1955 NBA playoffs


The 1955 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1954-55 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Nationals defeating the Western Conference champion Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
This was the only title for the Nationals under that moniker; the franchise won its next title in 1967 as the Philadelphia 76ers.
For the Pistons, this was their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history; they returned the next year, but didn't win their first title until 1989 as the Detroit Pistons.
After experimenting with a round robin playoff format in 1954, the NBA moved to a system in which the top team in each conference earned a first-round bye, giving them the right to start out in the division finals. It remained in place until 1967, when it changed to an eight-team format in which all teams played the first round.

Bracket

Western Division

Champion: Fort Wayne Pistons
Division Semifinals
Fort Wayne Pistons have division semifinals bye.
Minneapolis Lakers vs. Rochester Royals: Lakers win series 2-1
Last Playoff Meeting: 1954 NBA Western Division Finals
Division Finals
Fort Wayne Pistons vs. Minneapolis Lakers: Pistons win series 3-1
Last Playoff Meeting: 1953 NBA Western Division Finals

Eastern Division

Champion: Syracuse Nationals
Division Semifinals
Syracuse Nationals have division semifinals bye.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 2-1
Last Playoff Meeting: 1953 NBA Eastern Division Finals
Division Finals
Syracuse Nationals vs. Boston Celtics: Nationals win series 3-1
Last Playoff Meeting: 1954 NBA Eastern Division Finals

NBA Finals

Syracuse Nationals vs. Fort Wayne Pistons: Nationals win series 4-3
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Nationals and Pistons.