1951β52 Minneapolis Lakers season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Head coach | John Kundla |
Arena | Minneapolis Auditorium |
Results | |
Record | 40–26 (.606) |
Place | Division: 2nd ( Western) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated Knicks 4β3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Radio | WLOL |
The 1951β52 Minneapolis Lakers season was the fourth season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [1] The NBA widened the foul lane before the 1951β52 season in an attempt to slow down George Mikan. Despite the change, it had little effect on Mikan. He still averaged 23.8 points per game, although he lost the scoring title to Paul Arizin, from the Philadelphia Warriors. [2] The Lakers went into the campaign with essentially the same lineup. Rochester took first place in the Western Division by a game, but the Lakers ousted the Royals in four games in the division finals. The NBA Finals would have the Lakers oppose the New York Knickerbockers. [2] Games 3 and 4 of the Finals were played at the 69th Regiment Armory instead of at Madison Square Garden. This was because of a famous circus being in town at the time. The teams split those games, as well as Games 5 and 6. Game 7 was dominated by Minneapolis. The Lakers pounded out an 82β65 win, at home, to claim their third NBA crown in their first four seasons. [2] HoopsHype later ranked this squad as the team with the 14th easiest route to the NBA Finals championship. [3]
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (August 2023) |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
x- Rochester Royals | 41 | 25 | .621 | β | 28β5 | 12β18 | 1β2 | 22β14 |
x- Minneapolis Lakers | 40 | 26 | .606 | 1 | 21β5 | 13β20 | 6β1 | 24β12 |
x- Indianapolis Olympians | 34 | 32 | .515 | 7 | 25β6 | 4β24 | 5β2 | 18β18 |
x- Fort Wayne Pistons | 29 | 37 | .439 | 12 | 22β11 | 6β24 | 1β2 | 17β19 |
Milwaukee Hawks | 17 | 49 | .258 | 24 | 8β13 | 3β22 | 6β14 | 9β27 |
1951-52 NBA Records | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | BAL | BOS | FWP | IND | MIL | MIN | NYK | PHI | ROC | SYR |
Baltimore | β | 1β8 | 2β4 | 2β4 | 4β2 | 0β6 | 2β7 | 4β5 | 2β4 | 3β6 |
Boston | 8β1 | β | 3β3 | 3β3 | 5β1 | 3β3 | 4β5 | 6β3 | 3β3 | 4β5 |
Fort Wayne | 4β2 | 3β3 | β | 5β4 | 4β5 | 5β4 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 3β6 | 0β6 |
Indianapolis | 4β2 | 3β3 | 4β5 | β | 7β2 | 4β5 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 3β6 | 4β2 |
Milwaukee | 2β4 | 1β5 | 5β4 | 2β7 | β | 1β8 | 2β4 | 1β5 | 1β8 | 2β4 |
Minneapolis | 6β0 | 3β3 | 4β5 | 5β4 | 8β1 | β | 4β2 | 2β4 | 7β2 | 1β5 |
New York | 7β2 | 5β4 | 3β3 | 3β3 | 4β2 | 2β4 | β | 6β3 | 2β4 | 5β4 |
Philadelphia | 5β4 | 3β6 | 4β2 | 4β2 | 5β1 | 4β2 | 3β6 | β | 2β4 | 3β6 |
Rochester | 4β2 | 3β3 | 6β3 | 6β3 | 8β1 | 2β7 | 4β2 | 4β2 | β | 4β2 |
Syracuse | 6β3 | 5β4 | 6β0 | 2β4 | 4β2 | 5β1 | 4β5 | 6β3 | 2β4 | β |
# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
1 | November 3 | @ Rochester | 93β74 | Vern Mikkelsen (25) | 1β0 |
2 | November 4 | @ Syracuse | 67β98 | George Mikan (27) | 1β1 |
