January 24, 1956-1956 NBA All-Star game

The All-Stars of the NBA converged on the War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, N.Y. for the 6th annual NBA All-Star game. The Eastern side entered the game as 5 point favorites but fell to the West 108-94 in an upset. The West fell behind in the game 19-5 before West coach Charley Eckman put in 4 big men and the West proceeded to go on a 31-4 run. The West outrebounded the East 40-23 in the first half and had a 43-40 advantage at the half.

In the 2nd half the West blew the game wide open in the 3rd quarter with a 41 point outburst. Bob Pettit had 11 points of his 20 points in the 3rd period. After the 3rd period the East never came closer than 14 points as the West cruised for the rest of the game. Bob Pettit was named MVP of the All-Star game, scoring 20 points and grabbing 24 rebounds. This was the West's 2nd win in 6 All-Star games and attendance for the game was 8,517.

Box Score (with thanks to Wikipedia)

Western Conference

Player, Team	MIN	FGM	FGA	FTM	FTA	REB	AST	PF	PTS
Bob Pettit, STL	31	7	17	6	7	24	7	4	20
Slater Martin, MNL	29	3	7	3	3	1	7	5	9
Mel Hutchins, FTW	27	5	11	1	2	4	0	0	11
Bobby Wanzer, ROC	25	4	8	5	6	5	2	4	13
Bob Harrison, STL	25	2	7	1	2	0	1	4	5
Vern Mikkelsen, MNL	22	5	13	6	7	9	2	4	16
Maurice Stokes, ROC	20	4	11	2	5	16	2	5	10
Larry Foust, FTW	20	3	9	3	4	4	0	1	9
Clyde Lovellette, MNL	20	3	10	1	3	10	0	4	7
George Yardley, FTW	19	3	7	2	3	6	1	1	8
Totals	240	39	100	30	42	79	22	32	108

Eastern Conference

Player, Team	MIN	FGM	FGA	FTM	FTA	REB	AST	PF	PTS
Harry Gallatin, NYK	30	5	12	6	7	5	2	4	16
Dick McGuire, NYK	29	2	9	2	5	0	3	1	6
Paul Arizin, PHW	28	5	13	3	5	7	1	6	13
Neil Johnston, PHW	25	5	9	7	11	10	1	3	17
Dolph Schayes, SYR	25	4	8	6	10	4	2	2	14
Bill Sharman, BOS	24	2	8	3	4	7	2	6	7
Bob Cousy, BOS	24	2	8	3	4	7	2	6	7
Jack George, PHW	21	2	7	2	2	3	2	1	6
Ed Macauley, BOS	20	1	9	2	4	2	3	3	4
Johnny Kerr, SYR	16	2	4	0	1	8	0	2	4
Carl Braun, NYK (injured)
Totals	240	30	87	34	53	53	18	34	94

January 17,1956 Celtics beat Pistons in Charlotte

The Boston Celtics took their show on the road defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons 91-85 in Charlotte. The Celtics had a strong performance leading for pretty much the entire game and they led were led by Bob Cousy's 20 points. Celtics starter and dental student Jack Nichols didn't make the trip to Charlotte. The Celtics season record improved to 21-15.

Box Score

Boston (91) G F PF P
Loscutoff lf 2 2 4 6
Hemric rf 3 3 6 9
Morrison 0 0 6 0
Risen c 3 3 6 9
Macauley 4 8 2 16
Barrett lg 6 1 1 13
Palazzi 1 2 0 4
Cousy 5 10 5 20
Sharman 6 2 2 14

Total..30 31 32 91

Fort Wayne (85) G F PF P
Hutchins lf 6 2 6 14
Yardley rf 5 6 2 16
Arnelle 0 2 1 2
Spears 1 2 1 4
Foust c 2 14 5 18
Houbregs 4 7 2 15
Noble lg 0 6 5 6
Brian rg 2 2 3 6
Holstein 0 0 2 0
Phillip 2 0 1 4

Total...22 41 28 85

Boston...........21 30 24 16-91
Fort Wayne..13 28 24 20-85

Free Throws Missed-Hemric 4, Risen, Palazzi 2, Cousy, Sharman, Hutchins, Yardley 3, Spears, Foust 4, Houbregs, Noble 2, Phillip

January 13, 1956 Celtics beat Nationals 119-104

Jack Nichols returned to the Celtics lineup after missing a game and the Boston Celtics cruised at home with a 119-104 victory against the Syracuse Nationals in the feature matchup of a basketball doubleheader at the Boston Garden. The Celtics victory brought their season record to 19-14. In the earlier matchup Maurice Stokes led the Rochester Royals with 24 points as they beat the St. Louis Hawks 98-90.

