American Basketball Association 1969-70

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1969–70 ABA season marked the American Basketball Association's third season . The season began on October 17, 1969. Eleven teams took part in the game. Each team played 84 games. The four best in each division qualified for the playoffs. On May 25, 1970 the season ended with the ABA Championship. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Stars in the finals and became champions of the ABA for the first time.

Season Notes

  • The reigning champions Oakland Oaks had to be sold to Washington, DC because of a loan cancellation , where the team played as Washington Caps .
  • Although Washington was in the east of the United States, you had to compete in the Western Division. The team played one of its home games in Mexico City .
  • The Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina , where they competed as the Carolina Cougars as a regional team. They also switched divisions, from west to east. Therefore the Western Division had only five teams, the Eastern Division six.
  • The Minnesota Pipers moved back to Pittsburgh , where they played in 1967/68.
  • John McLendon of the Denver Rockets became the first African American coach in the ABA.
  • The ABA All-Star Game took place on January 24, 1970 in Indianapolis .
  • The owners of the ABA decided to merge with the NBA , but were thwarted by a lawsuit by 14 NBA players.
  • The league takes over the business of the Miami Floridians before the end of the season .

Awards

  • ABA Most Valuable Player: Spencer Haywood (Denver)
  • ABA Rookie of the Year: Spencer Haywood (Denver)
  • ABA Coach of the Year: Bill Sharman (Los Angeles) and Joe Belmont (Denver)
  • ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: Spencer Haywood (Denver)

ABA All-League Team

Item First team Second team
F. Spencer Haywood, Denver Roger Brown , Indiana
F. Rick Barry , Washington Bob Netolicky , Indiana
C. Mel Daniels , Indiana Red Robbins , New Orleans
G Larry Jones , Denver Donnie Freeman , Miami
G Bob Verga , Carolina 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 Indiana Pacers (1) 59 25th .702 -
2 Kentucky Colonels (2) 45 39 .536 14th
3 Carolina Cougars (3) 42 42 .500 17th
4th New York Nets (4) 39 45 .464 20th
5 Pittsburgh Pipers 29 55 .345 30th
6th Miami Floridians 23 61 .274 36
Western Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Denver Rockets (1) 51 33 .607 -
2 Dallas Chaparrals (2) 45 39 .536 6th
3 Washington Caps (3) 44 40 .524 7th
4th Los Angeles Stars (4) 44 40 .524 8th
5 New Orleans Buccaneers 42 42 .500 9

Playoffs 1970

The play-off rounds were played in the best-of-seven format.

  Division semifinal Division Final ABA Championship
                           
  E1 Indiana Pacers 4th        
E3 Carolina Cougars 0  
E1 Indiana Pacers 4th
  E2 Kentucky Colonels 1  
E4 New York Nets 3
E2 Kentucky Colonels 4th  
E1 Indiana Pacers 4th
  W4 Los Angeles Stars 2
W2 Dallas Chaparrals 2    
W4 Los Angeles Stars 4th  
W4 Los Angeles Stars 4th
  W1 Denver Rockets 1  
W3 Washington Capitals 3
  W1 Denver Rockets 4th  

ABA Finals 1970

game date Home team Away team Result was standing
1 May 15 Indiana los Angeles 109: 93 1-0
2 17th of May Indiana los Angeles 114: 111 2-0
3 May 18 los Angeles Indiana 109: 106 1: 2
4th May 19th los Angeles Indiana 120: 142 1: 3
5 23. May Indiana los Angeles 113: 117 3: 2
6th 25. May los Angeles Indiana 107: 111 2: 4
  • Indiana Pacers' Roger Brown was named Most Valuable Player of the ABA Finals.

Web links