1986-87 NBA Season
As originally posted by Tony Miller:
1986-1987 saw the same teams in the same cities. Nobody moved. Most of the announcers were the same – Bob Neal replaced John Andariese and Rick Barry slid over to color. In March, Barry was replaced by Jon McGlocklin. With much of TBS’ playoff coverage on weeknights, there were no false tripleheaders this season.
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 John Moynahan's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
Friday 10/31:
Bullets-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Saturday 11/1:
Lakers-Rockets, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Tuesday 11/4:
Rockets-Kings, 11:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 11/7:
Bulls-Pistons, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Tuesday 11/11:
Spurs-Rockets, 9:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 11/14:
Celtics-Bulls, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Tuesday 11/18:
Lakers-Mavericks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 11/21:
Rockets-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Tuesday 11/25:
Celtics-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Wednesday 11/26:
Knicks-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Lakers-Clippers, 10:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 11/28:
Hawks-Jazz, 10:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
DECEMBER
Tuesday 12/2:
Spurs-Cavaliers, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 12/5:
Nuggets-Nets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 12/9:
Lakers-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Red Auerbach
Friday 12/12:
Lakers-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 12/16:
76ers-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 12/19:
Rockets-Blazers, 10:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 12/23:
Clippers-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Red Auerbach
Thursday 12/25:
Bulls-Knicks, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Bullets-76ers, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 12/26:
Celtics-Suns, 10:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Sunday 12/28:
76ers-Lakers, 10:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Tuesday 12/30:
Pistons-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Red Auerbach
JANUARY
Friday 1/2:
Bucks-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 1/6:
Bulls-Cavaliers, 8:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Red Auerbach
Friday 1/9:
Knicks-76ers, 9:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 1/13:
76ers-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 1/16:
Rockets-Pistons, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Sunday 1/18:
Rockets-Celtics, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
Monday 1/19:
Hawks-Pistons, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Thursday 1/22:
Lakers-Pacers, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 1/23:
Knicks-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Saturday 1/24:
Lakers-Mavericks, 3:30, CBS. Verne Lundquist, Billy Cunningham, Jim Nantz
Sunday 1/25:
76ers-Celtics, 1:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Tuesday 1/27:
76ers-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 1/30:
Sonics-Warriors, 10:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
FEBRUARY
Sunday 2/1:
Rockets-Hawks, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Tuesday 2/3:
Celtics-Hawks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Sunday 2/8:
NBA All-Star Game at Seattle
East-West, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Tuesday 2/10:
Lakers-Kings, 10:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 2/13:
Celtics-Blazers, 10:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Sunday 2/15:
Celtics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Monday 2/16:
Nets-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Thursday 2/19:
Celtics-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 2/20:
Lakers-Bulls, 8:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Red Auerbach
Sunday 2/22:
Lakers-76ers, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Tuesday 2/24:
Rockets-Nuggets, 9:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Friday 2/27:
76ers-Mavericks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Saturday 2/28:
Bucks-Bulls, 3:30, CBS. Verne Lundquist, Billy Cunningham, Pat O’Brien
Not in jtgrace1’s listing; appears in that day’s Pittsburgh Press.
MARCH
Sunday 3/1:
76ers-Rockets, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
JIP with 9:08 left in first quarter due to college basketball overrun.
Tuesday 3/3:
Lakers-Warriors, 10:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 3/6:
Jazz-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 3/8:
Celtics-Pistons, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
Monday 3/9:
Bulls-Hawks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Bill Russell
Not in jtgrace1’s listing; appears in previous thread.
