1953–54 Minneapolis Lakers season

The 1953–54 Minneapolis Lakers season was the sixth season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers won the Western Division with a 46–26 record. George Mikan was hampered by knee troubles as he averaged only 18.1 points per game. The Lakers signed a promising rookie named Clyde Lovellette, who was able to alleviate the pressure on Mikan.[1] In the first round, the Lakers won 3 straight to face the Rochester Royals in the Western Finals. The Lakers would beat the Royals to qualify for the NBA Finals. In the finals, the Lakers and Syracuse Nationals alternated wins. In the end, the Lakers emerged with their 3rd straight title, and 5th overall in the franchise's first six seasons in the NBA. They became the first NBA team to win three consecutive NBA championships.[2] In the seventh and final game, the Lakers won by a score of 87–80, for the franchise's final NBA title before their relocation to Los Angeles in 1960. Following the season, Mikan would announce his retirement.[1]

1953–54 Minneapolis Lakers season
NBA champions
Division champions
Head coachJohn Kundla
ArenaMinneapolis Auditorium
Results
Record46–26 (.639)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Nationals 4–3)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
RadioWLOL

The Lakers would not win another NBA championship until 1972.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings
Western Division W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Minneapolis Lakers4626.639–20–413–1513–719–13
x-Rochester Royals4428.611218–1012–1514–322–10
x-Fort Wayne Pistons4032.556619–811–1710–717–15
Milwaukee Hawks2151.2922511–145–176–206–26

Record vs. opponents
1953–54 NBA records
Team BAL BOS FWP MIL MIN NYK PHI ROC SYR
Baltimore —1–90–82–62–63–74–61–73–7
Boston 9–1—4–46–23–55–56–44–45–5
Fort Wayne 8–04–4—9–25–53–56–23–82–6
Milwaukee 6–22–62–9—3–83–53–51–91–7
Minneapolis 6–25–35–58–3—5–36–26–55–3
New York 7–35–55–35–33–5—7–37–15–5
Philadelphia 6–44–62–65–32–63–7—1–76–4
Rochester 7–14–48–39–15–61–77–1—3–5
Syracuse 7–35–56–27–13–55–54–65–3—

Playoffs

West Division Semifinals

Western Division

TeamWL
Minneapolis Lakers30
Rochester Royals21
Fort Wayne Pistons04

West Division Finals

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

  • Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 89, Rochester 76
  • Game 2 @ Rochester: Rochester 74, Minneapolis 73
  • Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, Rochester 72

NBA Finals

(W1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) Syracuse Nationals: Lakers win series 4–3

  • Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 79, Syracuse 68
  • Game 2 @ Minneapolis: Syracuse 62, Minneapolis 60
  • Game 3 @ Syracuse: Minneapolis 81, Syracuse 67
  • Game 4 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 80, Minneapolis 69
  • Game 5 @ Syracuse: Minneapolis 84, Syracuse 73
  • Game 6 @ Minneapolis: Syracuse 65, Minneapolis 63
  • Game 7 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 87, Syracuse 80

Awards and honors

References
  1. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/mpls/mplslakers.html
  2. Numbelivable!, p.95, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0
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