1983-84 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
CBS increased its regular-season offerings by 33 percent, going from six windows to eight. Tom Heinsohn took over for Bill Russell as the lead analyst, and Brent Musburger replaced Frank Glieber as the #2 regular season PBP man. Joining Musburger on the second line in the playoffs was again Kevin Loughery. Gary Bender and Collins formed a third crew for the first two rounds; Glieber and James Brown rounded out the CBS roster.
On ESPN, Dick Vitale moved into the analyst role full-time beside Roger Twibell. Sam Smith and Irv Brown again formed the #2 crew. Making ESPN cameos were play-by-play men Fred White (U. of Kansas and the Royals), Ron Zappolo (a Denver sports director), Jim Simpson (NBC and ESPN jack-of-all-trades) and Geoff Witcher (Lakers/Angels), plus a Brown/Vitale pairing. The third analyst was former Celtic John Clark, who worked once. Albert, Doucette, Jones and McGlocklin all returned to USA, whose only fill-in was Hubie Brown (three times, all on the east coast on Knicks off days).
No teams changed cities, arenas, or divisions. This was the last year for the 2-2-1-1-1 format in the NBA Finals. Starting in the ’85 Finals, the higher seed hosted game 6 rather than game 5 so that there were only two travel days. But the bigger change came at the beginning of the playoffs, which expanded from 12 to 16 teams and eliminated first-round byes. The quarterfinals also expanded from best-of-3 to best-of-5.
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 games that are not confirmed (two at this point), the initials of jtgrace1's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
Friday 10/28:
Bullets-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Saturday 10/29:
Spurs-Rockets, 3:45, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Sunday 10/30:
Mavericks-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Wednesday 11/2:
Bucks-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 11/3:
Bulls-Nets, 7:30, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Spurs-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Friday 11/4:
Bucks-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 11/6:
Sonics-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Friday 11/11:
Suns-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 11/13:
Clippers-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Tuesday 11/15:
Bucks-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Thursday 11/17:
76ers-Hawks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown
Friday 11/18:
Knicks-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 11/20:
Cavaliers-Clippers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Tuesday 11/22:
Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Wednesday 11/23:
76ers-Spurs, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Friday 11/25:
76ers-Rockets, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 11/27:
Bulls-Lakes, 10:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Irv Brown
Wednesday 11/30:
Spurs-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
DECEMBER
Thursday 12/1:
Bullets-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 12/4:
76ers-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Clippers-Lakers, 10:00, ESPN. Fred White, Irv Brown
Thursday 12/8:
Kings-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Friday 12/9:
Nets-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 12/11:
76ers-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Irv Brown, Dick Vitale
Wednesday 12/14:
Bucks-76ers, 8:00, USA. PBP unknown (aa), Hubie Brown
Thursday 12/15:
Lakers-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 12/18:
Nets-Nuggets, 9:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Thursday 12/22:
Mavericks-Nets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, analyst unknown (jmcg)
Rockets-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 12/25:
Nets-Knicks, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Lakers-Blazers, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Dick Vitale
Thursday 12/29:
Celtics-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
76ers-Nuggets, 10:30 (taped 9:30), USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
JANUARY
Sunday 1/1:
76ers-Blazers, 8:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Dick Vitale
Thursday 1/5:
76ers-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 1/8:
Pistons-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Rockets-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 1/15:
Celtics-Bucks, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Nets-Pacers, 8:00, ESPN. Ron Zappolo, Irv Brown
Sonics-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Thursday 1/19:
Lakers-Suns, 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 1/22:
Bucks-Celtics, 1:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Thursday 1/26:
Nuggets-Bulls, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Rockets-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 1/29:
NBA All-Star Game at Denver
East-West, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
FEBRUARY
Thursday 2/2:
Pistons-Bullets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 2/5:
Pistons-Celtics, 1:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Lakers-Spurs, 8:00, ESPN. Jim Simpson, Irv Brown
Wednesday 2/8:
Lakers-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 2/9:
Sonics-Pacers, 9:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 2/12:
76ers-Celtics, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Jazz-Blazers, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Thursday 2/16:
Jazz-Kings, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Celtics-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 2/19:
Knicks-76ers, 1:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Bucks-Bulls, 8:30, ESPN. Jim Simpson, Irv Brown
Thursday 2/23:
76ers-Cavaliers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 2/26:
Lakers-76ers, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Blazers-Pacers, 7:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Celtics-Suns, 10:00 (taped 9:00), ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
MARCH
Thursday 3/1:
Kings-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
76ers-Suns, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 3/4:
Lakers-Pistons, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
76ers-Clippers, 7:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Wednesday 3/7:
76ers-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Thursday 3/8:
Sonics-Bullets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown
Sunday 3/11:
Cavaliers-Rockets, 8:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Wednesday 3/14:
Bucks-76ers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Paul Westhead
