1982-83 NBA Season

As originally posted by Tony Miller:

For the 1982-1983 season, no one moved. For the first time since 1957 and 1958, the same crew announced the NBA Finals for consecutive seasons (Stockton/Russell in ‘83, Gowdy/Nelson in ’58). But the status of broadcasting was far from quo.

For one, Hubie Brown left to coach again, but called two playoff games after the Knicks were eliminated. Doug Collins moved from the #3 CBS crew to the #2 regular-season lineup. Brent Musburger and Kevin Loughery returned at #2 for the playoffs, bumping Glieber/Collins off the conference finals, and Bill Raftery took Collins’ place alongside Jim Kelly. Onions. On USA, Jon McGlocklin was elevated from secondary fill-in to full-time, and primary fill-in Keith Erickson went … somewhere else. Albert and Doucette returned to the play-by-play side.

For two, the NBA had a new cable partner in ESPN. A typical doubleheader for Bristol paired Roger Twibell, for three years the voice of the Celtics, with former Brave and Hawk Ken Charles. The other game would be called by Sam Smith and former NCAA referee Irv Brown. (If I accidentally refer to Irv Brown as Irv Blitzer, I beg for your forgiveness.)

Other ESPN talent included analyst Dick Vitale, who needs no introduction, and play-by-play man Pete Liebengood, who was regularly a boxing announcer there.

CBS did six regular-season games, and one of those was on tape delay. I guess the NBA really isn’t worth following till the playoffs.

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 several games that are not confirmed, the initials of jtgrace1's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

Sunday 10/31:

Pistons-Pacers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Suns-Nuggets, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 11/4:

Bucks-Hawks, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-jmcg)

Nuggets-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 11/7:

Sonics-Bucks, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Pete Liebengood, Irv Brown

Thursday 11/11:

Rockets-Blazers, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 11/14:

Bullets-76ers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Celtics-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Thursday 11/18:

Nuggets-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 11/21:

Nuggets-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 11/25:

Kings-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Sunday 11/28:

Warriors-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

DECEMBER

Thursday 12/2:

76ers-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 12/5:

Bucks-Nets, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

76ers-Lakers, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 12/9:

Nuggets-Bullets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Blazers-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 12/12:

Nuggets-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Thursday 12/16:

Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Mavericks-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 12/19:

Pistons-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Mavericks-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Pete Liebengood, Irv Brown

Thursday 12/23:

Bullets-Nets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Lakers-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 12/26:

76ers-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Blazers-Clippers, 10:30, ESPN. Pete Liebengood, Irv Brown

Thursday 12/30:

Spurs-Bulls, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Sonics-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

JANUARY

Sunday 1/2:

Rockets-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Pistons-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Pete Liebengood, Irv Brown

Thursday 1/6:

Lakers-Cavaliers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Blazers-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 1/9:

Suns-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Sonics-Blazers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 1/13:

Sonics-Blazers, 9:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 1/16:

Warriors-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Kings-Sonics, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Monday 1/18:

Mavericks-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Sunday 1/23:

Sonics-Nets, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Pacers-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Tom Kelly, Irv Brown

Thursday 1/27:

Sonics-Bullets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Jazz-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 1/30:

Lakers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

(Note: Jan. 18 was not yet MLK Day. That wasn’t observed at the federal level until 1986.)

FEBRUARY

Thursday 2/3:

Clippers-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-jmcg)

76ers-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Announcers unknown (tk-SJ)

Sunday 2/6:

Pacers-Bullets, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

76ers-Sonics, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 2/10:

76ers-Bulls, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Suns-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/13:

NBA All-Star Game at Inglewood, Calif. (Los Angeles)

East-West, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 2/17:

Lakers-Mavericks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Celtics-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/20:

Mavericks-Bulls, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Bullets-Blazers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Wednesday 2/23:

Celtics-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Thursday 2/24:

Bucks-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-jmcg)

Celtics-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Announcers unknown (tk-sj)

Sunday 2/27:

Jazz-Sonics, 7:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Nuggets-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Lynn Shackelford

MARCH

Thursday 3/3:

Kings-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Sunday 3/6:

76ers-Nets, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Cavaliers-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Jazz-Blazers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Wednesday 3/9:

