1981-82 NBA Season

As originally posted by Tony Miller:

1981-1982 saw the same 23 teams in the same divisions and the same cities. The playoff format remained unchanged.

After four seasons at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J., the Nets moved to East Rutherford. Their new home was Brendan Byrne Arena, which had opened in July and was usually called “The Meadowlands” on TV. The arena was never officially called that – it was named for the New Jersey governor from the start – though it was at the Meadowlands complex (and it was the more generic name that my high school alluded to when naming its new gym in 1988, but I digress). However one prefers to address that arena, it hosted national TV for the first time on 1/17.

Gary Bender and Rick Barry moved on from the NBA on CBS. leaving Dick Stockton and Bill Russell as the lead commentators. Frank Glieber and former Hawks coach Hubie Brown did the other game in doubleheader weeks. Jim Kelly (CBS golf announcer, not Bills QB) and the recently-retired Doug Collins formed a third crew for the playoffs. Eddie Doucette moved over from USA to do one playoff game with Kevin Loughery on the eye network.

Jim Karvellas and Richie Powers both left USA. Al Albert and Brown replaced them on the eastern games, while Lakers color man Keith Erickson filled in for Steve Jones on several western games. USC play-by-play man Tom Kelly and ex-Buck Jon McGlocklin also appeared on cable, mostly in 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 numerous 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 10/30:

Rockets-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

On tape to most Mountain and Pacific Time markets.

Thursday 11/5:

Bullets-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Mavericks-Suns, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Thursday 11/12:

Cavaliers-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Blazers-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Keith Erickson

Thursday 11/19:

Kings-Pacers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Warriors-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Wednesday 11/25:

Warriors-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-hb)

DECEMBER

Thursday 12/3:

Nuggets-Suns, 10:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Thursday 12/10:

Knicks-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Blazers-Suns, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Keith Erickson

Thursday 12/17:

Pacers-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Lakers-Warriors, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Friday 12/25:

Lakers-Suns, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

JIP after Blue-Gray Game (college football) ran long.

Sunday 12/27:

76ers-Suns, 9:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-sj)

JANUARY

Sunday 1/3:

Nuggets-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (aa-hb)

Thursday 1/7:

Bullets-Cavaliers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Rockets-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Thursday 1/14:

Blazers-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (aa-hb)

Sunday 1/17:

76ers-Nets, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 1/21:

Jazz-Spurs, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Pistons-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Friday 1/22:

Pistons-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

On tape to most Mountain and Pacific Time markets.

Thursday 1/28:

76ers-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (aa-jmcg)

Suns-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 1/31:

NBA All-Star Game at East Rutherford (New Jersey):

West-East, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

FEBRUARY

Thursday 2/4:

Suns-Spurs, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-hb)

Sunday 2/7:

Lakers-Celtics, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 2/11:

Blazers-Bucks, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, color unknown (hb)

Sunday 2/14:

Celtics-Lakers, 3:45, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 2/18:

Clippers-Pacers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Bullets-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/21:

Suns-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 2/25:

Warriors-Mavericks, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Lakers-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 2/28:

Bucks-Celtics, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

MARCH

Thursday 3/4:

Celtics-Spurs, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Rockets-Jazz, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 3/7:

Lakers-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 3/11:

Suns-Cavaliers, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Kings-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Sunday 3/14:

Suns-Celtics, 12:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 3/18:

Sonics-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Warriors-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Keith Erickson

Thursday 3/25:

76ers-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Rockets-Blazers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Keith Erickson

Sunday 3/28:

76ers-Celtics, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

APRIL

Thursday 4/1:

Warriors-Rockets, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (aa-jmcg)

Lakers-Clippers, 10:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

Friday 4/2:

Spurs-Sonics, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

On tape to most Mountain and Pacific Time markets.

