Real Result: The Celtics go back to back, winning their third title in four years, beating the Hawks
MVP: Wilt Chamberlain
East Semi: Warriors d. Nationals (2-1)
West Semi: Lakers d. Pistons (2-0)
Simulation: The defending champion Nationals get knocked out in the East Semis, the other 3 of last year's final four teams remain, along with a rookie named Wilt and his Warriors.
East Finals (March) Boston Celtics (59-16) v. Philadelphia Warriors (49-26)
West Finals (March) St Louis Hawks (46-29) v. Minneapolis Lakers (25-50)
East Finals
Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 128 Warriors 119
The two best teams in the regular season square off in the East Finals. The only two time NBA Finals MVP is Bob Cousy, he scores 34 to lead the Celtics to the game one win. 25 points/27 rebounds for Bill Russell in his first postseason matchup against the rookie Wilt Chamberlain. 22 points/15 rebounds for Frank Ramsey. Wilt had 42 points and 27 rebounds of his own in the loss. 27 for Paul Arizin. Double/Double for Guy Rodgers.
Game 2 (Philadelphia) Celtics 145 Warriors 120
Boston goes to Philly and wipes the Warriors out. 23 points in 25 minutes off the bench for Sam Jones. 20 for Bill Sharman. Double/Double for Russell and Heinsohn. Wilt carries the Warriors, 45 points/18 boards. 25 for Arizin. Double/double for Joe Graboski
Game 3 (Boston) Celtics 137 Warriors 131
Boston led by as many as 18 in the 4th and are a game from returning to the NBA Finals. 29 for Cousy, 24 pts, 25 rebounds for Russell, 19 for Heinsohn, double doubles for both Gene Conley and John Richter. 36 pts, 17 boards for Wilt. 26 and 14 for Woody Sauldsberry. The Celtics just come at you in waves in a 7 game series.
Game 4 (Philadelphia) Celtics 125 Warriors 117
Boston sweeps their way into the NBA Finals; its their 5th East Championship. Bob Cousy is the series MVP, he has a triple double in this close out game. 27 pts, 13 assists, 10 boards. 24 for Sharman, 20 for Ramsey. Double/Doubles for Russell and Heinsohn. In the loss, Wilt Chamberlain has the greatest game in NBA playoff history, 40 pts, 37 rebounds, a new record, 11 blocks, a new record. The Warriors didn't lose because of Wilt Chamberlain.
West Finals
Game 1 (St Louis) Hawks 137 Lakers 125
Rematch of last year's west finals, won in 7 by the Lakers. Game 1 goes to St Louis, who are now coached by Ed Macauley. Clyde Lovellette scores 30, 12 boards. 25 and 15 for Bob Pettit. 22 and 10 for Cliff Hagan. Double/Double for Si Green. Elgin Baylor unstoppable for the Lakers, 40 pts, 20 boards. 30 pts and 13 boards for Rudy LaRusso.
Game 2 (St Louis) Lakers 118 Hawks 112
The Lakers even the series, winning on the road. 36 points/18 boards for Baylor, he really carries the full load for Minneapolis. 32 points for Cliff Hagan, 25/16 for Pettit, double/double for Lovellette in the loss.
Game 3 (Minneapolis) Hawks 118 Lakers 111
The Hawks flip the game 2 result and now lead 2-1. Cliff Hagan continues to lead the way, 34 points, 15 rebounds. 30 and 23 for Pettit. Double/double for Lovellette. 33 pts, 16 rebounds for Baylor in the defeat.
Game 4 (Minneapolis) Hawks 125 Lakers 117
The Hawks lost back to back NBA Finals to Boston in '57 and '58 - they now move within a game of seeing the Celtics again. 29 pts, 18 boards for Bob Pettit, 27 pts, 15 boards for Cliff Hagan, 27 pts, 14 boards for Clyde Lovellette. The Hawks big 3 really coming through in the series. 28 and 15 for Baylor.
Game 5 (St Louis) Hawks 124 Lakers 93
The Hawks win the West for the 4th time in the past 5 seasons, heading back to the NBA Finals, looking for their first ever Championship. Cliff Hagan is the series MVP, really adding a second big scorer to go with Pettit, 27 pts, 11 boards. Pettit is still Pettit, 25 and 17. Double/double for Lovellette. Triple double for Baylor, 13 pts, 16 boards, 10 assists.
