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.)