Box Score

Boston (119) G F PF P
Macauley lf 5 8 1 18
Nichols rf 1 4 6 6
Loscutoff 2 4 4 8
Palazzi 4 0 3 8
Risen c 1 8 4 10
Morrison 1 0 2 2
Hemric 7 1 4 15
Cousy lg 10 3 3 23
Sharman rg 9 5 2 23
Barrett 3 0 2 6

Total..43 33 31 119

Syracuse (104) G F PF P
Schayes lf 7 13 5 27
Rocha rf 7 8 3 22
Conlin 3 2 2 8
Kerr c 3 0 2 6
Lloyd 3 2 6 8
Tucker 2 1 1 5
Kenville lg 3 7 3 13
Farley rg 4 0 3 8
King 2 0 2 4
Seymour 1 1 2 3

Total..35 34 29 104

Boston.......23 32 34 30-119
Syracuse...25 24 24 31-104

Free Throws Missed-Macauley, Loscutoff 4, Risen 4, Morrison, Hemric, Cousy 2, Rocha, Conlin, Lloyd, King 2, Seymour 2

January 11, 1956 Dr. Ernie Vandeweghe

Ernie Vandeweghe was one of the most popular Knicks of the early 1950's and can be considered basketball's 1st important 6th man. His story is one of the more amazing NBA stories and it's a shame that it's mostly forgotten. Apart from being a basketball player Ernie was also a doctor and actually stepped away from the game to focus on being a doctor before returning to the Knicks. Ernie would literally come to games from his medical classes and the fans in MSG would say Doctor Vandeweghe to the rescue. Ernie was also a member of the Air Force and his love of basketball would be passed down to his son Kiki Vandeweghe. This is an article from January 11, 1956 about Dr. Vandeweghe who recently returned to the Knicks.

Emergency Call by Arthur Daley January 11, 1956 New York Times

Dr. Ernie Vandeweghe received word a week ago that the patient was ailing and in need of a doctor. It couldn't be any doctor however. It had to be a specific one, a certain resident pediatrician at Babies' Hospital in the Medical Center. So Dr. Vandeweghe packed his little black bag and rushed out to help effect a cure. He brought no stethoscope nor other medical equipment with him. His bag contained, instead, his basketball togs.

After two years of reluctant retirement from the dribble diversion, the doc rejoined the New York Knickerbockers and the patient perked up immediately, winning two games from the hottest team in the pro league, the Celtics. Then came a slight relapse. It isn't entirely clear yet how long Dr. Vandeweghe will contine to minister to the Knicks. His medicine isn't quite as powerful as it once was.

Unusual, indeed, is the story of the doctor. It may even be unique because no similar parallel comes to mind. Coach Joe Lapchick of the Knicks calls him the true "professional-amateur." Vandeweghe, a varsity star at Colgate when he was only a 19 year old freshman, signed up for the Knicks and medical school in 1949.

Fortunately for him he was brilliant on the court and in the classroom so that the double burden on him wasn't too unbearable. And the Knicks wanted him so badly they were willing to accept him on a part-time basis. He played all home games and a few more on the shortest road trips. In his first year at Physicians and Surgeons, he sneaked away for forty-two games of the sixty-eight scheduled. Each season, he added a few more appearances, but never did reach full-time status. Then a twisted knee two years ago sidelined him, apparently for keeps.

However Ernie's love for basketball has been so deep and intense that he's haunted the Garden ever since, shooting baskets and keeping in condition any time he learned the court was free. Then, injuries to Dick McGuire and Bob Peterson left the Knicks grievously shorthanded, the doc responded to the emergency call with sirens screaming.

The most startling demonstration he gave in this category was a few years back against Rochester. Delayed by classes from making the trip with the rest of the squad, Vandeweghe flew up late, arriving at half-time. The Knicks were demoralized by their miserable performance as they trailed by twenty points.
"As long as you're here you might as well get a sweat up too," said Lapchick despairingly. He sent Ernie into action. Deft was the doctor's operation. He popped in three baskets in a row and the Knicks caught fire. It would be to say that the New Yorkers won, but there's no sense in stretching the truth that much. They lost but Rochester had to go into overtime to do it.

