ABCA 2027 Playoff Preview - By the Numbers
Jun 24, 2015 8:15:50 GMT -6
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Post by Tel Aviv on Jun 24, 2015 8:15:50 GMT -6
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - With the playoffs fast approaching here is a different playoff preview, a preview by the numbers. Giving you some numbers of the past and present of the ABCA and then taking a closer look at the playoff match-ups and what the numbers say about them, to give you an idea of whats to come.
The Numbers
14.1 - The average point differential for the Knicks and their opponents during the regular season. The Sydney Kings were second at 12.6.
148 - The amount of playoff wins in the ABCA for the London Towers, the most of any team.
14 - The Towers and the Sonics will both be making their 14th consecutive appearance in the ABCA Playoffs, both only missing out once, during the inaugural 2013 season.
34.2 - The points per game league MVP Hakeem Olajuwon averaged during the regular season. Short of the record that he holds, when he averaged 34.9 during the 2026 season.
4024 - The number of points New York Knicks big man Elvin Hayes has scored during his career in the ABCA playoffs, the most of any player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is in second place with 3680, both players will be looking to add to that total this year.
989 - 24 year old Shawn Kemp has already scored 989 points in the ABCA playoffs during his short career and will be looking to add to that impressive total.
8 - The number of triple doubles that star Jo Jo White has produced in the ABCA playoffs, the most of any player. The Sonics will be hoping he can add to that total to help them past the Titans.
3.8 - The number of 3-point shots that New York sharp shooter Zoran Slavnic has averaged during his appearances in the Playoffs.
36 - The number of wins for CSKA during the regular season, the 2nd lowest amount that any team has entered the playoffs with. The Pistons famously won their division with 31 wins back in 2023 to earn themselves a playoff spot.
4 - The Franca BC, Globetrotters, Celtics and Raptors all finished with better regular season records than CSKA, but miss out on the playoffs due to the more competitive American conference.
Elvin Hayes: The leading scorer in ABCA Playoff History
Closer look: American Conference
New York Knicks come into the series as strong favorites against a Pacers team who they have historically done well against in the ABCA, holding an impressive 23-2 record against the team from Indiana. During the regular season it was a familiar story as the Knicks won all three games between the sides. These two teams have met in the playoffs once before where the Knicks swept the series 4-0.
The Warriors & Bullets have never faced each other in the playoffs before so it will be a first for the ABCA. Both teams seem to be evenly matched on paper with the reigning champions the Warriors taking a step back from last season with the trade of Magic Johnson and the Bullets improving with the addition of McHale. It seemed to be the case in the regular season with both teams winning 2 of the 4 games. Over the course of the ABCA the Warriors have had the edge over their opponents with a 15-7 record.
Throughout the history of the ABCA only the Bulls have inflicted more defeats on the Titans than the Sonics, with Seattle beating the Titans 40 times, so the history is against them. Saying that these teams have only met in the playoffs once before and the Titans came away victorious with a 4-3 series win. Also off the back of their best season in 7 years, winning 56 games to win their 4th division title, the Titans swept the seasons series 3-0 against the Sonics.
The Spurs and Lakers have matched up quite evenly throughout their time in the ABCA with the Spurs having the advantage with a record of 38-27. These two teams have matched up once before in the playoffs with the Spurs being victorious 4-1. The Spurs look like slight favorites this time around coming off their best season in Franchise history with 64 wins, beating the Lakers twice along the way. Also 3 of the Spurs top 7 scoring outputs have came against the Lakers including a franchise high 156 points in 2019, a year in which John Havlicek scored a franchise high 57 points against the Lakers.
John Havlicek scored a franchise high 57 points against the Lakers
Closer look: Eurasian Conference
CKSA have only won 10 playoff games in their history in the ABCA so face a tough ask facing up against the Eurasian conference topping Kings. A team that has beaten them 42 times, only trailing the Towers for most in franchise history, including a season 3-0 sweep. This will be the Kings 10th playoff appearance in a row, after reaching the Finals for the 2nd time in their history last year they are hoping for one better this time around.
This will be Zalgiris 4th time in the playoffs, they have never been past the first round, with 2 of their 3 previous appearances ending in 4-0 sweeps. They will be facing a Mahram team that in the past they have matched up evenly, holding a 16-15 record against them. During the regular season Zalgiris won 2 of the 3 match-ups and will be entering the playoffs confident coming off the best season in 6 years. Mahram have won their 3rd consecutive division title and will be looking to advance past the first round for the first time in 9 years.
This will be Istanbul's 3rd straight playoff appearance despite not finishing with a record of above .500 for 10 seasons. They won't be feeling too confident going up against a London team that has beaten them 50 times and knocked them out of the playoffs on two previous occasions. The Towers failed to get past the first round for the first time in their history since not making the playoffs back in the first season, but will be looking to add to their impressive 7 ABCA final appearances.
