1983 NBA playoffs


The 1983 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1982–83 season. This was the final postseason using the 12-team format, before the NBA expanded the postseason to 16 teams the next season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Moses Malone was named NBA Finals MVP.
Malone made a famous prediction about the Sixers' chances prior to the playoffs, saying "Fo', fo', fo'" – predicting the number of games the Sixers would need to win each of the three series they would play on the way to a championship. They nearly accomplished this prediction of a sweep of all three rounds, only losing one game en route to the championship. The Sixers set a record for highest winning percentage in the playoffs that was not broken until the Lakers went 15–1 in 2001. The Lakers' mark, however, came after the expansion to the current 16-team, four-round playoff format, which was first implemented in the 1984 playoffs, while the Sixers avoided the first round by virtue of their top seeding.
It was the third time in four years that the Lakers and 76ers had met in the NBA Finals, with the Lakers winning the previous two series.
After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Blazers began a string of 21 straight playoff appearances in 1983 lasting until 2003. They made the playoffs 25 out of 26 years from their title-winning season of 1977–2003. The record was just one season shy of the 22-year playoff run set by the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers from 1950–1971.
The Celtics were swept out of the playoffs for the first time in team history, losing 4–0 to the Bucks in the second round.
This was the Spurs' last appearance in the Conference Finals until 1995. However, for players such as George Gervin and Artis Gilmore, the 6-game loss to the Lakers was the last chance they got at reaching the NBA Finals, let alone an NBA Championship.

Bracket

Western Conference

First Round

Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have first-round byes.
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets: Nuggets win series 2–1
Denver won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.
Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Seattle SuperSonics vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 2–0
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings.
Seattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series

Conference Semifinals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Lakers win series 4–1
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning the first meeting.
Portland leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets: Spurs win series 4–1
San Antonio won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Spurs.

Conference Finals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 4–2
San Antonio won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.
Los Angeles leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

Eastern Conference

First Round

Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks have first round byes.
Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 2–1
Boston won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning five of the first six meetings.
Boston leads 5–1 in all-time playoff series


New Jersey Nets vs. New York Knicks: Knicks win series 2–0
New Jersey won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Knicks.

Conference Semifinals

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks: 76ers win series 4–0
Philadelphia won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning five of the first seven meetings.
Philadelphia leads 5–2 in all-time playoff series


Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics: Bucks win series 4–0
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

Conference Finals

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks: 76ers win series 4–1
Philadelphia won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning two of the first three meetings.
Philadelphia leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 76ers win series 4–0
Philadelphia won 2–0 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first four meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series