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 playoffs.
1968, playoffs, postseason, tournament, following, american, basketball, association, inaugural, 1967, 1968, season, starting, march, ending, tournament, concluded, with, eastern, division, champion, pittsburgh, pipers, defeating, western, division, champion, . The 1968 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the American Basketball Association s inaugural 1967 1968 season starting on March 23 and ending on May 4 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 1968 ABA playoffsDatesMarch 23 May 4 1968Season1967 68Teams8ChampionsPittsburgh Pipers 1st title Runners upNew Orleans Buccaneers 1st finals appearance SemifinalistsMinnesota MuskiesDallas Chaparrals1969 Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsABA Finals 1New Orleans Bucs 33Denver Rockets21New Orleans Bucs 4Western Division2Dallas Chaparrals14Houston Mavericks02Dallas Chaparrals3W1New Orleans Bucs 3E1Pittsburgh Pipers 41Pittsburgh Pipers 33Indiana Pacers01Pittsburgh Pipers 4Eastern Division2Minnesota Muskies14Kentucky Colonels22Minnesota Muskies3 Division winnerBold Series winnerItalic Team with home court advantage Contents 1 Notable events 2 Division Semifinals 2 1 Eastern Division Semifinals 2 1 1 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 3 Indiana Pacers 2 1 2 2 Minnesota Muskies vs 4 Kentucky Colonels 2 2 Western Division Semifinals 2 2 1 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 3 Denver Rockets 2 2 2 2 Dallas Chaparrals vs 4 Houston Mavericks 3 Division Finals 3 1 Eastern Division Finals 3 1 1 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 2 Minnesota Muskies 3 2 Western Division Finals 3 2 1 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 2 Dallas Chaparrals 4 ABA Finals W1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs E1 Pittsburgh Pipers 4 1 Series summary 4 2 Series results 5 External linksNotable events EditThis 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 playoffs Division Semifinals EditEastern Division Semifinals Edit 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 3 Indiana Pacers Edit March 25BoxscoreIndiana Pacers 127 Pittsburgh Pipers 146Pts Roger Brown 32Rebs Roger Brown 12 Pts Connie Hawkins 38Rebs Trooper Washington 20Pittsburgh leads series 1 0Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania March 26BoxscoreIndiana Pacers 108 Pittsburgh Pipers 121Pts Freddie Lewis 21Rebs Ollie Darden 16 Pts Art Heyman 32Rebs Trooper Washington 15Pittsburgh leads series 2 0Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania March 27BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 133 Indiana Pacers 114Pts Charlie Williams 34Rebs Connie Hawkins 15 Pts Freddie Lewis 32Rebs George Peeples 20Pittsburgh wins series 3 0Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis Indiana Regular season series Pittsburgh won 6 4 in the regular season seriesNovember 7 1967ReportIndiana Pacers 100 Pittsburgh Pipers 83Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 16 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 116 Indiana Pacers 90Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis December 3 1967ReportIndiana Pacers 100 Pittsburgh Pipers 103Civic Arena Pittsburgh December 16 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 122 Indiana Pacers 117Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis December 31 1967ReportIndiana Pacers 106 Pittsburgh Pipers 121Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 11 1968ReportIndiana Pacers 115 Pittsburgh Pipers 138Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 13 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 99 Indiana Pacers 113Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis January 17 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 137 Indiana Pacers 101Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis January 31 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 113 Indiana Pacers 119Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis February 6 1968ReportIndiana Pacers 113 Pittsburgh Pipers 100Civic Arena PittsburghThis was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Pacers 2 Minnesota Muskies vs 4 Kentucky Colonels Edit March 24BoxscoreKentucky Colonels 102 Minnesota Muskies 115Pts Darel Carrier 29Rebs Carrier Ligon Rhine 8 each Pts Mel Daniels 44Rebs Mel Daniels 15Minnesota leads series 1 0Met Center Bloomington Minnesota March 26BoxscoreKentucky Colonels 100 Minnesota Muskies 95Pts Louie Dampier 24Rebs Jim Caldwell 21 Pts Donnie Freeman 30Rebs Daniels Freeman Hunter Smith 8 eachSeries tied 1 1Met Center Bloomington Minnesota March 27BoxscoreMinnesota Muskies 116 Kentucky Colonels 107Pts Les Hunter 38Rebs Les Hunter 21 Pts Louie