1977-78 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
1977-1978 saw just one franchise move: after spending a single season on Long Island, the Nets moved to the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J., and changed their geographic identifier from New York to New Jersey.
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. However, as we discovered in 1978-79, CBS may not have aired every game jtgrace1 listed.
(Note: in this season’s thread, “jk” refers to Jim Karvellas, not Jim Kelly; Bill Mazer and Brent Musburger are listed by first name and not their shared initials.)
OCTOBER
Friday 10/28:
76ers-Blazers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
DECEMBER
Sunday 12/25:
Braves-Cavaliers, 12:40, CBS. Don Criqui, Steve Jones
JANUARY
Sunday 1/8:
Lakers-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Cazzie Russell
Bulls-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Steve Jones
Celtics-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Jazz-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Gus Johnson
Sunday 1/15:
Bulls-Pistons, 1:00, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Jon McGlocklin
Blazers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson
Sunday 1/22:
Knicks-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Warriors-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Cazzie Russell
Pistons-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Bob Costas, Stu Lantz
Bulls-Bucks, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin
Hawks-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Mendy Rudolph
Bullets-Suns, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Sunday 1/29:
Cavaliers-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph
Lakers-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
76ers-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Jon McGlocklin
Rockets-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-sl)
jt’s notes list Russell on both SA-KC and LA-WSH; Gross/Lantz on PHI/DEN; Criqui/McGlocklin on MIL/SEA; Karvellas/Rudolph on CLE/DET and Ryan/Havlicek on GS/BOS. Jeff79 says "I highly doubt that CBS aired 9 games on this day." I concur, and I feel similarly about 8.
FEBRUARY
Sunday 2/5:
NBA All-Star Game at Atlanta
West-East, 1:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson, Don Criqui
Sunday 2/12:
Knicks-Nets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Gus Johnson
Sonics-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
Bulls-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Stu Lantz
Nuggets-Blazers, 4:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bullets-Suns, 7:00, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Sunday 2/19:
Jazz-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Mendy Rudolph
Celtics-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin
Lakers-Warriors, 4:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Pacers-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Sunday 2/26:
Blazers-Bulls, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bucks-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Jon McGlocklin
Celtics-Nets, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson
76ers-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Steve Jones
MARCH
Sunday 3/5:
Knicks-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
76ers-Suns, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
Jazz-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Stu Lantz
Bucks-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Sunday 3/12:
Cavaliers-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (gb-sj)
76ers-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
Bulls-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bucks-Hawks, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Gus Johnson
Warriors-Kings, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Mendy Rudolph
jt’s notes guess Musburger/Erickson on PHI/BOS, Criqui/McGlocklin on CHI/DEN, Karvellas/Rudolph on DET/NJ, Gross/Lantz on GS/KC and Costas/Russell on POR/BUF.
Sunday 3/19:
Suns-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Nuggets-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
Knicks-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bulls-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Bob Costas, Gus Johnson
Spurs-Sonics, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Stu Lantz
Sunday 3/26:
Blazers-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bulls-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
Pistons-Bucks, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
Celtics-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Mendy Rudolph
Friday 3/31:
Blazers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS (live in ET/CT). Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin
APRIL
Sunday 4/2:
Rockets-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin
Knicks-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson
76ers-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Bucks-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Bill Mazer, Mendy Rudolph
Blazers-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones
Sunday 4/9:
Braves-Celtics, 1:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson
Cut away at 4:00 in fourth quarter to show The Masters.
76ers-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (dc-jmcg)
Lakers-Blazers, 6:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones
jt’s notes guess Karvellas/Rudolph on CLE/KC, Mazer/Russell on DEN/DET, Bender/Jones on SA/UTA, Ryan/Havlicek on CHI/ATL (Havlicek was playing for the Celtics that day) and Gross/Lantz on LA/POR.
Friday 4/14:
West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
Sunday 4/16:
East semis, g1: Knicks-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Keith Erickson
East semis, g1: Bullets-Spurs, 1:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Gus Johnson
West 1st rd, g3: Lakers-Sonics, 3:00, CBS (joined in progress). Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
Friday 4/21:
West semis, g2: Sonics-Blazers, 11:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry
West semis, g2: Bucks-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 4/23:
East semis, g4: 76ers-Knicks, 1:30, CBS regional. Don Criqui, John Havlicek, Mendy Rudolph
East semis, g4: Spurs-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Pete Maravich
West semis, g3: Blazers-Sonics, 3:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry
West semis, g3: Nuggets-Bucks, 3:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Steve Jones
Late games JIP with approx. 10 minutes left in 1st quarter.
Friday 4/28:
West semis, g5: Bucks-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS. Don Criqui, Rick Barry, Steve Jones
Sunday 4/30:
East finals, g1: Bullets-76ers, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, John Havlicek
West semis, g6: Nuggets-Bucks, 3:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson
West semis, g5: Sonics-Blazers, 3:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Rick Barry
Late games JIP with approx. 4 minutes left in 1st quarter following OT in WSH-PHI.
(Note: April 9 was the last game for the Braves as a Buffalo franchise.)
MAY
Friday 5/5:
West finals, g1: Sonics-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry
Sunday 5/7:
East finals, g4: 76ers-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Don Criqui, Keith Erickson, Gus Johnson
West finals, g2: Sonics-Nuggets, 3:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
Friday 5/12:
West finals, g4: Nuggets-Sonics, 11:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Rick Barry
Sunday 5/14:
West finals, g5: Sonics-Nuggets, 2:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry
Sunday 5/21:
NBA Finals, g1: Bullets-Sonics, 3:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Steve Jones
Thursday 5/25:
NBA Finals, g2: Sonics-Bullets, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
Sunday 5/28:
NBA Finals, g3: Sonics-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Gus Johnson
Tuesday 5/30:
NBA Finals, g4: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
JUNE
Friday 6/2:
NBA Finals, g5: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Keith Erickson
Sunday 6/4:
NBA Finals, g6: Sonics-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
Wednesday 6/7:
NBA Finals, g7: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek
(Note: Rather than the usual 2-2-1-1-1 format for which team hosted, the finals used a 1-2-2-1-1 format: Seattle hosted Game 4 rather than Game 2.)
NBA: 1953-54 | 1954-55 | 1955-56 | 1956-57 | 1957-58 | 1958-59 | 1959-60 | 1960-61 | 1961-62 | 1962-63 | 1963-64 | 1964-65 | 1965-66 | 1966-67 | 1967-68 | 1968-69 | 1969-70 | 1970-71 | 1971-72 | 1972-73 | 1973-74 | 1974-75 | 1975-76 | 1976-77 | 1977-78 | 1978-79 | 1979-80 | 1980-81 | 1981-82 | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 | 1986-87 | 1987-88 | 1988-89 | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25
ABA: All known national telecasts
Local Announcers: Television | Radio
WNBA: 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024