Tag: Julius Erving

How tough were the teams NBA legends beat in the playoffs?

When we looked up 25 NBA superstars to determine the combined winning percentages of the opponents they defeated in the playoffs, two players who stood out were the legendary Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant, who finished within percentage points of …

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When we looked up 25 NBA superstars to determine the combined winning percentages of the opponents they defeated in the playoffs, two players who stood out were the legendary Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant, who finished within percentage points of each other at No. 1 and No. 2 on our list respectively.

It’s easy to see why, too, because looking back, both played in super-strong era of the Western Conference. Just as a quick example, the Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs in the West back in 2007-08. They won 48 games that season.

Overall, Bryant won far more series during his career, but Nowitzki won with worse company surrounding him.

Looking through other notable stars on our list, LeBron James finds himself down in the rankings at No. 14, as the playoff opponents he defeated boasted a 60 percent win rate, a product of him spending the vast majority of his career in the much weaker Eastern Conference. (The same can be said of Magic Johnson, who’s 20th on our list, due to the fact that the West was pretty weak overall in the ’80s.)

Regardless, James deserves credit for one feat: Nobody on our list beat a better team than he did in 2015-16 when he took down the 73-9 Warriors in the Finals.

Other noteworthy players on our research-based ranking include Michael Jordan (No. 4), Kevin Durant (No. 7) and Larry Bird (No. 23).

For the entire list, just click through the gallery posted at the top of the page.

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Sixers have seven players show up on ESPN’s top 74 players list

The Philadelphia 76ers have seven players appear on ESPN’s top 74 players list.

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the more historic franchises in the game. They have had Hall of Famers and all-time greats such as Wilt Chamberlain, Allen Iverson, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and other players come through and rock a Sixers jersey.

So, it’s only fair for them to have a high number of players on ESPN’s list of the top 74 players in NBA history.

According to HoopsHype, the Sixers have seven players on the list which puts them at 10th in the NBA just behind the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls who have eight players each:

10. SIXERS
Seven players combining for 2,937 games played with the team

Players: Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Dikembe Mutombo and Bob McAdoo.

Philadelphia has two young All-Stars who, with a little more work, can eventually end up on an all-time list. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are two of the bright stars this league has to offer and they can make some noise as long as they can continue to move forward. [lawrence-related id=32277,32267,31579]

Nets among 10 best-represented teams on ESPN’s Top-74 list

ESPN’s recent list of top NBA players of all-time featured multiple Nets great, who combined for over 1,000 games in a Nets uniform.

Since all of Julius Erving’s days in a Nets uniform came when the team was in the ABA, Kevin Garnett (No. 20) was the highest-ranked on ESPN’s Top-74 list among those who played for the franchise since it became a part of the NBA.

Of course, Garnett isn’t known for his days in a Brooklyn uniform. Among prominent Nets — again, excluding Erving — Jason Kidd is the highest-ranked at No. 35.

The Hall of Fame point guard certainly wasn’t alone, though. Twenty slots behind Kidd is Vince Cater (55), and there were five other players to dawn a Nets uniform that were featured on the list: Paul Pierce (54), Bob McAdoo (59), Alonzo Mourning (62), Bernard King (69) and Dikembe Mutumbo (73).

Altogether, those eight players logged a total of 1,308 games in a Nets uniform.

The staff at USA Today SMG’s HoopsHype did the math, and it turns out the Nets were among the 10 best-represented teams on ESPN’s list based on games played. New Jersey and Brooklyn came in at No. 8, trailing (from No. 7 to 1) the Bulls, Knicks, Bucks, Spurs, Rockets, Lakers and Celtics.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas ranks 1983 champion Sixers as 4th greatest team ever

The 1983 NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers are ranked as the fourth-best team in NBA history.

In honor of “The Last Dance” which is a documentary highlighting the amazing career of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, there is a debate going on where everybody is ranking the top five teams in this history of the game.

The 1995-96 Bulls went on to win 72 games and it was also the beginning of another 3-peat. Obviously, a lot of people are going to have that Chicago team at the top of their list, but what about the other four spots?

ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas made his list and he had the 1983 champion Philadelphia 76ers ranked as the fourth-best team on his list. They were up there with the Boston Celtics teams led by Larry Bird plus two different Los Angeles Lakers teams. ESPN’s graphic says the 1992-93 Sixers so forgive their typo.

