Today, we trim our all-time favorite Philadelphia 76ers bracket to 16.
After several close calls in the first round of our all-time favorite Philadelphia 76ers bracket, the second round began with a wave of blowouts. The winner received 90 percent of the vote in five of the eight matchups held yesterday. Of the three remaining matchups, two winners received at least 85 percent of the vote.
It seems clear the voting body has some sense of who it does and does not want in the Sweet 16. The results, while not terribly surprising, were much more extreme than expected. The only close call was Bobby Jones vs. Mike Scott, with Jones earning 51 percent of the vote. Scott goes home after ousting Andrew Toney in perhaps the biggest first-round upset of the tournament.
Here’s how yesterday’s matchups turned out.
- (1) Allen Iverson def. (32) Thaddeus Young
- (17) Ben Simmons def. (16) George McGinnis
- (8) Andre Iguodala def. (25) Fred Carter
- (56) Robert Covington def. (41) Steve Mix
- (4) Wilt Chamberlain def. (36) Jerry Stackhouse
- (20) Lou Williams def. (52) Nik Stauskas
- (5) Charles Barkley def. (28) Elton Brand
- (21) Bobby Jones def. (53) Mike Scott
Here’s a quick rundown of today’s matchups as we conclude round two.
(2) Julius Erving vs. (31) Kyle Korver
Anyone who follows the Sixers, or NBA basketball in general, probably has some idea of who Dr. J was. An electric athlete, equal parts skilled and explosive, he revolutionized the entertainment value of basketball. To this day, he’s one of the most fun players to hit the NBA. He also happened to be really good — good enough to lead several Finals runs, including the Sixers 1983 championship win.
He beat current Sixer Tobias Harris with a sound 88.4 percent of the vote in round one. Korver, on the other hand, easily ousted Theo Ratliff with 80.6 percent of the vote. Korver has become one of the top shooters in NBA history, and it all started in South Philly.
(15) Dolph Schayes vs. (18) Jrue Holiday
One of the earliest legends in Sixers history, Dolph Schayes probably wasn’t on the T.V. screens for many of our readers. He was, however, immensely productive, and he won the first round with 61.2 percent of vote over Samuel Dalembert, a 2000s Sixer. He now faces a more prominent 2000s Sixer in Jrue Holiday.
Holiday’s lone All-Star appearance came in Philadelphia, and he remains notable not only for his time with the Sixers, but for how his tenure ended. His trade was the first domino to fall in Sam Hinkie’s masterplan. Holiday still carries a widely positive reputation in Philadelphia.
(7) Moses Malone vs. (39) Caldwell Jones
It was Malone who pushed the Sixers over the edge in their 1983 championship run, earning both MVP and Finals MVP that season. He’s arguably the most pivotal trade addition in Sixers history. Legendary for his performances on both sides of the ball, it’s difficult to deny Malone’s standing in this bracket. He received 99 percent of the vote in round one.
Jones pulled out the upset in round one, ousting the higher-seeded Larry Costello with 69.9 percent of the vote. Jones was the ultimate role player, and his hard-nosed, grit-heavy attitude lends itself to a ‘fan favorite’ label.
(10) Billy Cunningham vs. (42) T.J. McConnell
This could turn into a surprisingly difficult matchup for Cunningham, who despite his immense contributions to Sixers history, isn’t exactly fresh in the minds of younger fans. T.J. McConnell is — so much so he received 64.3 percent of the vote against a universally-loved Dikembe Mutombo in round one.
Still, when the polls are loaded and the ballots are cast, this is still Cunningham’s battle to lose. He’s one of the most productive players in Philadelphia’s long basketball history, and he was a first-rate Hall of Famer because of it. He has been around the organization too long not to earn his top-10 placement.
(3) Joel Embiid vs. (35) Eric Snow
Embiid won comfortably in round one, earning 96.3 percent of the vote. He’s fresher in the mind than anyone on this list, and he’s the most prominent member of not only the Sixers’ present, but their future. He has a strong bond with the city — perhaps the strongest since A.I. — and he’s fun to watch, even in the midst of a strange, disappointing 2019-20 season.
Snow was a fan favorite in the Iverson days. He was not a star by traditional measures, but he played effectively in his role and made for a nice backcourt complement to Iverson’s dynamic scoring presence. He will gets some votes, for sure.
(14) Hersey Hawkins vs. (19) Doug Collins
Hawkins beat Johnny Dawkins in round one with roughly 75 percent of the vote. A memorable player and a memorable name, the productive swingman started his career in Philadelphia and was a prolific scorer in the late 80s and early 90s. He faces a former No. 1 pick in Collins.
Collins had a much closer call in the first round. He ousted Chris Webber — a fan favorite, sure, but not someone who peaked in Philadelphia — with 55.4 percent of the vote. His name carries greater weight in Philadelphia because of his time as head coach, but he was also a gifted player. Don’t count him out.
(6) Maurice Cheeks vs. (38) Clarence Weatherspoon
Cheeks was never the best player of his era — Julius Erving and Moses Malone laid claim to that title — but he was, to many, the favorite. The easiest to root for, a radiant presence in the locker room, and a massively entertaining player in his own right. Cheeks walked through the first round with 97.9 percent of the vote.
Weatherspoon was another mid-90s staple who spent time next to the aforementioned Hersey Hawkins on the wing. Very much a talented scorer, his best years came early, and he tailed off after leaving Philadelphia. He received 57.9 percent of the vote against Sixers legend Luke Jackson in round one.
(11) Hal Greer vs. (22) World B. Free
Greer is a Hall of Famer and, to some, a top-three Sixer of all-time. He was a uniquely talented scorer, using non-traditional methods to scorch opposing defenses. He comfortably ousted a process legend in Nerlens Noel last round, receiving 70.7 percent of the vote.
Free, on the other hand, beat out the singular Manute Bol with 55.8 percent of the vote. Free has stuck around the franchise and in the culture for a long time, and his personality is a big draw for fans. He has a real shot here.
To get in on the voting, follow our Twitter page (@SixerSense) and participate. The polls will go up this afternoon.