Tuesday 3/10:
Pistons-Knicks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 3/13:
Hawks-Mavericks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry
Tuesday 3/17:
Celtics-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 3/20:
Nuggets-76ers, 7:30, TBS. Mel Proctor, Red Auerbach
Tuesday 3/24:
Hawks-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Rick Barry, Bill Russell
Friday 3/27:
Celtics-Bulls, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Bill Russell
Sunday 3/29:
76ers-Celtics, 1:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Tuesday 3/31:
Bullets-Bulls, 8:30, TBS. Charlie Neal, Bill Russell
Rockets-Lakers, 10:30, TBS joined in progress. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
APRIL
Friday 4/3:
Bulls-Bullets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Red Auerbach
Sunday 4/5:
Celtics-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Verne Lundquist, Billy Cunningham
Lakers-Nuggets, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Wednesday 4/8:
76ers-Hawks, 8:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Monday 4/13:
Bulls-Bucks, 8:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
Friday 4/17:
Mavericks-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
Sunday 4/19:
Hawks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O’Brien
Thursday 4/23:
East quarters, g1: Bulls-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, John MacLeod
West quarters, g1: Nuggets-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Friday 4/24:
East quarters, g1: Bullets-Pistons, 8:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Red Auerbach
West quarters, g1: Rockets-Blazers, 11:00, TBS. Skip Caray, Bill Russell
Saturday 4/25:
West quarters, g2: Nuggets-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Verne Lundquist, Hubie Brown, James Brown
Sunday 4/26:
East quarters, g2: Bulls-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn
East quarters, g2: 76ers-Bucks, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Pat O'Brien
West quarters, g2: Rockets-Blazers, 3:30, CBS regional. Tim Brant, Billy Packer
East quarters, g2: Bullets-Pistons, 7:00, TBS. Bob Neal, analyst unknown
Tuesday 4/28:
East quarters, g3: Celtics-Bulls, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
Wednesday 4/29:
West quarters, g3: Lakers-Nuggets, 10:30, TBS. Charlie Neal, Bill Russell
Thursday 4/30:
West quarters, g4: Blazers-Rockets, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
West quarters, g4: Mavericks-Sonics (at University of Washington), 10:30, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
MAY
Friday 5/1:
East quarters, g4: Bucks-76ers, 8:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Red Auerbach
West quarters, g4: Jazz-Warriors, 11:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
Saturday 5/2:
West semis, g1: Sonics-Rockets, 3:30, CBS. Verne Lundquist, Hubie Brown, James Brown
Sunday 5/3:
East quarters, g5: 76ers-Bucks, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, James Brown
West quarters, g5: Warriors-Jazz, 3:30, CBS regional. Tim Brant, Billy Packer
East semis, g1: Pistons-Hawks, 3:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Pat O'Brien
Tuesday 5/5:
East semis, g2: Pistons-Hawks, 8:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Doug Collins
West semis, g1: Warriors-Lakers, 11:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
Wednesday 5/6:
East semis, g2: Bucks-Celtics, 8:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Thursday 5/7:
West semis, g3: Rockets-Sonics, 10:00, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
Friday 5/8:
East semis, g3: Hawks-Pistons, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Doug Collins
Saturday 5/9:
West semis, g3: Lakers-Warriors, 3:30, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, James Brown
West semis, g4: Rockets-Sonics, 3:30, CBS regional. Tim Brant, Billy Packer
Sunday 5/10:
East semis, g4: Celtics-Bucks, 1:00, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, Pat O'Brien
East semis, g4: Hawks-Pistons, 1:00, CBS regional. Verne Lundquist, Hubie Brown
West semis, g4: Lakers-Warriors, 6:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Jon McGlocklin
Tuesday 5/12:
West semis, g5: Warriors-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Bill Russell
Wednesday 5/13:
East semis, g5: Bucks-Celtics, 7:30, TBS. Skip Caray, Doug Collins
Thursday 5/14:
West semis, g6: Rockets-Sonics, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, James Brown
Friday 5/15:
East semis, g6: Celtics-Bucks, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Saturday 5/16:
West finals, g1: Sonics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, James Brown
Sunday 5/17:
East semis, g7: Bucks-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham
Tuesday 5/19:
East finals, g1: Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
West finals, g2: Sonics-Lakers, 10:30, TBS. Mel Proctor, Bill Russell
Thursday 5/21:
East finals, g2: Pistons-Celtics, 8:30, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Saturday 5/23:
East finals, g3: Celtics-Pistons, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
West finals, g3: Lakers-Sonics, 7:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins
Sunday 5/24:
East finals, g4: Celtics-Pistons, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Pat O'Brien
Monday 5/25:
West finals, g4: Lakers-Sonics, 3:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham, James Brown
Tuesday 5/26:
East finals, g5: Pistons-Celtics, 8:00, TBS. Bob Neal, Doug Collins, Charlie Neal
Thursday 5/28:
East finals, g6: Celtics-Pistons, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Saturday 5/30:
East finals, g7: Pistons-Celtics, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
(Note: May 28 was the first prime-time playoff game on an OTA network other than the finals since 1976.)
JUNE
Tuesday 6/2:
NBA Finals, g1: Celtics-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Thursday 6/4:
NBA Finals, g2: Celtics-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
Sunday 6/7:
NBA Finals, g3: Lakers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, James Brown
Tuesday 6/9:
NBA Finals, g4: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, James Brown
Thursday 6/11:
NBA Finals, g5: Lakers-Celtics, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, James Brown
Sunday 6/14:
NBA Finals, g6: Celtics-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Tom Heinsohn, Brent Musburger, Pat O'Brien
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