Aaronhere
12-27-2007, 12:51 PM
With Yakama threatening to re-write the history books, I thought it would be fun to poll the readers on what they think was the greatest season in CBA history. The rules are:
1 - Teams must have played after the 1978-1979 season when the CBA tooks its official name
2 - Teams must have won the CBA championship. No points for coming up short. This eliminates the 1996-1997 Sioux Falls Skyforce (47-9, lost in first round) and the 1990-1991 Albany Patroons (50-6, lost in National Conference finals to Wichita Falls)
BACKGROUND ON THE QUALIFIERS
1980-1981 ROCHESTER ZENITHS (34-6) - The Zeniths were in the third year of an incredible run after coming over the All-American Basketball Association. From 1978 to 1981, they went 110-33 and won two titles. In the playoffs, they were an amazing 22-6, and would have won three straight championships had they not dropped Game Seven of the 1980 finals to Anchorage. Led by Lee Johnson (Rookie of the Year and Playoff MVP with 31.2 PPG in the playoffs), Larry Fogle and Glenn Hagan (3.5 steals per game), Rochester won a then-record 15 road games, 13 games won in a row (since broken) and still hold the CBA record with 133.6 points per game. They swept Montana in the CBA finals, and lost just one playoff game (138-137 to Philadelphia in the Eastern Finals)
1986-1987 TAMPA BAY/RAPID CITY THRILLERS (34-14) - Another team at the end of an incredible three-year run. The Thrillers, who moved to Rapid City prior to the 1987 playoffs, went 103-41, and won three straight title in their first three seasons. In 1987, the Thrillers won the Eastern Division by 46.5 points over Albany, then went 12-2 in the playoffs. In the CBA finals, Rapid City lost the opener to Rockford (123-120), then ripped over four straight. Don Collins (27.2 PPG) led the team, while Eddie Johnson averaged 21.9 PPG per game before being called up the NBA. Johnson was named CBA Newcomer of the Year, while Bill Musselman was honored as Coach of the Year. Clinton Wheeler took home the Playoff MVP award.
1987-1988 ALBANY PATROONS (48-6) - Bill Musselman left the Thrillers after winning the CBA title and molded a powerhouse in the upstate New York. Tony Campbell went from Albany to the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, thanks to 27.2 PPG. The Patroons won the East by an incredible 108 points over Pensacola. Michael Brooks (11.9 RPG) was named CBA MVP. The team won a CBA record 22 road games, and their 293.5 standings points remains a record. They did struggle in the CBA Finals, needing seven games to knock off the Wyoming Wildcatters
1990-1991 LA CROSSE CATBIRDS (42-14) - Despite only having one scored in the top twenty (Andre Turner - 20.6 PPG) and having no players named to the First Team or Second Team All-League teams, the Catbirds held off Quad City for the Central Division title, then downed Rapid City (42-14) in five games for the CBA title.
1998-1999 CONNECTICUT PRIDE (37-19) - After winning the American Conference by 33.5 points over Grand Rapids, the Pride went 11-2 in the playoffs. In the finals, they nearly swept Sioux Falls, dropping only Game Four.
1 - Teams must have played after the 1978-1979 season when the CBA tooks its official name
2 - Teams must have won the CBA championship. No points for coming up short. This eliminates the 1996-1997 Sioux Falls Skyforce (47-9, lost in first round) and the 1990-1991 Albany Patroons (50-6, lost in National Conference finals to Wichita Falls)
BACKGROUND ON THE QUALIFIERS
1980-1981 ROCHESTER ZENITHS (34-6) - The Zeniths were in the third year of an incredible run after coming over the All-American Basketball Association. From 1978 to 1981, they went 110-33 and won two titles. In the playoffs, they were an amazing 22-6, and would have won three straight championships had they not dropped Game Seven of the 1980 finals to Anchorage. Led by Lee Johnson (Rookie of the Year and Playoff MVP with 31.2 PPG in the playoffs), Larry Fogle and Glenn Hagan (3.5 steals per game), Rochester won a then-record 15 road games, 13 games won in a row (since broken) and still hold the CBA record with 133.6 points per game. They swept Montana in the CBA finals, and lost just one playoff game (138-137 to Philadelphia in the Eastern Finals)
1986-1987 TAMPA BAY/RAPID CITY THRILLERS (34-14) - Another team at the end of an incredible three-year run. The Thrillers, who moved to Rapid City prior to the 1987 playoffs, went 103-41, and won three straight title in their first three seasons. In 1987, the Thrillers won the Eastern Division by 46.5 points over Albany, then went 12-2 in the playoffs. In the CBA finals, Rapid City lost the opener to Rockford (123-120), then ripped over four straight. Don Collins (27.2 PPG) led the team, while Eddie Johnson averaged 21.9 PPG per game before being called up the NBA. Johnson was named CBA Newcomer of the Year, while Bill Musselman was honored as Coach of the Year. Clinton Wheeler took home the Playoff MVP award.
1987-1988 ALBANY PATROONS (48-6) - Bill Musselman left the Thrillers after winning the CBA title and molded a powerhouse in the upstate New York. Tony Campbell went from Albany to the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, thanks to 27.2 PPG. The Patroons won the East by an incredible 108 points over Pensacola. Michael Brooks (11.9 RPG) was named CBA MVP. The team won a CBA record 22 road games, and their 293.5 standings points remains a record. They did struggle in the CBA Finals, needing seven games to knock off the Wyoming Wildcatters
1990-1991 LA CROSSE CATBIRDS (42-14) - Despite only having one scored in the top twenty (Andre Turner - 20.6 PPG) and having no players named to the First Team or Second Team All-League teams, the Catbirds held off Quad City for the Central Division title, then downed Rapid City (42-14) in five games for the CBA title.
1998-1999 CONNECTICUT PRIDE (37-19) - After winning the American Conference by 33.5 points over Grand Rapids, the Pride went 11-2 in the playoffs. In the finals, they nearly swept Sioux Falls, dropping only Game Four.