- 1971 ABA Playoffs
The 1971
ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of theAmerican Basketball Association 's 1970-1971 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division championUtah Stars defeating the Eastern Division championKentucky Colonels , four games to three in the ABA finals.3RoundBracket-Byes | RD1= Division semifinals
RD2= Division finals
RD3= ABA finals
group1=Western Division
group2=Eastern DivisionRD1-seed1=1
RD1-team1=Indiana Pacers
RD1-score1=4
RD1-seed2=3
RD1-team2=Memphis Pros
RD1-score2=0RD1-seed3=4
RD1-team3=Texas Chaparrals
RD1-score3=0
RD1-seed4=2
RD1-team4=Utah Stars
RD1-score4=4RD1-seed5=1
RD1-team5=Virginia Squires
RD1-score5=4
RD1-seed6=3
RD1-team6=New York Nets
RD1-score6=2RD1-seed7=4
RD1-team7=The Floridians
RD1-score7=2
RD1-seed8=2
RD1-team8=Kentucky Colonels
RD1-score8=4RD2-seed1=1
RD2-team1=Indiana Pacers
RD2-score1=3
RD2-seed2=2
RD2-team2=Utah Stars
RD2-score2=4RD2-seed3=1
RD2-team3=Virginia Squires
RD2-score3=2
RD2-seed4=2
RD2-team4=Kentucky Colonels
RD2-score4=4RD3-seed1=W2
RD3-team1=Utah Stars
RD3-score1=4
RD3-seed2=E2
RD3-team2=Kentucky Colonels
RD3-score2=3Notable events
There was a one game playoff for fourth place in the Western Division because the
Texas Chaparrals andDenver Rockets had tied with regular season records of 30-54. The game was played on April 1 and the Chaparrals won 115-109.This was the first season in ABA history in which the team with the best regular season record did not win the ABA championship. The
Indiana Pacers had the league's best record during this season at 58-26 (.690), putting them one game ahead of the eventual league championUtah Stars in the Western Division.This was the first season in ABA history in which neither regular season division champion made it to the ABA finals. The second place Utah Stars represented the West while the
Kentucky Colonels , second place in the East behind theVirginia Squires , met them in the finals.13,260 fans attended Game Seven of the ABA championship series between the Utah Stars and Kentucky Colonels at the
Salt Palace in Salt Lake City,Utah onMay 18 ,1971 . After the Stars won 131-121 the fans stormed the floor and mobbed the court for twenty minutes.Willie Wise andZelmo Beaty rode off the floor carried upon the shoulders of Utah fans. [ [http://www.remembertheaba.com/Utah-Stars.html Remember the ABA: Utah Stars ] ]Zelmo Beaty was named Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs.
References
External links
* [http://www.remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1971Playoffs.html RememberTheABA.com page on 1971 ABA playoffs]
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ABA_1971.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1971 ABA Playoffs page]
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