1951–52 Minneapolis Lakers season

1951–52 Minneapolis Lakers season
NBA champions
Division champions
Head coach John Kundla
Arena Minneapolis Auditorium
Results
Record 40–26 (.606)
Place Division: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish NBA Champions
(Defeated Knicks 4–3)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Radio WLOL

The 1951–52 Minneapolis Lakers season was the fourth season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA widened the foul lane before the 1951–52 season in an attempt to slow down George Mikan. Despite the change, it had little effect on Mikan. He still averaged 23.8 points per game, although he lost the scoring title to Paul Arizin, from the Philadelphia Warriors.[1] The Lakers went into the campaign with essentially the same lineup. Rochester took first place in the Western Division by a game, but the Lakers ousted the Royals in four games in the division finals. The NBA Finals would have the Lakers oppose the New York Knickerbockers.[1] Games 3 and 4 of the Finals were played at the 69th Regiment Armory instead of at Madison Square Garden. This was because the circus was in town. The teams split those games, and Games 5 and 6 as well. Game 7 was dominated by Minneapolis. The Lakers pounded out an 82–65 win, at home, to claim their third NBA crown in their first four seasons.[1]

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

Western Division W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Rochester Royals4125.621–28–512–181–222–14
x-Minneapolis Lakers4026.606121–513–206–124–12
x-Indianapolis Olympians3432.515725–64–245–218–18
x-Fort Wayne Pistons2937.4391222–116–241–217–19
Milwaukee Hawks1749.258248–133–226–149–27

Record vs. opponents

1951-52 NBA Records
Team BAL BOS FWP IND MIL MIN NYK PHI ROC SYR
Baltimore —1–82–42–44–20–62–74–52–43–6
Boston 8–1—3–33–35–13–34–56–33–34–5
Fort Wayne 4–23–3—5–44–55–43–32–43–60–6
Indianapolis 4–23–34–5—7–24–53–32–43–64–2
Milwaukee 2–41–55–42–7—1–82–41–51–82–4
Minneapolis 6–03–34–55–48–1—4–22–47–21–5
New York 7–25–43–33–34–22–4—6–32–45–4
Philadelphia 5–43–64–24–25–14–23–6—2–43–6
Rochester 4–23–36–36–38–12–74–24–2—4–2
Syracuse 6–35–46–02–44–25–14–56–32–4—

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player GP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG

Playoffs

West Division Semifinals

(2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Indianapolis Olympians: Lakers win series 2–0

  • Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 78, Indianapolis 70
  • Game 2 @ Indianapolis: Minneapolis 94, Indianapolis 87

West Division Finals

(1) Rochester Royals vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers: Lakers win series 3–1

  • Game 1 @ Rochester: Rochester 88, Minneapolis 78
  • Game 2 @ Rochester: Minneapolis 83, Rochester 78 (OT)
  • Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 77, Rochester 67
  • Game 4 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, Rochester 80

NBA Finals

(W2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E3) New York Knicks: Lakers win series 4–3

  • Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 83, New York 79 (OT)
  • Game 2 @ Minneapolis: New York 80, Minneapolis 72
  • Game 3 @ New York: Minneapolis 82, New York 77
  • Game 4 @ New York: New York 90, Minneapolis 89 (OT)
  • Game 5 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 102, New York 89
  • Game 6 @ New York: New York 76, Minneapolis 68
  • Game 7 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, New York 65

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 3 LAKERS: Los Angeles Lakers History
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