Semi-Finals
Division
Finals
NYK 1
BOS 2
MIN 2
ROC 1
SYR 3
BOS 1
FW 3
MIN 1
FW 3
SYR 4
Champ
SYR
1954-55 NBA Champion Syracuse Nationals
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.