The Beermen have developed into an impressive franchise since entering the league back in the 2021 season. They face off against Berlin who they hold 8-1 record against in the playoffs, their best record against any team. The Beermen won the regular season series 2-1 this year. Berlin made the conference finals last season and will be hoping their impressive home form, 33-8 during the regular season, can help them get there again this year.
The Numbers
14.1 - The average point differential for the Knicks and their opponents during the regular season. The Sydney Kings were second at 12.6.
148 - The amount of playoff wins in the ABCA for the London Towers, the most of any team.
14 - The Towers and the Sonics will both be making their 14th consecutive appearance in the ABCA Playoffs, both only missing out once, during the inaugural 2013 season.
34.2 - The points per game league MVP Hakeem Olajuwon averaged during the regular season. Short of the record that he holds, when he averaged 34.9 during the 2026 season.
4024 - The number of points New York Knicks big man Elvin Hayes has scored during his career in the ABCA playoffs, the most of any player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is in second place with 3680, both players will be looking to add to that total this year.
989 - 24 year old Shawn Kemp has already scored 989 points in the ABCA playoffs during his short career and will be looking to add to that impressive total.
8 - The number of triple doubles that star Jo Jo White has produced in the ABCA playoffs, the most of any player. The Sonics will be hoping he can add to that total to help them past the Titans.
3.8 - The number of 3-point shots that New York sharp shooter Zoran Slavnic has averaged during his appearances in the Playoffs.
36 - The number of wins for CSKA during the regular season, the 2nd lowest amount that any team has entered the playoffs with. The Pistons famously won their division with 31 wins back in 2023 to earn themselves a playoff spot.
4 - The Franca BC, Globetrotters, Celtics and Raptors all finished with better regular season records than CSKA, but miss out on the playoffs due to the more competitive American conference.
Elvin Hayes: The leading scorer in ABCA Playoff History
Closer look: American Conference
New York Knicks come into the series as strong favorites against a Pacers team who they have historically done well against in the ABCA, holding an impressive 23-2 record against the team from Indiana. During the regular season it was a familiar story as the Knicks won all three games between the sides. These two teams have met in the playoffs once before where the Knicks swept the series 4-0.
The Warriors & Bullets have never faced each other in the playoffs before so it will be a first for the ABCA. Both teams seem to be evenly matched on paper with the reigning champions the Warriors taking a step back from last season with the trade of Magic Johnson and the Bullets improving with the addition of McHale. It seemed to be the case in the regular season with both teams winning 2 of the 4 games. Over the course of the ABCA the Warriors have had the edge over their opponents with a 15-7 record.
Throughout the history of the ABCA only the Bulls have inflicted more defeats on the Titans than the Sonics, with Seattle beating the Titans 40 times, so the history is against them. Saying that these teams have only met in the playoffs once before and the Titans came away victorious with a 4-3 series win. Also off the back of their best season in 7 years, winning 56 games to win their 4th division title, the Titans swept the seasons series 3-0 against the Sonics.
The Spurs and Lakers have matched up quite evenly throughout their time in the ABCA with the Spurs having the advantage with a record of 38-27. These two teams have matched up once before in the playoffs with the Spurs being victorious 4-1. The Spurs look like slight favorites this time around coming off their best season in Franchise history with 64 wins, beating the Lakers twice along the way. Also 3 of the Spurs top 7 scoring outputs have came against the Lakers including a franchise high 156 points in 2019, a year in which John Havlicek scored a franchise high 57 points against the Lakers.
John Havlicek scored a franchise high 57 points against the Lakers
Closer look: Eurasian Conference
CKSA have only won 10 playoff games in their history in the ABCA so face a tough ask facing up against the Eurasian conference topping Kings. A team that has beaten them 42 times, only trailing the Towers for most in franchise history, including a season 3-0 sweep. This will be the Kings 10th playoff appearance in a row, after reaching the Finals for the 2nd time in their history last year they are hoping for one better this time around.
This will be Zalgiris 4th time in the playoffs, they have never been past the first round, with 2 of their 3 previous appearances ending in 4-0 sweeps. They will be facing a Mahram team that in the past they have matched up evenly, holding a 16-15 record against them. During the regular season Zalgiris won 2 of the 3 match-ups and will be entering the playoffs confident coming off the best season in 6 years. Mahram have won their 3rd consecutive division title and will be looking to advance past the first round for the first time in 9 years.
This will be Istanbul's 3rd straight playoff appearance despite not finishing with a record of above .500 for 10 seasons. They won't be feeling too confident going up against a London team that has beaten them 50 times and knocked them out of the playoffs on two previous occasions. The Towers failed to get past the first round for the first time in their history since not making the playoffs back in the first season, but will be looking to add to their impressive 7 ABCA final appearances.
The Beermen have developed into an impressive franchise since entering the league back in the 2021 season. They face off against Berlin who they hold 8-1 record against in the playoffs, their best record against any team. The Beermen won the regular season series 2-1 this year. Berlin made the conference finals last season and will be hoping their impressive home form, 33-8 during the regular season, can help them get there again this year.