Overview
The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Syracuse Nationals, four games to three, in a best-of-seven series to end the 1953-54 NBA season. The NBA held its Finals series from March 31 to April 12, 1954.
Entering the '53-54 season, the NBA was left with an imbalanced nine-team league after the Indianapolis Olympians folded. With four teams in the West and five in the East, a new playoff format had to be created.
The top three teams in each division faced off in a round-robin playoff with each team facing the other in one home and one away game. If the three teams should tie in the round robin, the team with the best regular season would advance automatically, and the other two teams would play a best-of-three series to determine who moved on.
The Syracuse Nationals finished the regular season tied for second place in the Eastern Division, but were considered the third-place team in the playoffs after losing a coin toss to the Boston Celtics. Syracuse went 4-0 in the round-robin tournament to earn the right to face Boston in the Division Finals.
The Nats were led by Dolph Schayes, who had been a key member of the 1950 Syracuse team that finished runner-up in the NBA Finals. Schayes averaged 17.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Al Cervi, player-coach of the 1950 squad, also returned to the team as its full-time coach.
Both Schayes and teammate Earl "Big Cat" Lloyd had suffered wrist injuries in the opening rounds of the playoffs, and entered the Finals with casts on their arms.
The Lakers, winners of four out of the last five NBA championships, finished the regular season with the NBA's best record. Minneapolis returned All-Star big man George Mikan, whose 18.1 regular-season scoring average was fourth-highest in the league. Mikan also grabbed 14.3 rebounds per game, second-best in the NBA.
The defending champs returned most of the players that had helped them to the 1953 title, including Slater Martin, Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen. They added Clyde Lovellette, a 6-foot-9 post player out of Kansas.
Minneapolis went undefeated in the round-robin tournament leading to the Finals dispatching the Fort Wayne Pistons and Rochester Royals.
Entering the '53-54 season, the NBA was left with an imbalanced nine-team league after the Indianapolis Olympians folded. With four teams in the West and five in the East, a new playoff format had to be created.
The top three teams in each division faced off in a round-robin playoff with each team facing the other in one home and one away game. If the three teams should tie in the round robin, the team with the best regular season would advance automatically, and the other two teams would play a best-of-three series to determine who moved on.
The Syracuse Nationals finished the regular season tied for second place in the Eastern Division, but were considered the third-place team in the playoffs after losing a coin toss to the Boston Celtics. Syracuse went 4-0 in the round-robin tournament to earn the right to face Boston in the Division Finals.
The Nats were led by Dolph Schayes, who had been a key member of the 1950 Syracuse team that finished runner-up in the NBA Finals. Schayes averaged 17.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Al Cervi, player-coach of the 1950 squad, also returned to the team as its full-time coach.
Both Schayes and teammate Earl "Big Cat" Lloyd had suffered wrist injuries in the opening rounds of the playoffs, and entered the Finals with casts on their arms.
The Lakers, winners of four out of the last five NBA championships, finished the regular season with the NBA's best record. Minneapolis returned All-Star big man George Mikan, whose 18.1 regular-season scoring average was fourth-highest in the league. Mikan also grabbed 14.3 rebounds per game, second-best in the NBA.
The defending champs returned most of the players that had helped them to the 1953 title, including Slater Martin, Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen. They added Clyde Lovellette, a 6-foot-9 post player out of Kansas.
Minneapolis went undefeated in the round-robin tournament leading to the Finals dispatching the Fort Wayne Pistons and Rochester Royals.
Road to the Finals
| Nationals | Lakers | |
| Regular Season | 42-30, T-2nd in Eastern Division | 46-26, 1st in Western Division |
| Round-Robin Playoff | Def. Boston Celtics and New York Knicks | Def. Rochester Royals and Fort Wayne Pistons |
| Div. Finals | Def. Boston Celtics, 2-0 | Def. Rochester Royals, 2-1 |
Game 1 -- Lakers 79, Nationals 68
The banged-up Nationals came into Game 1 in Minneapolis with what seemed like an impossible task in front of them. The injury-depleted team not only had to beat George Mikan's squad but do it in Minneapolis Auditorium, where the Lakers had never lost a playoff game over the course of seven seasons.
Syracuse hung with the Lakers early, and only trailed by three at half. But The Lakers broke away in the fourth quarter. John Kundla inserted both his big men in the lineup at the same time, and Mikan and Clyde Lovellette proved difficult for Syracuse to defend.
The strategy of getting Mikan in early foul trouble was no longer viable for the Lakers' opponents. When Mikan sat, Lovellette picked up the slack in the middle. Meanwhile, the Nats' big men were slowed by injury. Earl "Big Cat" Lloyd only managed three points, and Dolph Schayes was held scoreless altogether.