Saturday 4/4:

Rockets-Spurs, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Blazers-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

Thursday 4/8:

Celtics-Knicks, 10:00 (taped), USA. Announcers unknown (aa-jmcg)

Sunday 4/11:

Celtics-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Tuesday 4/13:

Nets-Knicks, 8:30, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-hb)

Wednesday 4/14:

Bucks-Celtics, 7:30, USA. Announcers unknown (ed-hb)

Thursday 4/15:

Cavaliers-Pistons, 8:00, USA. Announcers unknown (aa-jmcg)

Friday 4/16:

Warriors-Lakers, 11:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

On tape to most Mountain and Pacific Time markets.

Sunday 4/18:

Bucks-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

Lakers-Suns, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Tuesday 4/20:

West 1st rd, g1: Suns-Nuggets, 9:30, USA. Eddie Doucette(?), Hubie Brown(?)

Wednesday 4/21:

West 1st rd, g1: Rockets-Sonics, 11:00, USA. Tom Kelly(?), Steve Jones(?)

Friday 4/23:

West 1st rd, g2: Sonics-Rockets, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Sunday 4/25:

East semis, g1: Bullets-Celtics, 1:00, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

East semis, g1: Bucks-76ers, 1:00, CBS regional. Jim Kelly, Doug Collins

West 1st rd, g3: Rockets-Sonics, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Wednesday 4/28:

East semis, g2: Bullets-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

West semis, g2: Suns-Lakers, 10:30, USA. Tom Kelly, Steve Jones

Friday 4/30:

West semis, g3: Sonics-Spurs, 8:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

West semis, g3: Lakers-Suns, 11:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

MAY

Saturday 5/1:

East semis, g3: 76ers-Bucks, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Sunday 5/2:

East semis, g4: 76ers-Bucks, 1:00, CBS regional. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

East semis, g4: Celtics-Bullets, 1:00, CBS regional. Jim Kelly, Doug Collins

West semis, g4: Lakers-Suns, 3:30, CBS regional. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

JIP late in first quarter.

West semis, g4: Sonics-Spurs, 3:30, CBS regional. Eddie Doucette, Kevin Loughery

Wednesday 5/5:

East semis, g5: Bullets-Celtics, 7:30, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

West semis, g5: Spurs-Sonics, 10:30, USA. Tom Kelly(?), Steve Jones(?)

Friday 5/7:

East semis, g6: 76ers-Bucks, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Sunday 5/9:

East finals, g1: 76ers-Celtics, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

West finals, g1: Spurs-Lakers, 3:30, CBS. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

Tuesday 5/11:

West finals, g2: Spurs-Lakers, 11:00, USA. Eddie Doucette, Steve Jones

JIP early in first quarter.

Wednesday 5/12:

East finals, g2: 76ers-Celtics, 7:30, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Friday 5/14:

West finals, g3: Lakers-Spurs, 11:30 (taped 10:00), CBS. Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown

Saturday 5/15:

East finals, g3: Celtics-76ers, 2:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

West finals, g4: Lakers-Spurs, 8:30, USA. Eddie Doucette, Hubie Brown

Sunday 5/16:

East finals, g4: Celtics-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Wednesday 5/19:

East finals, g5: 76ers-Celtics, 8:00, USA. Al Albert, Hubie Brown

Friday 5/21:

East finals, g6: Celtics-76ers, 11:30 (taped 7:30), CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Sunday 5/23:

East finals, g7: 76ers-Celtics, 3:30, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell

Thursday 5/27:

NBA Finals, g1: Lakers-76ers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery

Sunday 5/30:

NBA Finals, g2: Lakers-76ers, 1:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery

JUNE

Tuesday 6/1:

NBA Finals, g3: 76ers-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery

Thursday 6/3:

NBA Finals, g4: 76ers-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Frank Glieber, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery

Sunday 6/6:

NBA Finals, g5: Lakers-76ers, 2:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Pat O'Brien, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery

Tuesday 6/8:

NBA Finals, g6: 76ers-Lakers, 9:00, CBS. Dick Stockton, Bill Russell, Brent Musburger, Hubie Brown, Kevin Loughery