5. Eastern Conference Finals in 2001
The Sixers’ rode Iverson’s MVP momentum to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001, where they faced the Milwaukee Bucks. With Ray Allen, Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson leading the charge, Milwaukee was a sizable hurdle prior to making the championship series.
Iverson, however, lived up to his MVP label. The Bucks and Sixers traded games all series, ending with an epic Game 7 in Philadelphia. Averaging 30.5 points per game in the series, Iverson dropped 44 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the series-clincher.
As expected, the Bucks put up a strong fight. That final game featured 70 combined points between Allen, Cassell and Robinson, with the Bucks’ depth outshining the Sixers. When it came down to things, though, Iverson wasn’t missing the Finals. Not that season.
Iverson was one of only three Sixers to average double-digit scoring in the series, with Dikembe Mutombo (16.6) and Aaron McKie (16.3) being the others. He put on a classic display to help the Sixers reach the Finals for the first time since 1983.
The victory wasn’t without controversy, though, as several people — including the Bucks’ own Ray Allen — questioned the foul calling throughout the series. Allen said it felt “ was just not going to go in our favor.”
Even with some public outcry, though, it’s tough to deny Iverson’s brilliance throughout the series. With Mutombo and McKie building on strong individual seasons themselves, the Sixers had just enough firepower behind Iverson to get the job done.