3 | November 9 | @ Philadelphia | 86β98 | George Mikan (41) | 1β2 |
4 | November 10 | @ New York | 89β73 | George Mikan (31) | 2β2 |
5 | November 11 | @ Boston | 72β77 | Jim Pollard (17) | 2β3 |
6 | November 12 | @ Baltimore | 90β80 | George Mikan (31) | 3β3 |
7 | November 13 | @ Indianapolis | 77β71 | George Mikan (22) | 4β3 |
8 | November 17 | Fort Wayne | 64β68 (OT) | George Mikan (32) | 5β3 |
9 | November 22 | Rochester | 65β70 (2OT) | Vern Mikkelsen (21) | 6β3 |
10 | November 24 | Milwaukee | 72β59 | George Mikan (19) | 7β3 |
11 | November 25 | Indianapolis | 73β82 | George Mikan (31) | 8β3 |
12 | November 28 | Boston | 76β90 | George Mikan (34) | 9β3 |
13 | December 1 | Fort Wayne | 69β89 | George Mikan (24) | 10β3 |
14 | December 2 | @ Fort Wayne | 61β63 | George Mikan (22) | 10β4 |
15 | December 5 | Syracuse | 83β81 (OT) | Vern Mikkelsen (23) | 10β5 |
16 | December 8 | N Baltimore | 85β64 | Mikan, Pollard (22) | 11β5 |
17 | December 9 | Indianapolis | 85β78 | Vern Mikkelsen (25) | 11β6 |
18 | December 11 | @ Indianapolis | 69β85 | Mikan, Mikkelsen (16) | 11β7 |
19 | December 12 | Baltimore | 79β99 | George Mikan (25) | 12β7 |
20 | December 16 | Milwaukee | 52β99 | George Mikan (24) | 13β7 |
21 | December 18 | @ New York | 67β69 | George Mikan (19) | 13β8 |
22 | December 21 | @ Philadelphia | 103β105 (3OT) | George Mikan (36) | 13β9 |
23 | December 22 | @ Baltimore | 96β90 (3OT) | George Mikan (39) | 14β9 |
24 | December 23 | @ Fort Wayne | 79β81 | George Mikan (33) | 14β10 |
25 | December 25 | Boston | 93β100 | Jim Pollard (25) | 15β10 |
26 | December 30 | Philadelphia | 64β93 | George Mikan (22) | 16β10 |
27 | January 1 | Syracuse | 80β82 | George Mikan (37) | 17β10 |
28 | January 4 | N Fort Wayne | 79β64 | Mikan, Pollard (21) | 18β10 |
29 | January 5 | N Indianapolis | 86β65 | George Mikan (20) | 19β10 |
30 | January 6 | New York | 92β107 | Jim Pollard (32) | 20β10 |
31 | January 8 | @ Indianapolis | 75β82 | George Mikan (27) | 20β11 |
32 | January 9 | Indianapolis | 74β91 | George Mikan (29) | 21β11 |
33 | January 11 | @ Milwaukee | 75β63 | George Mikan (18) | 22β11 |
34 | January 12 | N Milwaukee | 96β84 | Jim Pollard (24) | 23β11 |
35 | January 13 | Philadelphia | 88β81 | George Mikan (33) | 23β12 |
36 | January 16 | @ Boston | 108β94 | Vern Mikkelsen (36) | 24β12 |
37 | January 17 | @ Syracuse | 105β110 (3OT) | Martin, Mikkelsen (19) | 24β13 |
38 | January 19 | @ Rochester | 85β96 | Slater Martin (20) | 24β14 |
39 | January 20 | Rochester | 81β91 (2OT) | George Mikan (61) | 25β14 |
40 | January 23 | Syracuse | 99β97 (OT) | George Mikan (28) | 25β15 |
41 | January 26 | @ Milwaukee | 57β56 | Jim Pollard (18) | 26β15 |
42 | January 27 | Milwaukee | 62β91 | Vern Mikkelsen (19) | 27β15 |
43 | January 30 | New York | 65β77 | Martin, Pollard (14) | 28β15 |
44 | January 31 | @ Fort Wayne | 85β78 | Mikan, Pollard (23) | 29β15 |
45 | February 1 | @ Indianapolis | 77β85 | George Mikan (25) | 29β16 |
46 | February 3 | Rochester | 75β77 | George Mikan (25) | 30β16 |
47 | February 7 | Rochester | 75β86 | George Mikan (27) | 31β16 |
48 | February 9 | Fort Wayne | 70β67 | George Mikan (29) | 31β17 |
