1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season

1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season
Division champions
Head coach	Al Cervi
Arena	State Fair Coliseum
Results
Record	51–13 (.797)
Place	Division: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (eliminated 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Radio	WNDR

The 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season was the first season for the Nationals in the National Basketball Association. The Nationals had played their three previous seasons in the National Basketball League, which merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA. Al Cervi, nicknamed "Digger" for his superior defensive skills, guided the team with his competitive nature while serving as a player-coach. As the Syracuse Post-Standard describes, "The Nationals shot poorly but succeeded because they played Cervi-style basketball: nasty, with an emphasis on defense." The Nationals went to the NBA Finals after beating the Philadelphia Warriors and New York Knicks, but lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in six games.

Draft picks

Main article: 1949 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College

Roster

Syracuse Nationals 1949–50 roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From G/F 15 Cervi, Al 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) East High School (Buffalo) F Chollet, Leroy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Canisius College G Corley, Ray 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Georgetown G/F Gabor, Bill 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Syracuse F/C 10 Hannum, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) USC G/F 14 Levane, Andrew 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) St. John's G/F 5 Macknowski, Johnny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Seton Hall C Peterson, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Cornell University F/C Ratkovicz, George 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Lindblom High School (Chicago) F/C Schayes, Dolph 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) New York University G/F Seymour, Paul 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Toledo	Head coach Al Cervi (East High School (Buffalo)) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Standings

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-Syracuse Nationals	51	13	.797	–	31–1	15–12	5–0	9–1
x-New York Knicks	40	28	.588	13	19–10	18–16	3–2	20–6
x-Washington Capitols	32	36	.471	21	21–13	10–20	1–3	13–13
x-Philadelphia Warriors	26	42	.382	25	15–15	8–23	3–4	9–17
Baltimore Bullets	25	43	.368	26	16–15	8–25	1–3	8–18
Boston Celtics	22	46	.324	29	12–14	5–28	5–4	11–15

Record vs. opponents

1949–50 NBA records
Team	AND	BAL	BOS	CHI	DEN	FWP	IND	MIN	NYK	PHI	ROC	SHE	STL	SYR	TCB	WAS	WAT
Anderson	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–3	1–1	2–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	5–2	2–0	3–4	7–2	1–1	7–0
Baltimore	1–1	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–5	1–5	3–3	3–3	2–0	3–3	0–2	0–2	2–4	1–1
Boston	2–0	4–2	—	0–6	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–5	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	2–4	0–2	0–2	3–3	1–1
Chicago	1–1	5–1	6–0	—	2–0	2–4	1–1	2–4	2–4	4–2	2–4	2–0	5–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0
Denver	3–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	—	0–2	0–7	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–4	0–2	1–6	0–7	0–2	2–5
Fort Wayne	1–1	3–3	4–2	4–2	2–0	—	1–1	2–4	4–2	4–2	3–3	2–0	5–1	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–1
Indianapolis	5–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	7–0	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–2	1–1	2–7	4–3	1–1	5–2
Minneapolis	1–1	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	—	5–1	4–2	3–3	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	6–0	2–0
New York	1–1	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–4	1–1	1–5	—	1–5	1–5	1–1	4–2	0–2	1–1	5–1	2–0
Philadelphia	1–1	3–3	3–3	2–4	2–0	2–4	0–2	2–4	1–5	—	1–5	2–0	2–4	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0
Rochester	2–0	3–3	6–0	4–2	2–0	3–3	1–1	3–3	5–1	5–1	—	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	6–0	2–0
Sheboygan	2–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	4–3	0–2	2–5	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	1–6	3–4	2–0	4–3
St. Louis	0–2	3–3	4–2	1–5	2–0	1–5	1–1	1–5	2–4	4–2	1–5	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	0–6	1–1
Syracuse	4–3	2–0	2–0	2–0	6–1	2–0	7–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	6–1	1–1	—	6–1	1–1	6–1
Tri-Cities	2–7	2–0	2–0	1–1	7–0	0–2	3–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–3	0–2	1–6	—	1–1	4–3
Washington	1–1	4–2	3–3	3–3	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–6	1–5	4–2	0–6	0–2	6–0	1–1	1–1	—	1–1
Waterloo	0–7	1–1	1–1	0–2	5–2	1–1	2–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–4	1–1	1–6	3–4	1–1	—

