Boston Celtics 1952-53 Roster and Stats

The 1952-53 Boston Celtics season marked the team’s seventh season in the NBA. Under head coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics continued to build on their emerging reputation as a competitive team. Their roster included standout players such as Bob Cousy, who was instrumental in leading the team’s offense with his playmaking and scoring abilities.

During the regular season, the Celtics demonstrated significant progress, finishing with a 46-25 record. This performance was good enough for second place in the Eastern Division. Bob Cousy was a key figure in the team’s success, showcasing his skills by leading the league in assists and earning a spot on the All-NBA First Team.

In the postseason, the Celtics faced the Syracuse Nationals in the Eastern Division Semifinals. The series was fiercely contested, ultimately going the full three games. The Celtics emerged victorious, taking the series 2-1. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they encountered the New York Knicks in the Eastern Division Finals. Despite their efforts, the Celtics were defeated by the Knicks, losing the series 3-1.

The 1952-53 season was a stepping stone for the Celtics, demonstrating their potential to become a dominant force in the league. With a solid regular season performance and a competitive playoff appearance, the groundwork was laid for future successes in the years to come.

Regular Season Record: 46-25
Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 1-3

Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1952-53 Season

POINTS

Ed Macauley

20.3

REBOUNDS

Ed Macauley

1.7

ASSISTS

Bob Cousy

4.9

	Regular Season							Playoffs
Player	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%
Ed Macauley	69	20.3	1.7	1.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	16.8	2.5	3.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Bob Cousy	71	19.8	0.7	4.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	25.5	0.5	5.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Bill Sharman	71	16.2	0.5	1.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	11.7	0.3	2.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Bob Harris	70	7.4	1.1	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	8.3	4.2	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
Bob Brannum	71	6.8	1.3	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	5.2	0.3	1.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
Chuck Cooper	70	6.5	1.0	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	10.0	0.8	2.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Bob Donham	71	6.3	0.3	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	5.5	0.3	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
John Mahnken	69	2.8	0.2	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	0.8	1.0	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Kenny Rollins	41	2.4	0.1	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	6	3.3	0.3	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Gene Conley	38	2.3	0.4	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Mo Mahoney	6	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4	2.3	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
Kleggie Hermsen	4	0.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0

Boston Celtics in the 1953 NBA Playoffs

Playoffs Second Round vs. Syracuse Nationals

In the 1953 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics were eliminated in the second round by the New York Knicks. The series went to a decisive Game 5, where the Knicks ultimately outperformed the Celtics, clinching the series 3-2. Despite a strong performance by Bob Cousy, the Celtics were unable to advance, marking another early exit in their quest for a championship.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Mar 19, 1953	@ Syracuse Nationals	W 87-81	Bob Cousy (20 pts)
Mar 21, 1953	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 111-105	Bob Cousy (50 pts)

1953 Conference Championship vs. New York Knicks

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Mar 25, 1953	@ New York Knicks	L 95-91	Bob Cousy (28 pts)
Mar 26, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 86-70	Bob Cousy (21 pts)
Mar 28, 1953	@ New York Knicks	L 101-82	Bob Cousy (18 pts)
Mar 29, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	L 82-75	Ed Macauley (25 pts)

