1953 NBA playoffs

{{Short description|Postseason tournament}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{infobox basketball tournament season |title=NBA playoffs |year=1953 | season =1952–53 |dates=March 17 – April 10, 1953 | num_teams =8 | winners =Minneapolis Lakers | count =4 | second = New York Knicks | semifinal1 =Fort Wayne Pistons | semifinal2 =Boston Celtics | prev_season =1952 | next_season =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== {{8TeamBracket | RD1=Division Semifinals | RD2=Division Finals | RD3=NBA Finals

| RD1-group1='''Eastern Division''' | RD1-group2='''Western Division'''

| RD3-seed1=E1 | RD3-team1=New York* | RD3-score1=1 | RD3-seed2='''W1''' | RD3-team2='''''Minneapolis'''''* | RD3-score2='''4''' }}{{ubl |<nowiki>*</nowiki> 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==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303170NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = Baltimore Bullets | score1 = 62 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = '''80''' | Q1 = '''13'''–12 | Q2 = 19–'''21''' | Q3 = 11–'''20''' | Q4 = 19–'''27''' | points1 = Jim Baechtold 17 | points2 = Connie Simmons 25 | place = Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York | series = New York leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 20 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303200BLB.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''New York Knicks''' | score1 = '''90''' | team2 = Baltimore Bullets | score2 = 81 | Q1 = '''20'''–14 | Q2 = 23–'''24''' | Q3 = 21–'''24''' | Q4 = '''26'''–19 | points1 = Vince Boryla 20 | points2 = Baechtold, Miller 21 each | place = Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland | series = New York wins series, 2–0 }}

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team splitting the first two meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series |- !Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1948 | team1 = '''Baltimore Bullets''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 1 | place = 1948 BAA First Round | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1949 | team1 = Baltimore Bullets | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1949 Eastern Division Semifinals | }} |}

====(2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Boston Celtics==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303190SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score1 = '''87''' | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 81 | Q1 = 16–'''19''' | Q2 = '''19'''–14 | Q3 = '''18'''–16 | Q4 = '''34'''–32 | points1 = Bob Cousy 20 | points2 = Paul Seymour 18 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | series = Boston leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303210BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 105 | team2 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score2 = '''111''' | overtime = 4OT | Q1 = '''22'''–21 | Q2 = '''20'''–19 | Q3 = 17–'''22''' | Q4 = '''18'''–15 | OT = 9–9, 4–4, 9–9, 6–'''12''' | points1 = Red Rocha 19 | assist1 = George King 4 | points2 = Bob Cousy 50 | assist2 = Macauley, Sharman 5 each | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | series = Boston wins series, 2–0 }} * Al Cervi’s final NBA game.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> This series featured the last quadruple overtime game until 2019.

===Western Division Semifinals===

====(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Indianapolis Olympians==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303220MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Indianapolis Olympians | score1 = 69 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''85''' | Q1 = 14–'''21''' | Q2 = 17–'''21''' | Q3 = '''25'''–21 | Q4 = 13–'''22''' | points1 = Joe Graboski 22 | points2 = Vern Mikkelsen 18 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | series = Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 23 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303230INO.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''81''' | team2 = Indianapolis Olympians | score2 = 79 | Q1 = '''24'''–19 | Q2 = 10–'''13''' | Q3 = '''25'''–17 | Q4 = 22–'''30''' | points1 = Pollard, Mikkelsen 16 each | points2 = Paul Walther 17 | place = Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana | series = Minneapolis wins series, 2–0 }}

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series |- !Minneapolis leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Indianapolis Olympians | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Western Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Indianapolis Olympians | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Western Division Semifinals| }} |}

====(2) Rochester Royals vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 20 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303200ROC.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score1 = '''84''' | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 77 | Q1 = 14–'''16''' | Q2 = '''23'''–21 | Q3 = '''21'''–20 | Q4 = '''26'''–20 | points1 = Fred Schaus 20 | points2 = Arnie Risen 17 | place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | series = Fort Wayne leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303220FTW.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score1 = '''83''' | team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 71 | Q1 = '''21'''–19 | Q2 = 19–19 | Q3 = '''17'''–13 | Q4 = '''26'''–20 | points1 = Bobby Wanzer 19 | points2 = Larry Foust 24 | place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | series = Series tied, 1–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 24 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303240ROC.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score1 = '''67''' | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 65 | Q1 = '''23'''–18 | Q2 = 13–13 | Q3 = 15–'''18''' | Q4 = 16–16 | points1 = Larry Foust 18 | points2 = Bobby Wanzer 17 | place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | series = 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. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=GSW&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Rochester leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1950 Central Division Semifinals | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Western Division Semifinals | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Western Division Semifinals | }} |}

