1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season
| 1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | John Clark (14–25) Buddy Jeannette (15–30) |
| Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 29–55 (.345) |
| Place | Division: 5th (Eastern) |
The 1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season was the second season of the Pipers franchise out in Pittsburgh (third overall season when including their previous season that they had in the state of Minnesota while using the Pipers name) in the American Basketball Association.
History
[edit]The Pipers, having moved back to Pittsburgh after one season played up in Minnesota, faltered without Connie Hawkins (who had gone to the Phoenix Suns following the NBA's decision to unban him after previously being considered a player to have been permanently banned from the NBA at the time due to alleged involvement with Jack Molinas during the period of the 1961 NCAA University Division men's basketball gambling scandal back when Molinas was considered the ringleader of that operation) alongside injuries and middling attendance due to locals being more apathetic about the team's sudden return after previously being jaded with the team's departure a season earlier. The Pipers lost the first 9 games of the 1970 calendar year, with their biggest win streak being 3 games (done twice). Near the end of their season, on April 10, 1970, the Pipers would allow an ABA record-high 177 points scored to the Indiana Pacers in a 177–135 defeat.[1] As of March 27, 2025, it remains the highest-scoring effort the Pacers have ever had either in the ABA or the NBA (with their most recent highest-scoring game in the NBA occurring on March 27, 2025 with a 162–109 blowout win over the Washington Wizards).[2] The team finished 8th in points per game (112.4 per game) and points allowed (117 per game). After the season, the team was bought by Haven Industries, Inc. - the owners of the "Jack Frost" brand of sugar products. Subsequently, they decided to rebrand the team as the Pittsburgh Condors for the 1970 season.
Roster
[edit]| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Head coach
Legend
|
Final standings
[edit]Eastern Division
[edit]| Eastern Division | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers * | 59 | 25 | .702 | - |
| Kentucky Colonels * | 45 | 39 | .536 | 14.0 |
| Carolina Cougars * | 42 | 42 | .500 | 17.0 |
| New York Nets * | 39 | 45 | .464 | 20.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers | 29 | 55 | .345 | 30.0 |
| Miami Floridians | 23 | 61 | .274 | 36.0 |
Awards and honors
[edit]1970 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 24, 1970)