1976-77 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
1976-1977 was the year of the merger. The NBA grew from 18 teams to 22, with each conference adding two teams apiece.
The New York Nets, playing their final year in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, joined the Atlantic Division, while the San Antonio Spurs joined the Central Division playing in HemisFair Arena. Both Western teams entered the Midwest Division: the Denver Nuggets, in one-year-old McNichols Sports Arena, and the Indiana Pacers, at two-year-old Market Square Arena.
With the Pacers joining the league, the league placed a team in the Hoosier state (you know, the one whose basketball addiction got made into a Gene Hackman movie) for the first time since the Pistons moved to Detroit in 1957, and Indianapolis had a team for the first time since the Olympians folded in 1953.
Each conference added a playoff team as well. The two division champions got byes, and the four wild cards played best-of-three first-round series. CBS aired an unprecedented amount of regional coverage, although we have established in subsequent years that they did not regionalize as many games as were originally listed.
Data transcribed from ”’NBA on CBS’ Regular Season Schedules” and ”NBA on CBS Playoff Games”. Additional listings and significant clarifications on which games have been confirmed came from jtgrace1 and Jeff79.
For the numerous games that are not confirmed, the initials of jtgrace1's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES.
NOVEMBER
Thursday 11/25:
Bullets-Suns, 1:00, CBS. Don Criqui, unknown
DECEMBER
Saturday 12/25:
Bulls-Kings, 12:45, CBS. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham, Jerry Gross
JANUARY
Sunday 1/2:
76ers-Nets, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
Sunday 1/9:
Lakers-Pistons, 12:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, analyst unknown (mr)
Sunday 1/16:
Pacers-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Jazz-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham
Knicks-Warriors, 4:00. Brent Musburger, Mendy Rudolph
Nuggets-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-lw)
Sunday 1/23:
Blazers-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (gb-sj)
Knicks-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Mendy Rudolph
76ers-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham
Sonics-Suns, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
Sunday 1/30:
76ers-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
Spurs-Sonics, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
(Note: 1/2, 1/16, 1/30 and 2/6 were the first national telecasts hosted by the former ABA teams.)
FEBRUARY
Sunday 2/6:
Rockets-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Jeff Mullins
Lakers-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder
Kings-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
Knicks-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, John Andariese
Bulls-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Bob Costas, Steve Jones
Nuggets-Suns, 4:00, CBS. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph
jt guessed Gross/Wilkens on BUF/BOS and listed KC/DET as unknown.
Sunday 2/13:
NBA All-Star Game at Milwaukee
East-West, 1:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Don Criqui
Sunday 2/20:
Jazz-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (fg-jm)
Lakers-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Cavaliers-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham
Celtics-Warriors, 4:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Lenny Wilkens
Suns-Pistons, 6:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-mr)
jt guessed Criqui/Rudolph on CLE/PHI and Musburger/Cunningham on BOS/GS.
Sunday 2/27:
Braves-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder
Spurs-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (dc-jm)
76ers-Sonics, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
jt guessed Criqui/Rudolph on GS/NYN. Frank Glieber on golf.
MARCH
Sunday 3/6:
Suns-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (gb-sj)
Knicks-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-bc)
Nuggets-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (dc-lw)
Sunday 3/13:
Cavaliers-Hawks, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (gb-jm)
Pistons-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (bc-ja)
Suns-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (bm-mr)
Bulls-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham
Bullets-Warriors, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens, Sonny Hill
jt originally guessed Criqui/Rudolph on CHI/PHI, Musburger/Cunningham on PHX/BOS. Frank Glieber on golf.
Sunday 3/20:
Pistons-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Steve Jones
76ers-Nets, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (bm-mr)
Blazers-Suns, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
jt originally guessed Musburger/Cunningham on DET/DEN, Criqui/Rudolph on PHI/NYN and Gross/Wilkens on POR/PHX.
Sunday 3/27:
Knicks-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (bm-bc)
Blazers-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Kings-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (dc-mr)
Warriors-Nuggets, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, color unknown (lw)
jt guessed Bender/Jones in Indy and Criqui/Rudolph in Philly. This post from jmg65 puts Gary and Steve at POR/PHI.[/url]
APRIL
Sunday 4/3:
Bulls-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Steve Jones
76ers-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Jeff Mullins, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder
Blazers-Sonics, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens, Sonny Hill
jt guessed Criqui/Rudolph on BUF/NYK, Glieber/Mullins on CHI/NO, Musburger/Cunningham on PHI/BOS and Bender/Jones on DEN/PHX.
Sunday 4/10:
Bulls-Braves, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph
76ers-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Jeff Mullins
Cavaliers-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Lakers-Sonics, 6:00, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-bc)
ET/CT got NBA 1:45-4 and Masters 4-6; MT/PT got golf 4-6 and NBA 6-8:15. jt guesses Bender/Jones on CHI/BUF, Criqui/Rudolph on PHI/WSH, Musburger/Cunningham on LA/SEA, Costas/Mullins on CLE/BOS and Gross/Wilkens on NYN/PHX.
Sunday 4/17:
East semis, g1: Celtics-76ers, 1:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
East 1st rd, g3: Cavaliers-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph
West 1st rd, g3: Bulls-Blazers, 3:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Steve Jones
JIP late in first quarter.
West 1st rd, g3: Pistons-Warriors, 3:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
Friday 4/22:
West semis, g2: Warriors-Lakers, 11:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Mendy Rudolph
West semis, g2: Blazers-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Sunday 4/24:
East semis, g4: 76ers-Celtics, 1:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
East semis, g3: Rockets-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Pete Maravich
West semis, g3: Lakers-Warriors, 3:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
West semis, g3: Nuggets-Blazers, 3:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Lenny Wilkens
Late games JIP due to length of PHI-BOS.
Friday 4/29:
West semis, g5: Warriors-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
MAY
Sunday 5/1:
East semis, g7: Celtics-76ers, 1:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
East semis, g6: Rockets-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph
West semis, g6: Lakers-Warriors, 3:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Pete Maravich
West semis, g5: Blazers-Nuggets, 3:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Wednesday 5/4:
West semis, g7: Warriors-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
Friday 5/6:
West finals, g1: Blazers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Mendy Rudolph
Sunday 5/8:
East finals, g2: Rockets-76ers, 1:30, CBS. Don Criqui, Billy Cunningham, Pete Maravich
West finals, g2: Blazers-Lakers, 3:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Mendy Rudolph
Friday 5/13:
West finals, g4: Lakers-Blazers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Mendy Rudolph, Sonny Hill
Sunday 5/15:
East finals, g5: Rockets-76ers, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Mendy Rudolph
Sunday 5/22:
NBA Finals, g1: Blazers-76ers, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry
Thursday 5/26:
NBA Finals, g2: Blazers-76ers, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Sonny Hill
Sunday 5/29:
NBA Finals, g3: 76ers-Blazers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Steve Jones
Tuesday 5/31:
NBA Finals, g4: 76ers-Blazers, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Steve Jones
JUNE
Friday 6/3:
NBA Finals, g5: Blazers-76ers, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Sonny Hill
Sunday 6/5:
NBA Finals, g6: 76ers-Blazers, 3:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Steve Jones
(note from Jeff79 in source thread: “CBS wanted the NBA to start Finals g6 at 10:30 local time on Sunday morning to accommodate a golf telecast (similar to 1976). This time, the NBA refused and CBS agreed to a noon start in Portland. Despite the fact that this was the Finals clinching game, CBS cut away from the NBA coverage very quickly after the game ended and switched to golf.”)