49 | February 10 | @ Milwaukee | 69β70 (2OT) | Frank Saul (14) | 31β18 |
50 | February 14 | N Milwaukee | 109β74 | Jim Pollard (25) | 32β18 |
51 | February 16 | N Boston | 75β77 | Slater Martin (17) | 32β19 |
52 | February 17 | @ Fort Wayne | 87β99 | Howie Schultz (19) | 32β20 |
53 | February 19 | @ New York | 96β98 | George Mikan (26) | 32β21 |
54 | February 20 | @ Baltimore | 93β78 | Vern Mikkelsen (28) | 33β21 |
55 | February 21 | @ Syracuse | 80β88 | George Mikan (25) | 33β22 |
56 | February 23 | @ Rochester | 83β73 | George Mikan (26) | 34β22 |
57 | February 24 | @ Fort Wayne | 70β83 | Jim Pollard (19) | 34β23 |
58 | February 25 | Philadelphia | 95β108 | George Mikan (28) | 35β23 |
59 | March 1 | N Indianapolis | 98β88 | George Mikan (26) | 36β23 |
60 | March 2 | @ Milwaukee | 96β85 | Jim Pollard (26) | 37β23 |
61 | March 4 | @ Philadelphia | 81β83 | George Mikan (41) | 37β24 |
62 | March 5 | @ Boston | 74β82 | Slater Martin (20) | 37β25 |
63 | March 8 | @ Rochester | 92β94 (OT) | Mikan, Pollard (21) | 37β26 |
64 | March 9 | Rochester | 90β96 | Jim Pollard (32) | 38β26 |
65 | March 12 | New York | 83β85 | Jim Pollard (22) | 39β26 |
66 | March 16 | Baltimore | 82β126 | Vern Mikkelsen (23) | 40β26 |
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average
Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
---|
1951β52 Minneapolis Lakers season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Head coach | John Kundla |
Arena | Minneapolis Auditorium |
Results | |
Record | 40–26 (.606) |
Place | Division: 2nd ( Western) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated Knicks 4β3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Radio | WLOL |
The 1951β52 Minneapolis Lakers season was the fourth season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [1] The NBA widened the foul lane before the 1951β52 season in an attempt to slow down George Mikan. Despite the change, it had little effect on Mikan. He still averaged 23.8 points per game, although he lost the scoring title to Paul Arizin, from the Philadelphia Warriors. [2] The Lakers went into the campaign with essentially the same lineup. Rochester took first place in the Western Division by a game, but the Lakers ousted the Royals in four games in the division finals. The NBA Finals would have the Lakers oppose the New York Knickerbockers. [2] Games 3 and 4 of the Finals were played at the 69th Regiment Armory instead of at Madison Square Garden. This was because of a famous circus being in town at the time. The teams split those games, as well as Games 5 and 6. Game 7 was dominated by Minneapolis. The Lakers pounded out an 82β65 win, at home, to claim their third NBA crown in their first four seasons. [2] HoopsHype later ranked this squad as the team with the 14th easiest route to the NBA Finals championship. [3]
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (August 2023) |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
x- Rochester Royals | 41 | 25 | .621 | β | 28β5 | 12β18 | 1β2 | 22β14 |
x- Minneapolis Lakers | 40 | 26 | .606 | 1 | 21β5 | 13β20 | 6β1 | 24β12 |
