1955 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1955 NBA Playoffs
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
's 1954-1955 season
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference
champion Syracuse Nationals
defeating the Western Conference
champion Fort Wayne Pistons, four games to three in the NBA Finals
.
This was the only championship for the Nationals under that moniker; the franchise won its next title in 1967
as the Philadelphia 76ers
.
For the Pistons, this was their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history; they would return to finals the following year, but would not win their first championship until 1989
as the Detroit Pistons.
After experimenting with a round robin playoff format the previous year
, the NBA moved to a system in which the top team in each conference earned a first-round bye, giving them the right to start out in the conference finals. This system would remain in place until 1967
, when the league changed to an eight-team format, in which all teams played the first round.
Division Semifinals
(1) Fort Wayne Pistons have division semifinals byes.
(2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Rochester Royals
:
Lakers win series 2-1
Division Finals
(1) Fort Wayne Pistons vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers:
Pistons win series 3-1
Division Semifinals
(1) Syracuse Nationals have division semifinals byes.
(2) New York Knicks
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
:
Celtics win series 2-1
Division Finals
(1) Syracuse Nationals
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
:
Nationals win series 3-1
vs. (1) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Nationals win series 4-3
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's 1954-1955 season
1954-55 NBA season
The 1954–55 NBA season was the 9th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Syracuse Nationals winning the NBA Championship, beating the Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
champion Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
defeating the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
champion Fort Wayne Pistons, four games to three in the NBA Finals
1955 NBA Finals
The 1955 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1954-55 NBA season. The best-of-seven series was won by the Syracuse Nationals, who defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in the final game when Syracuse's George King made a free throw with 12 seconds left to put the Nationals up by one point...
.
This was the only championship for the Nationals under that moniker; the franchise won its next title in 1967
1967 NBA Playoffs
The 1967 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1966-1967 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Western Division champion San Francisco Warriors, four games to two in the NBA Finals.It was...
as the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
.
For the Pistons, this was their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history; they would return to finals the following year, but would not win their first championship until 1989
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...
as the Detroit Pistons.
After experimenting with a round robin playoff format the previous year
1954 NBA Playoffs
The 1954 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1953-1954 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Nationals, four games to three in the NBA Finals.For the...
, the NBA moved to a system in which the top team in each conference earned a first-round bye, giving them the right to start out in the conference finals. This system would remain in place until 1967
1967 NBA Playoffs
The 1967 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1966-1967 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Western Division champion San Francisco Warriors, four games to two in the NBA Finals.It was...
, when the league changed to an eight-team format, in which all teams played the first round.
Western Division
Champion: Fort Wayne PistonsDivision Semifinals
(1) Fort Wayne Pistons have division semifinals byes.
(2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Rochester Royals
Rochester Royals
The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League....
:
Lakers win series 2-1
- Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, Rochester 78
- Game 2 @ Rochester: Rochester 94, Minneapolis 92
- Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 119, Rochester 110
Division Finals
(1) Fort Wayne Pistons vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers:
Pistons win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 96, Minneapolis 79
- Game 2 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 98, Minneapolis 97
- Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 99, Fort Wayne 91
- Game 4 @ Minneapolis: Fort Wayne 105, Minneapolis 96
Eastern Division
Champion: Syracuse NationalsSyracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
Division Semifinals
(1) Syracuse Nationals have division semifinals byes.
(2) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
:
Celtics win series 2-1
- Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 122, New York 101
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 102, Boston 95
- Game 3 @ New York: Boston 116, New York 109
Division Finals
(1) Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
vs. (3) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
:
Nationals win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 110, Boston 100
- Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 116, Boston 110
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 100, Syracuse 97
- Game 4 @ Boston: Syracuse 110, Boston 94
NBA Finals
(1) Syracuse NationalsSyracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
vs. (1) Fort Wayne Pistons:
Nationals win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 86, Fort Wayne 82
- Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 87, Fort Wayne 84
- Game 3 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 96, Syracuse 89
- Game 4 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 109, Syracuse 102
- Game 5 @ Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne 74, Syracuse 71
- Game 6 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 109, Fort Wayne 104
- Game 7 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 92, Fort Wayne 91