Bob Lavoy carried the load for Syracuse. He scored 15 points, and made all seven free throws he attempted. While Paul Seymour contributed 12, the rest of the Nats couldn't find their scoring touch, especially with their post players ailing and combining for just one field goal. Lovellette finished the game with 16 points, and Mikan had 15.
Minneapolis guards Slater Martin and Whitey Skoog also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. With their balanced scoring, the Lakers took Game 1, making them 5-0 all-time in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Syracuse hung with the Lakers early, and only trailed by three at half. But The Lakers broke away in the fourth quarter. John Kundla inserted both his big men in the lineup at the same time, and Mikan and Clyde Lovellette proved difficult for Syracuse to defend.
The strategy of getting Mikan in early foul trouble was no longer viable for the Lakers' opponents. When Mikan sat, Lovellette picked up the slack in the middle. Meanwhile, the Nats' big men were slowed by injury. Earl "Big Cat" Lloyd only managed three points, and Dolph Schayes was held scoreless altogether.
Bob Lavoy carried the load for Syracuse. He scored 15 points, and made all seven free throws he attempted. While Paul Seymour contributed 12, the rest of the Nats couldn't find their scoring touch, especially with their post players ailing and combining for just one field goal. Lovellette finished the game with 16 points, and Mikan had 15.
Minneapolis guards Slater Martin and Whitey Skoog also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. With their balanced scoring, the Lakers took Game 1, making them 5-0 all-time in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Game 2 -- Nationals 62, Lakers 60
Entering Game 2, Syracuse still had to contend with the injury bug. Nationals' big men Dolph Schayes and Earl "Big Cat" "Lloyd were still less than 100 percent, combining for just four points on two field goals, but their Syracuse teammates picked up the slack.
Wally Osterkorn had a breakout game with 20 points with a perfect 6 for 6 from the field. Spurred by point guard George King, who scored 14, the Nationals went on a 16-1 run to end the third quarter and went into the final period with a 10-point lead.
Late in the game, the already-banged-up Nats added another to the ranks of the injured. With 1:30 remaining, King suffered a broken left wrist after a collision with George Mikan.
Helped by the absence of King, the Lakers went on a run to draw closer to Syracuse. Minneapolis tied the game at 60 with 18 seconds left when Mikan put in a shot off a Jim Holstein assist. On the ensuing possession, Syracuse's Paul Seymour held the ball. Although there were seven seconds left on the clock, Seymour chose to set up for a 43-foot prayer that found the bottom of the net.
The Nats won Game 2, 62-60, and evened the series at a game apiece. The 6,277 fans in attendance were stunned to see the Lakers lose a playoff game at Minneapolis Auditorum for the first time in team history. The series headed to upstate New York for three games in Syracuse.
Wally Osterkorn had a breakout game with 20 points with a perfect 6 for 6 from the field. Spurred by point guard George King, who scored 14, the Nationals went on a 16-1 run to end the third quarter and went into the final period with a 10-point lead.
Late in the game, the already-banged-up Nats added another to the ranks of the injured. With 1:30 remaining, King suffered a broken left wrist after a collision with George Mikan.
Helped by the absence of King, the Lakers went on a run to draw closer to Syracuse. Minneapolis tied the game at 60 with 18 seconds left when Mikan put in a shot off a Jim Holstein assist. On the ensuing possession, Syracuse's Paul Seymour held the ball. Although there were seven seconds left on the clock, Seymour chose to set up for a 43-foot prayer that found the bottom of the net.
The Nats won Game 2, 62-60, and evened the series at a game apiece. The 6,277 fans in attendance were stunned to see the Lakers lose a playoff game at Minneapolis Auditorum for the first time in team history. The series headed to upstate New York for three games in Syracuse.
Game 3 -- Lakers 81, Nationals 67
Syracuse's War Memorial Auditorium was packed with 8,719 fans, its largest basketball crowd ever. The Nationals were without floor general George King after he suffered a broken left wrist in Game 2. With Dolph Schayes and Earl Lloyd already playing with casts, Syracuse was severely undermanned.
Facing a depleted Nats squad, George Mikan put on a clinic, and scored 30 points on 11 of 18 shooting and pulled down 15 rebounds. Mikan scored nine straight points on three straight three-point plays at one point in the third quarter, and finished the quarter having scored 13 of his team's 20 points.
Vern Mikkelsen also had a strong game with 14 points. With their big men playing effectively, the Lakers led by as many as 15 points. Bob Lavoy led Syracuse with 18 points, but he was no match for Mikan as the Nationals fell behind 2-1 in the series.
