During the playoffs, the Sixers eliminated the
New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4 games to 2. The series win proved costly, as
Billy Cunningham, their sixth man, injured his non-shooting wrist and was out for the remainder of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers became the first team in NBA history to blow a 3–1 series lead as the team lost to the
Boston Celtics in 7 games. What was so damaging about this series loss was that Games five and seven were at the Spectrum and Cunningham was not available. Instead, the team had the services of forward
Johnny Green, who had been a four-time NBA All-Star during the 1960s and 1970s. After the season, head coach
Alex Hannum resigned to take a position in the ABA, and
Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the
Los Angeles Lakers for guard
Archie Clark, center
Darrall Imhoff, and forward
Jerry Chambers (who never played with the team). Philadelphia subsequently won only a single home playoff game from 1969 to 1971 (game six,
1971 playoffs vs.
Baltimore), going 0–7 for the remaining home games from 1969 to 1971. It would be nine seasons before the team won a single post-season series. ==Offseason==