1953 NBA playoffs

1953 NBA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesMarch 17–April 10, 1953
Season1952–53
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsMinneapolis Lakers (4th title)
Runner-upNew York Knicks
Semifinalists
← 1952
1954 →

The 1953 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1952–53 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.

The Lakers won their fourth championship in the last five years, and defeated the Knicks in the Finals for the second straight season to complete their run.

Not only did the four Western Division teams meet for the third straight year, but the Eastern Division teams this year, had a slight change. The Philadelphia Warriors did not make the playoffs, but the Baltimore Bullets did. They would be swept by the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks in 2 games.

The Indianapolis Olympians played their last game, a Game 2 loss to the Lakers in the first round. They folded at the end of the season, and major professional basketball did not return to Indianapolis, Indiana until the Indiana Pacers were founded for the inaugural 1967–68 season of the American Basketball Association.

The Boston Celtics earned their first playoff series victory with a two-game sweep of the Syracuse Nationals.

The 1952–53 Baltimore Bullets hold the distinction of having the worst regular-season record of any playoff qualifier in league history, at 16–54.

Bracket

Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals
         
E1 New York* 2
E4 Baltimore 0
E1 New York* 3
Eastern Division
E3 Boston 1
E3 Boston 2
E2 Syracuse 0
E1 New York* 1
W1 Minneapolis* 4
W1 Minneapolis* 2
W4 Indianapolis 0
W1 Minneapolis* 3
Western Division
W3 Fort Wayne 2
W3 Fort Wayne 2
W2 Rochester 1
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner
  • Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (4) Baltimore Bullets

March 17
Baltimore Bullets 62, New York Knicks 80
Scoring by quarter: 13–12, 19–21, 11–20, 19–27
Pts: Jim Baechtold 17 Pts: Connie Simmons 25
New York leads series, 1–0
March 20
New York Knicks 90, Baltimore Bullets 81
Scoring by quarter: 20–14, 23–24, 21–24, 26–19
Pts: Vince Boryla 20 Pts: Baechtold, Miller 21 each
New York wins series, 2–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team splitting the first two meetings.

(2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Boston Celtics

March 19
Boston Celtics 87, Syracuse Nationals 81
Scoring by quarter: 16–19, 19–14, 18–16, 34–32
Pts: Bob Cousy 20 Pts: Paul Seymour 18
Boston leads series, 1–0
March 21
Syracuse Nationals 105, Boston Celtics 111 (4OT)
Scoring by quarter: 22–21, 20–19, 17–22, 18–15, Overtime: 9–9, 4–4, 9–9, 6–12
Pts: Red Rocha 19
Asts: George King 4		 Pts: Bob Cousy 50
Asts: Macauley, Sharman 5 each
Boston wins series, 2–0

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[1] This series featured the last quadruple overtime game until 2019.

Western Division Semifinals

(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Indianapolis Olympians

March 22
Indianapolis Olympians 69, Minneapolis Lakers 85
Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 17–21, 25–21, 13–22
Pts: Joe Graboski 22 Pts: Vern Mikkelsen 18
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
March 23
Minneapolis Lakers 81, Indianapolis Olympians 79
Scoring by quarter: 24–19, 10–13, 25–17, 22–30
Pts: Pollard, Mikkelsen 16 each Pts: Paul Walther 17
Minneapolis wins series, 2–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.

(2) Rochester Royals vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons

March 20
Fort Wayne Pistons 84, Rochester Royals 77
Scoring by quarter: 14–16, 23–21, 21–20, 26–20
Pts: Fred Schaus 20 Pts: Arnie Risen 17
Fort Wayne leads series, 1–0
March 22
Rochester Royals 83, Fort Wayne Pistons 71
Scoring by quarter: 21–19, 19–19, 17–13, 26–20
Pts: Bobby Wanzer 19 Pts: Larry Foust 24
Series tied, 1–1
March 24
Fort Wayne Pistons 67, Rochester Royals 65
Scoring by quarter: 23–18, 13–13, 15–18, 16–16
Pts: Larry Foust 18 Pts: Bobby Wanzer 17
Fort Wayne wins series, 2–1

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Royals winning two of the first three meetings.

