Allen Iverson Archives - BBallHistory.com

NBA San Francisco Dons vs. NBA Georgetown Hoyas

Our next matchup features two programs whose past success centered around one of the greatest players in college basketball history. San Francisco won back-to-back championships with the legendary Bill Russell in 1955 and 1956, but they have not been back to the championship game since, and they have not even been to the NCAA tournament since the turn of the century. Patrick Ewing led Georgetown to three NCAA championship games in four seasons, but they have not been back to the big game since he graduated, and they’ve fallen on hard times in recent years, even with Ewing taking the reins as the head coach. The battle between the NBA San Francisco Dons vs. NBA Georgetown Hoyas features these two legends going head-to-head, but will likely be determined by the other pros from each school’s respective history.

Key Matchups

Battle of the Big Men – While Russell and Ewing are the headliners, each is starting next to another big man in a Twin Towers lineup, and they may not directly match up against each other as a result. Russell will be paired with Bill Cartwright, who has ample experience guarding Ewing from the Bulls-Knicks rivalry in the 1990s. Cartwright played Ewing tough in those contests, but Ewing still dominated, averaging 23.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG in 25 regular season head-to-head matchups, and 22.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG in 29 postseason matches. The best version of Cartwright, however, came before this rivalry, when he himself was a member of the Knicks. Cartwright could score effectively from the post, averaging 16.8 PPG on 55.2% shooting from the field over 8 seasons in New York. He’ll be heavily relied-upon by the scoring-deficient Dons, though he’s facing a fleet of elite defensive big men. Alonzo Mourning, one of those big men, will join Ewing in the starting lineup and will be Russell’s primary adversary. Both are among the greatest interior defenders to ever play; Mourning will try to use his bulk to establish post position, while Russell will try to use his speed and quickness to get out in transition and push the pace. Georgetown has the luxury of subbing in Dikembe Mutombo for either Ewing or Mourning and losing nothing on the defensive end of the court. San Francisco will have to rely on the likes of Erwin Mueller and Pete Cross if Russell or Cartwright gets tired or in foul trouble, which will be death against the Hoyas’ frontcourt.

K.C. Jones vs. Allen Iverson – Iverson presents a difficult challenge for the Dons’ perimeter defensive ace. Jones will use his high basketball IQ to bother Iverson, but nobody can keep AI out of the lane. How Iverson balances his role of creator and scorer, and how he deals with Jones’s defense, will ultimately help determine the effectiveness of Georgetown’s offensive attack.

Biggest Mismatches

Georgetown’s bench – San Francisco has one threat off the bench (Fred Scolari), while the rest of the reserves are replacement-level players (or worse). Georgetown’s bench complements their starting lineup and allows them to play more versatile, modern lineups. Reggie Williams and Jeff Green will get plenty of minutes at two guard and power forward, respectively, though Green’s minutes at the four will be limited in this series with the Dons playing two centers at a time. Jerome Williams will be a better fit next to one of Georgetown’s centers, to keep them competitive on the glass. Mutombo, Roy Hibbert, and Greg Monroe are all superior options to anything San Francisco can offer, and Mutombo specifically will help ensure that Ewing and Mourning get adequate rest. The Hoyas should wear the Dons out with their plethora of options.

Georgetown’s scoring options – San Francisco will have a lot of trouble scoring in the halfcourt. Expect Phil Smith to be their primary perimeter threat. Georgetown doesn’t have a great option to stop him in the starting lineup; Otto Porter will likely start off guarding him, and David Wingate may be their best defensive option off the bench. Outside of Smith though, San Francisco will rely on the inconsistent Quintin Dailey for shot creation, beyond their dual-center threat. Cartwright and Russell were good offensive players who were best suited to supporting roles, and they will have to generate offense against Georgetown’s fantastic defensive centers. The Hoyas have Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, Otto Porter, and Reggie Williams who can hurt San Francisco from the perimeter, and Ewing and Mourning will provide interior post scoring, in addition to second chance opportunities off the glass.

Bill Russell – Although the roster comparison doesn’t look good for San Francisco, Bill Russell is the greatest winner in basketball history. One could easily see him taking Mourning out of his normal game, and making Iverson and Floyd think twice about driving to the hole. One man cannot win a series, but it’s always helpful to have the best player on your side.

