1984 NBA Playoffs

1984 NBA playoffs
← 1983 1985 →

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.

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; 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 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
W1 Los Angeles 3
E1 Boston 4
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

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

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

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

(*) 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

(*)In Game 4, Derek Harper made a mistake by dribbling out the clock thinking Dallas was ahead by one, when the score was actually tied.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

External links

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