1984-85 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
1984-1985 was the first of two straight seasons in which a team changed cities. The Clippers set sail from San Diego and docked in Los Angeles, where they played in the Lakers’ old home, the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
Dick Stockton and Tom Heinsohn returned as lead CBS announcers. Frank Glieber and James Brown were the regular-season second crew. Brent Musburger called his third straight conference final, paired with Knicks coach Hubie Brown after NY missed the playoffs. Glieber/Brown (with Verne Lundquist replacing Glieber during the second round) and Gary Bender/Doug Collins were the third and fourth crews.
Cable rights shifted from USA/ESPN to TBS. Rick Barry/Bill Russell formed the primary crew, with Skip Caray joining Knicks analyst John Andariese on the number-two team. Bob Neal and Bill Raftery also appeared in the playoffs. Onions.
The roof at the Silverdome collapsed in a March 4 snowstorm, so the Pistons played their final 15 home games (ten in the regular season, five in the playoffs) at Joe Louis Arena.
As we work backward through NBA history, this is the 31st year indexed: there are 31 left going back to 1953-54.
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. Corrections, updates and additions are appreciated as always.
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:
Friday 10/26:
Celtics-Pistons, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Saturday 10/27:
Rockets-Mavericks, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Sunday 10/28:
Lakers-Mavericks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 10/30:
76ers-Nets, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Thursday 11/1:
Bulls-Nuggets, 10:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 11/4:
Knicks-Spurs, 9:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 11/8:
Sonics-Rockets, 8:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 11/11:
Warriors-Blazers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 11/18:
Clippers-Blazers, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 11/23:
76ers-Suns, 9:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 11/25:
Hawks-Cavaliers, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Wednesday 11/28:
Celtics-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
DECEMBER
Sunday 12/2:
Nets-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 12/7:
Lakers-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 12/9:
Kings-Jazz (at Las Vegas), 5:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 12/13:
Bullets-Suns, 9:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 12/16:
Jazz-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Wednesday 12/19:
Lakers-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Saturday 12/22:
Mavericks-Jazz, 10:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Tuesday 12/25:
76ers-Pistons, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Nets-Knicks, 7:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 12/27:
Blazers-Spurs, 8:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 12/30:
Celtics-Bucks, 9:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
JANUARY
Thursday 1/3:
Bullets-Cavaliers, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 1/6:
Pacers-Blazers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Monday 1/7:
Celtics-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Thursday 1/10:
Sonics-Warriors, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 1/13:
Lakers-Pistons, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Blazers-Mavericks, 4:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Wednesday 1/16:
Lakers-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 1/17:
Pistons-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 1/20:
76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Tuesday 1/22:
Nets-Jazz, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 1/24:
Mavericks-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 1/25:
76ers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Sunday 1/27:
Bucks-Spurs, 9:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Wednesday 1/30:
Celtics-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
FEBRUARY
Saturday 2/2:
76ers-Nets, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Sunday 2/3:
Sonics-Suns, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 2/5:
Lakers-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 2/7:
Pistons-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 2/10:
NBA All-Star Game at Indianapolis
West-East, 1:45, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Thursday 2/14:
Rockets-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 2/17:
Celtics-Lakers, 3:45, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Tuesday 2/19:
Lakers-Bulls, 9:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Friday 2/22:
Pistons-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 2/24:
Lakers-Knicks, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Celtics-Pacers, 5:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 2/28:
Lakers-Suns, 9:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
MARCH
Sunday 3/3:
76ers-Rockets, 5:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 3/7:
Nuggets-Kings, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/10:
Blazers-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 3/12:
Bulls-Pistons, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Thursday 3/14:
Rockets-Pistons, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/17:
Rockets-Celtics, 1:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Saturday 3/23:
