Every 1983-84 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 28, 1983 to April 15, 1984.
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East standings, 1983-84
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
62
20
.756
-
9-1
W1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
52
30
.634
10
6-4
W2
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
50
32
.610
12
8-2
W3
Detroit Pistons (DET)
49
33
.598
13
7-3
L1
New York Knicks (NYK)
47
35
.573
15
4-6
L1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
45
37
.549
17
6-4
L2
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
40
42
.488
22
7-3
W4
Washington Bullets (WAS)
35
47
.427
27
4-6
L2
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
28
54
.341
34
2-8
W1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
27
55
.329
35
1-9
L5
Indiana Pacers (IND)
26
56
.317
36
3-7
L1
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 5 times.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 1.5 games on November 1, 1983.
The Boston Celtics took first place for good on January 3, 1984.
The Boston Celtics won 9 games in a row from October 29, 1983 to November 15, 1983, the longest run of the race.
The Philadelphia 76ers led by 1.5 games as late as December 5, 1983.
The Boston Celtics went 15-1 from December 29, 1983 to February 5, 1984, turning a level race into a lead of 7.5 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 42 of the 148 days played.
Seven teams held first place.
The Boston Celtics spent 121 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.