Pacers had a sparkling ABA history

By John Bansch

Published: May 24, 1994

The Indianapolis Star

Once upon a time, it was not a rare moment when the Indiana Pacers enjoyed the basketball playoff sunshine.

In the days of the red, white and blue ball, the Pacers and Coach Bobby Leonard won three American Basketball Association championships and reached the title round in five of the nine seasons the league existed.

No professional team in the Hoosier state's history was ever held in greater admiration than the ABA Pacers. Here is a brief look at some those playoff years plus Indiana's NBA postseason

activity.

1967-68

"We want Pittsburgh," was the battle cry as the Pacers prepared for their first playoff series under Coach Larry Staverman. "Wait until next year," was the operative slogan a week later as the Pipers won all three games in the best-of-five competition.

Indiana was without center Reggie Harding, suspended by General Manager Mike Storen for a "lost week" in Detroit.

Pittsburgh established a franchise points record in winning the opener 146-127 and breezed to a 121-108 triumph in Game 2 in Indianapolis.

The Pacers led 56-55 at halftime in Game 3 at Pittsburgh, but the Pipers singed the nets for 48 third-quarter points to lead 103-83 going into the final period. Art Heyman had 18 points in the blitz. Connie Hawkins was the primary Pittsburgh scorer throughout

the brief series.

1968-69

Pacer fans got their money's worth as ticket prices were raised $1 for the postseason, putting the cost of the highest-priced seat at $5 and the cheapest $2.50.

Bobby Leonard replaced Staverman nine games into the season.

Indiana was 2-7 under Staverman, 42-27 with Leonard at the helm and didn't put the uniforms in storage until falling 4-1 to Oakland in the championship series.

The Pacers, winners of the Eastern Division crown, began the march to the first of five appearances in the ABA title round by winning three straight in four days over the Kentucky Colonels after losing three of the first four contests. The momentum changed when Kentucky made just 2 of 19 fourth-quarter shots, both Sam

Smith rebound efforts, in Game 5. Bob Netolicky had 35 points for Indiana and Roger Brown 34 in the 116-97 decision. Solid defense squared the series and a State Fairgrounds Coliseum record 11,005 witnessed Netolicky's 32-point, 16-rebounds performance in the 120-111 seventh game.

Indiana had little trouble eliminating Miami in Round 2, winning the first three and four of five. In the deciding fifth game, John Fairchild, who had played just 4 minutes in the preceeding 11 games, provided the spark.

Oakland, winner in all six games against Indiana in the regular season, captured the final three games to earn the title. Gary Bradds led the Oaks to victory with 40 points in the opener.

The Pacers scored 150 to win Game 2 by 28 as Brown tossed in 39, Netolicky 36 and Freddie Lewis 35. Indiana lost Games 3 and 5 in overtime. The pivotal loss came in the third contest at the Coliseum when the Pacers blew a 118-115 advantage with 4 seconds remaining in regulation.

Leonard told his players to foul whomever caught the inbounds pass. Larry Brown inbounded the ball to Warren Armstrong, who let fly the game-tying 3-pointer when Tom Thacker hesitated before attempting to foul the shooter. Oakland won Game 4 144-117, then Larry Brown beat the Pacers in the 135-131 fifth game. He tied the game on two free throws and put the Oaks in front with 24 seconds to play on a driving layup when Mel Daniels was called for goaltending.

1969-70

Roger Brown was at his finest in propelling the Pacers to the first of three ABA championships. "The Rajah" went 53, 39, 45 points in the final three starts of the six- game title series against the Los Angeles Stars. Following the 45-point outburst, fueled by seven 3-pointers in the final game, LA Lakers' star Jerry West, a spectator, remarked, "I have no doubt he could start on any team in my league."

Indiana swept Carolina in four to win Round 1, taking the last two on the road. John Barnhill, scoreless in the first two contests, had 20 in Game 3. Lewis' six points in the final 37 seconds sealed the 110- 106 decision in the fourth game.

The march to the crown continued with four straight wins over Kentucky after the Colonels stunned Indiana 114-110 in the series opener at Indianapolis. Kokomo's Goose Ligon had 34 points in the first game, then went into hiding. Brown had 30 or more points in the first three starts. Billy Keller held "Southport Louie" Dampier to eight points in the Pacers' 117-103 triumph in Game 5.

