1977-78 NBA Season

As originally posted by Tony Miller:

1977-1978 saw just one franchise move: after spending a single season on Long Island, the Nets moved to the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J., and changed their geographic identifier from New York to New Jersey.

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 jtgrace1's guesses are given in parentheses. These are, for the sake of emphasis, GUESSES. However, as we discovered in 1978-79, CBS may not have aired every game jtgrace1 listed.

(Note: in this season’s thread, “jk” refers to Jim Karvellas, not Jim Kelly; Bill Mazer and Brent Musburger are listed by first name and not their shared initials.)

OCTOBER

Friday 10/28:

76ers-Blazers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Billy Cunningham

DECEMBER

Sunday 12/25:

Braves-Cavaliers, 12:40, CBS. Don Criqui, Steve Jones

JANUARY

Sunday 1/8:

Lakers-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Cazzie Russell

Bulls-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Steve Jones

Celtics-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Jazz-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Gus Johnson

Sunday 1/15:

Bulls-Pistons, 1:00, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Jon McGlocklin

Blazers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson

Sunday 1/22:

Knicks-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Warriors-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Cazzie Russell

Pistons-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Bob Costas, Stu Lantz

Bulls-Bucks, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin

Hawks-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Mendy Rudolph

Bullets-Suns, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones

Sunday 1/29:

Cavaliers-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Mendy Rudolph

Lakers-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

76ers-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Jon McGlocklin

Rockets-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (jg-sl)

jt’s notes list Russell on both SA-KC and LA-WSH; Gross/Lantz on PHI/DEN; Criqui/McGlocklin on MIL/SEA; Karvellas/Rudolph on CLE/DET and Ryan/Havlicek on GS/BOS. Jeff79 says "I highly doubt that CBS aired 9 games on this day." I concur, and I feel similarly about 8.

FEBRUARY

Sunday 2/5:

NBA All-Star Game at Atlanta

West-East, 1:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson, Don Criqui

Sunday 2/12:

Knicks-Nets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Gus Johnson

Sonics-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

Bulls-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Stu Lantz

Nuggets-Blazers, 4:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bullets-Suns, 7:00, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/19:

Jazz-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Jim Karvellas, Mendy Rudolph

Celtics-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin

Lakers-Warriors, 4:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Pacers-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/26:

Blazers-Bulls, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bucks-Jazz, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Jon McGlocklin

Celtics-Nets, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson

76ers-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Steve Jones

MARCH

Sunday 3/5:

Knicks-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

76ers-Suns, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

Jazz-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Stu Lantz

Bucks-Blazers, 6:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones

Sunday 3/12:

Cavaliers-Pacers, 1:45, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (gb-sj)

76ers-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

Bulls-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bucks-Hawks, 1:45, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Gus Johnson

Warriors-Kings, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Mendy Rudolph

jt’s notes guess Musburger/Erickson on PHI/BOS, Criqui/McGlocklin on CHI/DEN, Karvellas/Rudolph on DET/NJ, Gross/Lantz on GS/KC and Costas/Russell on POR/BUF.

Sunday 3/19:

Suns-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones

Nuggets-Celtics, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

Knicks-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bulls-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Bob Costas, Gus Johnson

Spurs-Sonics, 4:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Stu Lantz

Sunday 3/26:

Blazers-76ers, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bulls-Cavaliers, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones

Pistons-Bucks, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

Celtics-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Mendy Rudolph

Friday 3/31:

Blazers-Lakers, 11:30, CBS (live in ET/CT). Don Criqui, Jon McGlocklin

APRIL

Sunday 4/2:

Rockets-Nuggets, 1:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Jon McGlocklin

Knicks-Bullets, 1:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Gus Johnson

76ers-Spurs, 1:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Bucks-Pistons, 1:45, CBS regional. Bill Mazer, Mendy Rudolph

Blazers-Sonics, 6:45, CBS regional. Jerry Gross, Steve Jones

Sunday 4/9:

Braves-Celtics, 1:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Keith Erickson

Cut away at 4:00 in fourth quarter to show The Masters.

76ers-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Announcers unknown (dc-jmcg)

Lakers-Blazers, 6:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Steve Jones

jt’s notes guess Karvellas/Rudolph on CLE/KC, Mazer/Russell on DEN/DET, Bender/Jones on SA/UTA, Ryan/Havlicek on CHI/ATL (Havlicek was playing for the Celtics that day) and Gross/Lantz on LA/POR.

Friday 4/14:

West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

Sunday 4/16:

East semis, g1: Knicks-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Keith Erickson

East semis, g1: Bullets-Spurs, 1:30, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Gus Johnson

West 1st rd, g3: Lakers-Sonics, 3:00, CBS (joined in progress). Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

Friday 4/21:

West semis, g2: Sonics-Blazers, 11:30, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry

West semis, g2: Bucks-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Jon McGlocklin

Sunday 4/23:

East semis, g4: 76ers-Knicks, 1:30, CBS regional. Don Criqui, John Havlicek, Mendy Rudolph

East semis, g4: Spurs-Bullets, 1:30, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Pete Maravich

West semis, g3: Blazers-Sonics, 3:45, CBS regional. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry

West semis, g3: Nuggets-Bucks, 3:45, CBS regional. Tim Ryan, Steve Jones

Late games JIP with approx. 10 minutes left in 1st quarter.

Friday 4/28:

West semis, g5: Bucks-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS. Don Criqui, Rick Barry, Steve Jones

Sunday 4/30:

East finals, g1: Bullets-76ers, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, John Havlicek

West semis, g6: Nuggets-Bucks, 3:45, CBS regional. Gary Bender, Keith Erickson

West semis, g5: Sonics-Blazers, 3:45, CBS regional. Don Criqui, Rick Barry

Late games JIP with approx. 4 minutes left in 1st quarter following OT in WSH-PHI.

(Note: April 9 was the last game for the Braves as a Buffalo franchise.)

MAY

Friday 5/5:

West finals, g1: Sonics-Nuggets, 11:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry

Sunday 5/7:

East finals, g4: 76ers-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Don Criqui, Keith Erickson, Gus Johnson

West finals, g2: Sonics-Nuggets, 3:45, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

Friday 5/12:

West finals, g4: Nuggets-Sonics, 11:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Rick Barry

Sunday 5/14:

West finals, g5: Sonics-Nuggets, 2:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry

Sunday 5/21:

NBA Finals, g1: Bullets-Sonics, 3:00, CBS.  Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Steve Jones

Thursday 5/25:

NBA Finals, g2: Sonics-Bullets, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

Sunday 5/28:

NBA Finals, g3: Sonics-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Gus Johnson

Tuesday 5/30:

NBA Finals, g4: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

JUNE

Friday 6/2:

NBA Finals, g5: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, Keith Erickson

Sunday 6/4:

NBA Finals, g6: Sonics-Bullets, 1:30, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

Wednesday 6/7:

NBA Finals, g7: Bullets-Sonics, 9:00, CBS. Brent Musburger, Rick Barry, John Havlicek

(Note: Rather than the usual 2-2-1-1-1 format for which team hosted, the finals used a 1-2-2-1-1 format: Seattle hosted Game 4 rather than Game 2.)