Tag: Season Preview

by abfcommish

1978 ABF Preview

Introduction – Dominance at the Top

All three tiers of the ABF saw dominance at the top. Unlike last year that brought some drama in the Premier with a one game playoff for the championship, the league started to settle in with the cream rising to the top. The season also brought seismic shifts in the pyramid again with former titans relegated to the Championship and Founder’s Cup. All of this promises to bring even more action in wthe 1978 season.

Premier League

The Questions: The Phoenix Suns were dominant, coasting to a 14 game cushion and easily running off with the second ever ABF championship. Can they reclaim that form and repeat? 11 other teams will be gunning for the champs. Boston, runners up in 1976 shocked the league by drafting Larry Bird’s rights even though the team can’t sign him until next year. The bold move cost the Celtics future draft picks, but many agree the move was the right one. The question: What does this next season bring to bridge the gap? Chicago, runners up last season, added Artis Gilmore. This provides them a defensive anchor, but are the truly contenders now?

The Frontcourt: Denver, champions in 1976 and a 4th place last year, refuse to stand pat. After a trade for Moses Malone, they now have Malone, Thompson, and Issel. Is this the greatest frontcourt ever assembled in basketball and do any other teams have a hope next year?

The Heartbreaks: After a hugely successful first season in the Championship and a promotion, Buffalo proved that they aren’t quite ready for prime time. After a 19-47 season and an immediate relegation, the Braves need to prove that they aren’t just one hit wonders. Meanwhile, Los Angeles came up in last with only 14 wins. This wasn’t enough and the Lakers fired their coach to bring in Paul Westhead. They are eying Magic next year and an immediate promotion back into the Premier makes them a worthy target for the young man.

Championship

The Questions: Oklahoma and Baltimore both secured back to back promotions and now bring their rivalry to the Premier League. Do they both belong in the top tier or will they suffer the same fate as Buffalo and Houston? The Spurs, Colonels, and Cavs all found themselves in the promotion tournament and all fell short. The Spurs fell to sub .500 Kentucky and the loss will sting all offseason. The Cavs have now bowed out of the tournament in both ABF seasons. Can either team overcome the loss this year for either automatic promotion or another shot in the tournament? Salt Lake and Mid Atlantic find themselves promoted to the Championship this year. Can either team survive the 66 game grind in the second tier?

The Rebounds: Pardon our pun there, but all three relegated teams this year will also be fighting for promotion again back to the Premier. Houston hired Tex Winter and his potentially powerful offensive scheme. We already mentioned Westhead in Los Angeles. And the Braves want to show that they belong back in the Premier after their quick exit.

Founder’s Cup

After four original FC team find themselves promoted, the bottom tier of the league has only two of the original six in the league. Replacing the promoted teams are The Spirits of St. Louis, Atlanta, and Portland. The Blazers brought back Bill Walton in an attempt to push back into the Championship and, perhaps, even the Premier some day. Hubie Brown and the Spirits also look to get back into the Championship after what will be a second season in the Founder’s Cup. The other relegated team this year, Atlanta faces some stiff competition and may just find themselves in the FC for a couple of more years. Because Tampa Bay and Memphis also both hope to prove themselves after they lost out in a promotion tournament brought about by a three way tie in the league. That leaves Detroit. The Pistons went 0-20 and find themselves in a massive uphill battle to reverse their fortunes.

by abfcommish

1977 Season Preview

Introduction – The Pyramid Shifts

The inaugural season of the ABF brought us plenty of action. The premier league brought a one game playoff for the championship. Promotion and relegation races gave some surprises in the teams that rose or fell. See the side bar for the first classes of promotion and relegation. Click the News link above for our coverage of the 1976 offseason team, player, and coaching moves.

These changes offer new stories and questions for the 1977 season. Fresh faces ensure a shake up at all levels of the pyramid. New teams will grow new rivalries at the top and geographically that are sure to last even through promotion and relegation. As ever, the stakes in the professional ranks of basketball remain high and all teams will bring their best to give fans an enjoyable experience.

Premier League – The Title Chase

After Denver’s single game playoff victory against Boston for the Premier League Title last year, they refused to stand on their laurels. They brought in James Silas to play beside Thompson and Issel. Their window is still wide open. The Celtics, by their identity, had a quiet offseason. However, the still remain a challenger to the title. Joining them are three promoted teams. Buffalo now has McAdoo and Walton, contenders for the best front court in the league. Houston added Moses Malone and became immediate threats. And Philadelphia, young and hungry now have Ernie Grunfeld.

The Lakers, Warriors, Suns, and Bullets all remain within striking distance. If they get hot, make a move at the right time, or teams at the top stumble, they can definitely play spoiler. Under the right circumstances, they might even join the contender’s group. The remaining three (Chicago, Milwaukee, and New York) need to hope that their rookies keep them afloat so that they can remain in the Premier. From there, they can continue to rebuild and climb the ranks.

The Championship – The Pressure Cooker

The first relegation class saw a huge surprise in the Kentucky Colonels. They kept Gilmore and added T.R Dunn and Babe McCarthy. Their goal is promotion and no less. The Indiana Pacers hired Doug Moe, so scoring will not be a problem for the team. Meanwhile, San Antonio unloaded Silas. But, they picked up Tree Rollins and Brad Davis. The rebuild is in full swing.

In the middle of last year’s pack and the teams that have the inside track to promotion this year due to their experience in the Championship last year, we have Long Island, Seattle, and New Orleans. These teams also sport veteran players and coaches in Dr. J, Rod Thorn, Bill Russell, and Pistol Pete. Teams to watch for sure. Some of the most exciting basketball last year came out of Oklahoma City. Promoted to the Championship, some experts pencil them in for another promotion to the Premier this year. Meanwhile, Baltimore looks to build on their success last year and Memphis escaped the Founder’s with a losing record. They have something to prove.

Founder’s Cup – The Proving Ground

The Founders Cup is where teams are built from the ground up — and this season’s crop is the most intriguing yet. Portland, St. Louis, and Detroit all dropped from the Championship, each with a different timeline for climbing back. Portland is in full rebuild mode under Jack Ramsay, with Rickey Green and James Edwards as the new foundation. St. Louis is retooling under Hubie Brown, and Detroit is trying to find any footing after a winless preseason.

Salt Lake, Mid Atlantic, Tampa Bay, and Oklahoma City’s former Founders Cup rivals are all hungry for promotion. The Founders Cup is no longer just a third tier — it’s a proving ground for teams that want to climb the pyramid. And if OKC and Baltimore proved anything last year, it’s that promotion is not only possible — it’s inevitable for teams that get it right.