Facing a depleted Nats squad, George Mikan put on a clinic, and scored 30 points on 11 of 18 shooting and pulled down 15 rebounds. Mikan scored nine straight points on three straight three-point plays at one point in the third quarter, and finished the quarter having scored 13 of his team's 20 points.
Vern Mikkelsen also had a strong game with 14 points. With their big men playing effectively, the Lakers led by as many as 15 points. Bob Lavoy led Syracuse with 18 points, but he was no match for Mikan as the Nationals fell behind 2-1 in the series.
Game 4 -- Nationals 80, Lakers 69
Dolph Schayes and Earl Lloyd were still playing with casts on their arms, but were much more effective in Game 4 at War Memorial Stadium. Schayes managed double digits for the first time in the series with 10 points.
A third-quarter scuffle for the ball left yet another National injured. Syracuse swingman Bill Gabor pulled cartilage in his knee, and had to leave the game. Nats captain Paul Seymour was one of Syracuse's few uninjured players, and he came through in a big way posting 25 points. Bob Lavoy contributed 14 for the Nationals.
The game was marked by a big disparity at the foul line. While each team made 27 field goals, the Nats shot 41 free throws to the Lakers' 24. Because Syracuse made more free throws (26) than Minneapolis even attempted, the Nationals built a comfortable lead.
Lakers star George Mikan posted just 12 points following a 30-point output in Game 3. Guard Whitey Skoog was Minneapolis' high man with 16 points, but it wasn't enough as the series was tied two-all.
A third-quarter scuffle for the ball left yet another National injured. Syracuse swingman Bill Gabor pulled cartilage in his knee, and had to leave the game. Nats captain Paul Seymour was one of Syracuse's few uninjured players, and he came through in a big way posting 25 points. Bob Lavoy contributed 14 for the Nationals.
The game was marked by a big disparity at the foul line. While each team made 27 field goals, the Nats shot 41 free throws to the Lakers' 24. Because Syracuse made more free throws (26) than Minneapolis even attempted, the Nationals built a comfortable lead.
Lakers star George Mikan posted just 12 points following a 30-point output in Game 3. Guard Whitey Skoog was Minneapolis' high man with 16 points, but it wasn't enough as the series was tied two-all.
Game 5 -- Lakers 84, Nationals 73
The Nationals were on the mend in Game 5 at War Memorial Stadium. Syracuse point guard George King returned to the lineup after missing Games 3 and 4 with a broken wrist. Dolph Schayes was almost back to full strength, and posted 17 points in 26 minutes of play to lead his team. That was the end of the good news for the Nats.
Once again, the Lakers responded to a Finals loss with a monster game. Minneapolis held a ten-point halftime lead and never looked back.
The Lakers thoroughly controlled the boards, and snatched 28 more rebounds than Syracuse (65-37).
Minneapolis was led by Vern Mikkelsen, who scored 21 points. George Mikan and Clyde Lovellette added 14 points apiece. Jim Holstein scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth to help the Lakers put the game away.
Minneapolis had taken a crucial Game 5, and now the series was headed back to the Lakers' home court.
Once again, the Lakers responded to a Finals loss with a monster game. Minneapolis held a ten-point halftime lead and never looked back.
The Lakers thoroughly controlled the boards, and snatched 28 more rebounds than Syracuse (65-37).
Minneapolis was led by Vern Mikkelsen, who scored 21 points. George Mikan and Clyde Lovellette added 14 points apiece. Jim Holstein scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth to help the Lakers put the game away.
Minneapolis had taken a crucial Game 5, and now the series was headed back to the Lakers' home court.
Game 6 -- Nationals 65, Lakers 63
The Nats eked out an improbable second straight win at Minneapolis Auditorium. Syracuse was still without Bill Gabor due to a knee injury, but Dolph Schayes showed he was back to full strength by posting 15 points.
Syracuse captain Paul Seymour also had a strong game, leading the team with 16 points. The Nats found themselves down at the half, but upped their defensive effort in the third quarter and harassed Minneapolis into one of the worst offensive quarters in Finals history. Minneapolis scored just 6 points in the third, and allowed the Nats to come all the way back to take a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Lakers answered and tied the game on a pair of Jim Pollard free throws. The scored was tied at 63 with two minutes left in the game.
The Nationals sat on the ball and called a timeout with 30 seconds left. Whatever the diagrammed play, somehow the ball ended up in the hands of the most unlikely player on the court, rookie backup center Jim Neal, who had scored 12 total points in the first five games of the series. Neal calmly took a 27-foot baseline shot that drained with four seconds left.
