Winning the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship
The Sixers’ 2000-2001 season is, in part, so memorable because nothing came easy for that team of underdogs. At so many points during the season and playoffs, fans couldn’t help but wonder, “Do they really have anything left?” The 2001 Eastern Conference Finals was the epitome of this feeling.
The road to the Finals went through the #2 seed Milwaukee Bucks, who boasted a Big 3 of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, and Sam Cassell. Ironically, the Sixers had to knock off the Bucks in the Conference Finals the last time they went to the Finals in ‘83. Both the Sixers and Bucks went 4 games in Round one and the full seven games in Round two. Both teams were wearing down and it showed. This series was a knockdown, drag out, 12 round fight, going the full seven games and complete with suspensions, injuries, low-scoring games and terrible shooting. It was ugly. It was Rocky versus Apollo. Thankfully though, it was the Rocky II version.
Unsurprisingly, for Sixers fans the story of this series was Allen Iverson. Bubba Chuck was beat up after the Toronto series and it showed early as he shot 13 for 35 in Game one and 5 for 26 from the field in Game two. AI ended up sitting out Game 3 with an injured tailbone and Sixers fell in Milwaukee 80-74. Down 2-1 and facing a must-win Game 4 on the road, Iverson returned and managed to drag the Sixers to an ugly 89-83 victory while shooting a terrible 31% from the floor, sending the series back to Philly tied up 2-2. Game five didn’t bring any comfort for Sixers fans. Though ultimately winning 89-88, Iverson continued his cold streak, and the Sixers nearly coughed up the game at the buzzer. Though the Sixers were up 3-2, it’s fair to say the fans felt little confidence that the 76ers could keep pulling out wins in this manner.
And for the first 36 minutes of Game 6, our worst fears were realized as the Sixers played terribly, entering the 4th quarter down 80-54. It was a rout, one that felt like the death knell for this team. Then something awesome happened.
It’s odd that one of my favorite Iverson moments of all-time came in a Sixers loss, but his performance in the 4th quarter of Game 6 is not spoken about enough. AI dropped 26 points in that final period. TWENTY-SIX. The Bucks were ready to rest their starters but instead had to fend off one of the most furious one-man comebacks I have ever witnessed. Iverson served notice to the Bucks AND the Lakers that he was not done, his shooting stroke was back, and he would drag the Sixers to the Finals single-handedly if he had to. It was, without a doubt, one of the most impressive single quarters of scoring I have ever witnessed.
After ending Game 6 on such a dominant note, Game 7 was an afterthought. A fired up Iverson hung 44 on the Bucks on 51% shooting and the outcome was never in doubt. The Sixers got their first Eastern Conference championship, and we all got to see Dikembe Mutombo yell, “WHO WANT TO GO TO L.A. WITH ME?!?!” It was a well earned series victory, totally in keeping with the character of the team, and a perfect prelude to what would happen next. For me though, this series was all about the final 12 minutes of Game 6. It was Iverson in his purest: unstoppable, indomitable, and ready to carry the team to the promised land.
Next: The step-over