Philadelphia 76ers: Top 3 Playoff Performances in Franchise History

The Philadelphia 76ers are currently even with the Boston Celtics at 1-1 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi Finals (although many would argue the Sixers should be up 2-0). The two teams have had a storied rivalry in the past due to their geographic location, division standing and competitive nature.

It looks to be a hard fought series to determine who will advance to the next round, but the Sixers do have a younger team against what seemingly looks like an ancient Celtics club.

The Sixers haven't won a championship since 1983, and haven't advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2003 (they recently broke that with a first-round series win against the Bulls this season). It is a franchise filled with great history and a winning pedigree. Guys like Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain have played for the Sixers.

Here are the top three playoff performances in the Philadelphia 76ers history.

Moses Malone, Game 4, 1983 NBA Finals

The last time the Sixers won an NBA title was in 1983, with one of the most talented rosters ever assembled by the club. Led by coach Billy Cunningham, the Sixers carried a strong lineup featuring Julius Erving, Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney and Moses Malone. 

They would sweep the Los Angeles Lakers in 4 games, as big man Moses Malone predicted in his prophetic, "Fo, fo, fo, fo".

He went on to have 28 points and 18 rebounds in the deciding game.

Allen Iverson, Game 1, 2001 NBA Finals

Allen Iverson was the little man who could. He nearly willed the Sixers to their first NBA Championship since 1983 with a spectacular 2000-01 regular season. He won the scoring title, MVP and his team also took home a host of awards as well (Aaron McKie was Sixth Man, Dikembe Mutombo was Defensive Player and Larry Brown was Coach of the Year).

Nothing signified his career more than his performance in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. The Lakers were the clear favorite going into the game having nearly won all their playoff games. They seemed to be invincible until the Sixers came to town and stole Game 1 in LA. AI had 48 points and stepped over Tyronn Lue late in overtime in what many Philly fans will remember as one of the greatest Sixers games of all time.

Andre Iguodala, Game 6, 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

The Sixers haven't won a playoff series since 2003 and seemed to have stuck around in NBA purgatory for several years. They had first-round exits in 2008, 2009 and 2011 and didn't seem like they were making moves to become an elite NBA team until 2012 that is. 

They would start the year hot, going 20-9 and ruining many NBA analysts predictions about who the best team in the NBA really was. They would cool off and settle into the eighth seed where they would meet the team with the best record, Chicago, in the first round.

Chicago would lose Derrick Rose for the series and more in Game 1 when he tore his ACL. The Sixers got another lucky break when Joakim Noah got hurt as well. The Sixers would win all their home games and nothing signified the good fortune of the team when reserve big man, Omer Asik, would miss two free throws setting up Andre Iguodala's clutch finish.

Iggy's two free throws with 2.2 seconds left in the game would be the difference maker, and seemingly validate his place on the team as the team's go-to player.