DeBusschere (41) 12–30
43 January 15 Baltimore 117–122 Tom Van Arsdale (29) 13–30
44 January 16 @ Cincinnati 106–108 Eddie Miles (23) 13–31
45 January 18 N Boston 116–115 Eddie Miles (32) 14–31
46 January 19 N Philadelphia 110–93 Ray Scott (23) 14–32
47 January 20 N St. Louis 103–92 Tom Van Arsdale (19) 14–33
48 January 21 St. Louis 108–117 Ray Scott (32) 15–33
49 January 25 @ New York 100–115 Eddie Miles (28) 15–34
50 January 26 Los Angeles 126–110 Joe Strawder (22) 15–35
51 January 27 N Boston 112–131 Dave DeBusschere (32) 15–36
52 January 28 @ Boston 108–105 Joe Strawder (29) 16–36
53 January 30 @ Philadelphia 98–117 Dave DeBusschere (18) 16–37
54 February 1 N Boston 81–100 Eddie Miles (22) 16–38
55 February 2 Boston 93–99 Joe Strawder (20) 17–38
56 February 4 New York 115–113 Eddie Miles (26) 17–39
57 February 7 N Cincinnati 124–118 Dave DeBusschere (29) 18–39
58 February 8 N San Francisco 113–103 Eddie Miles (28) 18–40
59 February 9 Philadelphia 108–91 Ray Scott (26) 18–41
60 February 11 N New York 122–107 Joe Strawder (25) 18–42
61 February 12 @ Cincinnati 116–143 Ray Scott (29) 18–43
62 February 14 N Philadelphia 149–123 Ray Scott (21) 18–44
63 February 15 @ Baltimore 105–114 Dave DeBusschere (26) 18–45
64 February 18 New York 118–120 Eddie Miles (30) 19–45
65 February 20 Cincinnati 133–129 Ray Scott (33) 19–46
66 February 22 N Philadelphia 117–112 Eddie Miles (21) 19–47
67 February 23 N New York 100–98 DeBusschere, Miles (17) 19–48
68 February 26 Los Angeles 131–118 Eddie Miles (31) 19–49
69 February 27 @ St. Louis 114–125 Eddie Miles (24) 19–50
70 February 28 N St. Louis 108–103 Ray Scott (29) 19–51
71 March 1 N Baltimore 122–110 Eddie Miles (28) 20–51
72 March 2 San Francisco 118–131 Ray Scott (27) 21–51
73 March 4 N New York 121–119 Dave DeBusschere (29) 21–52
74 March 6 Cincinnati 137–125 John Barnhill (20) 21–53
75 March 11 @ Los Angeles 116–114 Chico Vaughn (18) 22–53
76 March 13 N San Francisco 121–119 Ron Reed (17) 22–54
77 March 15 @ Los Angeles 108–135 John Tresvant (22) 22–55
78 March 17 Boston 128–103 Ray Scott (26) 22–56
79 March 19 @ St. Louis 112–115 Ray Scott (20) 22–57
80 March 20 St. Louis 121–117 Dave DeBusschere (31) 22–58

Awards and records

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References

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  1. ^ 1965–66 Detroit Pistons
  2. ^ "1965-66 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats".
  3. ^ "Pistons' Wattrick Is Dead". The Owosso Argus-Press. September 28, 1965. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pistons' Buntin Signs 30G Contract". Schenectady Gazette. October 6, 1965. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chevette to Corvette No. 60: The 1965-66 Detroit Pistons". September 16, 2011.
  6. ^ "1966 NBA All-Star Game Box Score".