American Basketball Association 1972-73

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The 1972-73 ABA season marked the American Basketball Association's sixth season . The season began on October 12, 1972. Ten teams took part in the game. Each team played 84 games. The four best in each division qualified for the playoffs. On May 12, 1973 the season ended with the ABA Championship. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Kentucky Colonels in the finals and were thus champions of the ABA for the third time.

Season Notes

  • Before the season, the Pittsburgh Condors and The Floridians were dissolved from the league and the players distributed by means of a draft.
  • The San Diego Conquistadors were the first and only expansion team in the ABA.
  • After a change of ownership, the Memphis Pros were now called Memphis Tams . They were now competing in the Eastern Division.
  • The NBA teams won 27 of the 35 friendly matches against ABA teams prior to the season.
  • Mel Daniels and Roger Brown of the Indiana Pacers were the first players to reach 10,000 points.
  • The Virginia Squires set a record for the most points in a game with 155 points against the Denver Rockets . This did not last long, however, as the league canceled the game and scored 2-0 for Virginia, as the trainer of the Rockets, Alex Hannum , instructed his players at half time to foul any squire who tried to throw.
  • The ABA All-Star Game took place on February 6, 1973 in Salt Lake City , Utah .
  • Julius Erving (Virginia) led the league on points. (31.9 per game)

Awards

ABA All-League Team

Item First team Second team
F. Billy Cunningham, Carolina George McGinnis , Indiana
F. Julius Erving, Virginia Dan Issel , Kentucky
C. Artis Gilmore , Kentucky Mel Daniels , Indiana
G Jimmy Jones , Utah Ralph Simpson , Denver
G Warren Jabali, Denver Mack Calvin , Carolina

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 Carolina Cougars (1) 57 27 .679 -
2 Kentucky Colonels (2) 56 28 .667 1
3 Virginia Squires (3) 42 42 .500 15th
4th New York Nets (4) 30th 54 .357 27
5 Memphis Tams 24 60 .286 33
Western Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Utah Stars (1) 55 29 .655 -
2 Indiana Pacers (2) 51 33 .607 4th
3 Denver Rockets (3) 47 37 .560 8th
4th San Diego Conquistadors (4) 30th 54 .357 25th
5 Dallas Chaparrals 28 56 .333 27

Playoffs 1973

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

  Division semifinal Division Final ABA Championship
                           
  E1 Carolina Cougars 4th        
E4 New York Nets 1  
E1 Carolina Cougars 3
  E2 Kentucky Colonels 4th  
E3 Virginia Squires 1
E2 Kentucky Colonels 4th  
E2 Kentucky Colonels 3
  W2 Indiana Pacers 4th
W2 Indiana Pacers 4th    
W3 Denver Rockets 1  
W2 Indiana Pacers 4th
  W1 Utah stars 2  
W4 San Diego Conquistadors 0
  W1 Utah stars 4th  

ABA Finals 1973

game date Home team Away team Result was standing
1 April 28 Kentucky Indiana 107: 111 (nV) 0: 1
2 April, 30th Kentucky Indiana 114: 102 1: 1
3 May 3rd Indiana Kentucky 88:92 1: 2
4th 5th of May Indiana Kentucky 90:86 2: 2
5 8th of May Kentucky Indiana 86:89 2: 3
6th 10th of May Indiana Kentucky 93: 109 3: 3
7th 12th of May Kentucky Indiana 81:88 3: 4
  • Indiana Pacers' George McGinnis was named ABA Finals Most Valuable Player.
  • The Indiana Pacers were the first ABA team to defend their title.

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