Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 @ 7:30PM (PST)
TV:
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980
Minnesota leads the season series 1-0
Last Meeting: 1/20 in Los Angeles; Minnesota won 101-98
PG: #3 - Chris Paul SG: #4 - Randy Foye
SF: #5 - Caron Butler PF: #32 - Blake Griffin
C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan
Reserves
Williams | Bledsoe | Gomes | Evans | Martin
During the summer of 1968, Los Angeles construction businessman Jim Kirst bought the struggling Anaheim Amigos. Kirst immediately moved the franchise to Los Angeles where it became the Los Angeles Stars. The team's home court in Los Angeles was the Los Angeles Sports Arena (capacity 13,325). A 5-game local TV contract was signed and Jim Hardy was named general manager.
In their best move of all, the Stars signed former NBA-great Bill Sharman (left) as their new coach. Sharman left a high-paying job as head coach of the San Francisco Warriors (a team he took to the NBA Finals in 1967) to come to the Stars. Sharman had also previously coached the L.A. Jets and the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL.The Stars had always lacked a dominating center. Dennis Grey, Ed Johnson, and Billy McGill had all fallen short. In January 1970, with the team's record at 16-22, Jim Hardy made the move that propelled Los Angeles into the playoffs: he acquired 6'11" Craig Raymond from the Pittsburgh Pipers. For the remainder of the season -- for reasons unknown -- Raymond consistently played the best pivot of his life. After Raymond's timely arrival, the Stars became a very dangerous team. With hustling Mack Calvin, gunner George Stone, and Jackson providing the firepower, the Stars finished two games above .500. They barely squeezed into the playoffs, edging out New Orleans by only one game.
In the playoffs, the Stars simply shocked the basketball world. They faced an uphill battle, because they did not have the home court advantage in any series. Still, they managed to upset the favored Dallas Chaparrals in the first round, 4 games to 2. Then, in the second round, they cruised past league-MVP Spencer Haywood and the Denver Rockets, 4 games to 1. In the 1970 ABA Finals, Los Angeles faced the powerful Indiana Pacers. The series went to six games before the "Cinderella Stars" succumbed: Raymond was injured early in Game 6 and the Pacers, led by Roger Brown's 43 points, won the ABA title, 111-107. Of course, the key to the Stars' incredible playoff run was Raymond, who dominated the boards and scored clutch baskets. Tom "Trooper" Washington (who, like Raymond, had been acquired from the Pipers) helped by hitting a blistering 62.4% from the field in the playoffs.
1968-69 Season
Record: 33-45, Fifth Place in Western Division
Missed Playoffs
1969-70 Season
Record: 43-41, Fourth Place in Western Division
1970 Playoff Results:
1970 Western Division Semifinals vs. Dallas Chaparrals (45-39)
Stars won series, 4-2
1970 Western Division Finals vs. Denver Rockets (51-33)
Stars won series, 4-1
1970 ABA Championship vs. Indiana Pacers (59-25)
Pacers won series, 4-2Remember the ABA
PG: #9 - Ricky Rubio SG: #13 - Luke Ridnour
SF: #4 - Wesley Johnson PF: #42 - Kevin Love
C: #14 - Nikola Pekovic
Reserves
Barea | Webster | Beasley | Williams | Milicic
Since George Mikan was the ABA's first Commissioner, the ABA's league office was located in Minneapolis (in the old Farmers and Mechanics Bank Building). Therefore, it made sense to place a team in the city as well.
The franchise was named the "Minnesota Muskies" after a popular Minnesota game fish. The team put together a talented group of players. The Muskies first ever draft pick was Mel Daniels out of New Mexico. Daniels had already been drafted in the NBA's first round by the Cincinnati Royals. But Daniels took a gamble on the new league and signed with Minnesota. Daniels would become one of the ABA's most dominating centers for years to come. The Muskies also found and signed Donnie Freeman, a 6'3" guard out of Illinois. Freeman also became a perennial ABA All-Star. Les "Big Game" Hunter gave the team a forward who could score when needed. These three players, Daniels, Freeman and Hunter, all played in the first ABA All-Star game in Indianapolis. Another key player for the Muskies was Ron Perry, a guard out of Virginia Tech. Perry was the least heralded of the Muskie stars, but observers noted that he single-handedly won several games for the team. Their coach was Jim Pollard--a former teammate of George Mikan with the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers.The Muskies defeated the Kentucky Colonels in the first round of the playoffs, but succumbed to the eventual champion Pipers in the second round. While Minnesota was generally successful on the court, they were terrible at the gate. Despite playing in a beautiful and spacious arena (the Metropolitan Sports Center), they had difficulty attracting fans. According to Basketball Weekly newspaper, the Muskies only managed to attract 100 season ticket holders. The ABA record books say that the Muskies averaged 2,800 people per game. However, given the low season ticket base the Muskies had to work with, that number is obviously padded. It is estimated that the Muskies lost $400,000 in their only season.
For their second season, the Muskies planned to play nine home games elsewhere in Minnesota, to boost attendance. A lucrative television contract was also in place. However, Muskies management eventually decided to move the team. The "promising" new location for the franchise was Miami, where the team became the Miami Floridians for the 1968-69 season. Mel Daniels, rookie of the year in 1967-68, was sold to the Pacers in order to pay off debts--a deal that turned out to be one of the worst in ABA history.
1967-68 Season Minnesota Muskies
Record: 50-28, Second Place in Eastern Division
1968 Playoff Results:
1968 Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Kentucky Colonels (36-42)
Muskies won series, 3-2
1968 Eastern Division Finals vs. Pittsburgh Pipers (54-24)
Pipers won series, 4-1
Inactive List:
Kenyon Martin (bruised ribs/sore back) is questionable.
Chauncey Billups (Left Achilles) is out.
None to report.
Team Leaders and Statistics
Blake Griffin - 21.4 Points (10th) and 11.4 Rebounds (5th)
Chris Paul - 8.6 Assists (4th) and 2.3 Steals (3rd)
DeAndre Jordan - 2.6 Blocks (3rd)
Team Performance
97.9 Points Per Game - 7th Overall
42.9 Rebounds Per Game - 12th Overall
21.4 Assists Per Game - 11th Overall
95.3 Points Allowed - 15th Overall
13.7 Turnovers Per Game - 7th Overall
14.5 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 26th Overall
Offensive Rating: 107.9 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 4th Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.0 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 21st Overall
Kevin Love - 25.0 Points (4th) and 14.0 Rebounds (2nd)
Ricky Rubio - 8.4 Assists (5th) and 2.4 steals (2nd)
Darko Milicic - 1.0 Blocks
Team Performance
96.8 Points Per Game - 10th Overall
45.1 Rebounds Per Game - 3rd Overall
18.7 Assists Per Game - 25th Overall
95.6 Points Allowed - 16th Overall
16.2 Turnovers Per Game - 28th Overall
14.4 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 20th Overall
Offensive Rating: 103.1 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 15th Overall
Defensive Rating: 101.9 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 13th Overall
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoLS0t6wzcs[/youtube]
The last time the two teams met, Kevin Love left a horrible taste in the mouth of Clipper Nation. The Clippers were stunned by his walk off 3 pointer. They will certainly want revenge and redemption. Chris Paul missed that game with a hamstring injury, but will certainly want to avenge the team's loss.
The Clippers welcome back Bobby Simmons (video) who spent 2 seasons with the clippers from 2003-2005 and managed to earn an MIP award. Will he be able to prove that he belongs on this team within the next 10 days?