Indiana pushed its playoff record to 10-1 by winning the first two games against Los Angeles, breezing to a 109-93 decision in the opener before slipping past the Stars 114-111. In Game 2, Netolicky hit two free throws with 6 seconds to play, then said, "I made 'em for my man Johnny Rutherford," who qualified in the middle of the front row for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race the day before.

Los Angeles rallied from 21 points down to win Game 3 109-106, as Indiana missed its first 20 shots in the fourth quarter. Brown's franchise playoff record 53 points made it 3-1 Indiana after four games. The Stars won Game 5 in Indianapolis to keep the champagne on ice, but two nights later the Pacers brought the city its first major professional championship.

1970-71

The Stars, who moved to Salt Lake City from Los Angeles in the offseason, got a measure of revenge by eliminating the Pacers in the second round after Indiana buried Memphis 4-0 in Round 1.

Two games into the opening round George McGinnis announced he was leaving Indiana University to turn pro. The final two wins at

Memphis were by one point - 91- 90 and 102-101 in overtime. Indiana outscored the Pros 24-16 in the fourth quarter to win the third game after being down 19 points in the second period. Lewis' two free throws with 4 seconds remaining produced the winning points.

Utah won three of the first four games in second round. Pacers' lone victory was the second game when Billy Keller made six 3-pointers en route to 31 points. In Game 4, Stars romped 126-79 as Pacers scored just 13 points while Utah had 31 in first period.

Indiana won the next two games and McGinnis, agreeing to 3-year deal with Pacers, became the fifth underclassman to sign a pro basketball contract. A record throng, reported as 11,202 to satisfy the fire marshal, jammed the Coliseum to see the Pacers lose the seventh game 108-101. Utah, down 51-44 at halftime, hit 17 of 23

shots in third period to offset Keller's 33-points.

1971-72

Indiana traversed a rocky road to become the first franchise in five-year history of ABA to win two championships. McGinnis made an immediate impact, moving into the starting lineup at forward and sending Brown to the backcourt.

The title journey began with the Pacers winning Games 1, 3, 5 and 7 against Denver. Lewis was the executioner in Game 7, making three key plays in the final 90 seconds - a layup and two steals - as the Pacers pulled out a 91-89 victory.

In the second round, Utah won the first two games and Indiana needed seven games to reach the final round. Pacers won the third game at Anderson and fourth contest at Indiana University before 13,007 because the Coliseum was is booked for another event. Lewis' four free tosses in final 29 seconds squared the series. Pacers fell behind 3-2 in spite of 41- point fourth quarter. McGinnis, Darnell Hillman and Rick Mount came off the bench in the second half to combine for 44 points and 23 rebounds in Game 6. Keller hit

two free throws with 5 seconds left in 117-113 seventh game at Salt Lake City to settle score for seventh-game loss a year before. Utah had finished 13 games ahead of Indiana in winning the Western Division.

MVP Lewis and McGinnis were catalysts in 4-2 championship series victory over New York Nets. Pacers won the opener, with Lewis getting 33 points and McGinnis 23 rebounds. Rick Barry's 44 points in Game 2 squared series and it was 2-2 after four outings. Indiana won the final two games and more than 4,000 fans greeted

the champs at the airport.

1972-73

Denver, Utah and Kentucky fell in the Pacers' march to their second straight ABA title and third in four seasons. Mount had gone to Kentucky and was replaced by Donnie Freeman. Indiana led the league in attendance, averaging 8,476 at home, and home wins, 32 of 40 Coliseum starts. Col. James Kasler, a Vietnam POW captured a year before the Pacers were formed, was one of the spectators in the opening playoffs victory over Denver. Brown scored 12 of his 14 second-game points and Indiana went up 2-0 en route to a 4-1 series victory.

Denver ran off 17 straight first-quarter points in the third game for its only victory. Keller's 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining was the difference in 97-95 fourth game.

Utah fell in six games after winning series opener. With series tied 2-2, Brown remained in Indianapolis in traction with a bad back while the Pacers traveled to Salt Lake City. Hillman, subbing for Brown, hit two free throws with 71 seconds remaining for 104-102 victory. Center Mel Daniels extinguished motorist's car fire in front of his house then headed for Coliseum to ignite series-winning surge.

The Pacers needed seven games to win a volatile championship series with the Artis Gilmore/Dan Issel-led Colonels. Kentucky protested Game 1, won 111-107 in overtime by Indiana as Lewis scored eight of the Pacers' 11 OT points. The dispute arose when Kentucky's Jim O'Brien missed the rim just before the shot clock expired. The officials could not hear the buzzer because of the noise at Freedom Hall, O'Brien got the ball back and made a second shot which would have broken a 100-100 tie. Following a conference, the officials negated the basket.

Gilmore and Issel combined for 57 points in Game 2 to even the series. In the next game, McGinnis' try for a game-winning shot with 25 seconds was rejected by Gilmore. Indiana squared the series, 90-86, on the same day Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Leonard was ejected at halftime when handed his second technical by referee Joe Gushue. Gus Johnson coached Indiana in the second half.

A Mount-Freeman fight spiced up the final half. With the Pacers trailing 86-85 in Game 5, McGinnis fumbled the ball out of bounds as he drove for the basket. Five seconds later, he stole a pass near mid-court, took the ball to the hoop and stuffed in the shot to put Indiana ahead. Kentucky won Game 6 at the Coliseum, forcing Indiana to win a title on the road a second time. McGinnis had 13 of his game-high 27 points during an 8-minute run in the third quarter.

1973-74

"Four in '74," was the motto for the farewell Coliseum season.

Arch-rival Utah spoiled the party, eliminating Indiana 4-3 in the second round after a 4-3 opening- round triumph over San Antonio.

Keller's nine 3-pointers weren't enough in a 113-109 loss to the Spurs in the postseason opener. McGinnis ripped a 22-foot set shot with 4 seconds remaining for a 91-89 victory in Game 4 to square the series before Indiana won two of the next three contests.

The Pacers lost the first three games to Utah before winning the next three to force another seventh game. Lewis' 40 points broke the three-game slide, then Daniels and McGinnis scored 29 points each in Game 5. The Pacers staggered to another decision at Terre Haute but fell by 22 in the finale.

1974-75

Indiana came home without the trophy in trip No. 5 to the final round, losing the championship series to Kentucky in five games. It was the last time the Pacers would advance beyond the first round until 1994.

San Antonio was a 4-2 victim in Round 1 and the Larry Brown-coached Denver Nuggets lost a 4-3 decision in Round 2. The playoffs opened the day Illinois hired Lou Henson as its basketball coach and Americans were being evacuated from Vietnam.

Indiana lost its regular-season finale to San Antonio before beating the Spurs three straight. Rookie Len Elmore had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals in the opener subbing for the injured Hillman. McGinnis, who won the scoring title with a 29.8-point average and shared MVP honors with Julius Erving, scored 30 points in the final half of the second game. San Antonio won Game 4 before an ABA playoff record crowd of 17,389 in Market Square Arena.

McGinnis continued his scoring spree with 39 points and collared 32 rebounds in the opener at Denver, but Indiana lost 131- 128. Rookie Billy Knight scored 44 in the second game as the Pacers pulled even 131-124. Denver won Game 4 after Brown said he ate 35 Tootsie Pops in one day in an attempt to calm his nerves. The attendance record fell in Game 6 when 17,421 crammed MSA. So did the Pacers before beating Denver in the Mile-High city in Game 7.

Pacer fans and officials will always remember the championship series with Kentucky as the one "referee Ed Rush" stole from Indiana. The Colonels romped to a 120-109 victory in Game 1. In the second game, Kentucky led 95-93 with one second remaining. Keller crossed the time line and let fly with a 3-point attempt. The ball touched nothing but net. Rush, however, ruled the shot came after time expired. The decision resulted in a pushing and shoving match and Indiana protested. Commissioner Dave DeBusschere rejected the protest, and Indiana folded in the third game, slipped home a winner in Game 4 and fell 110-105 in the title bout.

1975-76

For the first time since the inaugural ABA season, the Pacers were eliminated in the first round. Kentucky won the best-of-three series as Dampier delivered the knockout blow in the Colonels' 100-99 victory in Game 3. The punch was an off-balance 10-footer with 1 second remaining.