X-Factor

1982 – That’s the most recent year that an impact player was drafted on San Francisco’s roster (Quintin Dailey). Even though Georgetown’s had mixed success since the 1990s, San Francisco’s complete irrelevance in that time has severely hampered their NBA roster.

Results

This proves to be an ugly series, with a slew of low-scoring games. Ultimately, San Francisco simply cannot find enough ways to score against Georgetown’s defense. Although it seems blasphemous to say this, Bill Russell can’t make it out of the first round.

Georgetown wins, four games to one.

Next Round

The Hoyas face the NBA Duke Blue Devils.

NBA Georgetown Hoyas

Our next profile features a program who, for a brief period of time, may have been the most influential team in the country. “Hoya Paranoia” ran rampant in the 1980s under Coach John Thompson, who intimidated foes with his towering presence and by overseeing a physical, defensive-oriented brand of basketball. Thompson landed a string of elite recruits, including the crown jewel of the program, Patrick Ewing, who led them to three NCAA championship games in four seasons. And though the big names kept enrolling, the Hoyas haven’t been back to the championship game since Ewing graduated in 1985, and have only made one more Final Four appearance, in 2007 under John Thompson III. Even though the program is struggling to remain relevant, and they’ve had less overall success than their reputation would indicate, many of their players have reached great heights on the pro level. The NBA Georgetown Hoyas feature four Naismith Hall-of-Famers, and complementary players who thrived under both Thompson regimes.

Allen Iverson is one of the most polarizing superstars in NBA history. On one hand, he was a league MVP, four-time scoring champion, and lead player on an NBA finalist. On the other hand, his high-usage, low-efficiency style made him one of the toughest stars to build around, he had mediocre advanced and impact statistics, and he wasn’t always the most reliable teammate and leader. One underrated part of Iverson’s game that will serve this team well was his stamina, as he led the league in minutes per game seven times in his career, and averaged 41.1 minutes per game in his career, which ranks fourth all-time. This is positive for a team that’s short on guards, but the question remains – can Iverson play well with other stars, or will he dominate the ball to the detriment of the rest of the offense? His backcourt mate, Sleepy Floyd, had a good pro career, earning one all-star birth and lighting up one of the greatest teams ever with a legendary playoff scoring binge. There is a bit of redundancy in Iverson and Floyd’s games, as both were skilled with the ball in their hands, could penetrate to break down defenses, and were inconsistent shooters from long range. Ideally, these two would lead a fast-paced attack, and have ample spacing around them to clear the driving lanes. The only other true guard on this roster, David Wingate, was a complete non-threat on offense whose solid (though unspectacular) defense helped him stay in the league for 15 seasons. Though Wingate gives them valuable size at the two guard position, his inability to space the floor or contribute anything positively on the offensive end will force Georgetown to rely heavily on their starting guards.

Otto Porter, the starting small forward, is (by far) the best three-point shooter on the roster, eclipsing 40% from long-range for his career. While his giant contract overstates his ability, he has developed into a good player when healthy, which is highlighted by his impact stats (despite a disastrous rookie season, he has a career 116 offensive rating, and 107 defensive rating). In addition to being a lethal spot-up shooter, he can catch-and-shoot on the move, play smart off of the ball, and post-up smaller defenders when necessary, and he will be included in all of this team’s best lineups. Off the bench, Reggie Williams never lived up to his lofty draft status, but was productive in Denver, which was his fourth stop in the NBA. In fact, Williams enjoyed a five-year stretch where he averaged 15.1 PPG with solid percentages, and it’s not hard to envision him increasing his 31.7% mark from three-point range during this stretch to a league average or better mark in the modern game. He will back up Porter but also serve as a reserve two-guard, who gives them even more length than Wingate with a lot more firepower and ability to stretch the floor. Jeff Green, who can toggle between both forward positions but is more of a natural power forward in today’s game, will also see plenty of minutes off the bench. Green’s talent has always been tantalizing, but his production has always been spotty. His athleticism, ability to stretch the floor when he’s on, and ability to guard multiple positions can bring this team to another level, though realistically, he can’t be counted on for consistent production. Lineups with Williams, Porter, and Green at the 2, 3, and 4 positions will give this team a modern feel and switchability on defense, and will be used in stretches during any series they participate in. The other bench forward, Jerome Williams, was a valuable role-player who had tremendous impact stats over the course of his career. In fact, he led the league in offensive rating in 1998-99, when he also had a superstar-level .201 WS/48, and he led the league in offensive rebounding percentage that season and the following year. One could easily envision Williams playing as a small-ball five in the modern game, but he’ll slide in at power forward due to this team’s depth at center, and will help the NBA Hoyas dominate the boards when he’s on the court.

