NBA standings at the end of December 17, 1971
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Boston Celtics |
21 | 12 | .636 | 3760 | 3611 | 149 | 0.15 | 4.67 | 12-5 | 9-7 | 7-3 | Won 4 | |||||||
 New York Knicks |
17 | 13 | .567 | 3205 | 3070 | 135 | -0.62 | 3.88 | 10-8 | 7-5 | 6-4 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Philadelphia 76ers |
14 | 18 | .438 | 3514 | 3639 | -125 | -0.45 | -4.35 | 6-7 | 8-11 | 3-7 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Buffalo Braves |
12 | 18 | .400 | 3080 | 3257 | -177 | -0.37 | -6.27 | 8-11 | 4-7 | 4-6 | Lost 2 | |||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baltimore Bullets |
12 | 18 | .400 | 3172 | 3275 | -103 | 0.07 | -3.37 | 9-8 | 3-10 | 4-6 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
11 | 21 | .344 | 3276 | 3478 | -202 | -0.58 | -6.90 | 6-11 | 5-10 | 3-7 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Cincinnati Royals |
10 | 20 | .333 | 3135 | 3292 | -157 | 0.52 | -4.72 | 7-9 | 3-11 | 2-8 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Atlanta Hawks |
8 | 22 | .267 | 3165 | 3341 | -176 | 1.01 | -4.85 | 4-11 | 4-11 | 3-7 | Lost 5 | |||||||
| Midwest Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
29 | 4 | .879 | 3791 | 3327 | 464 | -1.74 | 12.32 | 16-1 | 13-3 | 9-1 | Won 8 | |||||||
 Chicago Bulls |
20 | 10 | .667 | 3321 | 3096 | 225 | -0.00 | 7.50 | 11-5 | 9-5 | 6-4 | Lost 2 | |||||||
 Phoenix Suns |
18 | 13 | .581 | 3621 | 3389 | 232 | -1.45 | 6.04 | 10-4 | 8-9 | 8-2 | Won 3 | |||||||
 Detroit Pistons |
12 | 19 | .387 | 3310 | 3505 | -195 | 0.39 | -5.90 | 6-8 | 6-11 | 3-7 | Lost 1 | |||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
29 | 3 | .906 | 3855 | 3430 | 425 | -1.02 | 12.26 | 14-2 | 15-1 | 10-0 | Won 23 | |||||||
 Seattle Supersonics |
20 | 14 | .588 | 3632 | 3529 | 103 | 0.55 | 3.58 | 10-4 | 10-10 | 5-5 | Lost 2 | |||||||
 Golden State Warriors |
17 | 16 | .515 | 3423 | 3464 | -41 | 0.86 | -0.38 | 9-7 | 8-9 | 3-7 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Houston Rockets |
11 | 23 | .324 | 3570 | 3755 | -185 | 1.55 | -3.89 | 4-10 | 7-13 | 5-5 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Portland Trail Blazers |
7 | 24 | .226 | 3309 | 3681 | -372 | 1.07 | -10.93 | 4-11 | 3-13 | 4-6 | Won 1 | |||||||