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1968–69 Minnesota Pipers season

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1968–69 Minnesota Pipers season
Head coachJim Harding (20–13)
Vern Mikkelsen (6–6)
Verl Young (10–23)
ArenaMet Center
Results
Record36–42 (.462)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in the Eastern Division Semifinals

The 1968–69 Minnesota Pipers season was the only season of the Pipers in Minnesota and second overall season in the American Basketball Association. The previous season, the Pipers had won the ABA Finals, but moved the team from Pittsburgh to Minnesota (which had just lost the Muskies) after the season. But the Pipers were not any more successful in Minnesota, and they moved back to Pittsburgh before next season. The team went through three coaches: Harding, who was fired after attacking the Pipers Chairman Gabe Rubin at the banquet of the All-Star Game. Mikkelsen (the general manager) took over for a while before Verl Young took the job permanently. Hawkins, Williams, Vaughn, and Heyman were nagged by injuries due to long practices, which affected the team, which fell in the Semifinals to the Miami Floridians. Minnesota would not have a pro basketball team again until 1989 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Roster

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Final standings

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Eastern Division

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Team W L PCT. GB
Indiana Pacers 44 34 .564 -
Miami Floridians 43 35 .551 1
Kentucky Colonels 42 36 .538 2
Minnesota Pipers 36 42 .462 8
New York Nets 17 61 .218 27

Playoffs

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Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Miami Floridians[1]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 7 Miami 110–119 0–1 4,103
2 April 9 Miami 106–99 1–1 1,688
3 April 10 Minnesota 109–93 2–1 1,520
4 April 12 Minnesota 109–116 2–2 2,532
5 April 13 Miami 107–122 2–3 4,206
6 April 15 Minnesota 105–100 3–3 1,345
7 April 19 Miami 128–137 3–4 5,702

Pipers lose series, 4–3

Awards and honors

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1969 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 28, 1969)

Hawkins had been selected, but he was injured. Harding was selected to coach the team, but Rhodes replaced him after his firing.

References

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  1. ^ "1968-69 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
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