The center position is the strength of this team, and their depth at the five may be unmatched in this tournament. Ewing was one of the great jump-shooting centers during his time, and may have been even more of a threat in the modern-day game, where his range would be stretched out to the three-point line. His shooting and post-game made him a stud offensively, but he also anchored a defensive juggernaut in New York, and led the league in defensive win shares three times over the course of his career. While he may not have been as dominant as some of his Hall-of-Fame peers, he was an all-time great, who is the best all-around player on this roster. Alonzo Mourning will join Ewing in the starting lineup as this team’s nominal power forward. Injuries and illnesses were persistent factors in his career, but in his prime (defined here as 1992-93 to 1999-00) he averaged 21.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, shot 52.6% from the field, and blocked 3.1 shots per game. He’s fourth all-time in block percentage, and earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards for his tenacity on that end of the court. Like Ewing, he also had an effective mid-range jumper, though he was best suited for a secondary role on offense. They’re backed up by a third Hall-of-Fame big man, Dikembe Mutombo, who earned a record-tying four Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career. Of the three, Mutombo was the least skilled offensively, but he was a huge positive on the court (111 career offensive rating vs. 99 career defensive rating), was a tremendous rebounder, and finished with the second most blocked shots in history (since they started recording the statistic). Two other big men, Greg Monroe and Roy Hibbert, round out the bench. Each thrived on one end of the floor (offense for Monroe, defense for Hibbert), but neither was able to adapt to the modern-day league due to their inability to move well on defense, and their lack of ability to space the floor on offense. They do provide nice depth when needed, but each will play sparingly behind the Hall-of-Famers.

This team has talent across the board but may be more of a collection of individual talent than a team that can come together and play cohesively. They will try to play twin towers lineups with two of their Hall-of-Fame big men on the court at the same time. Can that work against modern lineups? They have options with their forwards off the bench, but that will likely lead to inconsistency. Also, Iverson and Floyd must co-exist and avoid dominating the ball at the expense of their teammates. As the 20^th seeded team in the tournament, they have a first-round matchup against the 13^th seeded NBA San Francisco Dons.

Best Game 7 Performances in NBA History

In part two of this series, I’m highlighting the best game 7 performances in NBA history. As a reminder, I’m only looking at the highest stakes games – the NBA Finals or the Conference Finals. On to the list…

Honorable Mention: Tom Meschery, 1962 conference finals, game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field) – Meschery, the Warriors’ rookie forward, almost led them to a shocking upset over the favored Celtics, ultimately losing by two points…Oscar Robertson, 1963 conference finals, game 7 (43 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 11 for 24 from the field, 21 for 22 from the line) – Oscar led a mediocre Royals team to the brink of the Finals, but the deeper, better Celtics stopped them in Game 7 (more on this game shortly)…George Gervin and Bob Dandridge, 1979 conference finals, game 7 (Iceman – 42 points, 16 for 31 from the field; Dandridge – 37 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 16 for 31 from the field) – this may have been Gervin’s best chance for a ring, but he was stopped by the defending champion Bullets and their clutch swingman, Bob Dandridge…Jack Sikma, 1979 conference finals game 7 (33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 18 from the field, 13 for 15 from the line) – Sikma helped lead Seattle to victory over a game Suns team to advance to their second straight NBA Finals…Eddie Johnson, 1993 conference finals, game 7 (34 points, 12 for 17 from the field, 9 for 9 from the line in 26 minutes off the bench) – considering the context, this was one of the more remarkable bench performances we’ve ever seen, but Johnson’s effort falls under the radar due to the result of the game…Patrick Ewing, 1994 conference finals game 7 (24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 10 for 23 from the field) – A virtuoso all-around performance that included a key put-back dunk to put the Knicks up by one point with 27 seconds left. The Knicks earned their first Finals birth in 21 years due to this effort…Stephen Curry, 2016 conference finals game 7 (36 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 13 for 24 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3) – Curry helped Golden State overcome a 3-1 deficit to a hungry Oklahoma City team. In a low-scoring game (96-88), he was a game-high +18…LeBron James, 2018 conference finals game 7 (35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 12 for 24 from the field) – James played all 48 minutes in this game, carrying an undermanned Cavs team to their fourth straight Finals appearance.

10. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds, 17 for 33 from the field, 3 for 10 from the line): Before he fouled out, Heinsohn and fellow rookie Bill Russell held the team together while their starting backcourt fell apart. Heinsohn’s effort was particularly impressive considering the rest of the team shot a combined 31.6% from the field. While his free-throw shooting left something to be desired, the 1957 Rookie of the Year (over Russell!) had the greatest moment of his career leading the team to their first championship.

9. Draymond Green, 2016 NBA Finals game 7 (32 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 11 for 15 from the field, 4 for 4 from the line, 6 for 8 from 3): This is one of the great under-the-radar performances of all time. Golden State only scored 89 points in their disappointing Game 7 effort, with Curry and Klay Thompson combining to go 12 for 36 from the field, and the team as a whole shooting 31% outside of Green. Draymond filled the box score while playing his typical stout defense. The one drawback is that Green could not stem the ugliness of the team’s offensive meltdown down the stretch, as they scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and failed to score in the final 4:40 of this game. While that prevents this game from being placed higher on this list, his performance deserves recognition.

8. Allen Iverson, 2001 Eastern Conference Finals game 7 (44 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 17 for 33 from the field, 6 for 7 from the line, 4 for 6 from three): The indefatigable Iverson never had a problem getting his shot off. This skill proved extremely valuable in the 2000-01 season, with a scrappy roster of defenders and supporting players around him who all had limited offensive skillsets. Iverson dominated in the biggest game of his career to date, and carried the Sixers to their first championship series in 18 years with his performance.

Iverson led the Sixers to the Finals in his MVP season
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

7. Sam Jones, 1963 Eastern Division Finals, game 7 (47 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 18 for 27 from the field, 11 for 12 from the line): This series seemed like a mismatch, with the 58-win, four-time defending champions taking on a team that was barely over .500 during the season (the 42-38 Royals). Cincinnati proved resilient, however, behind Oscar Robertson’s brilliance, and forced an unexpected Game 7. As usual, Boston rose to the occasion, this time behind their clutch shooting guard. Boston as a team shredded the Royals defense, scoring 142 points and shooting .520 from the field in the win.

6. Charles Barkley, 1993 Western Conference Finals, game 7 (44 points, 24 rebounds, 12 for 20 from the field, 19 for 22 from the line): In the biggest game of his career (up to that point), Barkley played up to his MVP credentials, dominating the Sonics and sending the Suns to their second Finals appearance. His rebounding prowess was staggering: Barkley collected 24 rebounds while the Sonics as a team collected 31, with their starting frontcourt grabbing only 14. He repeatedly went to the free throw line and carried the Suns when they needed him most. Unfortunately, he ran into the ultimate MVP in the Finals, but his performance here should be lauded.

5. Bill Russell, 1962 NBA Finals, game 7 (30 points, 40 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 for 18 from the field, 14 for 17 from the line): Russell never lost a Game 7 in his career, and this ’62 Finals game may have been his signature performance. He played the entire 53 minutes (the game went into overtime), and helped hold the Lakers to 35% shooting from the field. Nobody shot particularly well in this game, as the Celtics were even worse from the field (32.7%). They withstood their poor shooting effort by defending and dominating the glass, with Russell hauling in 40 of the team’s 82 rebounds, and giving them a +17 rebound advantage for the game.

4. James Worthy, 1988 NBA Finals, game 7 (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 15 for 22 from the field, 6 for 10 from the line): How is it possible for a player to get the only triple double of his career in game 7 of the NBA Finals? Worthy’s signature performance helped lead a weary Lakers team to their second title in a row. This effort was crucial because Detroit looked like the better team for much of the series, and Laker captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was running on fumes (he had 4 points on 2 for 7 from the field and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes). Worthy’s effort pushed L.A. to their final title of this era, though they made two more Finals appearances in the next three seasons.