Clippers-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 3/13:

Bullets-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Wednesday 3/16:

Celtics-76ers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Thursday 3/17:

Pacers-Mavericks, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-jmcg)

Rockets-Suns, 10:30, USA. Announcers unknown (tk-sj)

Sunday 3/20:

76ers-Pistons, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Bulls-Sonics, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 3/24:

Bullets-Bulls, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Rockets-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 3/27:

Blazers-Kings, 7:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Rockets-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Thursday 3/31:

Lakers-Nuggets, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin

APRIL

Sunday 4/3:

Cavaliers-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

Thursday 4/7:

Lakers-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 4/10:

Pistons-Celtics, 1:00, ESPN. Announcers unknown (rt-kc)

Bulls-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Announcers unknown (pl-dv)

Suns-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Wednesday 4/13:

Lakers-Spurs, 8:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Thursday 4/14:

Bullets-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Friday 4/15:

Sonics-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Doug Collins

Sunday 4/17:

76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O’Brien

Nets-Pacers, 7:30, ESPN. Announcers unknown (rt-kc)

Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Announcers unknown (ss-ib)

Tuesday 4/19:

East 1st rd, g1: Hawks-Celtics, 7:30, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

West 1st rd, g1: Nuggets-Suns, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Wednesday 4/20:

East 1st rd, g1: Knicks-Nets, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

West 1st rd, g1: Blazers-Sonics, 11:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Thursday 4/21:

East 1st rd, g2: Nets-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Friday 4/22:

East 1st rd, g2: Celtics-Hawks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Irv Brown

West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Blazers, 11:30, CBS. Jim Kelly, Bill Raftery

Sunday 4/24:

East 1st rd, g3: Hawks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, Doug Collins

East semis, g1: Knicks-76ers, 3:30, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O'Brien

West semis, g1: Blazers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS regional. Jim Kelly, Bill Raftery

West 1st rd, g3: Nuggets-Suns, 9:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown

Tuesday 4/26:

West semis, g1: Nuggets-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles(?)

West semis, g2: Blazers-Lakers, 11:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Wednesday 4/27:

East semis, g1: Bucks-Celtics, 7:30, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin

Friday 4/29:

East semis, g2: Bucks-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Ken Charles

West semis, g3: Lakers-Blazers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery

Saturday 4/30:

East semis, g3: 76ers-Knicks, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O'Brien

(Note: April 10 was the first time a network had three NBA windows on the same day. Since there were 5.5 hours between the first two games, though, I won’t call it the first tripleheader.)

MAY

Sunday 5/1:

East semis, g3: Celtics-Bucks, 1:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, Doug Collins

East semis, g4: 76ers-Knicks, 3:30, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

West semis, g4: Lakers-Blazers, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery

Monday 5/2:

East semis, g4: Celtics-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin

Tuesday 5/3:

West semis, g5: Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Lynn Shackelford

Wednesday 5/4:

West semis, g5: Nuggets-Spurs, 8:30, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Sunday 5/8:

East finals, g1: Bucks-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

West finals, g1: Spurs-Lakers, 3:30 (JIP due to MIL-PHI OT), CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery, Pat O'Brien

Tuesday 5/10:

West finals, g2: Spurs-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery

Wednesday 5/11:

East finals, g2: Bucks-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale

Friday 5/13:

West finals, g3: Lakers-Spurs, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery

Saturday 5/14:

East finals, g3: 76ers-Bucks, 2:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O'Brien

Sunday 5/15:

East finals, g4: 76ers-Bucks, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O’Brien

West finals, g4: Lakers-Spurs, 1:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery

Wednesday 5/18:

East finals, g5: Bucks-76ers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

West finals, g5: Spurs-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Friday 5/20:

West finals, g6: Lakers-Spurs, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O'Brien

Sunday 5/22:

NBA Finals, g1: Lakers-76ers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien

Thursday 5/26:

NBA Finals, g2: Lakers-76ers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien

Sunday 5/29:

NBA Finals, g3: 76ers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien

Tuesday 5/31:

NBA Finals, g4: 76ers-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien

(Note from source thread: The original NBA-on-CBS theme was used for the last time on May 20. May 22 was the first use of the new theme.)