1950–51 Syracuse Nationals season
The 1950–51 Syracuse Nationals season was the fifth season of the franchise and the second in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Nationals finished in fourth place in the Eastern Division and their 32–34 record gave them a berth in the NBA Playoffs. Syracuse faced the Philadelphia Warriors in the first round of the Eastern Division playoffs and won the best-of-three series 2–0 to advance to the division finals. In that series, the Nationals lost to the New York Knicks 2–3 in a best-of-five series.
NBA Draft
Roster
| Syracuse Nationals 1950–51 roster |
| Players | Coaches |
| Pos. | # | Nat. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | From |
|---|
| 2.0 !SG |
9/12 |
USA ! |
Calabrese, Gerald |
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
175 lb (79 kg) |
|
St. John's |
| 1.0 !PG |
15 |
USA ! |
Cervi, Al |
7000180340000000000♠5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
170 lb (77 kg) |
|
|
| 4.0 !F |
11 |
USA ! |
Chollet, Leroy |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
|
Canisius College |
| 2.0 !SG |
7 |
USA ! |
Gabor, Billy |
7000180340000000000♠5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
170 lb (77 kg) |
|
Syracuse |
| 4.5 !PF |
10 |
USA ! |
Hannum, Alex |
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Southern California |
| 6.0 !C |
13 |
USA ! |
Jorgensen, Noble |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
228 lb (103 kg) |
|
Iowa |
| 5.5 !F/C |
11 |
USA ! |
Lofgran, Don |
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
San Francisco |
| 2.5 !G/F |
5 |
USA ! |
Macknowski, Johnny |
7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Seton Hall |
| 6.0 !C |
13 |
USA ! |
Peterson, Ed |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Cornell |
| 4.5 !PF |
6 |
USA ! |
Ratkovicz, George |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
|
| 5.5 !F/C |
4 |
USA ! |
Schayes, Dolph |
7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
NYU |
| 1.0 !PG |
14 |
USA ! |
Scolari, Fred |
7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
San Francisco |
| 2.5 !G/F |
8 |
USA ! |
Seymour, Paul |
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Toledo |
| 2.0 !SG |
14 |
USA ! |
Smawley, Belus |
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
Appalachian State |
|
- Head coach
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
 Injured
|
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
| 1950–51 NBA records |
| Team |
BAL |
BOS |
FWP |
IND |
MIN |
NYK |
PHI |
ROC |
SYR |
TCB |
WAS |
| Baltimore |
— | 3–6 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 3–6 | 1–5 | 3–5 | 3–3 | 1–2 |
| Boston |
6–3 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 4–4 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 4–2 | 4–3 |
| Fort Wayne |
2–4 | 1–5 | — | 5–3 | 5–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–5 | 3–3 | 5–5 | 3–1 |
| Indianapolis |
4–2 | 1–4 | 3–5 | — | 3–7 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 5–4 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 2–2 |
| Minneapolis |
4–2 | 3–3 | 3–5 | 7–3 | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–4 | 4–2 | 10–0 | 2–0 |
| New York |
5–2 | 4–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 5–3 | 3–3 | 5–5 | 4–2 | 2–1 |
| Philadelphia |
6–3 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–5 | — | 4–2 | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3–0 |
| Rochester |
5–3 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–5 | 2–6 | — | 4–2 | 5–3 | 5–0 |
| Syracuse |
5–3 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–5 | 2–6 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Tri-Cities |
3–3 | 2–4 | 5–5 | 4–4 | 0–10 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington |
2–1 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |
Game log
1950–51 Game Log
Total: 32–34 (Home: 23–10 ; Road: 9–24) |
November: 7–7 (Home: 6–2 ; Road: 1–5)
|
December: 7–7 (Home: 3–3 ; Road: 4–4)
| Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
Location |
Record |
| 15 | December 2 | @ Baltimore Bullets | 99–96 (OT) | Baltimore Coliseum | 8–7 |
| 16 | December 3 | Indianapolis Olympians | 84–81 | State Fair Coliseum | 9–7 |
| 17 | December 7 | Rochester Royals | 69–76 | State Fair Coliseum | 9–8 |
| 18 | December 9 | @ Boston Celtics | 86–85 | Boston Garden | 10–8 |
| 19 | December 10 | Baltimore Bullets | 76–86 | State Fair Coliseum | 10–9 |
| 20 | December 14 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 69–78 | State Fair Coliseum | 10–10 |
| 21 | December 16 | @ Rochester Royals | 79–75 (OT) | Edgerton Park Arena | 11–10 |
| 22 | December 17 | New York Knicks | 95–86 | State Fair Coliseum | 12–10 |
| 23 | December 20 | @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 83–86 | Wharton Field House | 12–11 |
| 24 | December 21 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | 72–97 | North Side High School Gym | 12–12 |