Thursday 3/15:
Cavaliers-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Spurs-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 3/18:
Warriors-Sonics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Spurs-Clippers, 10:00, ESPN. Geoff Witcher, Irv Brown
Tuesday 3/20:
Lakers-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Paul Westhead
Thursday 3/22:
Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 3/25:
Celtics-76ers, 1:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Knicks-Nets, 8:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Thursday 3/29:
Pistons-Nets, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Paul Westhead
Kings-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
APRIL
Sunday 4/1:
Mavericks-Bullets, 1:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, John Clark
Warriors-Lakers, 10:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Lynn Shackelford
Thursday 4/5:
Lakers-Jazz (at Las Vegas), 10:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Sunday 4/8:
Knicks-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Doug Collins
Lakers-Blazers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Rockets-Sonics (at Tacoma, Wash.), 7:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Suns-Nuggets, 9:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Wednesday 4/11:
Knicks-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Paul Westhead
Friday 4/13:
Celtics-Pistons, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Sunday 4/15:
Suns-Lakers, 6:00, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Tuesday 4/17:
East quarters, g1: Bullets-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
West quarters, g1: Nuggets-Jazz, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Wednesday 4/18:
East quarters, g1: Nets-76ers, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
West quarters, g1: Kings-Lakers, 11:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 4/19:
East quarters, g2: Knicks-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Steve Jones
Friday 4/20:
East quarters, g2: Nets-76ers, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
West quarters, g2: Kings-Lakers, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Saturday 4/21:
East quarters, g3: Celtics-Bullets, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery, Pat O'Brien
West quarters, g3: Mavericks-Sonics, 3:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
Sunday 4/22:
East quarters, g3: 76ers-Nets, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
West quarters, g3: Lakers-Kings, 1:00, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, James Brown
Tuesday 4/24:
East quarters, g4: Celtics-Bullets, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Wednesday 4/25:
East quarters, g4: Pistons-Knicks, 9:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 4/26:
East quarters, g5: Nets-76ers, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
West quarters, g5: Suns-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Saturday 4/28:
West semis, g1: Mavericks-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, James Brown, Pat O'Brien
Sunday 4/29:
East semis, g1: Knicks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
East semis, g1: Nets-Bucks, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery, Pat O'Brien
West semis, g1: Suns-Jazz, 3:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
(Note: April 8 was the first date with four separate windows – I’d call it a pair of doubleheaders rather than a quadrupleheader, though, since there was an hour and a network change between games 2 and 3.)
MAY
Tuesday 5/1:
East semis, g2: Nets-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
West semis, g2: Mavericks-Lakers, 11:00, USA. Al Albert, Steve Jones
Wednesday 5/2:
East semis, g2: Knicks-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin
West semis, g2: Suns-Jazz, 10:30, ESPN. Sam Smith, Irv Brown
Friday 5/4:
East semis, g3: Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Saturday 5/5:
East semis, g4: Bucks-Nets, 2:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, James Brown
Sunday 5/6:
East semis, g4: Celtics-Knicks, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
West semis, g4: Lakers-Mavericks, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
West semis, g4: Jazz-Suns, 3:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
Tuesday 5/8:
East semis, g5: Nets-Bucks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
West semis, g5: Suns-Jazz, 10:30, ESPN. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones
Wednesday 5/9:
East semis, g5: Knicks-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Jon McGlocklin
Thursday 5/10:
West semis, g6: Jazz-Suns, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Friday 5/11:
East semis, g6: Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Saturday 5/12:
West finals, g1: Suns-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery, Pat O'Brien
Sunday 5/13:
East semis, g7: Knicks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
Tuesday 5/15:
East finals, g1: Bucks-Celtics, 8:00, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Thursday 5/17:
East finals, g2: Bucks-Celtics, 7:30, ESPN. Roger Twibell, Dick Vitale
Friday 5/18:
West finals, g3: Lakers-Suns, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery, Pat O'Brien
Saturday 5/19:
East finals, g3: Celtics-Bucks, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Sunday 5/20:
West finals, g4: Lakers-Suns, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Coverage interrupted in most of country during first quarter for a PGA Tour playoff. Phoenix and Los Angeles continued to air the game.
Monday 5/21:
East finals, g4: Celtics-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Jon McGlocklin
Wednesday 5/23:
East finals, g5: Bucks-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Steve Jones
West finals, g5: Suns-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Friday 5/25:
West finals, g6: Lakers-Suns, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Sunday 5/27:
NBA Finals, g1: Lakers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Thursday 5/31:
NBA Finals, g2: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
(Notes: May 17 was the last NBA game on ESPN for 18 years. May 23 is the last NBA game on USA to date.)
JUNE
Sunday 6/3:
NBA Finals, g3: Celtics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Wednesday 6/6:
NBA Finals, g4: Celtics-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Friday 6/8:
NBA Finals, g5: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Sunday 6/10:
NBA Finals, g6: Celtics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery
Tuesday 6/12:
NBA Finals, g7: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien, Brent Musburger, Kevin Loughery