3. Jerry West, 1969 NBA Finals game 7 (42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 14 for 29 from the field, 14 for 18 from the line): The first ever Finals MVP remains the only one who won the award in a losing cause. From a team perspective, this was one of the worst losses in league history, with the Lakers, led by the triumvirate of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and West, losing on their homecourt to what was supposed to be a broken-down Celtics team (they were 48-34 during the season). West was valiant in defeat, playing the full 48 and having one of the great all-around games of his career. As usual it wasn’t enough, as Russell, Sam Jones and company won their final ring. The Celtics duo retired after this game, with West having lost to them 6 times, and Baylor having lost to them an impossible 7 times in the Finals.

2. LeBron James, 2013 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 12 for 23 from the field, 8 for 8 from the line, 5 for 10 from three): When thinking of the greatest game 7 performers in history, two players rise to the top of the list: Bill Russell, who went 10-0 in game sevens in his career, and LeBron James, the career postseason leader in game 7 scoring average (currently 34.9). James struggled with his shot earlier in this series, with San Antonio using a similar defensive tactic that flummoxed him in the 2007 Finals. However, the 2013 version of James was unstoppable, and with the Heat backed against the wall, he devastated the Spurs from long-range, after previously struggling from 3 in the series (29% prior to game 7). He also hit a crucial jump shot with 28 seconds left to put them up by 4. In a low scoring game (95-88), against the premier perimeter defender of his generation (Kawhi Leonard), James cemented his legacy and earned his second straight championship.

1. Walt Frazier, 1970 NBA Finals game 7 (36 points, 7 rebounds, 19 assists, 12 for 17 from the field, 12 for 12 from the line): The Lakers misery continued in the first year after Bill Russell retired. L.A. had bad luck that season, only getting 12 regular season games from Wilt Chamberlain and 54 from Elgin Baylor. Even though they came together in the playoffs, they ran into another great team in the Finals. While Willis Reed often gets the shine due to his courageous effort, he only scored four points, all in the first moments of the game. With the league MVP compromised, “Clyde” was the one who carried the Knicks. He played a brilliant all-around game, and never gave L.A. any signs of hope (the halftime score was 69-42 in favor of NY). By leading a shorthanded team, outplaying the legendary West, and dominating on both ends of the court, Frazier deserves recognition for the greatest game 7 performance ever.

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers

Our next match features two of the most storied franchises in NBA history. They’ve met in the championship round six times, with legendary competitors deciding each outcome (from George Mikan vs. Dolph Schayes, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson vs. Julius Erving and Moses Malone, to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant vs. Allen Iverson). Though they’ve both fallen on tough times in recent years, each has a chance to prevail in the NBA Franchise Tournament. The battle between the All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers has the most collective star power of any match up to date, and promises to be a classic.

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers

Key Matchups

Lakers’ firepower vs. Philadelphia’s defensive versatility: The Lakers feature six of the top 28 scorers in NBA history, four of whom spent the prime years of their career with the franchise (a fifth, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, may not have reached the heights that he did with Milwaukee but still won three MVP awards in Los Angeles). Sixers player/coach Billy Cunningham has several options: he can try to outscore L.A. with his own Hall-of-Fame offensive weapons, or play his defensive lineup, featuring Maurice Cheeks, Andre Iguodala, and Bobby Jones, in hopes of slowing the Lakers’ offense down. Cunningham will likely mix and match his offensive playmakers with his defensive stoppers. The Sixers will also have to figure out how they guard 6’9” Magic Johnson; Allen Iverson, who stood almost a foot shorter, seems ill-suited for this role, so they may have to start Cheeks or Iguodala in his place.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers — Maurice Cheeks (#10) will get plenty of minutes alongside Philly’s Hall-of-Fame frontcourt
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Battle of the Boards: The Lakers do not start a traditional power forward, relying on the versatility of Elgin Baylor and Magic Johnson to help Abdul-Jabbar on the glass. Abdul-Jabbar will also have his hands full trying to keep Philly’s Wilt Chamberlain off the glass, as Baylor and Johnson will with the irrepressible Charles Barkley. Philly’s ability to seize an advantage on the glass will be an important indicator of their ability to win this series. The Lakers have behemoths George Mikan, Shaquille O’Neal, and their own version of Wilt Chamberlain coming off the bench, but they would be awkward fits alongside each other or Jabbar, so they will likely play one at a time. Philly’s Dolph Schayes and Billy Cunningham can take advantage of the Lakers forwards, and give the Sixers a rebounding advantage off the bench, assuming Moses Malone can hold his own against L.A.’s fleet of backup big men.

