The NBA on NBC by Egantx7

NBC wasn't stupid enough to broadcast the entire season, (who watches the early NBA games anyway?) Starting in 1991, on which day would The NBA on NBC typically broadcast its first game of the year?

After 1991, the only time The NBA on NBC broadcast early season games was in 2001-02, because The NBA on NBC absolutely was going to broadcast what historic sports event that happened early that year? (we'll be lenient on the answering)

The pregame show NBA Showtime was hosted from 1990-96 by what legendary and ageless sports broadcaster who worked on NBC for a long time? He's currently working for the MLB Network.

After the answer to #3 left NBA Showtime, this woman took over duties from 1996-2001. No, she is not the namesake of a WNBA team.

The last game ever broadcast (to date) by The NBA on NBC was Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals between which two teams? (either order)

From 1990-97, this man was the primary play-by-play announcer for The NBA on NBC. His tenure as lead announcer ended when he was accused, and plead guilty to, biting and forced sodomy of a woman (not the woman who accused him of wearing panties and a garter belt ... the other one). If you are disgusted at how he treats women, relax! NBC rehired him and got him back on the air before The NBA on NBC went off in 2002. Name this creep.

From 1990-94, this man was the lead color analyst for The NBA on NBC. He had been the head coach of some pretty good Atlanta Hawks teams in the 1980s, and went on to coach the Cavaliers and Grizzlies. Identify this "Czar of the Telestrator" who currently does analysis for the Nets and occasionally on TNT.

This feisty character was one of the people brought into the booth for a few years starting in 1998, after he was fired by the Detroit Pistons. This guy would head coach in Washington after leaving The NBA on NBC, and had preceded Phil Jackson as head coach of the Bulls. Identify this Illinois State legend who scored the last points for the US in the controversial 1972 Olympic final against the USSR.

Which rapper sampled John Tesh's "Roundball Rock" (aka "The Theme to The NBA on NBC") in his 2004 song "Heart of a Champion".

The highest rated single game, and highest rated NBA Finals during The NBA on NBC era involved which two teams in the 1998 Finals? (either order is fine ... but don't even think about bringing up any of that hand checking against Bryon Russell garbage).

The 1994 Finals broadcast on The NBA on NBC had two notable things about it. It was the only NBA Finals to reach a 7th game while the Finals were broadcast on The NBA on NBC, however more notably, Game 5's coverage was partially up against a breaking news story that occurred between (roughly 6:20 and 8:00 pm, Pacific Time), and was tangentially sports related. What event brought down the ratings for Game 5 that year? (we'll be lenient on wording)

This pseudo-philosopher worked as part of the #2 crew for most of The NBA on NBC's run. Despite foot injuries and poor rehab to fix them, he was part of NBA Championships with the Trailblazers and Celtics. Name this acid rock loving father of the current Los Angeles Lakers head coach, who Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may (or may not) have had to drag up and down the court, with Lanier, for 48 minutes.