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (3) Boston Celtics

March 25
Boston Celtics 91, New York Knicks 95
Scoring by quarter: 27–26, 15–16, 18–27, 31–26
Pts: Bob Cousy 28
Asts: Chuck Cooper 6		 Pts: Connie Simmons 18
Asts: Dick McGuire 8
New York leads series, 1–0
March 26
New York Knicks 70, Boston Celtics 86
Scoring by quarter: 10–23, 19–13, 15–21, 26–29
Pts: Harry Gallatin 17
Asts: Carl Braun 7		 Pts: Macauley, Cousy 21 each
Asts: Bob Cousy 13
Series tied, 1–1
March 28
Boston Celtics 82, New York Knicks 101
Scoring by quarter: 22–20, 15–23, 18–32, 27–26
Pts: Bob Cousy 18
Asts: Ed Macauley 5		 Pts: Harry Gallatin 23
Asts: Dick McGuire 11
New York leads series, 2–1
Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York
Referees: Phil Fox, Charles Eckman
March 29
New York Knicks 82, Boston Celtics 75
Scoring by quarter: 17–26, 14–19, 22–11, 29–19
Pts: Carl Braun 18
Asts: Nat Clifton 9		 Pts: Ed Macauley 25
Asts: Bob Cousy 8
New York wins series, 3–1
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Referees: Phil Fox, Charles Eckman

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.

Western Division Finals

(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons

March 26
Fort Wayne Pistons 73, Minneapolis Lakers 83
Scoring by quarter: 16–24, 14–19, 12–13, 31–27
Pts: Larry Foust 16 Pts: George Mikan 21
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
March 28
Fort Wayne Pistons 75, Minneapolis Lakers 82
Scoring by quarter: 18–16, 17–23, 18–17, 22–26
Pts: Larry Foust 21 Pts: George Mikan 20
Minneapolis leads series, 2–0
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Referees: Jocko Collins, Arnie Heft
March 30
Minneapolis Lakers 95, Fort Wayne Pistons 98
Scoring by quarter: 16–29, 28–18, 17–24, 34–27
Pts: George Mikan 23 Pts: Fred Scolari 27
Minneapolis leads series, 2–1
April 1
Minneapolis Lakers 82, Fort Wayne Pistons 85
Scoring by quarter: 20–25, 18–22, 23–11, 21–27
Pts: George Mikan 25 Pts: Larry Foust 20
Series tied, 2–2
April 2
Fort Wayne Pistons 58, Minneapolis Lakers 74
Scoring by quarter: 9–23, 16–11, 12–19, 21–21
Pts: Larry Foust 16 Pts: Mikan, Martin 18 each
Minneapolis wins series, 3–2

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

NBA Finals: (W1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) New York Knicks

Main article: 1953 NBA Finals
April 4
New York Knicks 96, Minneapolis Lakers 88
Scoring by quarter: 19–18, 24–29, 23–20, 30–21
Pts: Carl Braun 21 Pts: George Mikan 25
New York leads series, 1–0
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 5,000
Referees: Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft
April 5
New York Knicks 71, Minneapolis Lakers 73
Scoring by quarter: 16–26, 14–21, 24–11, 17–15
Pts: Connie Simmons 17 Pts: George Mikan 18
Series tied, 1–1
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 4,848
Referees: Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft
April 7
Minneapolis Lakers 90, New York Knicks 75
Scoring by quarter: 21–14, 18–24, 26–22, 25–15
Pts: George Mikan 20 Pts: Connie Simmons 18
Minneapolis leads series, 2–1
April 8
Minneapolis Lakers 71, New York Knicks 69
Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 20–18, 13–16, 17–19
Pts: George Mikan 27 Pts: Connie Simmons 17
Minneapolis leads series, 3–1
April 10
Minneapolis Lakers 91, New York Knicks 84
Scoring by quarter: 19–18, 25–17, 25–25, 22–24
Pts: Jim Pollard 17
Asts: Vern Mikkelsen 6		 Pts: Carl Braun 19
Asts: Ernie Vandeweghe 4
Minneapolis wins series, 4–1

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.