Boston Celtics 1952-53 Regular Season Game Log

Here is the game log for the 1952-53 season for the Boston Celtics.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Oct 31, 1952	@ Indianapolis Olympians	W 83-68	Bob Cousy (22 pts)
Nov 01, 1952	@ Minneapolis Lakers	L 94-91	Ed Macauley (37 pts)
Nov 08, 1952	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 106-83	Bob Cousy (27 pts)
Nov 11, 1952	vs. Minneapolis Lakers	L 101-92	Ed Macauley (25 pts)
Nov 13, 1952	@ Syracuse Nationals	L 96-81	Bob Cousy (25 pts)
Nov 15, 1952	@ New York Knicks	L 79-68	Bob Cousy (23 pts)
Nov 16, 1952	vs. Rochester Royals	W 96-87	Ed Macauley (27 pts)
Nov 19, 1952	vs. Milwaukee Hawks	W 91-77	Bob Cousy (24 pts)
Nov 22, 1952	vs. Indianapolis Olympians	W 96-91	Ed Macauley (23 pts)
Nov 23, 1952	@ Rochester Royals	W 102-100	Bob Cousy (26 pts)
Nov 26, 1952	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 93-92	Bob Cousy (30 pts)
Nov 27, 1952	@ Philadelphia Warriors	W 83-70	Ed Macauley (21 pts)
Nov 29, 1952	vs. Fort Wayne Pistons	W 78-71	Bob Cousy (27 pts)
Nov 30, 1952	@ Syracuse Nationals	L 78-66	Bob Cousy (28 pts)
Dec 03, 1952	vs. Minneapolis Lakers	L 106-102	Bob Cousy (28 pts)
Dec 04, 1952	vs. Milwaukee Hawks	L 90-73	Bob Cousy (23 pts)
Dec 06, 1952	vs. Milwaukee Hawks	W 88-83	Ed Macauley (16 pts)
Dec 09, 1952	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 86-72	Ed Macauley (29 pts)
Dec 10, 1952	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 103-97	Bob Cousy (30 pts)
Dec 11, 1952	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 94-88	Bill Sharman (42 pts)
Dec 13, 1952	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 82-78	Bill Sharman (22 pts)
Dec 14, 1952	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 83-73	Bob Cousy (23 pts)
Dec 18, 1952	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 88-83	Bob Cousy (26 pts)
Dec 20, 1952	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 91-77	Ed Macauley (31 pts)
Dec 21, 1952	@ Syracuse Nationals	L 90-86	Ed Macauley (21 pts)
Dec 25, 1952	@ New York Knicks	L 97-84	Bill Sharman (25 pts)
Dec 26, 1952	@ Indianapolis Olympians	L 85-74	Bill Sharman (20 pts)
Dec 27, 1952	@ Minneapolis Lakers	L 94-71	Bill Sharman (20 pts)
Dec 28, 1952	@ Fort Wayne Pistons	W 89-66	Bob Cousy (23 pts)
Dec 31, 1952	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 97-87	Bill Sharman (29 pts)
Jan 01, 1953	@ Rochester Royals	W 83-81	Bob Cousy (24 pts)
Jan 03, 1953	vs. Indianapolis Olympians	W 78-63	Bob Cousy (20 pts)
Jan 04, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 103-100	Ed Macauley (28 pts)
Jan 07, 1953	@ Philadelphia Warriors	W 84-82	Bill Sharman (34 pts)
Jan 08, 1953	vs. Rochester Royals	W 88-85	Ed Macauley (28 pts)
Jan 09, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	L 94-90	Bob Cousy (22 pts)
Jan 10, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	L 126-105	Bill Sharman (33 pts)
Jan 11, 1953	vs. Baltimore Bullets	W 131-87	Ed Macauley (25 pts)
Jan 15, 1953	@ Fort Wayne Pistons	L 91-85	Bill Sharman (26 pts)
Jan 16, 1953	@ Milwaukee Hawks	W 100-90	Bill Sharman (29 pts)
Jan 18, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 99-83	Ed Macauley (33 pts)
Jan 21, 1953	vs. Fort Wayne Pistons	W 94-84	Bob Cousy (29 pts)
Jan 22, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	L 112-89	Bill Sharman (20 pts)
Jan 23, 1953	@ Indianapolis Olympians	L 90-85	Ed Macauley (24 pts)
Jan 25, 1953	@ Minneapolis Lakers	L 87-82	Bob Cousy (18 pts)
Jan 27, 1953	vs. Milwaukee Hawks	W 80-58	Bob Cousy (22 pts)
Jan 29, 1953	@ Fort Wayne Pistons	L 111-98	Bob Cousy (27 pts)
Jan 31, 1953	@ New York Knicks	L 76-69	Bill Sharman (23 pts)
Feb 01, 1953	vs. Rochester Royals	L 109-86	Ed Macauley (25 pts)
Feb 04, 1953	vs. Syracuse Nationals	W 105-92	Bill Sharman (32 pts)
Feb 07, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 101-98	Ed Macauley (33 pts)
Feb 08, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 87-79	Bill Sharman (20 pts)
Feb 12, 1953	@ Philadelphia Warriors	L 92-91	Ed Macauley (25 pts)
Feb 13, 1953	vs. Milwaukee Hawks	W 77-74	Bob Cousy (25 pts)
Feb 15, 1953	vs. Indianapolis Olympians	W 89-76	Ed Macauley (20 pts)
Feb 17, 1953	vs. Syracuse Nationals	L 84-65	Bob Cousy (14 pts)
Feb 18, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 69-66	Ed Macauley (16 pts)
Feb 21, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 90-86	Bob Cousy (23 pts)
Feb 22, 1953	vs. New York Knicks	W 87-83	Bob Cousy (27 pts)
Feb 25, 1953	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 87-80	Bob Cousy (22 pts)
Feb 26, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 82-81	Ed Macauley (23 pts)
Feb 28, 1953	@ Rochester Royals	L 92-85	Bill Sharman (22 pts)
Mar 03, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 95-94	Bob Cousy (32 pts)
Mar 04, 1953	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 82-75	Ed Macauley (17 pts)
Mar 06, 1953	vs. Minneapolis Lakers	W 100-85	Ed Macauley (46 pts)
Mar 08, 1953	@ New York Knicks	W 89-78	Ed Macauley (25 pts)
Mar 11, 1953	vs. Fort Wayne Pistons	W 98-92	Ed Macauley (28 pts)
Mar 12, 1953	@ Syracuse Nationals	L 84-70	Bob Cousy (15 pts)
Mar 15, 1953	vs. Philadelphia Warriors	W 103-87	Ed Macauley (26 pts)
Mar 16, 1953	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 92-78	Ed Macauley (19 pts)
Mar 17, 1953	@ Syracuse Nationals	L 72-68	Bob Cousy (16 pts)

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