| 25 | December 25 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 81–69 | State Fair Coliseum | 13–12 |
| 26 | December 26 | @ Boston Celtics | 100–102 | Boston Garden | 13–13 |
| 27 | December 28 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | 88–91 (OT) | Philadelphia Arena | 13–14 |
| 28 | December 30 | @ Baltimore Bullets | 90–80 (OT) | Baltimore Coliseum | 14–14 |
|
January: 7–7 (Home: 5–3 ; Road: 2–4)
| Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
Location |
Record |
| 29 | January 1 | Boston Celtics | 106–89 | State Fair Coliseum | 15–14 |
| 30 | January 4 | Minneapolis Lakers | 77–80 | State Fair Coliseum | 15–15 |
| 31 | January 6 | @ New York Knicks | 87–85 (OT) | Madison Square Garden | 16–15 |
| 32 | January 7 | Baltimore Bullets | 73–65 | State Fair Coliseum | 17–15 |
| 33 | January 10 | @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 97–96 | Wharton Field House | 18–15 |
| 34 | January 11 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | 76–84 | North Side High School Gym | 18–16 |
| 35 | January 14 | Rochester Royals | 92–63 | State Fair Coliseum | 19–16 |
| 36 | January 18 | Rochester Royals | 87–96 | State Fair Coliseum | 19–17 |
| 37 | January 21 | Philadelphia Warriors | 86–96 | State Fair Coliseum | 19–18 |
| 38 | January 24 | @ Baltimore Bullets | 82–87 | Baltimore Coliseum | 19–19 |
| 39 | January 25 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 113–87 | State Fair Coliseum | 20–19 |
| 40 | January 27 | @ Rochester Royals | 83–85 | Edgerton Park Arena | 20–20 |
| 41 | January 28 | Boston Celtics | 104–83 | State Fair Coliseum | 21–20 |
| 42 | January 30 | @ Boston Celtics | 87–96 | Boston Garden | 21–21 |
|
February: 7–7 (Home: 5–2 ; Road: 2–5)
| Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
Location |
Record |
| 43 | February 1 | New York Knicks | 90–93 | State Fair Coliseum | 21–22 |
| 44 | February 2 | @ Boston Celtics | 90–96 (OT) | Boston Garden | 21–23 |
| 45 | February 5 | Philadelphia Warriors | 78–75 | State Fair Coliseum | 22–23 |
| 46 | February 7 | @ Baltimore Bullets | 82–102 | Baltimore Coliseum | 22–24 |
| 47 | February 8 | New York Knicks | 96–83 | State Fair Coliseum | 23–24 |
| 48 | February 11 | Baltimore Bullets | 80–72 | State Fair Coliseum | 24–24 |
| 49 | February 14 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | 75–77 | North Side High School Gym | 24–25 |
| 50 | February 15 | Boston Celtics | 94–80 | State Fair Coliseum | 25–25 |
| 51 | February 17 | @ New York Knicks | 75–88 | Madison Square Garden | 25–26 |
| 52 | February 18 | Minneapolis Lakers | 91–80 | State Fair Coliseum | 26–26 |
| 53 | February 20 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | 81–79 | Butler Fieldhouse | 27–26 |
| 54 | February 21 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | 76–82 | Minneapolis Auditorium | 27–27 |
| 55 | February 25 | New York Knicks | 98–93 | State Fair Coliseum | 28–27 |
| 56 | February 27 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | 72–86 | Philadelphia Arena | 28–28 |
|
March: 4–6 (Home: 4–1 ; Road: 0–5)
| Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
Location |
Record |
| 57 | March 1 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 108–86 | State Fair Coliseum | 29–28 |
| 58 | March 3 | @ New York Knicks | 78–97 | Madison Square Garden | 29–29 |
| 59 | March 4 | Philadelphia Warriors | 85–79 | State Fair Coliseum | 30–29 |
| 60 | March 8 | Indianapolis Olympians | 121–97 | State Fair Coliseum | 31–29 |
| 61 | March 10 | @ Rochester Royals | 86–107 | Edgerton Park Arena | 31–30 |
| 62 | March 11 | Philadelphia Warriors | 91–95 | State Fair Coliseum | 31–31 |
| 63 | March 13 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | 93–98 | Butler Fieldhouse | 31–32 |
| 64 | March 14 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | 76–100 | Minneapolis Auditorium | 31–33 |
| 65 | March 17 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | 86–100 | Philadelphia Arena | 31–34 |
| 66 | March 18 | Boston Celtics | 97–89 | State Fair Coliseum | 32–34 |
|
| 1950–51 Schedule |
Playoffs
East Division Semifinals
(1) Philadelphia Warriors vs. (4) Syracuse Nationals: Nationals win series 2–0
- Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Syracuse 91, Philadelphia 89 (OT)
- Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 90, Philadelphia 78
East Division Finals
(3) New York Knicks vs. (4) Syracuse Nationals: Knicks win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 103, Syracuse 92
- Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 102, New York 80
- Game 3 @ New York: New York 77, Syracuse 75 (OT)
- Game 4 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 90, New York 83
- Game 5 @ New York: New York 83, Syracuse 81
Awards and records
References
External links
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