American Basketball Association 1967-68

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The 1967–68 ABA season was the first season in the newly formed American Basketball Association . The season began on October 13, 1967. Eleven teams took part in the game. Each team played 78 games. The four best in each division qualified for the playoffs. On May 4, 1968, the season ended with the ABA Championship. The Pittsburgh Pipers defeated the New Orleans Buccaneers in the finals , becoming the first champions of the new league.

Season Notes

  • On February 2, 1967, the new league was launched.
  • Prior to the season, the Oakland Americans were renamed Oakland Oaks .
  • The franchise, which was given to Kansas City , had to move to Denver because it couldn't find a venue. There it was called first Denver Larks, later Denver Rockets .
  • The New Jersey Freighters were renamed the New Jersey Americans prior to the season .
  • Rick Barry was the first NBA star to sign with the Oakland Oaks in the ABA, but has been out all season because of a legal battle with the San Francisco Warriors .
  • The first ABA All-Star Game took place on January 9, 1968 in Indianapolis .
  • New Jersey had to play a playoff against the Kentucky Colonels for the last playoff place in the Eastern Division. Since the normal hall in New Jersey was occupied and the substitute hall was unplayable, the Colonels were declared the winners.

Awards

ABA All-League Team

Item First team Second team
F. Connie Hawkins, Pittsburgh Roger Brown, Indiana
F. Doug Moe , New Orleans Cincy Powell , Dallas
C. Mel Daniels, Minnesota John Beasley , Dallas
G Larry Jones , Denver Larry Brown, New Orleans
G Charlie Williams , Pittsburgh Louie Dampier , Kentucky

Final results

S = wins, N = defeats, PCT = percentage of wins, P = deficit on division leaders

The placements in the seed lists of the respective division playoffs are listed in brackets.

Eastern Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Pittsburgh Pipers (1) 54 24 .692 -
2 Minnesota Muskies (2) 50 28 .641 4th
3 Indiana Pacers (3) 38 40 .487 16
4th Kentucky Colonels (4) 36 42 .462 18th
5 New Jersey Americans 36 42 .462 18th
Western Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 New Orleans Buccaneers (1) 48 30th .615 -
2 Dallas Chaparrals (2) 46 32 .590 2
3 Denver Rockets (3) 45 33 .577 3
4th Houston Mavericks (4) 29 49 .372 19th
5 Anaheim Amigos 25th 53 .321 23
6th Oakland Oaks 22nd 56 .282 26th

Playoffs 1968

The first play-off round was played in the best-of-five format. All other rounds were best-of-seven series.

  Division semifinal Division Final ABA Championship
                           
  E1 Pittsburgh Pipers 3        
E3 Indiana Pacers 0  
E1 Pittsburgh Pipers 4th
  E2 Minnesota Muskies 1  
E4 Kentucky Colonels 2
E2 Minnesota Muskies 3  
E1 Pittsburgh Pipers 4th
  W1 New Orleans Buccaneers 3
W2 Dallas Chaparrals 3    
W4 Houston Mavericks 0  
W2 Dallas Chaparrals 1
  W1 New Orleans Buccaneers 4th  
W3 Denver Rockets 2
  W1 New Orleans Buccaneers 3  

ABA Finals 1968

game date Home team Away team Result was standing
1 April 18 Pittsburgh New Orleans 120: 112 1-0
2 20th of April Pittsburgh New Orleans 100: 109 1: 1
3 April 24th New Orleans Pittsburgh 109: 101 2: 1
4th April 25 New Orleans Pittsburgh 105: 106 (nV) 2: 2
5 April 27 Pittsburgh New Orleans 108: 111 2: 3
6th 1st of May New Orleans Pittsburgh 112: 118 3: 3
7th May 4th Pittsburgh New Orleans 122: 113 4: 3
  • Pittsburgh Pipers' Connie Hawkins was named ABA Finals Most Valuable Player.

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