1952–53 Boston Celtics season

1952–53 Boston Celtics season
Head coach	Red Auerbach
Arena	Boston Garden
Results
Record	46–25 (.648)
Place	Division: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Division Finals (Lost to Knicks 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

The 1952–53 NBA season was the Celtics' 7th season in the NBA.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Main article: 1952 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	6	Bill Stauffer	F	United States	Missouri
4	7	Herm Hedderick	SG	United States	Canisius
10	4	Gene Conley	F/C	United States	Washington

Roster

1952–53 Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 18 Brannum, Bob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1925–05–28 Michigan PF 17 Conley, Gene 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1930–11–10 Washington SF 11 Cooper, Chuck 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1926–09–29 Duquesne PG 14 Cousy, Bob 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1928–08–09 Holy Cross SG 12 Donham, Bob 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1926–10–11 Ohio State SF 13 Harris, Bob 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1927–03–16 Oklahoma State F/C 10 Hermsen, Kleggie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1923–03–12 Minnesota C 22 Macauley, Ed 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1928–03–22 Saint Louis C 16 Mahnken, John 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1922–06–16 Georgetown F 19 Mahoney, Mo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1927–11–20 Brown PG 4 Rollins, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1923–09–14 Kentucky SG 21 Sharman, Bill 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1926–05–25 USC

Head coach Red Auerbach Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-New York Knicks	47	23	.671	-	22-4	15-14	10-5	30-10
x-Syracuse Nationals	47	24	.662	0.5	32-2	10-20	5-2	26-15
x-Boston Celtics	46	25	.648	1.5	21-3	11-18	14-4	28-13
x-Baltimore Bullets	16	54	.229	31	11-20	1–19	4-15	10-30
Philadelphia Warriors	12	57	.174	34.5	5-12	1–28	6-17	7-33

x = clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1952-53 NBA Records
Team	BAL	BOS	FWP	IND	MIL	MIN	NYK	PHI	ROC	SYR
Baltimore	—	2–8	0–6	2–4	3–3	1–5	0–10	6–4	0–6	2–8
Boston	8–2	—	4–2	4–2	5–1	1–5	6–4	9–1	4–2	5–6
Fort Wayne	6–0	2–4	—	7–3	7–3	1–9	4–2	5–0	3–7	1–5
Indianapolis	4–2	2–4	3–7	—	5–6	4–6	1–5	5–1	3–7	1–5
Milwaukee	3–3	1–5	3–7	6–5	—	3–7	1–5	4–2	3–7	3–3
Minneapolis	5–1	5–1	9–1	6–4	7–3	—	4–2	6–0	4–6	2–4
New York	10–0	4–6	2–4	5–1	5–1	2–4	—	10–0	3–3	6–4
Philadelphia	4–6	1–9	0–5	1–5	2–4	0–6	0–10	—	2–4	2–8
Rochester	6–0	2–4	7–3	7–3	7–3	6–4	3–3	4–2	—	2–4
Syracuse	8–2	6–5	5–1	5–1	3–3	4–2	4–6	8–2	4–2	—

Playoffs

East Division Semifinals

(2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 2-0

• Game 1 @ Syracuse: Boston 87, Syracuse 81
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 111, Syracuse 105 (4OT)

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Nationals and Celtics.

East Division Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (3) Boston Celtics: Knicks win series 3-1

• Game 1 @ New York: New York 95, Boston 91
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 86, New York 70
• Game 3 @ New York: New York 101, Boston 82
• Game 4 @ Boston: New York 82, Boston 75

Last Playoff Meeting: 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals (New York won 2–1)

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Awards and records

• Ed Macauley, All-NBA First Team
• Bob Cousy, All-NBA First Team
• Bill Sharman, All-NBA Second Team

See also

• 1952-53 NBA season