1968 ABA Playoffs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1968 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the American Basketball Association's inaugural 1967-1968 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Pittsburgh Pipers defeating the Western Division champion New Orleans Buccaneers, four games to three in the ABA Finals.

Division Semifinals			Division Finals			ABA Finals

1	New Orleans Bucs	3
3	Denver Rockets	2
			1	New Orleans Bucs	4
Western Division
			2	Dallas Chaparrals	1
4	Houston Mavericks	0

2	Dallas Chaparrals	3
						W1	New Orleans Bucs	3
						E1	Pittsburgh Pipers	4
1	Pittsburgh Pipers	3
3	Indiana Pacers	0
			1	Pittsburgh Pipers	4
Eastern Division
			2	Minnesota Muskies	1
4	Kentucky Colonels	2

2	Minnesota Muskies	3

[edit] Notable events

This was the first ABA championship.

The Pittsburgh Pipers won the ABA championship in the playoffs after posting the league's best record during the regular season (54-24, .692). The Minnesota Muskies had the league's second best record, but they played in the Eastern Division with the Pipers.

None of the four teams that made it to the Division finals (and ABA finals) remained as they were during this season throughout the league's entire existence. The Pittsburgh Pipers spent the following season as the Minnesota Pipers, returned to play as the Pittsburgh Pipers the year after that, and then played two seasons as the Pittsburgh Condors before folding in 1972. After three seasons the New Orleans Buccaneers left town and became the Memphis Pros in 1970. The Minnesota Muskies spent the next two seasons as the Miami Floridians and then spent two seasons after that as The Floridians before folding in 1972. The Dallas Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs, continuing to this day in the NBA.

The Kentucky Colonels won the last Eastern Division playoff berth in a one game playoff over the New Jersey Americans by forfeit when the venue chosen by the Americans, Commack Arena, had an unplayable floor.

Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA plyaoffs.