1980-81

Indiana celebrated St. Patrick's Day in New York by earning its first NBA playoff berth even though it lost to the Knicks. It was two and out for Coach Jack McKinney's team in the best-of-three series against Philadelphia, the first Pacers' postseason appearance in five years. The Pacers lost 124-108 to the 76ers in the Spectrum one day after Indiana University won the NCAA tournament in the same building. The Pacers led 27-22 with 3 minutes remaining in the first period, then were outscored 45-22 in the next 15 minutes to trail 67-49 at the break. Philadelphia won Game 2 96-85 in Indianapolis.

1986-87 It was six more years before Jack Ramsay coached the Pacers into the playoffs again. This time Indiana won one game in a best-of-five series with Atlanta. The Hawks were overpowering in the opener. In Game 2 the Pacers trailed 94-93 and had the ball with 17 seconds to play. With 6 seconds remaining, John Long made a move and unloaded a 12-footer. The ball rolled off the rim. Ramsay did not call timeout prior to the shot and TV replays showed Chuck Person and Herb Williams open before Long shot instead of passing.

Dominique Wilkins' series of key plays closed the series after Indiana won its first playoff game since 1976. Person had 40 points in the finale.

1989-90

Indiana returned to its three-and-out routine, this time against Detroit. The Pistons won 104-92, 100-87 and 108-96, the first two triumphs coming at home. Indiana won the battle of the boards in the middle contest while Detroit's defense was outstanding in all three games.

1990-91

For the first time in 16 years the Pacers win more than one game in the postseason, falling to Boston 3-2 in a series highlighted by the trash talking between Person and Larry Bird.

Bird flew high in Game 1 with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists before checking into the hospital with a bad back. At one point, Bird, who played 41 minutes, asked the ref to pick up the ball for him following a Pacer basket, claiming his back was too sore to bend over. The official obliged. It was also the opening round of the war of words which drew much attention throughout the series.

Person, after being stuck in the elevator going to the Pacers dressing room, did his talking with his shooting in Game 2. He scored 39 points as Indiana pulled even with a 130-118 decision.

Bird left the hosptial to score 18 points in 40 minutes.

Boston led wire-to-wire to capture Game 3 at Market Square Arena. Bird stretched out on the floor to rest his ailing back when he wasn't playing. Indiana shot just 41 percent and Person had only six points. Person came back with a vengeance two nights later, once scoring 12 straight points in a 116-113 Indiana victory.

Reggie Miller added 23 first-half points.

The Celts threw their best punches at Indiana in the fifth game, but the Pacers refused to buckle. Boston won a 124-121 decision with Bird and Person each scoring 32 points. Bird departed with 4:32 left in the first half with a bruised cheek bone, suffered diving for a loose ball, and returned after the third quarter began.

1991-92

Twelve months later the pairings were the same, but the rematch proved uneventful. Boston won all three games - 124-113, 119-112 and 102-98. Bird's continuing back problems kept him out of the entire series. Indiana fell apart after holding a 106-103 lead in the opener. John Bagley had 35 points and 15 assists in the second game.

1992-93 The opponent was different, the outcome the same. The Pacers lost in four to the New York Knicks. The headline in The Star said it all: "Pacers' great effort is not quite enough." Rookie Malik Sealy made news before the opening tip, leaving his scouting report in a telephone booth at JFK airport. It found its way into the hands of a New York disc jockey.

Miller tied an NBA playoff record, making all 17 of his free throws en route to a 32-point effort but his 3-pointer bounced off the rim at the finish in New York's 107- 104 victory. The Knicks' Patrick Ewing, Charles Smith and Charles Oakley outscored the Pacers' front line of Detlef Schrempf, Rik Smits and Dale Davis 30-9 and outrebound the trio 17-4.

New York outscored Indiana 57-36 in the second half to win the second game 101-90. The Pacers forced a fourth game when Miller tickled the twine for 36 in a 116-93 triumph in Indianapolis. The Knicks' John Starks was ejected in the third quarter when he head-butted Miller after the two exchanged words. New York was in front 59- 57 when the confrontation occurred. Indiana left its hearts on the floor in the fourth game, but Doc Rivers, with three 3-pointers in overtime and 16 in the final minutes, led New York to a 109-100 victory. Miller had 33 points in a losing cause, Schrempf 25 and nineassists and Smits 21 points and 12 rebounds.