During the 1954–55 Syracuse Nationals season (their 6th), the National Basketball Association (NBA) was struggling financially and down to just 8 teams. Nationals owner Danny Biasone suggested that the league limit the amount of time taken for a shot. Biasone was upset with the stalling tactics of opposing teams. During the summer of 1954, Biasone had gotten together some of his pros and a group of high school players and timed them with a stopwatch. Most shots were taken within 12 seconds, Biasone discovered. Biasone calculated that a 24-second shot clock would allow at least 30 shots per quarter and assist in increasing scoring. The result would speed up a game that often ended with long periods of teams just holding the ball. Quickness and athletic ability became prized as they never had been before. Excessive fouling didn't disappear completely, but just about everyone concluded that the clock was good for the game. The shot clock was a success with the result that scoring was up 14 points per game league wide. In the 1st season of the shot clock, the Nats would take 1st place in the Eastern Division with a 43–29 record. Offseason NBA Draft Roster Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Season schedule Playoffs |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | March 22 | Boston | W 110–100 | Red Kerr (27) | — | Paul Seymour (8) | Onondaga War Memorial | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | March 24 | Boston | W 116–110 | Dolph Schayes (22) | Dolph Schayes (18) | Paul Seymour (12) | Onondaga War Memorial | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | March 26 | @ Boston | L 97–100 (OT) | Red Kerr (20) | Dolph Schayes (14) | George King (10) | Boston Garden | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | March 27 | @ Boston | W 110–94 | Dolph Schayes (28) | Earl Lloyd (18) | King, Seymour (8) | Boston Garden | 3–1 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | March 31 | Fort Wayne | W 86–82 | Red Rocha (19) | — | Onondaga War Memorial7,500 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 2 | Fort Wayne | W 87–84 | Dolph Schayes (24) | — | Onondaga War Memorial5,845 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 3 | @ Fort Wayne | L 89–96 |