Real World: A rewind of 1952, the Lakers beat the Knicks in the Finals for their 4th title in 5 years.
East Semis: Celtics d. Nationals (2-0)
Pistons d. Royals (2-1)
West Semis: Pistons d. Royals (2-1)
Lakers d. Olympians (2-0)
Simulation: There wont be a repeat team in this year's finals; Rochester beat Syracuse in '52 and both of those squads got bounced in the semis this year.
East Finals: New York Knicks (47-23) v. Boston Celtics (46-25)
West Finals: Minneapolis Lakers (48-22) v. Ft Wayne Pistons (36-33)
East Finals, March 1953
Game 1 (MSG): Celtics 101 Knicks 81
-Bob Cousy rocks MSG, 27 points/10 assists/6 boards. Ed Macauley has 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Celtics cruise in game 1. 18 rebound game for Nat Clifton in the loss.
Game 2 (Boston Garden): Celtics 94 Knicks 86
-Boston is a game from the NBA Finals. 29 points and 7 rebounds for Cousy. Macauley has 18 points, 9 boards, 7 assists. Connie Simmons has 17 pts/7 rebounds in the loss.
Game 3 (MSG): Knicks 106 Celtics 89
-The Knicks stay alive. Vince Boryla leads the way with 22; a near triple double for Dick McGuire, 10 pts/9 boards/9 assists. 17 for Bob Donham in the loss.
Game 4 (Boston): Celtics 96 Knicks 75
-The Celtics crush the Knicks and head to the NBA Finals. Ed Macauley wins the series MVP, 26 pts, 11 boards, 5 assists. Bob Harris goes 17 pts, 13 boards. 18 pts for Connie Simmons in the loss.
West Finals, March/April 1953
Game 1 (Minneapolis): Lakers 82 Pistons 80
-George Mikan drills an 8 footer with 2 seconds left and the Lakers escape with the win. 20 pts/9 boards for Mikan, 15/11 for Jim Pollard. 10 pts/12 boards for Larry Foust in the loss.
Game 2 (Minneapolis): Lakers 105 Pistons 83
-Easier game 2 for Minneapolis; 27 points, 11 boards for Mikan. 21/11 for the other future Hall of Famer, Vern Mikkelsen. 13/12 for Foust.
Game 3 (Ft Wayne): Lakers 93 Pistons 90
-Mikan scores 29, 11 boards and wins the series MVP. 21/10 for Foust in the loss.
We get the first of what is likely many Lakers/Celtics matchups in '53.
NBA FINALS, April 1953 MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS v. BOSTON CELTICS
Lakers
HC - John Kundla
C George Mikan (28) -1st Team All NBA
F Vern Mikkelsen (24) - 2nd Team All NBA
F Jim Pollard (30)
G Slater Martin (27)- All Star
G Pep Saul (28)
Celtics
HC - Red Auerbach
C Ed Macauley (24) - 1st Team All NBA
F Chuck Cooper (26)
F Bob Harris (25)
G Bob Cousy (24) - 1st Team All NBA
G Bill Sharman (26) - 2nd Team All NBA
Game 1 (Minneapolis) Lakers 113 Celtics 109
-In a series featuring multiple future Hall of Famers, it's George Mikan who strikes first. Mikan's 28, with only 1 1/2 seasons left in his career; he scores 31 with 13 rebounds. Vern Mikkelsen is also headed to the Hall, he goes 17/11. Huge game as well for two of the Celtics future Hall of Famers, Ed Macauley had 30 pts, 11 boards, 6 assists. Bob Cousy 25 pts, 10 assists, 5 rebounds.
Game 2 (Minneapolis) Lakers 91 Celtics 89
-Boston led by 13 through 3 qtrs, it wasn't until a minute was left in the game that a Mikkelsen dunk tied the score. Macauley missed 2 FTs in the Celtics next trip and with two defenders draped all over him Mikan dropped in a 12 footer at the buzzer to give the Lakers the 2-0 series lead. 30 points, 15 rebounds for Mikan as his dominant postseason run continues. 24 year old Bob Cousy does it all for Boston, 22 pts, 13 rebounds, 5 assists.
Game 3 (Boston) Celtics 101 Lakers 96
-Boston gets the first game on their home floor. Cousy with a near triple double, 26 pts, 10 boards, 8 assists. Macauley and Bill Sharman add 22 apiece. George Mikan has the best finals game in the short history of the NBA in the loss, 25 points/25 rebounds.
Game 4 (Boston) Celtics 106 Lakers 89
-The Celtics even the series at 2. 23 points/9 assists/7 rebounds for Cousy. Mikan has 17 points/15 rebounds/7 assists and 4 blocks in the loss - he does have 8 turnovers however, the Celtic defense finally making its mark.
Game 5 (Boston) Lakers 102 Celtics 77
-The Lakers are a game from their second NBA Title; Mikan bounces back with his 3rd 30 pt game of the series, going 32/15. Bob Brannum has a double/double for the Celtics in the loss. Tough game for Ed Macauley, going 5 for 14 from the floor with 9 turnovers.
Game 6 (Minneapolis) Celtics 118 Lakers 108
-We will head to game 7. Cousy with the first ever finals triple double, 33 pts, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. Macauley almost has one of his own, 22 pts, 11 rebounds, 8 assists. Bill Sharman scores 24. Mikan remains a monster, 27/16. Mikkelsen has 22/10 of his own.
One more game - we stay in Minneapolis and for the second straight year, the NBA Finals heads to game 7.
Game 7 (Minneapolis) Celtics 109 Lakers 99
-The Boston Celtics win games 6 and 7 in Minneapolis to capture their first NBA Championship. Ed Macauley scores 31 to lead the way - Cousy is the series MVP, 20 points, 11 assists, 5 steals. Mikan closes just an incredible individual Finals with 31 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks.
NBA Finals History
1947 (BAA): Philadelphia Warriors d. Chicago Stags (4-1)
1948 (BAA): Baltimore Bullets d. Philadelphia Warriors (4-2)
1949 (BAA): Minneapolis Lakers d. Washington Capitols (4-2)
1950: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2)
1951: Rochester Royals d. New York Knicks (4-3)
1952: Rochester Royals d. Syracuse Nationals (4-3) - MVP: Jack Coleman (PF 27 yrs)
1953: Boston Celtics d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-3) - MVP: Bob Cousy (PG, 24)