NBA FINALS (March/April) BOSTON CELTICS v. ST LOUIS HAWKS
The Celtics are 3 time NBA Champions, including back to back Finals wins over the Hawks. The Hawks have yet to win an NBA Championship; this is their 4th Finals appearance.
Celtics
HC - Red Auerbach
C Bill Russell (25) - 2nd MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
F Tom Heinsohn (25)
G Bob Cousy (31) - 4th MVP, 1st Team All NBA
G Bill Sharman (33) All Star
G Frank Ramsey (28)
Hawks
HC - Ed Macauley
C Clyde Lovellette (30) - All Star
F Bob Pettit (27) 3rd MVP, 1st Team All NBA
F Cliff Hagan (28) All Star
G Si Green (26)
G Johnny McCarthy (25)
Game One (Boston) Celtics 135 Hawks 123
Boston's attempt to win their third title in 4 years starts with an opening game win. 21 points/23 rebounds for Bill Russell. 22 for Bill Sharman, 23 for Tommy Heinsohn, 20 for Bob Cousy. Cliff Hagan had 30 pts and 12 rebounds in the loss. 23 and 18 for Bob Pettit. 21 for Clyde Lovellette.
Game Two (Boston) Hawks 131 Celtics 121
The Hawks split the first two in Boston and head home for games 3-4. 36 pts, 20 rebounds for Pettit. 26 and 13 for Lovellette. 20 for John McCarthy. Double/doubles for Cliff Hagan and Dave Piontek. Bill Sharman had 27, Frank Ramsey 20; Heinsohn, Russell and Gene Conley all double/double in the defeat.
Game Three (St Louis) Hawks 151 Celtics 128
Look out - the Hawks have taken a 2-1 series lead. 27 year old Bob Pettit is in his 6th season of what will be 11, all with the Hawks. Pettit was 1st Team All NBA every season of his career but the last when he was second team. 27 pts, 16 boards. Clyde Lovellette goes for 23 and 10. 22 and 11 for Cliff Hagan. 26 pts for John McCarthy. In the loss Frank Ramsey had 25, Bill Sharman 24, Bill Russell had 17 pts, 20 boards. Double/double for Heinsohn.
Game Four (St Louis) Celtics 145 Hawks 126
Boston levels the series and we go back to Boston Garden for Game 5. 24 points/23 rebounds for Bill Russell. Russell's 25 and a year away from beginning a 3 year run as NBA MVP. 24 points/11 rebounds for Tom Heinsohn. 23 for Bill Sharman. 25 for Lovellette, 22 for Hagan, double/double for Pettit.
Game Five (Boston) Hawks 138 Celtics 131
The Hawks are headed back to St Louis, 1 game from their first NBA Championship. Bob Pettit takes control, 34 pts, 19 rebounds. Double/double for Cliff Hagan and Si Green. Bill Sharman had 26 to lead the Celtics. Heinsohn had 25 and 13, Cousy 21 points, 13 assists - Russell had 18 pts, 24 rebounds.
Game Six (St Louis) Hawks 133 Celtics 125
Joy in St Louis; the Hawks lost 3 straight Finals, 56-58, two of those to the Celtics, but here, in 1960, they win the NBA Championship. Bob Pettit wins his second Finals MVP, 35 pts, 19 rebounds. 31 pts, 11 boards for Cliff Hagan. 28 pts and 15 boards for Clyde Lovellette. Bill Russell had 31 pts and 25 boards in the 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)
1956: Philadelphia Warriors d. St Louis Hawks (4-0) - MVP: Neil Johnston (C, 26)
1957: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (C, 24)
1958: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-1) - MVP Bob Cousy (PG, 29)
1959: Syracuse Nationals d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-1) - MVP Dolph Schayes (PF, 30)
1950s Playoffs All NBA
1st Team
C George Mikan (Lakers)
F Bob Pettit (Hawks) - Playoff Player of the Decade
F Dolph Schayes (Nationals)
G Bob Cousy (Lakers)
G Bill Sharman (Lakers)
2nd Team
C Bill Russell (Lakers)
F Neil Johnston (Warriors)
F Clyde Lovellette (Lakers)
G Slater Martin (Lakers/Hawks)
G Paul Seymour (Nationals)
1960: St Louis Hawks d. Boston Celtics (3-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (PF, 27)