==Division Finals==

===Eastern Division Finals===

====(1) New York Knicks vs. (3) Boston Celtics==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303250NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 91 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = '''95''' | Q1 = '''27'''–26 | Q2 = 15–'''16''' | Q3 = 18–'''27''' | Q4 = '''31'''–26 | points1 = Bob Cousy 28 | assist1 = Chuck Cooper 6 | points2 = Connie Simmons 18 | assist2 = Dick McGuire 8 | place = Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York | series = New York leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 26 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303260BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 70 | team2 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score2 = '''86''' | Q1 = 10–'''23''' | Q2 = '''19'''–13 | Q3 = 15–'''21''' | Q4 = 26–'''29''' | points1 = Harry Gallatin 17 | assist1 = Carl Braun 7 | points2 = Macauley, Cousy 21 each | assist2 = Bob Cousy 13 | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | series = Series tied, 1–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303280NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 82 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = '''101''' | Q1 = '''22'''–20 | Q2 = 15–'''23''' | Q3 = 18–'''32''' | Q4 = '''27'''–26 | points1 = Bob Cousy 18 | assist1 = Ed Macauley 5 | points2 = Harry Gallatin 23 | assist2 = Dick McGuire 11 | place = Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York | referee = Phil Fox, Charles Eckman | series = New York leads series, 2–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303290BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''New York Knicks''' | score1 = '''82''' | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 75 | Q1 = 17–'''26''' | Q2 = 14–'''19''' | Q3 = '''22'''–11 | Q4 = '''29'''–19 | points1 = Carl Braun 18 | assist1 = Nat Clifton 9 | points2 = Ed Macauley 25 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 8 | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | referee = Phil Fox, Charles Eckman | series = New York wins series, 3–1 }}

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=NYK&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !New York leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} |}

===Western Division Finals===

====(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 26 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303260MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 73 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''83''' | Q1 = 16–'''24''' | Q2 = 14–'''19''' | Q3 = 12–'''13''' | Q4 = '''31'''–27 | points1 = Larry Foust 16 | points2 = George Mikan 21 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | series = Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303280MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 75 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''82''' | Q1 = '''18'''–16 | Q2 = 17–'''23''' | Q3 = '''18'''–17 | Q4 = 22–'''26''' | points1 = Larry Foust 21 | points2 = George Mikan 20 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | referee = Jocko Collins, Arnie Heft | series = Minneapolis leads series, 2–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 30 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195303300FTW.html Boxscore] | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 95 | team2 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score2 = '''98''' | Q1 = 16–'''29''' | Q2 = '''28'''–18 | Q3 = 17–'''24''' | Q4 = '''34'''–27 | points1 = George Mikan 23 | points2 = Fred Scolari 27 | place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | series = Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304010FTW.html Boxscore] | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 82 | team2 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score2 = '''85''' | Q1 = 20–'''25''' | Q2 = 18–'''22''' | Q3 = '''23'''–11 | Q4 = 21–'''27''' | points1 = George Mikan 25 | points2 = Larry Foust 20 | place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | series = Series tied, 2–2 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 2 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304020MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 58 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''74''' | Q1 = 9–'''23''' | Q2 = '''16'''–11 | Q3 = 12–'''19''' | Q4 = 21–21 | points1 = Larry Foust 16 | points2 = Mikan, Martin 18 each | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | series = Minneapolis wins series, 3–2 }}

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1950 Central Division Finals| }} |}

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

{{main|1953 NBA Finals}} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304040MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''New York Knicks''' | score1 = '''96''' | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 88 | Q1 = '''19'''–18 | Q2 = 24–'''29''' | Q3 = '''23'''–20 | Q4 = '''30'''–21 | points1 = Carl Braun 21 | points2 = George Mikan 25 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 5,000 | referee = Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft | series = New York leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 5 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304050MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 71 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''73''' | Q1 = 16–'''26''' | Q2 = 14–'''21''' | Q3 = '''24'''–11 | Q4 = '''17'''–15 | points1 = Connie Simmons 17 | points2 = George Mikan 18 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 4,848 | referee = Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft | series = Series tied, 1–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 7 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304070NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''90''' | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 75 | Q1 = '''21'''–14 | Q2 = 18–'''24''' | Q3 = '''26'''–22 | Q4 = '''25'''–15 | points1 = George Mikan 20 | points2 = Connie Simmons 18 | place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 5,100 | series = Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304080NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''71''' | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 69 | Q1 = '''21'''–16 | Q2 = '''20'''–18 | Q3 = 13–'''16''' | Q4 = 17–'''19''' | points1 = George Mikan 27 | points2 = Connie Simmons 17 | place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 5,200 | series = Minneapolis leads series, 3–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 10 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195304100NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''91''' | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 84 | Q1 = '''19'''–18 | Q2 = '''25'''–17 | Q3 = 25–25 | Q4 = 22–'''24''' | points1 = Jim Pollard 17 | assist1 = Vern Mikkelsen 6 | points2 = Carl Braun 19 | assist2 = Ernie Vandeweghe 4 | place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 5,200 | series = Minneapolis wins series, 4–1 }}

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=NYK&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 4 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 3 | place = 1952 NBA Finals }} |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1953.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1953 NBA Playoffs page]

Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs

fi:NBA-kausi 1952–1953#Pudotuspelit