Real World: The Syracuse Nationals break the 3 year Lakers title run, winning their first NBA Championship, defeating Ft Wayne.
Simulation: The Lakers are the defending champs; they're in the West Finals against the Pistons. Boston takes on Syracuse in the East.
East Semis: Celtics d. Knicks (2-1)
West Semis: Pistons d. Lakers (3-1)
East Finals: Syracuse Nationals (43-29) v. Boston Celtics (36-36)
West Finals: Ft Wayne Pistons (43-29) v. Minneapolis Lakers (40-32)
East Finals (March, 1955)
Game 1 (Syracuse): Celtics 127 Nationals 107
-Boston blows out the defending champs in their own gym. Ed Macauley leads all scorers with 23, double/doubles for Bill Sharman, Jack Nichols, Bob Brannum. Dolph Schayes goes for 19/13 in the loss.
Game 2 (Syracuse): Celtics 112 Nationals 100
-The Celtics take both games on the road and are now 1 game away from heading to the NBA Finals. 27 pts, 11 assists, 8 rebounds for Cousy. 22 pts for Bill Sharman. Red Rocha goes for 20 and 9 in the loss.
Game 3 (Boston): Celtics 109 Nationals 99
-The Celts sweep the Nationals and head back to the NBA Finals they won two years prior. 25 points for Bill Sharman, a triple double for series MVP Bob Cousy, who was 3 steals away from a quadruple double. Dolph Schayes goes 20/14.
West Finals (March, 1955)
Game 1 (Ft Wayne) Lakers 118 Pistons 88
-The defending champs roll on the road in game 1 of the West Finals. Vern Mikkelsen goes for 24 pts and 11 boards, Clyde Lovellette 23 pts, 8 boards. Dick Schnittker 25 pts, 9 boards. George Yardley is 18/10 in the loss.
Game 2 (Ft Wayne) Pistons 123 Lakers 84
-The Pistons return fire to even the series. George Yardley sets the conference finals scoring mark with 40, adding 15 rebounds. 13 pts, 15 rebounds, 7 assists for Mel Hutchins. Mikkelsen is 18/10 in the defeat.
Game 3 (Minneapolis) Lakers 110 Pistons 100
-The champs are a game away from returning to the Finals and earning a rematch with the team that beat them two years prior, the Boston Celtics. Vern Mikkelsen with a huge game 31 pts, 10 boards. 25 for Clyde Lovellette. 22 apiece for Max Zaslovsky and George Yardley.
Game 4 (Minneapolis) Lakers 82 Pistons 79
-The Lakers head back to the NBA Finals and will get a chance to defend their titles against the team that beat them the year prior, the Boston Celtics. Clyde Lovellette is the series MVP, 26 pts/17 rebounds in this one. 19 pts for Slater Martin. Larry Foust double/double in the loss.
It's Lakers/Celtics again- they went to 7 games in '53; and will meet once again; even with George Mikan retired, the Lakers still sport 4 future Hall of Famers in the starting lineup. The Celtics also have 4 Future Hall of Famers in their rotation.
NBA FINALS (March/April 1955) MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS v. BOSTON CELTICS
Lakers
HC-John Kundla
C Clyde Lovellette (25)
F Vern Mikkelsen (26) - 2nd Team All NBA
F Jim Pollard (32) - All Star
G Slater Martin (29) - 2nd Team All NBA
G Whitey Skoog (28)
Celtics
HC-Red Auerbach
C Ed Macauley (26) All Star
F Jack Nichols (28)
F Bob Brannum (28)
G Bob Cousy (26) - 1st Team All NBA
G Bill Sharman (28) 2nd Team All NBA
Game One (Minneapolis) Celtics 102 Lakers 96
Bad memories of 1953 were not erased in this one, the Celtics taking game one in Minneapolis. 29 points for Bill Sharman. 18 pts/13 assists for Jack Nichols, 20 pts/9 assists for Bob Cousy. 17/11 for Vern Mikkelsen in the loss.
Game Two (Minneapolis) Celtics 119 Lakers 99
Boston was a .500 team this season, but they whip the defending champs in game 2 and head home up 2-0. Bill Sharman is 27, in his 4th season, he again leads the Celtics with 27 pts. Another double/double for Nichols, 16/12. 23 pts/8 boards for Mikkelsen.
Game Three (Boston) Lakers 119 Celtics 99
The Lakers take game 3 in Boston Garden. Vern Mikkelsen is 25, in his 5th season, and he remains the Lakers best player in the series, 30 pts, 19 rebounds in this one. Clyde Lovellette goes 19/11. Bob Cousy was the Finals MVP two seasons ago and he scores 35 with 7 boards and 6 assists in the loss.
Game Four (Boston) Celtics 112 Lakers 85
Boston goes up 3-1 and is a game away from their second NBA Championship. 26 year old Cousy has been 1st team All NBA 4 straight years and he is looking at a second Finals MVP, 22 pts, 10 assists, 5 rebounds. Mikkelsen held to just 7 points in this one.
Game Five (Boston) Lakers 126 Celtics 96
We will head back to Minneapolis. The Lakers cut their series deficit to 3-2 in a blowout game 5 win. Mikkelsen rebounds from his sluggish game 4 with 32 pts, 10 boards. Double Doubles for Slater Martin and Clyde Lovellette. 22 for Sharman to lead the Celtics.
Game Six (Minneapolis) Lakers 110 Celtics 105
And we will see you for game 7. 25 year old Clyde Lovellette is in his second year and he led the way with 28 pts. Double/Double for Mikkelsen and Martin. All 5 Celtics starters were in double figures, Sharman's 18 the high.
1n 1953, the Lakers had a 3-2 series lead heading home - but the Celtics took games 6 and 7 and won their first title.
This year, Boston took a 3-1 lead, but the Lakers have won games 5 and 6 and will be on their home floor for the decisive game 7.
Game Seven (Minneapolis) Lakers 113 Celtics 106
The Lakers overcome a 3-1 deficit and get all the redemption they'd need from their '53 Finals loss, going back to back. Clyde Lovellette is the series MVP, 19 points/10 rebounds to clinch the title. 15/11 for Mikkelsen. 22 pts, 10 assists, 7 boards for Cousy in the heartbreaking loss.
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)
1954: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2) - MVP: George Mikan (C, 29)
1955: Minneapolis Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) - MVP: Clyde Lovellette (C, 25)
