to relocate the game to the Long Island Arena in Commack, New York, but when the teams arrived, the playing surface was in such poor condition that the Colonels refused to play. Mikan ruled that the Americans had failed to provide acceptable playing facilities and forfeited the game to the Colonels, with Kentucky advancing to the divisional semifinals. Playoffs The top seeds in each division during the regular season were the Eastern Division Pittsburgh Pipers and the New Orleans Buccaneers of the Western Division, and each won their respective division titles and won both divisional playoff rounds to advance to the league championship. In the seventh and deciding game, the Pipers defeated the Buccaneers by a score of 122–113 to take the first league championship, with Charlie Williams scoring a game high 35 points to lead the hometown Pipers in front of 11,475 fans. Final standings Eastern Division Western Division Asterisk (*) denotes playoff team Bold – ABA Champions Awards and honors ABA Most Valuable Player Award: Connie Hawkins, Pittsburgh Pipers Rookie of the Year: Mel Daniels, Minnesota Muskies Coach of the Year: Vince Cazzetta, Pittsburgh Pipers Playoffs MVP: Connie Hawkins, Pittsburgh Pipers All-Star Game MVP: Larry Brown, New Orleans Buccaneers All-ABA First Team Connie Hawkins, Pittsburgh Pipers Doug Moe, New Orleans Buccaneers Mel Daniels, Minnesota Muskies Larry Jones, Denver Rockets Charlie Williams, Pittsburgh Pipers All-ABA Second Team Roger Brown, Indiana Pacers Cincy Powell, Dallas Chaparrals John Beasley, Dallas Chaparrals Larry Brown, New Orleans Buccaneers Louie Dampier, Kentucky Colonels All-ABA Rookie Team Louie Dampier, Kentucky Colonels Mel Daniels, Minnesota Muskies Jimmy Jones, New Orleans Buccaneers Bob Netolicky, Indiana Pacers Trooper Washington, Pittsburgh Pipers References ABA