1984 NBA playoffs

The 1984 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1983–84 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. Larry Bird was named NBA Finals MVP.

1984 NBA playoffs
DatesApril 17–June 12, 1984
Season1983–84
Teams16
ChampionsBoston Celtics (15th title)
Runners-upLos Angeles Lakers (16th finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1983 1985 →

This was the first postseason allowing 16 teams to qualify, a format still in use. The first round format was also changed from best-of-3 to best-of 5.

It was the first NBA Finals meeting between the Celtics and Lakers since 1969; they met 7 times in the Finals from 1959–69, with Boston coming out on top each year. Going into the 1984 playoffs, the Lakers had already won 2 titles in the 1980s and the Celtics 1, making the revival of the Celtics–Lakers rivalry arguably inevitable and certainly highly anticipated.

Two teams made their playoff debuts and won their first playoff series: the Utah Jazz (who joined the NBA for the 1974–75 season as the New Orleans Jazz) and Dallas Mavericks, a 1981 expansion team. The Jazz did not miss the playoffs again until 2004.

The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs for the first time since 1977, starting a string of nine consecutive appearances that included five straight Conference Finals appearances (1987-1991), three consecutive NBA Finals appearances (1988, 1989, and 1990) and two NBA Championships. They did not miss the playoffs again until 1993.

The New Jersey Nets won a playoff series for the first time in their NBA history, upsetting the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in 5. This was also the only time the road team won every game in a five-game playoff series. The Nets would not win a playoff series again until 2002.

This was the final postseason appearance for the Kansas City Kings, as the team moved to Sacramento, California two seasons later. Kemper Arena hosted its final NBA playoff game.

The Kingdome also hosted its final NBA playoff game, as the Seattle SuperSonics moved back full-time to the Seattle Center Coliseum two years later. However, the Kingdome continued to host Sonics regular season games on occasion until 1994.

The 1984 playoffs also involved two of the hottest games in NBA history. Game 5 of the First Round between the Knicks and Pistons was played at Joe Louis Arena, as the Pontiac Silverdome was unavailable, with temperatures reaching as high as 120°. Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers at Boston Garden reached temperatures as high as 100°, as the Garden lacked air-conditioning, coupled with the sweltering outdoors conditions in Boston.

Bracket
  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1 Boston 3  
8 Washington 1  
  1 Boston 4  
  5 New York 3  
4 Detroit 2
5 New York 3  
  1 Boston 4  
Eastern Conference
  2 Milwaukee 1  
3 Philadelphia 2  
6 New Jersey 3  
  6 New Jersey 2
  2 Milwaukee 4  
2 Milwaukee 3
7 Atlanta 2  
  E1 Boston 4
  W1 Los Angeles 3
1 Los Angeles 3  
8 Kansas City 0  
  1 Los Angeles 4
  4 Dallas 1  
4 Dallas 3
5 Seattle 2  
  1 Los Angeles 4
Western Conference
  6 Phoenix 2  
3 Portland 2  
6 Phoenix 3  
  6 Phoenix 4
  2 Utah 2  
2 Utah 3
7 Denver 2  

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Kansas City Kings: Lakers win series 3-0

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 18): Los Angeles 116, Kansas City 105
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 20): Los Angeles 109, Kansas City 102
  • Game 3 @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City (April 22): Los Angeles 108, Kansas City 102

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning five of the first six meetings. All previous series took place while the Lakers franchise were in Minneapolis and the Royals/Kings franchise in Rochester.

(2) Utah Jazz vs. (7) Denver Nuggets: Jazz win series 3-2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Jazz.[2]

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 3-2

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.