Although the Lakers inbounded the ball quickly, Whitey Skoog's long heave went over the backboard and Minneapolis fell short.
George Mikan had a huge game for the Lakers by scoring 30 points for the second time in the series. Unfortunately for Minneapolis, none of his teammates could score. Mikan was the only Laker to post double digits.
The Lakers had gone seven years without losing a game at Minneapolis Auditorium, and lost twice in a row. Game 5 hero Jim Neal played one more season in the NBA, and finished his career with 80 games played. He never made another playoff appearance after the 1954 season.
Syracuse captain Paul Seymour also had a strong game, leading the team with 16 points. The Nats found themselves down at the half, but upped their defensive effort in the third quarter and harassed Minneapolis into one of the worst offensive quarters in Finals history. Minneapolis scored just 6 points in the third, and allowed the Nats to come all the way back to take a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Lakers answered and tied the game on a pair of Jim Pollard free throws. The scored was tied at 63 with two minutes left in the game.
The Nationals sat on the ball and called a timeout with 30 seconds left. Whatever the diagrammed play, somehow the ball ended up in the hands of the most unlikely player on the court, rookie backup center Jim Neal, who had scored 12 total points in the first five games of the series. Neal calmly took a 27-foot baseline shot that drained with four seconds left.
Although the Lakers inbounded the ball quickly, Whitey Skoog's long heave went over the backboard and Minneapolis fell short.
George Mikan had a huge game for the Lakers by scoring 30 points for the second time in the series. Unfortunately for Minneapolis, none of his teammates could score. Mikan was the only Laker to post double digits.
The Lakers had gone seven years without losing a game at Minneapolis Auditorium, and lost twice in a row. Game 5 hero Jim Neal played one more season in the NBA, and finished his career with 80 games played. He never made another playoff appearance after the 1954 season.
Game 7 -- Lakers 87, Nationals 80
Syracuse attempted to win its third straight game at Minneapolis Auditorium, a tall order considering they'd been winless there prior to Game 2 of the 1954 Finals. The Nationals still had three players in casts due to injury, and one player, Bill Gabor, was unable to play altogether.
The Lakers shot ahead in the first quarter, and Syracuse never led the game again. Minneapolis shot extremely well from the field, making 48 percent of its shots.
The Lakers were led in scoring by Jim Pollard, who had been on the Lakers' first NBA championship team in 1949. Pollard posted 21 points, and his teammates Dugie Martin and Clyde Lovellette added 12 each. George Mikan threw in 11 points in an uncharacteristically low-scoring game.
Pollard scored nine points in the third quarter to help put Minneapolis ahead by 16 points with 3:00 remaining in the quarter. Syracuse actually outscored the Lakers, 26-22, in the fourth quarter, but was in too deep a hole to make a serious run.
The Nats were led by Dolph Schayes, who scored 18 points while still wearing a cast. Team captain Paul Seymour added 16, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers seized the victory and won their fifth NBA title in six seasons.
The 1954 title would prove to be the end of the first Lakers dynasty. After the season, Mikan unexpectedly announced his retirement at the age of 30. Mikan announced his intention to practice law full-time in Minneapolis. He was quoted as saying, "I want to leave basketball while Mikan is still Mikan." Mikan returned for a stint as the team's general manager, and played sparingly during the 1955-56 season, he never made another Finals appearance.
The Lakers shot ahead in the first quarter, and Syracuse never led the game again. Minneapolis shot extremely well from the field, making 48 percent of its shots.
The Lakers were led in scoring by Jim Pollard, who had been on the Lakers' first NBA championship team in 1949. Pollard posted 21 points, and his teammates Dugie Martin and Clyde Lovellette added 12 each. George Mikan threw in 11 points in an uncharacteristically low-scoring game.
Pollard scored nine points in the third quarter to help put Minneapolis ahead by 16 points with 3:00 remaining in the quarter. Syracuse actually outscored the Lakers, 26-22, in the fourth quarter, but was in too deep a hole to make a serious run.
The Nats were led by Dolph Schayes, who scored 18 points while still wearing a cast. Team captain Paul Seymour added 16, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers seized the victory and won their fifth NBA title in six seasons.
The 1954 title would prove to be the end of the first Lakers dynasty. After the season, Mikan unexpectedly announced his retirement at the age of 30. Mikan announced his intention to practice law full-time in Minneapolis. He was quoted as saying, "I want to leave basketball while Mikan is still Mikan." Mikan returned for a stint as the team's general manager, and played sparingly during the 1955-56 season, he never made another Finals appearance.