For the first time, the division leaders of the regular season met as division winners in the final.
All ten teams from the previous year ended the season. For the Indianapolis Olympians , however, it would be the last appearance.
Closing tables
Pl. = Rank, = qualified for the playoffs, Sp = number of games, S — N = wins and losses,% = win rate (wins divided by number of games played), GB = deficit on the leader of the division in number of wins , Home = home balance, exp. = Away balance, neuter. = Balance on neutral ground, Div. = Balance against the division opponents
Eastern Division
Philadelphia
new York
Syracuse
Boston
Baltimore
Minneapolis
Rochester
Fort Wayne
Indianapolis
Milwaukee
NBA 1952/53: Western Division in red, Eastern Division in blue.
† 210 baskets required. Johnston took 1,114 shots and hit 504 times.
‡ 180 free throws required. Sharman hit 341 out of 401.
Don Meineke ( Fort Wayne Pistons ) committed the most fouls (334), and was also the most frequently fouled out with 26 times . Nobody was disqualified more often within a season.
Third place after Fred Scolari of the Fort Wayne Pistons was Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals with 82.7% and with 512 the most points by far in contrast to Sharman's 341 points. These figures provide information about the incidence of fouls in the course of the game in the 1952/53 season. So on November 15, 1952, eight Baltimore players and five Syracuse players were disqualified, a record. However, not a record in the course of the season. Four teams (Rochester, Fort Wayne, Baltimore and Milwaukee) top the all-time list of the most disqualifications per game this season alone (between 1.53 and 1.31). The game went into overtime with 60 individual fouls. Three days earlier, the Hawks had the most individual fouls of all time in a game without overtime in Baltimore with 55.
Neil Johnston was the longest on the floor at 3,166 minutes. His 1564 points resulted in an average of 22.3 points per game. Until the 1968/69 season , the statistics in the categories of points , assists and rebounds were based on the overall performance and not the rate per game. Neil Johnston had the best points and throw rates, as well as the most hits from the field. Second-placed Ed Macauley (Boston Celtics) had a throw rate of 45.23% with 451 hits.
Bob Cousy began his streak of eight assist season records in a row. Only John Stockton led the league between 1987 and 1996 ever in more years, namely nine.
Playoffs tree
Division semi-finals
Division Finals
NBA finals
E1
New York Knicks
2
E4
Baltimore Bullets
0
E1
New York Knicks
3
Eastern Division
E3
Boston Celtics
1
E2
Syracuse Nationals
0
E3
Boston Celtics
2
E1
New York Knicks
1
W1
Minneapolis Lakers
4th
W2
Rochester Royals
1
W3
Fort Wayne Pistons
2
W3
Fort Wayne Pistons
3
Western Division
W1
Minneapolis Lakers
3
W1
Minneapolis Lakers
2
W4
Indianapolis Olympians
0
Playoff results
The playoffs began on March 17th and were played in the division semifinals according to the "Best of Three" mode, the Division Finals according to the "Best of Five" mode and the NBA finals according to the "Best of Seven" mode.
The semifinals between Boston and Syracuse were remarkable. The second game, which had to go into the fourth extra time, had the longest playing time ever in the playoffs. Syracuse Nationals ' Red Rocha and Paul Seymour played for 67 minutes each, while the Celtics' Bob Cousy played for 66 minutes. At 30, he also threw the most free throws of all playoffs. His total of 50 points in a playoff game wasn't set until five years later. Record-breaking were also the fouls. Al Cervi came up with seven fouls in the second game, making it second in NBA history. Bob Lochmueller had a total of twelve fouls in the series and was disqualified in both games, in the first game after an incredible seven minutes.
Eastern Division semi-finals
New York Knickerbockers 2, Baltimore Bullets 0
Tuesday March 17: New York 81-62 Baltimore Bullets
Friday March 20: Baltimore Bullets 81-90 New York
Boston Celtics 2, Syracuse Nationals 0
Thursday, March 19: Syracuse 81 - 87 Boston
Saturday, March 21: Boston 111 - 105 Syracuse (n.4.V.)
Western Division semi-finals
Fort Wayne Pistons 2, Rochester Royals 1
Friday March 20: Rochester 77-84 Fort Wayne
Sunday March 22nd: Fort Wayne 71-83 Rochester
Tuesday March 24th: Rochester 65-67 Fort Wayne
Minneapolis Lakers 2, Indianapolis Indians 0
Sunday, March 22: Minneapolis 85-69 Indianapolis
Monday, March 23: Indianapolis 79-81 Minneapolis
Eastern Division Finals
New York Knickerbockers 3, Boston Celtics 1
Wednesday, March 25th: New York 95-91 Boston
Thursday, March 26th: Boston 86-70 New York
Saturday, March 28th: New York 101-82 Boston
Sunday, March 29th: Boston 75-82 New York
Western Division Finals
Minneapolis Lakers 3, Fort Wayne Pistons 2
Thursday March 26th: Minneapolis 83-73 Fort Wayne
Saturday March 28th: Minneapolis 82-75 Fort Wayne
Monday March 30th: Fort Wayne 98-95 Minneapolis
Wednesday 0April 1st: Fort Wayne 85-82 Minneapolis
Thursday 0April 2nd: Minneapolis 74-58 Fort Wayne
NBA finals
Minneapolis Lakers vs. New York Knickerbockers
The New York Knickerbockers missed the championship for the third time in a row. The Minneapolis Lakers repeated their coup last year and became champions for the second year in a row, although George Mikan committed the most personal fouls ever recorded in a final series at 27. In the first and last game, four players from the home team were disqualified. Never have more players been fouled out in a final series .
The final results:
Saturday April 4th: Minneapolis 88-96 New York
Sunday April 5th: Minneapolis 73-71 New York
Tuesday April 7th: New York 75-90 Minneapolis
Wednesday April 8th: New York 69-71 Minneapolis
Friday April 10th: New York 84-91 Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Lakers become NBA champions with 4-1 wins .
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