(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Seattle SuperSonics: Mavericks win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 17): Dallas 88, Seattle 86
  • Game 2 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 19): Seattle 95, Dallas 92 (Gus Williams banks in the game-winning 3 at the buzzer)
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 21): Seattle 104, Dallas 94
  • Game 4 @ Kingdome, Seattle (April 24): Dallas 107, Seattle 96
  • Game 5 @ Moody Coliseum, University Park (April 26)*: Dallas 105, Seattle 104 (OT)

(*) Reunion Arena was booked because of a World Championship Tennis event

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the SuperSonics.[4]

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks: Lakers win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 28): Los Angeles 134, Dallas 91
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 1): Los Angeles 117, Dallas 101
  • Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 4): Dallas 125, Los Angeles 115
  • Game 4 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 6): Los Angeles 122, Dallas 115 (OT; Pat Cummings hits the game-tying layup with 31 seconds left before Derek Harper made a mistake by dribbling out the clock thinking Dallas was ahead by one, when the score was actually tied)
  • Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 8): Los Angeles 115, Dallas 99

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Lakers.[5]

(2) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 4-2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Suns and the Jazz.[6]

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4-2

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.

Eastern Conference

Champion: Boston Celtics

1st Round

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Washington Bullets: Celtics win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 17): Boston 91, Washington 83
  • Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 19): Boston 88, Washington 85
  • Game 3 @ Capital Centre, Landover (April 21): Washington 111, Boston 108 (OT; Robert Parish hits the game-tying jumper with 21 seconds left to force OT)
  • Game 4 @ Capital Centre, Landover (April 24): Boston 99, Washington 96

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks: Bucks win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 17): Milwaukee 105, Atlanta 89
  • Game 2 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 19): Milwaukee 101, Atlanta 87
  • Game 3 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 21): Atlanta 103, Milwaukee 94
  • Game 4 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 24): Atlanta 100, Milwaukee 97
  • Game 5 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 26): Milwaukee 118, Atlanta 89

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Bucks.[9]

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets: Nets win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 18): New Jersey 116, Philadelphia 101
  • Game 2 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 20): New Jersey 116, Philadelphia 102
  • Game 3 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (April 22): Philadelphia 108, New Jersey 100
  • Game 4 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (April 24): Philadelphia 110, New Jersey 102
  • Game 5 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 26): New Jersey 101, Philadelphia 98

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.

(4) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3-2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Knicks.[11]

Conference Semifinals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (5) New York Knicks: Celtics win series 4-3

This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning five series apiece.

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) New Jersey Nets: Bucks win series 4-2

  • Game 1 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 29): New Jersey 106, Milwaukee 100
  • Game 2 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 1): Milwaukee 98, New Jersey 94
  • Game 3 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (May 3): Milwaukee 100, New Jersey 93
  • Game 4 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (May 5): New Jersey 106, Milwaukee 99
  • Game 5 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 8): Milwaukee 94, New Jersey 82
  • Game 6 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (May 10): Milwaukee 98, New Jersey 97

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Nets.[13]

Conference Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 15): Boston 119, Milwaukee 96
  • Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 17): Boston 125, Milwaukee 100
  • Game 3 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 19): Boston 109, Milwaukee 100
  • Game 4 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 21): Milwaukee 122, Boston 113
  • Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 23): Boston 115, Milwaukee 108 (Bob Lanier's final NBA game)

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

NBA Finals
Main article: 1984 NBA Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers: Celtics win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 27): Los Angeles 115, Boston 109
  • Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 31)*: Boston 124, Los Angeles 121 (OT; Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass and made a layup to tie the game with 13 seconds left and eventually force OT; Scott Wedman hits the clutch shot with 14 seconds left in OT)
  • Game 3 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 3): Los Angeles 137, Boston 104 (Magic Johnson gives out a Finals record 21 assists)
  • Game 4 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 6): Boston 129, Los Angeles 125 (OT; Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis; Larry Bird hits the game-tying free throws with 16 seconds left in regulation to force OT, then hits the clutch jumper over Magic Johnson with 16 seconds left in OT; M. L. Carr steals James Worthy's inbound pass and dunks it with 6 seconds left in OT)
  • Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 8): Boston 121, Los Angeles 103 (The Heat Game)
  • Game 6 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 10): Los Angeles 119, Boston 108
  • Game 7 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 12): Boston 111, Los Angeles 102

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first seven meetings.

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References
  1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
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