An obliging pilot on a Boston-bound plane fed Ernie the first quarter of an impending rout of the Knicks on the intercom, piping in the radio account of the action. However, Vandeweghe arrived soon enough to lead a rally for a victory. Once the doctor had to reverse the procedure, catching a plane for his New York classes after a play-off game in Minneapolis. It was a close call. It was so close that the plane take-off was delayed for him and Ernie, an overcoat atop his basketball uniform, climbed aboard through the baggage hatch. Immediately he went to the dressing room.

Ernie took a shower by "sponging" himself with towels. Just then the plane lurched and bounced. There was a frantic pounding on the door. "Come out immediately," screamed the stewardess. "We're making an emergency landing."
"Lady I just can't," said Vandeweghe laughing at the incongruity of the situation. It wasn't anything serious and decency prevailed.

The doctor took part in a two-hour at Madison Square Garden yesterday morning and no one seemed to get more enjoyment out of it than he. At the age of 27 he should be in his prime , but the handicap of two years without fierce contact work is a heavy impost.
"I've always regarded Ernie as a solid, rounded ballplayer," is Lapchick's appraisal. "He's showed himself to be a good ballhandler, rebounder and point-getter. He did everything well and would have made the All-Star team every year if he played enough games. He had the ability for such a distinction."

The bare fact that the Knicks turned to him for help in the time of stress is the mute testimony of the regard they have for his skills. Lapchick didn't bother calling for Dr. Kildare. When the emergency arose it was: "Calling Dr. Vandeweghe."

December 30, 1955 Celtics beat Nationals in Bangor, ME

Playing in Bangor Maine, the Boston Celtics had another win this time as they beat the Nationals 110-103 as Jack Nichols led all scorers with 25 points. The usual starting center Arnie Risen did not play. The win was the 5th straight for the Celtics who improved to 14-9.

Box Score

Boston (110) G F PF P
Macauley lf 9 6 3 24
Hemric rf 1 3 2 5
Nichols 9 7 5 25
Palazzi 1 0 0 2
Morrison c 4 4 6 12
Loscutoff 2 4 4 8
Cousy lg 2 5 5 9
Barrett rg 1 3 2 5
Sharman 8 4 3 20

Total...37 36 30 110

Syracuse (103) G F PF P
Schayes lf 6 4 5 15
Tucker rf 0 0 0 0
Conlin 7 2 1 16
Rocha 8 4 6 20
Kerr c 7 7 3 21
Lloyd 0 3 2 3
King lg 3 1 3 7
Kenville rg 0 0 0 0
Seymour 8 4 5 20
Farley 0 0 4 0

Total..39 25 29 103

Boston.........26 35 25 24-110
Syracuse.....22 33 25 23-103

Free Throws Missed- Macauley 2, Loscutoff 2, Cousy, Sharman 2, Schayes 2, Conlin 2, Rocha, Kerr 3, Lloyd, Seymour 2.

December 27, 1955 Celtics beat Hawks 105-102, Pettit scores 46

The Hawks Bob Pettit had a masterful game against the Boston Celtics in front of his home crowd scoring 46 points but it was not enough as the Celtics gained the road win by the score of 105-102. The win brought the Celtics record the season to 13-9, 2 games behind the division leading Warriors.

Box Score

Boston (105) G F PF P
Macauley lf 9 6 0 24
Nichols rf 7 6 4 20
Loscutoff 3 1 0 7
Risen c 3 3 5 9
Hemric 1 4 1 6
Morrison 0 0 4 0
Cousy lg 5 9 1 19
Sharman rg 8 2 4 18
Barrett 1 0 3 2
Palazzi 0 0 1 0

Total 37 31 23 105

St. Louis (102) G F PF P
Pettit lf 17 12 3 46
Ricketts 2 1 4 5
Cooper rf 2 1 1 5
Ferrari 1 0 1 2
Hannum 0 0 3 0
Share c 3 4 3 10
Harrison lg 1 0 1 2
Selvy rg 5 2 6 12
Stephens 7 1 2 15
Schafer 2 1 3 5

Total 40 22 27 102

Boston......23 20 33 29-105
St.Louis....23 20 23 26-102

Free Throws Missed- Macauley, Loscutoff, Risen 2, Morrison, Cousy 2, Pettit 2, Share 2, Selvy, Stephens 3, Schafer