Biggest Mismatch

Los Angeles’s backcourt advantage: The Lakers have the best starting backcourt in our tournament, with three MVP-level performers in Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant (who will masquerade as a small forward at the beginning of the each half). Philly features former MVP Allen Iverson, along with Hall-of-Famer Hal Greer and versatile defensive stoppers Maurice Cheeks and Andre Iguodala. While the Sixers’ backcourt is excellent, none of these players can match the accomplishments of the Lakers’ trio. Magic Johnson will create tons of matchup issues, and West and Bryant have the ability to take over any game they play in.

X-Factor

Defensive matchups: If Philadelphia starts Cheeks or Iguodala, then Magic Johnson has a logical resting place on defense. If they start Allen Iverson, the cross-matches will be fascinating. Expect Pat Riley to have Jerry West guard Iverson, with Magic either checking Hal Greer or Charles Barkley (while the latter suggestion seems bizarre, it creates logical matchups for Elgin Baylor (Julius Erving), Kobe Bryant (Greer) and West). On the other end of the court, Philly would have the 6’2” Greer guarding Johnson, and likely offering him little resistance. The 6’6” Iguodala is best suited to guard Magic, and will see a large increase in minutes from the previous series.

Results

While the Sixers have championship-worthy talent, they drew a brutal matchup in the Elite Eight. Even though they’re one of the best teams in our tournament, they struggle to contain L.A.’s backcourt, particularly Magic Johnson. The Lakers struggle with Philadelphia’s deep and talented frontcourt, but they finish out Philadelphia in six competitive games.

Lakers win, four games to two.

Next Round

Los Angeles faces the winner of the All-Time Bulls vs. All-Time Pistons.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time New York Knicks

Our next matchup features two teams who have played in the same division for the past 67 seasons, and who’ve had 440 regular season battles as of this posting. They’ve also met 10 times in the playoffs, though only two of those series have had a deciding, winner-takes-all game (both in the early 1950s). Considering their proximity to each other (in location), and the frequency of their matches, this should be a celebrated NBA rivalry. Though their real-life matches have failed to live up to these expectations, the battle between the All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time New York Knicks is highly anticipated, and should ignite the two franchises’ fan bases.

76ers vs. Knicks

Key Matchups

Battle of Hall-of-Fame frontcourts: These two teams feature a number of Hall-of-Fame and all-star level performers in their frontcourts. Philadelphia starts perhaps the greatest frontcourt in this tournament, with three legends who were all MVP-level performers (Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and Wilt Chamberlain). They also feature one of the deepest frontcourt benches, with four Hall-of-Famers coming off the bench along with Bobby Jones, one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. New York’s frontcourt is also impressive, featuring two former scoring champions splitting time at small forward (Bernard King and Carmelo Anthony), a two-time NBA Finals MVP (Willis Reed), and a member of the 50 Greatest Players list (Patrick Ewing). They also have three Hall-of-Fame frontcourt players coming off their bench, and in total have a whopping six players on their roster who averaged a double-double (scoring and rebounding) with the franchise.

Defensive stalwarts: With so much offensive talent on each team’s roster, the defensive aces on both sides will see big minutes in this series. Walt Frazier, arguably New York’s best all-around player, will have to chase around the lightning-quick Allen Iverson. Dave DeBusschere, one of the NBA’s greatest defensive forwards, will see plenty of minutes against Charles Barkley, Dolph Schayes, and Billy Cunningham. Philadelphia’s Maurice Cheeks will play alongside both Iverson and Hal Greer, and will take turns defending New York’s high-scoring guards (Frazier, Richie Guerin, and Earl Monroe). Bobby Jones will see time against the Knicks’ small forwards (King and Anthony) and their bruising power players (including Reed and Harry Gallatin).

Biggest Mismatches

Philadelphia’s athleticism advantage: The Sixers have one of the most athletic teams in the tournament. Erving, Chamberlain, Barkley, and Iverson were all exceptional athletes in the starting lineup, in addition to Andre Iguodala, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham off the bench. New York does not have the same assortment of athletes, and will need to slow down the tempo of the games to compete.