Game log

1949–50 Game Log Total: 51–13 (Home: 31–1 ; Road: 15–12 ; Neutral: 5–0)
November: 13–1 (Home: 8–0 ; Road: 3–1 ; Neutral: 2–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 1 November 3 Denver Nuggets 78–58 State Fair Coliseum 1–0 2 November 5 vs Denver Nuggets 84–51 (Auburn, New York) 2–0 3 November 6 Philadelphia Warriors 82–72 State Fair Coliseum 3–0 4 November 9 Indianapolis Olympians 103–73 State Fair Coliseum 4–0 5 November 10 @ St. Louis Bombers 67–73 St. Louis Arena 4–1 6 November 12 @ Anderson Packers 84–69 Anderson High School Wigwam 5–1 7 November 13 New York Knicks 80–66 State Fair Coliseum 6–1 8 November 15 @ New York Knicks 77–74 Madison Square Garden III 7–1 9 November 17 Tri-Cities Blackhawks 79–76 State Fair Coliseum 8–1 10 November 20 Denver Nuggets 102–76 State Fair Coliseum 9–1 11 November 21 vs Denver Nuggets 77–67 (Oneida, New York) 10–1 12 November 24 Anderson Packers 125–123 (5OT) State Fair Coliseum 11–1 13 November 27 Waterloo Hawks 80–62 State Fair Coliseum 12–1 14 November 30 @ Boston Celtics 87–71 Boston Garden 13–1
December: 11–3 (Home: 5–0 ; Road: 5–3 ; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 15 December 4 Indianapolis Olympians 67–61 State Fair Coliseum 14–1 16 December 7 @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks 77–69 Wharton Field House 15–1 17 December 8 @ Sheboygan Red Skins 86–72 Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory 16–1 18 December 10 @ Rochester Royals 63–69 Edgerton Park Arena 16–2 19 December 11 Sheboygan Red Skins 89–72 State Fair Coliseum 17–2 20 December 14 Fort Wayne Pistons 96–83 State Fair Coliseum 18–2 21 December 15 @ Anderson Packers 88–100 Anderson High School Wigwam 18–3 22 December 18 Chicago Stags 86–73 State Fair Coliseum 19–3 23 December 20 @ Waterloo Hawks 95–70 McElroy Auditorium 20–3 24 December 21 @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks 96–84 Wharton Field House 21–3 25 December 22 @ Sheboygan Red Skins 83–74 Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory 22–3 26 December 25 Anderson Packers 94–88 State Fair Coliseum 23–3 27 December 28 @ Washington Capitols 85–87 Uline Arena 23–4 28 December 29 vs Philadelphia Warriors 64–62 (Atlantic City, New Jersey) 24–4
January: 9–3 (Home: 7–1 ; Road: 1–2 ; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 29 January 1 Washington Capitols 79–73 State Fair Coliseum 25–4 30 January 5 Tri-Cities Blackhawks 82–73 State Fair Coliseum 26–4 31 January 8 Waterloo Hawks 84–68 State Fair Coliseum 27–4 32 January 10 @ Waterloo Hawks 84–86 (OT) McElroy Auditorium 27–5 33 January 11 @ Minneapolis Lakers 88–98 Minneapolis Auditorium 27–6 34 January 12 @ Fort Wayne Pistons 64–62 North Side High School Gym 28–6 35 January 15 Indianapolis Olympians 82–69 State Fair Coliseum 29–6 36 January 19 Denver Nuggets 107–86 State Fair Coliseum 30–6 37 January 22 Anderson Packers 75–77 (OT) State Fair Coliseum 30–7 38 January 26 Rochester Royals 76–72 State Fair Coliseum 31–7 39 January 29 Sheboygan Red Skins 85–70 State Fair Coliseum 32–7 40 January 30 vs Indianapolis Olympians 91–75 (Louisville, Kentucky) 33–7
February: 11–4 (Home: 7–0 ; Road: 3–4 ; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 41 February 1 @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks 83–91 Wharton Field House 33–8 42 February 2 @ Indianapolis Olympians 73–67 Butler Fieldhouse 34–8 43 February 3 Waterloo Hawks 103–79 State Fair Coliseum 35–8 44 February 5 Baltimore Bullets 96–87 State Fair Coliseum 36–8 45 February 8 Sheboygan Red Skins 106–81 State Fair Coliseum 37–8 46 February 11 @ Baltimore Bullets 77–76 Baltimore Coliseum 38–8 47 February 12 Waterloo Hawks 102–98 State Fair Coliseum 39–8 48 February 16 Tri-Cities Blackhawks 105–74 State Fair Coliseum 40–8 49 February 19 Indianapolis Olympians 82–78 State Fair Coliseum 41–8 50 February 21 @ Denver Nuggets 78–89 Denver Auditorium Arena 41–9 51 February 23 @ Denver Nuggets 108–80 Denver Auditorium Arena 42–9 52 February 24 vs Indianapolis Olympians 72–67 (Chicago) 43–9 53 February 26 Chicago Stags 73–64 State Fair Coliseum 44–9 54 February 27 @ Anderson Packers 73–97 Anderson High School Wigwam 44–10 55 February 28 @ Indianapolis Olympians 72–110 Butler Fieldhouse 44–11
March: 7–2 (Home: 4–0 ; Road: 3–2 ; Neutral: 0–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 56 March 1 @ Waterloo Hawks 93–72 McElroy Auditorium 45–11 57 March 2 @ Sheboygan Red Skins 85–95 Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory 45–12 58 March 5 Minneapolis Lakers 84–75 State Fair Coliseum 46–12 59 March 9 St. Louis Bombers 85–74 State Fair Coliseum 47–12 60 March 12 Boston Celtics 96–72 State Fair Coliseum 48–12 61 March 14 @ Indianapolis Olympians 65–68 Butler Fieldhouse 48–13 62 March 16 @ Sheboygan Red Skins 88–75 Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory 49–13 63 March 18 @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks 89–88 (OT) Wharton Field House 50–13 64 March 19 Anderson Packers 72–67 State Fair Coliseum 51–13
1949–50 Schedule

Playoffs

East Division Semifinals

• (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (4) Philadelphia Warriors: Nationals win series 2–0
• Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 93, Philadelphia 76
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Syracuse 59, Philadelphia 53

East Division Finals

• Eastern Division: (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (2) New York Knicks: Nationals win series 2–1
• Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, New York 83 (OT)
• Game 2 @ New York: New York 80, Syracuse 76
• Game 3 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, New York 80

NBA Semifinals

The Nationals had an NBA Semifinal bye.

NBA Finals

• (E1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (C1) Minneapolis Lakers: Lakers win series 4–2
• Game 1 @ Syracuse: Minneapolis 68, Syracuse 66
• Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, Minneapolis 85
• Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 91, Syracuse 77
• Game 4 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 77, Syracuse 69
• Game 5 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 83, Minneapolis 76
• Game 6 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 110, Syracuse 95

Awards and records

• Al Cervi, All-NBA Second Team
• Dolph Schayes, All-NBA Second Team