The 1983 Sixers were led by some of the best players in franchise history in Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Andrew Toney. The team was so dominant that they only lost one game throughout the playoffs on their way to an NBA title. They swept the New York Knicks, then beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, and then swept the Lakers in the Finals. [lawrence-related id=31160,31155,31138]

Sixers history: Julius Erving scores 34 points to get to 1977 NBA Finals

On this day in Philadelphia 76ers history, Julius Erving and the team moved on to the 1977 NBA Finals.

With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.

This edition of a history lesson in the storied history of the franchise takes it back to 1977. Philadelphia was led by both Julius Erving and Doug Collins on the perimeter and Darryl Dawkins down low as they took on the Houston Rockets–yes, the Houston Rockets–in the Eastern Conference Finals. An opportunity to reach the NBA Finals was on the line and the Sixers took advantage.

May 17, 1977

The Rockets were a formidable bunch. Led by the 1-2 punch of John Lucas and Moses Malone as well as Calvin Murphy, they were in the same boat as Philadelphia in terms of Eastern Conference contenders. After being down 3-1, the Rockets took Game 5 despite 37 points from Erving and they had a chance to force a Game 7.

Philadelphia had other plans. Erving dropped 34 points on 15-for-24 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists and Collins had 27 points with Dawkins pouring in 20 points and seven rebounds as Philadelphia outlasted Houston 112-109 to earn a trip to the Finals. It was an impressive win for the Sixers in the face of adversity to get the job done and would move on to face the Portland Trail Blazers. [lawrence-related id=31138,31131,31121]

Sixers history: Julius Erving drops 26 points vs. Bucks on the road

On this day in Philadelphia 76ers history, Julius Erving and the Sixers came up with a big road win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.

We take things back to 1983 as the Sixers were in the Eastern Conference Finals against a tough Milwaukee Bucks team. The Sixers were in the driving seat up 2-0 and they were looking to take that 3-0 stranglehold on the road. Julius Erving and Moses Malone were making things look so easy to begin the series and were hoping to keep things going in Milwaukee.

May 14, 1983

The Bucks would not go away quietly. They were laced with legitimate talent such as Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, Bob Lanier, and Junior Bridgeman, but Philadelphia just had more. Johnson shot 6-for-20 on the night and they were not able to overcome his tough night.

Meanwhile, Erving had 26 points and eight rebounds, Malone had 25 points and 14 rebounds, and Maurice Cheeks had 16 in a 104-96 win to take that 3-0 lead. The win allowed Philadelphia to take another step towards Malone’s “Fo’ Fo’ Fo'” prediction for the team’s playoff hopes.

Philadelphia will need to carry all of this momentum into Game 4. The Bucks will come out playing some desperate basketball as they look to keep their season alive. [lawrence-related id=30959,30965,30593]

Today in Nets history: Nets win last ABA Finals

No one had a better end to their ABA run than Julius Erving and the New York Nets.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

The 1975-76 season was the ABA’s last. For some teams, it was the end of the line. For others, like the Nets, it marked the start of a new chapter. But before the Nets moved onto the NBA, they made sure to have a better end to their ABA run than anyone else.

Up 3-2 in the 1976 ABA Finals heading into Game 6 on May 13, the Nets fell behind in the first quarter, still trailed at halftime and entered the fourth down 92-78.

Then everything changed in the final quarter. The Nets followed up their 33-point third quarter with a 34-point fourth, while holding the Denver Nuggets to a measly 14 points, en route to a 112-106 Game 6 win and their second ABA title in three seasons (full box score).

Julius Erving finished with a team-high 31 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals and four blocked shots. Jim Eakins also had a double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds) while John Williamson (28 points) and Brian Taylor (24) helped provided most of the Nets’ offense, along with Dr. J.

Jason Kidd, Vince Carter on ESPN’s list of all-time NBA players

Jason Kidd is the best player in Nets history. Vince Carter is up there, too. But where do the two rank among all NBA players al-time?

ESPN’s “The Last Dance” has given those who weren’t able to watch Michael Jordan’s tremendous run in the ’90s a greater understanding of why so many consider him the greatest of all-time. But now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s name has been brought back up in the G.O.A.T. conversation, and LeBron James’ name is always in the mix.

ESPN has yet to address where those two stand among the league’s best ever, but they’re counting down from No. 74 all-time. Along the way, the list has featured quite a few players who once dawned a Nets uniform, like Dikembe Mutumbo (No. 73), Bernard King (69) Alonzo Mourning (62), Bob McAdoo (59), Paul Pierce (54) and Kevin Garnett (20). Kevin Durant is also on the list at No. 14, but he has yet to play in a game for the Nets.

