1953 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1953 NBA Playoffs
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
's 1952-1953 season
. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference
champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference
champion New York Knicks
, four games to one in the NBA Finals
.
The Lakers won their fourth championship in the last five years, and for the second consecutive season defeated the Knicks in the Finals to complete their run.
The Indianapolis Olympians
played their very last game, a Game 2 loss to the Lakers, in the first round of the 1953 playoffs. They would fold at the conclusion of the season, and major professional basketball would not return to Indianapolis
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 in the 1953 playoffs with a two-game sweep of the Syracuse Nationals
.
The 1952–53 Baltimore Bullets hold the distinction of having the worst regular season record heading in NBA playoffs history. The team's record was 16–54.
Division Semifinals
(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Indianapolis Olympians
:
Lakers win series 2-0
(2) Rochester Royals
vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Pistons win series 2-1
Division Finals
(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Lakers win series 3-2
Division Semifinals
(1) New York Knicks
vs. (4) Baltimore Bullets:
Knicks win series 2-0
(2) Syracuse Nationals
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
:
Celtics win series 2-0
Division Finals
(1) New York Knicks
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
:
Knicks win series 3-1
:
Lakers win series 4-1
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's 1952-1953 season
1952-53 NBA season
The 1952–53 NBA Season was the 7th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Minneapolis Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
champion New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, four games to one in the NBA Finals
1953 NBA Finals
-Series Summary:Lakers win series 4-1-Team rosters:-External links:*...
.
The Lakers won their fourth championship in the last five years, and for the second consecutive season defeated the Knicks in the Finals to complete their run.
The Indianapolis Olympians
Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians were a National Basketball Association team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. They were founded in 1949 and folded in 1953. Their home arena was the Hinkle Fieldhouse.-Franchise history:...
played their very last game, a Game 2 loss to the Lakers, in the first round of the 1953 playoffs. They would fold at the conclusion of the season, and major professional basketball would not return to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
until the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
were founded for the inaugural 1967-68 season of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
.
The Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
earned their first playoff series victory in the 1953 playoffs with a two-game sweep of the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
.
The 1952–53 Baltimore Bullets hold the distinction of having the worst regular season record heading in NBA playoffs history. The team's record was 16–54.
Western Division
Champion: Minneapolis LakersDivision Semifinals
(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Indianapolis Olympians
Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians were a National Basketball Association team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. They were founded in 1949 and folded in 1953. Their home arena was the Hinkle Fieldhouse.-Franchise history:...
:
Lakers win series 2-0
- Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 85, Indianapolis 69
- Game 2 @ Indianapolis: Minneapolis 81, Indianapolis 79
(2) Rochester Royals
Rochester Royals
The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League....
vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Pistons win series 2-1
- Game 1 @ Rochester: Fort Wayne 84, Rochester 77
- Game 2 @ Fort Wayne: Rochester 83, Fort Wayne 71
- Game 3 @ Rochester: Fort Wayne 67, Rochester 65
Division Finals
(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Lakers win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 83, Fort Wayne 73
- Game 2 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, Fort Wayne 75
- Game 3 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 98, Minneapolis 95
- Game 4 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 85, Minneapolis 82
- Game 5 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 74, Fort Wayne 58
Eastern Division
Champion: New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Division Semifinals
(1) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (4) Baltimore Bullets:
Knicks win series 2-0
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: New York 80, Baltimore 62
- Game 2 @ Baltimore: New York 90, Baltimore 81
(2) Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
:
Celtics win series 2-0
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Boston 87, Syracuse 81
- Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 111, Syracuse 105
Division Finals
(1) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
:
Knicks win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 95, Boston 91
- Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 86, New York 70
- Game 3 @ New York: New York 101, Boston 82
- Game 4 @ Boston: New York 82, Boston 75
NBA finals
(1) Minneapolis Lakers VS. (1) New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Lakers win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Minneapolis: New York 96, Minneapolis 88
- Game 2 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 73, New York 71
- Game 3 @ New York: Minneapolis 90, New York 75
- Game 4 @ New York: Minneapolis 71, New York 69
- Game 5 @ New York: Minneapolis 91, New York 84