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 winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals
Division Semifinals [ ]
Eastern Division Semifinals [ ]
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team splitting the first two meetings.
Previous playoff series
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
(2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Boston Celtics [ ]
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 19Asts : George King 4
Pts: Bob Cousy 50Asts: Macauley , Sharman 5 each Boston wins series, 2–0
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[1]
Western Division Semifinals [ ]
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.
Previous playoff series
Minneapolis leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1951 Western Division Semifinals
1952 Western Division Semifinals
(2) Rochester Royals vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons [ ]
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
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
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.
Previous playoff series[2]
Rochester leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
Fort Wayne Pistons 2, Rochester Royals 0
Fort Wayne Pistons 1, Rochester Royals 2
Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Rochester Royals 2
Division Finals [ ]
Eastern Division Finals [ ]
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.
Previous playoff series[3]
New York leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1951 Eastern Division Semifinals
1952 Eastern Division Semifinals
Western Division Finals [ ]
(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons [ ]
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
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 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
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
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.
Previous playoff series[4]
Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Minneapolis Lakers 2
1950 Central Division Finals
NBA Finals: (W1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) New York Knicks [ ]
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[5]
Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
References [ ]
External links [ ]
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