There are three individuals, however, who were more prominent in the franchise’s history that crack ESPN’s list, through No. 11. Vince Carter finished just behind Pierce, coming in at No. 55. Twenty slots later, Jason Kidd was ranked the 35th best player in the league’s history — five spots behind Steve Nash, who finished right behind Allen Iverson (29) and John Stockton (28).

Oddly enough, 20 more slots after Kidd came the man who led the Nets to two ABA titles, Julius Erving (15).

Ranking the top five point guards in Nets history

Ranking the top five shooting guards in Nets history

Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

Ranking the top five power forwards in Nets history

Ranking the top five centers in Nets history

Sixers history: Julius Erving, Andrew Toney beat Celtics in 1982

On this day in Philadelphia 76ers history, Julius Erving and Andrew Toney led the Sixers past the Boston Celtics in 1982.

With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.

This edition of Sixers history takes us back to 1982 when Philadelphia entered the Boston Garden in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals looking to earn a series split before shifting over to Philadelphia. The Celtics had won Game 1 easily, but the Sixers were determined to turn the tables in Game 2 led by the good doctor and the rest of the crew.

May 12, 1982

Boston had won Game 1 by 30 points. It was just too easy for them. Larry Bird had a triple-double, Robert Parish added 24 points, and Kevin McHale and Rick Robey were huge off the bench. The Sixers had no clue how to stop Bird and that is why Game 2 was so important. They needed to find an answer.

They found that answer in the form of Julius Erving and Andrew Toney. The doctor had 20 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in support of 30 points from Toney and the Sixers emerged with a 121-113 win to tie the series at 1-1. This time, it was Boston looking confused as to how to stop Erving and Toney and they were now searching for answers.

The Sixers would then take a 3-1 lead before Boston stormed back to force a Game 7, but that is for another day. For now, reminisce on the Sixers of the early ’80s and how great those Sixers were. [lawrence-related id=30906,30898,30888]

4 Philadelphia 76ers legends ranked as top 30 players in NBA history

Some Philadelphia 76ers greats have been ranked in the top 30 players of all time.

The NBA season is on hold right now, so now is the time for rankings in the history of the game. ESPN has been releasing the top 74 players in league history and Tuesday was players ranked 40-11 before they release the top 10 later this week.

Four Philadelphia 76ers legends popped up on this edition started by Allen Iverson who was ranked 29th in the history of the game:

Often labeled the best pound-for-pound player in NBA history, Iverson was an icon. The 6-foot point guard led the league in scoring four times and capped off a magical MVP campaign in 2000-01 with the Sixers by leading them to the Finals in just his fifth year in the league. His 48 points in Game 1 to beat the Shaq-Kobe Lakers in overtime will forever be the NBA’s David and Goliath moment.

Followed by Iverson was the great Charles Barkley who was ranked 23rd on the list:

The Hall of Fame forward carved out a niche on the floor by being a double-double machine. Barkley earned the 1992-93 MVP award while leading Phoenix to the NBA Finals, and he won gold medals for Team USA in ’92 and ’96 Olympics. He won the rebounding title for Philadelphia in 1986-87, despite generously being listed at 6-6. Off the floor, the affable Barkley became arguably the most popular basketball analyst ever while working for TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”

We then moved into the top 20 and spotted the man who won the Finals MVP award for the last Sixers team in 1983, Moses Malone:

Malone was one of the original preps-to-pros players, joining the ABA as a teenager. He was a dominant scorer and rebounder who was peerless on the offensive glass, averaging 6.1 offensive boards during an eight-year span where he led the NBA in boards six times. Malone was a three-time NBA MVP, including in the 1982-83 season, when he also was Finals MVP for the Sixers and won his only championship ring.

Topping this portion of the list was the face of the franchise, Julius Erving, who came in ranked 15th in NBA history:

As the premier above-the-rim player of his era, Dr. J’s legend would probably be even greater had he not spent the first five years of his career in the ABA. Erving was named NBA MVP in 1981 and won the championship in 1983 — who could forget his “rock the baby” dunk against the Lakers that season, serving as a prelude to his Finals win? His career NBA averages of 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks tell the story of his all-around game.

There is no denying that the Sixers have had some great talents and they have not even ranked Wilt Chamberlain yet. The only possible issue is that Iverson could have been ranked higher, but nonetheless, 29 is a solid ranking. [lawrence-related id=30882,30872,30863]