Dampier 32Rebs Jim Caldwell 9Minnesota leads series 2 1Louisville Convention Center Louisville Kentucky March 29BoxscoreMinnesota Muskies 86 Kentucky Colonels 94Pts Daniels Smith 22 eachRebs Mel Daniels 22 Pts Darel Carrier 29Rebs Jim Ligon 21Series tied 2 2Louisville Convention Center Louisville Kentucky March 30BoxscoreKentucky Colonels 108 Minnesota Muskies 114Pts Louie Dampier 33Rebs Jim Caldwell 11 Pts Ervin Inniger 33Rebs Mel Daniels 19Minnesota wins series 3 2Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Regular season series Tied 5 5 in the regular season seriesOctober 22 1967ReportKentucky Colonels 104 Minnesota Muskies 96Met Center Bloomington October 29 1967ReportKentucky Colonels 81 Minnesota Muskies 94Met Center Bloomington November 8 1967ReportMinnesota Muskies 106 Kentucky Colonels 92Louisville Convention Center Louisville November 14 1967ReportKentucky Colonels 75 Minnesota Muskies 125Met Center Bloomington December 12 1967ReportMinnesota Muskies 94 Kentucky Colonels 113Louisville Convention Center Louisville January 8 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 103 Kentucky Colonels 107Louisville Convention Center Louisville January 23 1968ReportKentucky Colonels 97 Minnesota Muskies 120Met Center Bloomington February 2 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 84 Kentucky Colonels 120Louisville Convention Center Louisville February 5 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 86 Kentucky Colonels 95Louisville Convention Center Louisville February 27 1968ReportKentucky Colonels 93 Minnesota Muskies 102Met Center BloomingtonThis was the first playoff meeting between the Muskies and the Colonels Western Division Semifinals Edit 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 3 Denver Rockets Edit March 26BoxscoreDenver Rockets 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 130Pts Larry Jones 29 Pts Larry Brown 31New Orleans leads series 1 0Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana March 27BoxscoreDenver Rockets 93 New Orleans Buccaneers 105Pts Willie Murrell 21 Pts Jimmy Jones 22New Orleans leads series 2 0Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana March 30BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 98 Denver Rockets 105Pts Doug Moe 22 Pts Wayne Hightower 28New Orleans leads series 2 1Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Colorado March 31BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 100 Denver Rockets 108Pts Doug Moe 27 Pts Willie Murrell 28Series tied 2 2Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Colorado April 3BoxscoreDenver Rockets 97 New Orleans Buccaneers 102Pts Willie Murrell 26 Pts Larry Brown 24New Orleans wins series 3 2Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana Regular season series Tied 5 5 in the regular season seriesNovember 11 1967ReportDenver Rockets 107 New Orleans Buccaneers 131Loyola Field House New Orleans November 21 1967ReportDenver Rockets 90 New Orleans Buccaneers 107Loyola Field House New Orleans December 15 1967ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 100 Denver Rockets 93Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 4 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 107 Denver Rockets 122Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 18 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 97 Denver Rockets 126Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 26 1968ReportDenver Rockets 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 97Loyola Field House New Orleans February 4 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 105 Denver Rockets 100Denver Auditorium Arena Denver February 11 1968ReportDenver Rockets 90 New Orleans Buccaneers 98Loyola Field House New Orleans February 23 1968ReportDenver Rockets 108 New Orleans Buccaneers 102Loyola Field House New Orleans March 18 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 101 Denver Rockets 108Denver Auditorium Arena DenverThis was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Rockets 2 Dallas Chaparrals vs 4 Houston Mavericks Edit March 23BoxscoreHouston Mavericks 110 Dallas Chaparrals 111Pts Willie Somerset 42 Pts John Beasley 28Dallas leads series 1 0Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas March 25BoxscoreHouston Mavericks 97 Dallas Chaparrals 115Pts Willie Somerset 40 Pts Charlie Beasley 27Dallas leads series 2 0Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas March 26BoxscoreDallas Chaparrals 116 Houston Mavericks 103Pts John Beasley 31 Pts Art Becker 26Dallas wins series 3 0Sam Houston Coliseum Houston Texas Regular season series Dallas won 8 2 in the regular season seriesOctober 23 1967ReportDallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 83Sam Houston