Philadelphia 76ers: All-time favorite bracket, Sweet 16

Our all-time favorite Philadelphia 76ers tournament enters the Sweet 16.

And then there were 16. We started with 64 players — a diverse mix of legends, fan favorites, and everything in between. We now stand at 16 current and former Philadelphia 76ers left in our tournament to determine the fanbase’s all-time favorite Sixer.

The Round of 32 provided a number of thorough victories, as the higher seed advanced in the majority of matchups. There were, however, a few close calls, as well as a couple upsets — the most notable being T.J. McConnell over Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham.

Here are the results from yesterday’s slate of matchups.

• (2) Julius Erving def. (31) Kyle Korver
• (18) Jrue Holiday def. (15) Dolph Schayes
• (7) Moses Malone def. (39) Caldwell Jones
• (42) T.J. McConnell def. (10) Billy Cunningham
• (3) Joel Embiid def. (35) Eric Snow
• (14) Hersey Hawkins def. (19) Doug Collins
• (6) Maurice Cheeks def. (38) Clarence Weatherspoon
• (11) Hal Greer def. (22) World B. Free

Here’s the Sweet 16.

(1) Allen Iverson vs. (17) Ben Simmons

The No. 1 seed for a reason, Iverson is legendary not only for his production, but for his impact on basketball culture. He changed the NBA dress code. He popularized the sleeve, the cornrows. He was a singular personality, a singular presence, a singular superstar.

He has breezed through the first two rounds with over 95 percent of the vote on both occasions. Ben Simmons has had a similarly easy time, ousting Dario Saric with 90.5 percent and George McGinnis with 92.4 percent. You cannot discount Simmons’ popularity as a current face of the franchise.

(8) Andre Iguodala vs. (56) Robert Covington

This could get… interesting. Iggy has long held a special place in Sixers lore, despite a relative lack of team success in the grand scheme of things. His lone All-Star appearance came in Philadelphia, and all the skills that made him Finals MVP in Golden State, were on display in a more load-intensive role with the Sixers.

Covington is the lowest seed in the Sweet 16, but perhaps it was a miscalculation on our end. He always felt like a divisive player in Philadelphia — some preached his unique value as a defender, while others bemoaned his limited skill set on offense. It appears the fanbase has a strong appreciation for Covington in hindsight.

(4) Wilt Chamberlain vs. (20) Lou Williams

Maybe the greatest player of all-time, it’s no surprise Chamberlain made it this far. He has comfortably received 99.3 percent and 93.7 percent of the vote, respectively, in the first two rounds. He has a status unlike very many in basketball history.

Williams began his sweet-scoring career in Philadelphia. He has long been a fan favorite, and his production after the fact only reinforces his NBA upbringing as a Sixer. He’s fresh on the minds of modern NBA fans, but he meets an intimidating force here in round three.

(5) Charles Barkley vs. (21) Bobby Jones

Barkley has received over 90 percent of the vote in both rounds so far, and there’s no indication fans will stop a constant stream of support. Bobby Jones was a fan favorite during the Sixers’ peak in the early 80s, however, and he has overcome some surprisingly stiff competition so far.

In the first round, Jones outmuscled Andre Miller. In the second round, he received 51.5 percent of the vote to send Mike Scott packing. Scott beat Andrew Toney, the famed Boston Strangler, in round one, so perhaps Jones has some momentum in his favor.

(2) Julius Erving vs. (18) Jrue Holiday

I mean… it’s Doctor freaking J. One of the more exhilarating athletes in NBA history, maybe even sports history, Erving has as revolutionary a force as any during his era. He breathed excitement into the game via the slam dunk. He rocked the cradle. He rocked the NBA.

Holiday has left a more recent imprint on the Sixers franchise. He was not only a productive up-and-coming star, but as I’ve mentioned countless times in these articles, he will forever be known as the heart-breaking first domino in the Sam Hinkie saga. Holiday remains a beloved figure. He’s sure to get some votes.

(7) Moses Malone vs. (42) T.J. McConnell

What’s the metaphor about a force meeting an immovable object? This might be it. T.J. McConnell has slashed through Dikembe Mutombo and Billy Cunningham in the first two rounds, an impressive feat for a process-era role player whose tenure in Philadelphia ended in unplayability. He obviously has a staunch group of supporters.

On the other hand, however, Malone won MVP and Finals MVP in 1983, pushing the Sixers over the top after multiple Finals appearances that ended in defeat. He’s one of the greatest bigs to occupy a basketball court, and his support has come in ample supply so far in this tournament.

(3) Joel Embiid vs. (14) Hersey Hawkins

The Process personified, and perhaps the most influential Sixers player since Iverson, Embiid has establish an undeniable bond with the city of Philadelphia. He’s considered by many a savior — the man who dragged the Sixers from the depths of NBA despair to genuine viability. Even if the front office screwed it up, Embiid’s presence alone makes the Sixers a threat.

Hawkins was a magnetic presence in his own right, and he did big things for Philadelphia in the late 80s and early 90s. A skilled 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Hawkins’ best years came with the Sixers. He’s one of the more underrated shooters in league history, and he had the athletic tools to complement his deft touch.

(6) Maurice Cheeks vs. (11) Hal Greer

Few players have captured the heart of Philadelphia quite like Mo Cheeks. Over the years, Cheeks become not only a legendary player, but a legendary personality — the heart and soul of arguably the greatest Sixers core in history.

The diminutive lead guard was undeniably talented, but even he may not stack up to Hal Greer on the all-time list. Known for his idiosyncratic scoring techniques and his immensely knack for putting ball in basketball, Greer surprises even Iverson on some all-time lists. This is maybe the most exciting matchup of the third round.

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