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The NBA on CBS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_on_CBS) (1973-1990)

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The NBA on NBC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_on_NBC) (1990-2002)

I suppose, on a personal level, I'm more partial towards NBC's coverage since I have a better memory watching it than with CBS'. CBS' NBA coverage in my estimation, it it's stride in 1982-83, when Dick Stockton became the lead play-by-play man, CBS treated the coverage as a must see event (rather than the oft-taped delayed, redheaded stepchild to their NFL or golf coverage), and they introduced the dynamic theme music/opening sequence. NBC's peak, I suppose was 1990-91 through 1997-98 (before the lockout and the end of the Michael Jordan era Bulls' dynasty).

And if the Jordan era, as well as the Houston Rockets' back to back titles sandwiched between Chicago's dominance, and the Shaq-Kobe era Lakers winning three straight titles (to close out NBC's coverage) defined the NBA on NBC era, then it's pretty safe to say that the NBA's reemergence under Larry Bird and Magic Johnson as well as the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" era defined the later part of CBS' coverage.

Lead play-by-play men: Dick Stockton (CBS) vs. Marv Albert (NBC)

Finals hosts/secondary lead play-by-play men: Brent Musburger (CBS) vs. Bob Costas (NBC)

Secondary studio hosts: Pat O'Brien (CBS) vs. Hannah Storm (NBC)

Lead sideline reporters: James Brown and Lesley Visser (CBS) vs. Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray (NBC)

Lead color commentators: Rick Barry, Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Billy Cunningham and Hubie Brown (CBS) vs. Mike Fratello, Matt Guokas, Doug Collins, Bill Walton and Steve "Snapper" Jones (NBC)

Lead network NFL commentators turned NBA play-by-play men: Pat Summerall (CBS) vs. Dick Enberg (NBC) - A lot of people perhaps don't recall that Summerall was the lead play-by-play man for CBS' NBA coverage during their first season (1973-74)

Main network (not just the NBA) "B" play-by-play men: Verne Lundquist (CBS) vs. Tom Hammond (NBC)

Voice over artists: Don Robertson (CBS) vs. Jim Fagan (NBC)

CBS was better because of the reasons

Brent Musburger
Dick Stockon
Hubie Brown
Opening Theme Song

This is a tough one. I like the music better on NBC, it was so catchy and they would let you know it was going to be a good match up reguardless of who they showed. CBS on the other hand, they treated the NBA like it was NFL Sunday. I like the reporters and commentators on both networks. So I am going to take the easy way out and say I liked both in their own way, A LOT BETTER than ABC today. I feel ABC is not giving the league a modern feel in all aspects...technology, music, graphics, etc.

This is a tough one. I like the music better on NBC, it was so catchy and they would let you know it was going to be a good match up reguardless of who they showed. CBS on the other hand, they treated the NBA like it was NFL Sunday.

NBC didn't do a bad job themselves when it came to treating the games like they were big.

NBC didn't do a bad job themselves when it came to treating the games like they were big.

No they didn't. But like I said, NBC was more about the matchups, IMO. CBS was more about the coverage.

nbc

You'll see the best in basketball
when you watch the NBA
when you watch the NBA on CBS!

This is a tough one. I like the music better on NBC, it was so catchy and they would let you know it was going to be a good match up reguardless of who they showed. CBS on the other hand, they treated the NBA like it was NFL Sunday. I like the reporters and commentators on both networks. So I am going to take the easy way out and say I liked both in their own way, A LOT BETTER than ABC today. I feel ABC is not giving the league a modern feel in all aspects...technology, music, graphics, etc.


You were supposed to say CBS, you should know better

Both; CBS & NBC were that good with their own NBA coverages at the time because its own Broadcasting Talent.