Coliseum Houston November 17 1967ReportHouston Mavericks 107 Dallas Chaparrals 116Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas November 19 1967ReportDallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 94Sam Houston Coliseum Houston January 12 1968ReportHouston Mavericks 99 Dallas Chaparrals 107Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 19 1968ReportHouston Mavericks 92 Dallas Chaparrals 102Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 26 1968ReportHouston Mavericks 96 Dallas Chaparrals 122Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas February 18 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 93 Houston Mavericks 110Sam Houston Coliseum Houston February 21 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 122 Houston Mavericks 119Sam Houston Coliseum Houston February 29 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 101Sam Houston Coliseum Houston March 8 1968ReportHouston Mavericks 116 Dallas Chaparrals 117Dallas Memorial Auditorium DallasThis was the first playoff meeting between the Chaparrals and the Mavericks Division Finals EditEastern Division Finals Edit 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 2 Minnesota Muskies Edit April 4BoxscoreMinnesota Muskies 117 Pittsburgh Pipers 125Pts Mel Daniels 28Rebs Mel Daniels 18 Pts Art Heyman 34Rebs Connie Hawkins 15Pittsburgh leads series 1 0Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 6BoxscoreMinnesota Muskies 137 Pittsburgh Pipers 123Pts Hunter Daniels 38 eachRebs Mel Daniels 27 Pts Williams Hawkins 27 eachRebs Trooper Washington 35Series tied 1 1Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 10BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 107 Minnesota Muskies 99Pts Connie Hawkins 32 Pts Les Hunter 27Pittsburgh leads series 2 1Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Minnesota April 13BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 117 Minnesota Muskies 108Pts Connie Hawkins 38 Pts Skip Thoren 22Pittsburgh leads series 3 1Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Minnesota April 14BoxscoreMinnesota Muskies 105 Pittsburgh Pipers 114Pts Donnie Freeman 23Rebs Skip Thoren 13Asts Donnie Freeman 11 Pts Connie Hawkins 24Rebs Leroy Wright 17Pittsburgh wins series 4 1Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Regular season series Pittsburgh won 7 4 in the regular season seriesOctober 24 1967ReportMinnesota Muskies 104 Pittsburgh Pipers 86Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 9 1967ReportMinnesota Muskies 86 Pittsburgh Pipers 97Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 23 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 75 Minnesota Muskies 101Met Center Bloomington Minnesota December 10 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 114 Minnesota Muskies 99Met Center Bloomington Minnesota December 17 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 121 Minnesota Muskies 116 OT Met Center Bloomington Minnesota January 12 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 103 Minnesota Muskies 120Met Center Bloomington Minnesota January 26 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 107 Pittsburgh Pipers 115Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 30 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 112 Pittsburgh Pipers 121Civic Arena Pittsburgh February 4 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 95 Minnesota Muskies 114Met Center Bloomington Minnesota February 19 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 120 Minnesota Muskies 115Met Center Bloomington Minnesota February 23 1968ReportMinnesota Muskies 102 Pittsburgh Pipers 110Civic Arena PittsburghThis was the first playoff meeting between these two teams Western Division Finals Edit 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 2 Dallas Chaparrals Edit April 5BoxscoreDallas Chaparrals 99 New Orleans Buccaneers 104Pts John Beasley 27 Pts Doug Moe 28New Orleans leads series 1 0Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 9BoxscoreDallas Chaparrals 112 New Orleans Buccaneers 109Pts Charlie Beasley 31 Pts Doug Moe 30Series tied 1 1Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 10BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 110 Dallas Chaparrals 107Pts Larry Brown 25 Pts Cincy Powell 33New Orleans leads series 2 1Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas April 11BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 119 Dallas Chaparrals 103Pts Jesse Branson 26 Pts Maurice McHartley 26New Orleans leads series 3 1Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas April 13BoxscoreDallas Chaparrals 107 New Orleans Buccaneers 108Pts Cincy Powell 27 Pts Larry Brown 27New Orleans wins series 4 1Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana Regular season series New Orleans won 6 4 in the regular season seriesOctober 27 1967ReportDallas Chaparrals 97 New Orleans Buccaneers 101Loyola Field House New Orleans December 10 1967ReportDallas Chaparrals 110 New Orleans Buccaneers 125Loyola Field House New Orleans December 12 1967ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 109 Dallas Chaparrals 105Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas December 19 1967ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 96 Dallas Chaparrals 93Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 7 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 101 Dallas Chaparrals 113Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 23 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 112Loyola Field House New Orleans January 24 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 94 New Orleans Buccaneers 112Loyola Field House New Orleans January 25 1968ReportDallas Chaparrals 102 New Orleans Buccaneers 101Loyola Field House New Orleans February 15 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 113 Dallas Chaparrals 121 OT Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas March 14 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 87 Dallas Chaparrals 90Dallas Memorial Auditorium DallasThis was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Chaparrals ABA Finals W1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs E1 Pittsburgh Pipers EditSeries summary Edit Game Date Away Team Result Home TeamGame 1 April 18 New Orleans Buccaneers 112 120 0 1 Pittsburgh PipersGame 2 April 20 New Orleans Buccaneers 109 100 1 1 Pittsburgh PipersGame 3 April 24 Pittsburgh Pipers 101 109 1 2 New Orleans BuccaneersGame 4 April 25 Pittsburgh Pipers 106 105 OT 2 2 New Orleans BuccaneersGame 5 April 27 New Orleans Buccaneers 111 108 3 2 Pittsburgh PipersGame 6 May 1 Pittsburgh Pipers 118 112 3 3 New Orleans BuccaneersGame 7 May 4 New Orleans Buccaneers 113 122 3 4 Pittsburgh PipersSeries results Edit April 18BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 112 Pittsburgh Pipers 120Pts Red Robbins 41Rebs Red Robbins 23 Pts Connie Hawkins 39Rebs Washington Wright 11 eachPittsburgh leads series 1 0Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 20BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 109 Pittsburgh Pipers 100Pts Larry Brown 28Rebs Red Robbins 23 Pts Chico Vaughn 27Rebs Trooper Washington 17Series tied 1 1Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 24BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 101 New Orleans Buccaneers 109Pts Chico Vaughn 27Rebs Trooper Washington 14 Pts Red Robbins 30Rebs Red Robbins 22New Orleans leads series 2 1Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 25BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 106 New Orleans Buccaneers 105 OT Pts Connie Hawkins 47Rebs Trooper Washington 25 Pts Jimmy Jones 23Rebs Red Robbins 10Series tied 2 2Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 27BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 111 Pittsburgh Pipers 108Pts Doug Moe 31 Pts Williams Hawkins 29 eachNew Orleans leads series 3 2Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania May 1BoxscorePittsburgh Pipers 118 New Orleans Buccaneers 112Pts Connie Hawkins 41Rebs Trooper Washington 16 Pts Doug Moe 25Rebs Red Robbins 11Series tied 3 3Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana May 4BoxscoreNew Orleans Buccaneers 113 Pittsburgh Pipers 122Pts Doug Moe 28Rebs Red Robbins 13 Pts Williams Hawkins 35 eachRebs Trooper Washington 14Pittsburgh wins series 4 3Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Regular season series Tied 3 3 in the regular season seriesOctober 30 1967ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 128 Pittsburgh Pipers 99Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 17 1967ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 94 Pittsburgh Pipers 95Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 28 1967ReportPittsburgh Pipers 99 New Orleans Buccaneers 106Loyola Field House New Orleans January 19 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 126 Pittsburgh Pipers 132Civic Arena Pittsburgh February 17 1968ReportNew Orleans Buccaneers 121 Pittsburgh Pipers 129Civic Arena Pittsburgh March 8 1968ReportPittsburgh Pipers 114 New Orleans Buccaneers 116Loyola Field House New OrleansThis was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Buccaneers Sports portalExternal links EditRememberTheABA com page on 1968 ABA playoffs Basketball Reference com s 1968 ABA Playoffs page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1968 ABA Playoffs amp oldid 1069443296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
