The NBA History Season by Season 1952 to 1953

Season by Season
1952 to 1953

Mikan Takes New York

Excessive fouling was still a big problem, and several rules changes relating to the last few minutes of a game had failed to bring adequate relief. Coaches liked playing the percentages of hoping for a miss of at least one of two free throws while their own team scored a two-point basket. Fouls rose to 58 per game, and teams set records for free throw attempts.

Some things didn't change, however, like the dominance of big men. Neil Johnston, a 6-8 hook-shooting center, won the first of his three straight league scoring titles, while last year's champion, Paul Arizin, spent the first of two years in the military. Boston was coming of age with the exciting backcourt of Bob Cousy and sweet-shooting Bill Sharman, but they couldn't get by the Knicks, who had a host of good players that played together to overcome their height deficiencies. For the first time, both regular-season division winners, New York and Minneapolis, advance to the NBA Finals. The Knicks won the first game, but the Lakers then won four straight to send the New Yorkers home empty-handed for the third consecutive year.

LAKERS CAPTURE FOURTH CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE YEARS

New York had learned from past experience that it would not be easy to beat Minneapolis without the home court advantage. But with the 2-3-2 format in place, New York figured it could win if it could somehow take one of the first two games in Minneapolis. The Knicks got their win in Game 1, 96-88, and seemed poised to take control.

But George Mikan, who had played in New York many times while in college, and the Lakers had other ideas. The Lakers took all three in New York, two in convincing fashion, to put to rest the homecourt advantage--at least for this series.