x- Indianapolis Olympians | 34 | 32 | .515 | 7 | 25β6 | 4β24 | 5β2 | 18β18 |
x- Fort Wayne Pistons | 29 | 37 | .439 | 12 | 22β11 | 6β24 | 1β2 | 17β19 |
Milwaukee Hawks | 17 | 49 | .258 | 24 | 8β13 | 3β22 | 6β14 | 9β27 |
1951-52 NBA Records | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | BAL | BOS | FWP | IND | MIL | MIN | NYK | PHI | ROC | SYR |
Baltimore | β | 1β8 | 2β4 | 2β4 | 4β2 | 0β6 | 2β7 | 4β5 | 2β4 | 3β6 |
Boston | 8β1 | β | 3β3 | 3β3 | 5β1 | 3β3 | 4β5 | 6β3 | 3β3 | 4β5 |
Fort Wayne | 4β2 | 3β3 | β | 5β4 | 4β5 | 5β4 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 3β6 | 0β6 |
Indianapolis | 4β2 | 3β3 | 4β5 | β | 7β2 | 4β5 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 3β6 | 4β2 |
Milwaukee | 2β4 | 1β5 | 5β4 | 2β7 | β | 1β8 | 2β4 | 1β5 | 1β8 | 2β4 |
Minneapolis | 6β0 | 3β3 | 4β5 | 5β4 | 8β1 | β | 4β2 | 2β4 | 7β2 | 1β5 |
New York | 7β2 | 5β4 | 3β3 | 3β3 | 4β2 | 2β4 | β | 6β3 | 2β4 | 5β4 |
Philadelphia | 5β4 | 3β6 | 4β2 | 4β2 | 5β1 | 4β2 | 3β6 | β | 2β4 | 3β6 |
Rochester | 4β2 | 3β3 | 6β3 | 6β3 | 8β1 | 2β7 | 4β2 | 4β2 | β | 4β2 |
Syracuse | 6β3 | 5β4 | 6β0 | 2β4 | 4β2 | 5β1 | 4β5 | 6β3 | 2β4 | β |
# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
1 | November 3 | @ Rochester | 93β74 | Vern Mikkelsen (25) | 1β0 |
2 | November 4 | @ Syracuse | 67β98 | George Mikan (27) | 1β1 |
3 | November 9 | @ Philadelphia | 86β98 | George Mikan (41) | 1β2 |
4 | November 10 | @ New York | 89β73 | George Mikan (31) | 2β2 |
5 | November 11 | @ Boston | 72β77 | Jim Pollard (17) | 2β3 |
6 | November 12 | @ Baltimore | 90β80 | George Mikan (31) | 3β3 |
7 | November 13 | @ Indianapolis | 77β71 | George Mikan (22) | 4β3 |
8 | November 17 | Fort Wayne | 64β68 (OT) | George Mikan (32) | 5β3 |
9 | November 22 | Rochester | 65β70 (2OT) | Vern Mikkelsen (21) | 6β3 |
10 | November 24 | Milwaukee | 72β59 | George Mikan (19) | 7β3 |
11 | November 25 | Indianapolis | 73β82 | George Mikan (31) | 8β3 |
12 | November 28 | Boston | 76β90 | George Mikan (34) | 9β3 |
13 | December 1 | Fort Wayne | 69β89 | George Mikan (24) | 10β3 |
14 | December 2 | @ Fort Wayne | 61β63 | George Mikan (22) | 10β4 |
15 | December 5 | Syracuse | 83β81 (OT) | Vern Mikkelsen (23) | 10β5 |
16 | December 8 | N Baltimore | 85β64 | Mikan, Pollard (22) | 11β5 |
17 | December 9 | Indianapolis | 85β78 | Vern Mikkelsen (25) | 11β6 |
18 | December 11 | @ Indianapolis | 69β85 | Mikan, Mikkelsen (16) | 11β7 |
19 | December 12 | Baltimore | 79β99 | George Mikan (25) | 12β7 |
20 | December 16 | Milwaukee | 52β99 | George Mikan (24) | 13β7 |
21 | December 18 | @ New York | 67β69 | George Mikan (19) | 13β8 |
22 | December 21 | @ Philadelphia | 103β105 (3OT) | George Mikan (36) | 13β9 |
23 | December 22 | @ Baltimore | 96β90 (3OT) | George Mikan (39) | 14β9 |
24 | December 23 | @ Fort Wayne | 79β81 | George Mikan (33) | 14β10 |
25 | December 25 | Boston | 93β100 | Jim Pollard (25) | 15β10 |
26 | December 30 | Philadelphia | 64β93 | George Mikan (22) | 16β10 |
27 | January 1 | Syracuse | 80β82 | George Mikan (37) | 17β10 |
28 | January 4 | N Fort Wayne | 79β64 | Mikan, Pollard (21) | 18β10 |
