1947–48 New York Knicks season

1947–48 New York Knicks season
Head coach Joe Lapchick[1]
Arena Madison Square Garden[1]
Results
Record 26–22 (.542)
Place Division: 2nd
Conference: 2nd
Playoff finish BAA Quarterfinals
(eliminated 1–2)
Radio WHN[2]
< 1946–47 1948–49 >

The 1947–48 New York Knicks season was the second season for the team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later became known as the National Basketball Association. The Knicks finished in second place in the Eastern Division with a 26–22 record and qualified for the BAA Playoffs. In the first round, New York was eliminated by the Baltimore Bullets in a best-of-three series, two games to one. Carl Braun was the team's scoring leader during the season.[1]

At the 1947 BAA Draft, the Knicks selected Dick Holub in the first round, with the fifth overall pick.[3] The 1947–48 season was the first as New York's head coach for Joe Lapchick, who had previously held the same position for college basketball's St. John's; he had been hired in March 1947.[4] The Knicks had a 13–13 record in the first 26 games of the season before going on an eight-game winning streak from January 28 to February 11. However, New York won only four of its final 12 regular season contests.[5]

In game one of the first round of the playoffs, held in Baltimore, the Bullets defeated the Knicks 85–81 behind a 34-point performance by Connie Simmons.[6] The Knicks evened the series at one victory apiece by winning the second game 79–69 in New York, as four players scored more than 10 points.[7] The win forced a decisive third game back in Baltimore, which the Knicks lost 84–77. Simmons led the Bullets with 22 points, while Chick Reiser added 21.[8] The Bullets went on to win the 1948 BAA Finals.[9]

BAA Draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.[3]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 5 Dick Holub C  United States Long Island
– – Andy Duncan F/C  United States William & Mary
– – Wataru Misaka G  United States Utah

Regular season

Season standings

# Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB
1 x-Philadelphia Warriors 27 21 .563 –
2 x-New York Knicks 26 22 .542 1
3 x-Boston Celtics 20 28 .417 7
4 Providence Steamrollers 6 42 .125 21

Playoffs

BAA Quarterfinals

(W2) Baltimore Bullets vs. (E2) New York Knicks: Bullets win series 2–1

Awards and records

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "1947–48 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ Jaker, Bill; Sulek, Frank; Kanze, Peter (2008). The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921–1996. McFarland & Company. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7864-3872-3. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "1947 BAA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Joe Lapchick Goes to Pros". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. March 31, 1947. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  5. ↑ "1947–48 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ "New York Knicks at Baltimore Bullets Box Score, March 27, 1948". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Baltimore Bullets at New York Knicks Box Score, March 28, 1948". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ "New York Knicks at Baltimore Bullets Box Score, April 1, 1948". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  9. ↑ "1947–48 BAA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2013.