Celtics-Bullets, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 3/24:
Pistons-Lakers, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 3/28:
Bucks/Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Saturday 3/30:
76ers-Bulls, 8:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/31:
Suns-Lakers, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
APRIL
Thursday 4/4:
Pistons-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 4/5:
Bulls-76ers, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Sunday 4/7:
Knicks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, James Brown
Blazers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Rockets-Spurs, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Tuesday 4/9:
Nuggets-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 4/12:
Mavericks-Blazers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Wednesday 4/17:
East quarters, g1: Bullets-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Thursday 4/18:
East quarters, g1: Cavaliers-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
West quarters, g1: Suns-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Saturday 4/20:
West quarters, g2: Blazers-Mavericks, 1:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
East quarters, g2: Cavaliers-Celtics, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
West quarters, g2: Suns-Lakers, 3:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
West quarters, g2: Spurs-Nuggets, 10:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Bill Raftery
Sunday 4/21:
East quarters, g2: Bulls-Bucks, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
East quarters, g2: Bullets-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, James Brown
West quarters, g2: Jazz-Rockets, 5:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
East quarters, g2: Nets-Pistons (at Joe Louis Arena), 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 4/23:
East quarters, g3: Celtics-Cavaliers, 7:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Wednesday 4/26:
East quarters, g4: Bucks-Bulls, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
West quarters, g4: Rockets-Jazz, 10:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Saturday 4/27:
West semis, g1: Blazers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, James Brown
Sunday 4/28:
East semis, g1: 76ers-Bucks, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
West quarters, g5: Jazz-Rockets, 1:00, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
East semis, g1: Pistons-Celtics, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
West quarters, g5: Spurs-Nuggets, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 4/30:
West semis, g2: Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
(Note: April 27 was the last NBA on CBS assignment for Glieber. He collapsed and died while running at a health club in Dallas on Wednesday, May 1.)
(Note: False tripleheaders [three windows, but not back-to-back-to-back] on April 20, 21 and 28.)
MAY
Thursday 5/2:
East semis, g3: Celtics-Pistons (at Joe Louis Arena), 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Friday 5/3:
East semis, g3: Bucks-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
West semis, g3: Lakers-Blazers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Saturday 5/4:
West semis, g3: Nuggets-Jazz, 2:30, CBS. Gary Bender, Doug Collins
Sunday 5/5:
East semis, g4: Celtics-Pistons (at Joe Louis Arena), 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
East semis, g4: Bucks-76ers, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
West semis, g4: Lakers-Blazers, 3:30, CBS regional. Verne Lundquist, James Brown
West semis, g4: Nuggets-Jazz, 10:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Tuesday 5/7:
West semis, g5: Blazers-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Wednesday 5/8:
East semis, g5: Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
Friday 5/10:
East semis, g6: Celtics-Pistons (at Joe Louis Arena), 11:30 (taped 7:30), CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
Saturday 5/11:
West finals, g1: Nuggets-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
Sunday 5/12:
East finals, g1: 76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
Tuesday 5/14:
East finals, g2: 76ers-Celtics, 8:30, TBS. Skip Caray, John Andariese
West finals, g2: Nuggets-Lakers, 11:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 5/17:
West finals, g3: Lakers-Nuggets, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
Saturday 5/18:
East finals, g3: Celtics-76ers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Sunday 5/19:
East finals, g4: Celtics-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
West finals, g4: Lakers-Nuggets, 6:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
Wednesday 5/22:
East finals, g5: 76ers-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Rick Barry, Bill Russell
West finals, g5: Nuggets-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown
Monday 5/27:
NBA Finals, g1: Lakers-Celtics, 3:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Thursday 5/30:
NBA Finals, g2: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
(Note: False tripleheader on May 5.)
(Note: May 19 games regionalized with golf: NBA-PGA doubleheader in ET and CT, PGA-NBA doubleheader in MT and PT.)
JUNE
Sunday 6/2:
NBA Finals, g3: Celtics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Wednesday 6/5:
NBA Finals, g4: Celtics-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Friday 6/7:
NBA Finals, g5: Celtics-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Sunday 6/9:
NBA Finals, g6: Lakers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien