1968 ABA Playoffs
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.
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.
Division Semifinals
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers
vs. (3) Denver Rockets:
Bucs win series 3-2
(2) Dallas Chaparrals
vs. (4) Houston Mavericks
:
Chaparrals win series 3-0
Division Finals
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers
vs. (2) Dallas Chaparrals
:
Bucs win series 4-1
Division Semifinals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
:
Pipers win series 3-0
(2) Minnesota Muskies
vs. (4) Kentucky Colonels
:
Muskies win series 3-2
Division Finals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (2) Minnesota Muskies
:
Pipers win series 4-1
:
Pipers win series 4-3
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's inaugural 1967-1968 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Pittsburgh Pipers defeating the Western Division champion New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
, four games to three in the ABA Finals.
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
Pittsburgh Condors
The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA...
before folding in 1972. After three seasons the New Orleans Buccaneers left town and became the Memphis Pros
Memphis Pros
Memphis Pros were an American Basketball Association team during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 seasons.-Origins:The New Orleans Buccaneers were a charter member of the ABA and played for three seasons, 1967-1970, winning the Western Division championship in 1969...
in 1970. The Minnesota Muskies spent the next two seasons as the Miami Floridians
Miami Floridians
The Miami Floridians, later in their history known simply as The Floridians, were a professional basketball franchise in the original, now-defunct American Basketball Association. The Miami Floridians played in the ABA from 1968 through 1970 when they became simply The Floridians...
and then spent two seasons after that as The Floridians before folding in 1972. The Dallas Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, continuing to this day in the NBA.
The Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
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
Connie Hawkins
Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend...
of the Pittsburgh Pipers was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA plyaoffs.
Western Division
Champion: New Orleans BuccaneersNew Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
Division Semifinals
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
vs. (3) Denver Rockets:
Bucs win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 130, Denver 104
- Game 2 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 105, Denver 93
- Game 3 @ Denver: Denver 105, New Orleans 98
- Game 4 @ Denver: Denver 108, New Orleans 100
- Game 5 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 102, Denver 97
(2) Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
vs. (4) Houston Mavericks
Houston Mavericks
The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum...
:
Chaparrals win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Dallas: Dallas 111, Houston 110
- Game 2 @ Dallas: Dallas 115, Houston 97
- Game 3 @ Houston: Dallas 116, Houston 103
Division Finals
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
vs. (2) Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
:
Bucs win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 104, Dallas 99
- Game 2 @ New Orleans: Dallas 112, New Orleans 109
- Game 3 @ Dallas: New Orleans 110, Dallas 107
- Game 4 @ Dallas: New Orleans 119, Dallas 103
- Game 5 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 108, Dallas 107
Eastern Division
Champion: Pittsburgh PipersDivision Semifinals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
:
Pipers win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 146, Indiana 127
- Game 2 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 121, Indiana 108
- Game 3 @ Indiana: Pittsburgh 133, Indiana 114
(2) Minnesota Muskies
Minnesota Muskies
The Minnesota Muskies were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, born with the league's creation on February 2, 1967. L.P. Shields and Fred Jefferson bought in to create the franchise for $30,000...
vs. (4) Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
:
Muskies win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Minnesota: Minnesota 115, Kentucky 102
- Game 2 @ Minnesota: Kentucky 100, Minnesota 95
- Game 3 @ Kentucky: Minnesota 116, Kentucky 107
- Game 4 @ Kentucky: Kentucky 94, Minnesota 86
- Game 5 @ Minnesota: Minnesota 114, Kentucky 108
Division Finals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (2) Minnesota Muskies
Minnesota Muskies
The Minnesota Muskies were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, born with the league's creation on February 2, 1967. L.P. Shields and Fred Jefferson bought in to create the franchise for $30,000...
:
Pipers win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 125, Minnesota 117
- Game 2 @ Pittsburgh: Minnesota 137, Pittsburgh 123
- Game 3 @ Minnesota: Pittsburgh 107, Minnesota 99
- Game 4 @ Minnesota: Pittsburgh 117, Minnesota 108
- Game 5 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 114, Minnesota 105
ABA Finals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers VS. (1) New Orleans BuccaneersNew Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
:
Pipers win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 120, New Orleans 112
- Game 2 @ Pittsburgh: New Orleans 109, Pittsburgh 100
- Game 3 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 109, Pittsburgh 101
- Game 4 @ New Orleans: Pittsburgh 106, New Orleans 105
- Game 5 @ Pittsburgh: New Orleans 111, Pittsburgh 108
- Game 6 @ New Orleans: Pittsburgh 118, New Orleans 112
- Game 7 @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 122, New Orleans 113