X-Factor

The Answer: can Allen Iverson become a pass-first distributor? Iverson is one of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history, with the third highest career usage percentage since this statistic has been tracked (starting in 1978). While he was used to playing with non-offensive threats in his days in Philly, he’s now on a team that features some of the biggest names in NBA history. How will he adjust to being a secondary option? Will he get their dominant frontcourt players enough shots for their liking as the de facto point guard in the starting lineup?

The question: Who is Philly's wild card? The Answer: Allen Iverson Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com — The question: Who is Philly’s wild card? The Answer: Allen Iverson
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Results

New York keeps the series close against Philadelphia, and Walt Frazier harasses Iverson into a few horrendous shooting nights. With the series tied at two, player-coach Billy Cunningham replaces Iverson in the starting lineup with Mo Cheeks, and the offense runs smoothly through their Hall-of-Fame frontcourt. Iverson proves to be terrific in the sixth man role, and the Sixers clinch in six.

Philadelphia wins, four games to two.

Next Round

The Sixers battle the All-Time Lakers Team.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers Team

The All-Time Philadelphia 76ers team is…explosive. They have explosive play makers, hall-of-famers, and MVPs littered throughout their roster. They also have explosive personalities (namely, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson) who will make for an interesting mix alongside their controversial center. With three championships, they are the seventh-seeded team in our tournament, and have one of the most talented overall rosters.

Starting is a sign of respect in the NBA. The starting backcourt for this team may not fit perfectly alongside each other and the high scoring frontcourt, but they deserve recognition for their Hall-of-Fame caliber careers. Allen Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, will be the primary ballhandler. Iverson’s score-first mentality isn’t ideal for a team this loaded, so expect him to play plenty of shooting guard as well. Hal Greer, the starting two guard, is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, field goals, and points. He’ll get plenty of minutes as the team’s best long-range shooting threat. Although he’ll come off the bench, Mo Cheeks will operate almost as the third starting guard, since he’s a good fit alongside either starter. Cheeks was an excellent defender, efficient scorer, and solid play maker, and has a legitimate Hall-of-Fame case. Andre Iguodala, the team’s fourth guard, is one of the most versatile players in today’s game. Although miscast as a primary offensive option in Philly (the “second A.I.”), Iguodala is much better suited for the role he’ll play on this team as a defensive stopper who can lead the break and facilitate on the offensive end.

The starting frontcourt is as accomplished as any in the tournament. Julius Erving is one of the game’s greatest ambassadors, and may have been the most exciting player to ever step on a court. He’s also one of the greatest forwards ever, and was a prolific winner who led the team to an average of 55 wins per year and four NBA Finals appearances. Barkley is one of the greatest power forwards ever, and had the greatest offensive efficiency rating among players who used as many possessions as he did. One could argue that the great Wilt Chamberlain experienced his peak years with the Sixers. He led the league in field goal percentage and rebounds every year he was on the team. In his three full seasons with the team, he won MVP each year. He led the league in PER and WS/48 in those three years as well. He led the league in total assists in 1968, just because he could. Although he once again was traded for an embarrassing haul, this version of Wilt has a legitimate argument as the best center in the tournament.

The bench is filled with impact frontcourt players. Hall-of-Famer Chet Walker will back up Erving. Although he wasn’t as efficient in Philly as he was with the Bulls, he was still a wonderful player who made three all-star teams. Billy Cunningham is one of seven players on the roster who was named as one of the league’s 50 greatest players in 1996. Cunningham was a relentless competitor who could play either forward position, and will also serve as the team’s head coach (where he amassed a remarkable .698 career winning percentage). The legendary Dolph Schayes, who made 12 all-star game and All-NBA appearances in his illustrious career, led the franchise to its first title in 1955. He’ll provide a different look as a dangerous outside shooter who can play as a ‘stretch-four.’ Bobby Jones was one of the greatest defenders of all time, and Moses Malone, who led the team to its last championship in 1983, will back up Chamberlain.

This team’s frontcourt is absolutely loaded, and player-coach Cunningham will have to find a way to spread the minutes around. They can trot out a great defensive lineup featuring Chamberlain, Jones, Cheeks, and Iguodala, and will be unstoppable on the other end of the court.

Coach: Billy Cunningham

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .520

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: