NBA standings at the end of December 16, 1971
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Boston Celtics |
20 | 12 | .625 | 3645 | 3502 | 143 | 0.35 | 4.81 | 12-5 | 8-7 | 7-3 | Won 3 | |||||||
 New York Knicks |
16 | 13 | .552 | 3090 | 2975 | 115 | -0.41 | 3.56 | 10-8 | 6-5 | 6-4 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Philadelphia 76ers |
14 | 17 | .452 | 3388 | 3512 | -124 | -0.12 | -4.12 | 6-7 | 8-10 | 4-6 | Lost 2 | |||||||
 Buffalo Braves |
12 | 17 | .414 | 2985 | 3142 | -157 | -0.54 | -5.95 | 8-10 | 4-7 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baltimore Bullets |
11 | 18 | .379 | 3058 | 3172 | -114 | 0.29 | -3.64 | 8-8 | 3-10 | 3-7 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
11 | 20 | .355 | 3167 | 3363 | -196 | -0.74 | -7.06 | 6-10 | 5-10 | 4-6 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Cincinnati Royals |
10 | 20 | .333 | 3135 | 3292 | -157 | 0.54 | -4.69 | 7-9 | 3-11 | 2-8 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Atlanta Hawks |
8 | 21 | .276 | 3062 | 3227 | -165 | 1.19 | -4.50 | 4-11 | 4-10 | 3-7 | Lost 4 | |||||||
| Midwest Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
28 | 4 | .875 | 3671 | 3214 | 457 | -1.86 | 12.42 | 15-1 | 13-3 | 9-1 | Won 7 | |||||||
 Chicago Bulls |
20 | 9 | .690 | 3223 | 2987 | 236 | 0.08 | 8.22 | 11-4 | 9-5 | 6-4 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Phoenix Suns |
17 | 13 | .567 | 3498 | 3287 | 211 | -1.26 | 5.77 | 9-4 | 8-9 | 8-2 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Detroit Pistons |
12 | 18 | .400 | 3208 | 3382 | -174 | 0.13 | -5.67 | 6-8 | 6-10 | 3-7 | Won 1 | |||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
28 | 3 | .903 | 3726 | 3331 | 395 | -1.00 | 11.74 | 13-2 | 15-1 | 10-0 | Won 22 | |||||||
 Seattle Supersonics |
20 | 13 | .606 | 3519 | 3409 | 110 | 0.19 | 3.52 | 10-4 | 10-9 | 6-4 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Golden State Warriors |
17 | 15 | .531 | 3324 | 3335 | -11 | 0.47 | 0.12 | 9-7 | 8-8 | 3-7 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Houston Rockets |
10 | 23 | .303 | 3461 | 3657 | -196 | 1.42 | -4.52 | 4-10 | 6-13 | 5-5 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Portland Trail Blazers |
6 | 24 | .200 | 3182 | 3555 | -373 | 1.28 | -11.15 | 3-11 | 3-13 | 3-7 | Lost 2 | |||||||