29 | January 5 | N Indianapolis | 86β65 | George Mikan (20) | 19β10 |
30 | January 6 | New York | 92β107 | Jim Pollard (32) | 20β10 |
31 | January 8 | @ Indianapolis | 75β82 | George Mikan (27) | 20β11 |
32 | January 9 | Indianapolis | 74β91 | George Mikan (29) | 21β11 |
33 | January 11 | @ Milwaukee | 75β63 | George Mikan (18) | 22β11 |
34 | January 12 | N Milwaukee | 96β84 | Jim Pollard (24) | 23β11 |
35 | January 13 | Philadelphia | 88β81 | George Mikan (33) | 23β12 |
36 | January 16 | @ Boston | 108β94 | Vern Mikkelsen (36) | 24β12 |
37 | January 17 | @ Syracuse | 105β110 (3OT) | Martin, Mikkelsen (19) | 24β13 |
38 | January 19 | @ Rochester | 85β96 | Slater Martin (20) | 24β14 |
39 | January 20 | Rochester | 81β91 (2OT) | George Mikan (61) | 25β14 |
40 | January 23 | Syracuse | 99β97 (OT) | George Mikan (28) | 25β15 |
41 | January 26 | @ Milwaukee | 57β56 | Jim Pollard (18) | 26β15 |
42 | January 27 | Milwaukee | 62β91 | Vern Mikkelsen (19) | 27β15 |
43 | January 30 | New York | 65β77 | Martin, Pollard (14) | 28β15 |
44 | January 31 | @ Fort Wayne | 85β78 | Mikan, Pollard (23) | 29β15 |
45 | February 1 | @ Indianapolis | 77β85 | George Mikan (25) | 29β16 |
46 | February 3 | Rochester | 75β77 | George Mikan (25) | 30β16 |
47 | February 7 | Rochester | 75β86 | George Mikan (27) | 31β16 |
48 | February 9 | Fort Wayne | 70β67 | George Mikan (29) | 31β17 |
49 | February 10 | @ Milwaukee | 69β70 (2OT) | Frank Saul (14) | 31β18 |
50 | February 14 | N Milwaukee | 109β74 | Jim Pollard (25) | 32β18 |
51 | February 16 | N Boston | 75β77 | Slater Martin (17) | 32β19 |
52 | February 17 | @ Fort Wayne | 87β99 | Howie Schultz (19) | 32β20 |
53 | February 19 | @ New York | 96β98 | George Mikan (26) | 32β21 |
54 | February 20 | @ Baltimore | 93β78 | Vern Mikkelsen (28) | 33β21 |
55 | February 21 | @ Syracuse | 80β88 | George Mikan (25) | 33β22 |
56 | February 23 | @ Rochester | 83β73 | George Mikan (26) | 34β22 |
57 | February 24 | @ Fort Wayne | 70β83 | Jim Pollard (19) | 34β23 |
58 | February 25 | Philadelphia | 95β108 | George Mikan (28) | 35β23 |
59 | March 1 | N Indianapolis | 98β88 | George Mikan (26) | 36β23 |
60 | March 2 | @ Milwaukee | 96β85 | Jim Pollard (26) | 37β23 |
61 | March 4 | @ Philadelphia | 81β83 | George Mikan (41) | 37β24 |
62 | March 5 | @ Boston | 74β82 | Slater Martin (20) | 37β25 |
63 | March 8 | @ Rochester | 92β94 (OT) | Mikan, Pollard (21) | 37β26 |
64 | March 9 | Rochester | 90β96 | Jim Pollard (32) | 38β26 |
65 | March 12 | New York | 83β85 | Jim Pollard (22) | 39β26 |
66 | March 16 | Baltimore | 82β126 | Vern Mikkelsen (23) | 40β26 |
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average
Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
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1952 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Division Semi-finals: 2β0 (home: 1β0; road: 1β0)
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Division Finals: 3β1 (home: 2β0; road: 1β1)
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NBA Finals: 4β3 (home: 3β1; road: 1β2)
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1952 schedule |