NBA Playoffs 2011: 10 Biggest Postseason Upsets in Philadelphia 76ers History
While defeating the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs seems like an unlikely proposition at this point, the Philadelphia 76ers have pulled off a number of postseason upsets in years past.
Whether it was Dolph Schayes and Hal Greer 50 years ago or Allen Iverson and Eric Snow during Philadelphia's magical run at the turn of the millennium, the 76ers have often played the role of spoiler in the NBA playoffs.
With that in mind, here are the top 10 biggest postseason upsets in 76ers franchise history.
10) 1959: Nationals Sweep Knickerbockers in Eastern Division Semifinals
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In their two-game sweep of the New York Knickerbockers in the Eastern Division semifinals, the Syracuse Nationals averaged 130 points per game.
Syracuse was led by Dolph Schayes, who averaged 28.2 points per game during the Nationals' nine-game playoff run. Their postseason ended with a Game 7 loss to the eventual champion Boston Celtics—an impressive feat considering the fact that they finished the regular season with a 35-37 record.
9) 1961: Nationals Sweep Warriors Three Games to None
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Dolph Schayes was the catalyst once again for the Nationals—this time, they took out the Philadelphia Warriors in three straight games in the Eastern Division semifinals.
The Warriors were absolutely loaded with stars, none brighter than Wilt Chamberlain, who led the NBA in scoring and rebounding that season. But Chamberlain, Tom Gola, Paul Arizin, Guy Rodgers and the rest of Philadelphia were no match for Schayes, Dick Barnett and an emerging young guard in Hal Greer.
Unfortunately, history would repeat itself again in the Eastern Division Finals, as the Nationals fell four games to one to the Boston Celtics, who would go on to win the NBA title.
8) 1965: Wilt Returns to Philadelphia, Leads 76ers Past Royals
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Less than four years after the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) defeated Wilt Chamberlain in the playoffs, they would acquire his services from the San Francisco Warriors. With Wilt manning the middle and Hal Greer having established himself as a star, the 76ers upset the Cincinnati Royals in the Eastern Division semifinals, three games to one.
Cincinnati's Jerry Lucas did everything in his power against the 76ers, averaging 23.3 points and 21.0 rebounds in the series. Not to be outdone was all-world point guard Oscar Robertson, who averaged 28.0 points, 12.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds against the 76ers, albeit in a losing effort.
Buoyed by their success against the Royals, Philadelphia fought the Celtics tooth and nail in the 1965 Eastern Division Finals. The series wasn't decided until the end of Game 7, when Boston's John Havlicek stole an inbounds pass and dribbled out the final few seconds of the clock, securing a Celtics win.
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7) 1982: 76ers Defeat Milwaukee 4-2 in Eastern Conference Semifinals
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The second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks had no answer for the third-seeded 76ers, falling four games to two in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Ironically enough, the Bucks won four of the team's six meetings during the 1981-82 regular season.
6) 1991: 76ers Defeat Bucks in Eastern Conference Playoffs
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Nine years later, Philadelphia would knock off the Bucks once again in the playoffs, this time sweeping Milwaukee 3-0 in the first round of the 1991 Eastern Conference playoffs.
Alvin Robertson filled the stat sheet for the Bucks in the series, averaging 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, but he was matched nearly shot for shot by the 76ers' Hersey Hawkins, who would make nearly 54 percent of his three-point attempts during Philadelphia's postseason run that year.
That run ended in the next round, as the 76ers lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to a Chicago Bulls team headed toward the first of three straight NBA titles.
5) 2000: 76ers Sting Hornets
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Future 76er Derrick Coleman would average 20.3 points and 12.5 rebounds versus Philadelphia in the playoffs, but Charlotte didn't have enough firepower to knock off the 76ers, losing in four games.
With a 40-point outburst in Game 1, Allen Iverson would go on to average 25.8 points per game in the series. Aaron McKie was the MVP for the 76ers in the series clincher, however, scoring 25 points and handing out 11 assists in Game 4.
For the second straight season, the 76ers fell victim to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This time, they battled for six games, showing the heart and determination that would lead them to the NBA Finals one year later.
4) 1999: 76ers Defeat Magic, Win First Playoff Series in Eight Years
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In a lockout-shortened season, the Philadelphia 76ers ended the year with a 28-22 record and a date with the Orlando Magic in the NBA playoffs. Allen Iverson captured his first-ever scoring title in 1999 and was the unquestioned leader of an underdog 76ers team that had only two players other than Iverson average double figures in scoring (Matt Geiger and Theo Ratliff).
Finishing the season as the sixth seed, the 76ers were able to upset the Magic three games to one despite the fact that they only averaged 92.5 points per game in the four-game series. The postseason series victory was their first since they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in 1991.
Although they were swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers, three of the series' four games were decided by four points or less.
3) 1980: 76ers Defeat Rival Celtics to Earn Trip to NBA Finals
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A 59-23 record was only good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division, but the Philadelphia 76ers rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs before squaring off against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Every game of the series was decided by 12 points or less, but the 76ers were able to dispatch the Celtics in five games. Boston, led by rookie Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, was no match for the 76ers' balanced scoring attack, orchestrated by head coach Billy Cunningham.
An NBA title was within the 76ers' grasp, but they fell four games to two in a Finals matchup now infamous for Magic Johnson's 42-point, 15-rebound, seven-assist performance in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
2) 1982: 76ers Defeat Boston in Conference Finals, Fail to "Beat LA"
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Chants of "Beat LA" rained down upon the 76ers after they defeated the Celtics in Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals at the historic Boston Garden.
While they were unable to defeat the Lakers that year, the 1981-82 76ers made their second trip to the NBA Finals in three seasons, led by Julius Erving, who averaged 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the 76ers playoff run.
It's rarely mentioned, but earlier in the series, Boston fans chanted, "See you Sunday" to the 76ers during Game 5. With their Celtics down three games to one, the Boston faithful were hopeful that their team would pull out the two wins needed in order to force a Game 7 in the Garden. The Celtics would do so but were unable to stop the burgeoning 76ers dynasty.
1) 1983: 76ers Capture NBA Title
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Moses Malone not only keyed the impressive playoff run of the '82-83 76ers, but he nearly predicted it with his infamous "Fo', fo', fo'" boast before the postseason took shape.
It actually took the 76ers nine games to reach the NBA Finals, but once there, they swept a Los Angeles Lakers team that had beaten them for the title in two of the previous three seasons.
Although they were without James Worthy due to a knee injury, the Lakers lineup still boasted two future Hall of Famers in Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, not to mention extremely skilled role players in Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon.
However, Los Angeles was no match for a 76ers team that racked up 65 wins during the regular season with a rotation that included Malone, Julius Erving, Bobby Jones, Andrew Toney and Maurice Cheeks.
Down by 11 in the fourth quarter of Game 4, the 76ers outscored the Lakers 33-15 over the final 12 minutes, sweeping the series and earning the franchise's first championship since the 1966-67 season.
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