High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1984 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association`s 1983-84 season. This was the first postseason allowing sixteen teams to qualify, a format that is still in use as of 2011. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating their rivals, the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, four games to three in the NBA Finals. Larry Bird was named NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his Hall of Fame career.