Are the 82-83 Sixers a top 3 team of all-time?

[Diesel]

I say yes.

C- Moses Malone

F- Marc Iavoroni

F- Dr. J

G- Andrew Toney

G- Maurice Cheeks

Bench: Bobby Jones, Clint Richardson, Clemon Johnson

 

Bobby Jones was one of the best defensive players ever. Toney probably could've averaged 30 PPG on a bad team if he really wanted to. Mo Cheeks was a great point guard. And everyone knows Moses and the Doc. Sure Iavoroni was one of the worst starters on a title team ever, but he wasn't much worse than Kurt Rambis lolz.

 

Fo, Fi, Fo in the playoffs. This team was amazing. Their right up there with Bird's 86 Celtics and the 96 Bulls.

[Phightins]

Kobe could take them 1 on 5, obviously.

[Real Deal]

Kobe could take them 1 on 5, obviously.

I guess someone had to hurry and post something, since nobody else is interested in the Sixers.

 

Anyways, people don't know that the 82-83 Sixers had their top five scorers hit the 50% or better mark in shooting percentages. Pretty crazy. In addition to that, the top 11 shot approximately 45% or better from the field as well...which is amazing.

 

Do I think they are better than the 1996 Bulls? Not a chance. Bird's Celtics won 67 games and the Finals, despite McHale being injured for 10-15 games.

 

Problem is, the 1972 Lakers were a 69-win team that won the Finals with Chamberlain, West and Goodrich, losing Elgin Baylor after nine games when he snapped his leg. That team led the NBA in scoring (121 PPG), rebounding (56.4 RPG), assists (27.2 APG) and point differential (+12.3 PPG). A 36-5 home record and a 31-7 road record (best in NBA history) is amazing, not to mention the 33-consecutive wins they ran off with.

[Diesel]

I guess someone had to hurry and post something, since nobody else is interested in the Sixers.

 

Anyways, people don't know that the 82-83 Sixers had their top five scorers hit the 50% or better mark in shooting percentages. Pretty crazy. In addition to that, the top 11 shot approximately 45% or better from the field as well...which is amazing.

 

Do I think they are better than the 1996 Bulls? Not a chance. Bird's Celtics won 67 games and the Finals, despite McHale being injured for 10-15 games.

 

Problem is, the 1972 Lakers were a 69-win team that won the Finals with Chamberlain, West and Goodrich, losing Elgin Baylor after nine games when he snapped his leg. That team led the NBA in scoring (121 PPG), rebounding (56.4 RPG), assists (27.2 APG) and point differential (+12.3 PPG). A 36-5 home record and a 31-7 road record (best in NBA history) is amazing, not to mention the 33-consecutive wins they ran off with.

 

Fair enough, but I think the Sixers would give that team troubles. I am 100% sure Moses Malone would dominate a 35 year old Wilt in the Finals that year similar to the way he abused 35 year old Kareem in the NBA Finals. Wilt was a great defensive force in that era, but he would stand no chance against Moses.

 

West, Goodrich, and McMilian or the Doc, Mo Cheeks, Toney is tough too and I think they wash each other out.

 

I believe there were more quality teams in the league in the early 80's as well versus the early 70's when the league was specifially dominated by Kareem's Bucks, the Celtics, and the Lakers. There were more bottom feeders in that time which led to the Lakers racking up all those regular season wins. 7/17 of the leagues teams won less than 40% of their games. When they played some actual competition though it is clear the Sixers were more dominant.

[Real Deal]

Fair enough, but I think the Sixers would give that team troubles. I am 100% sure Moses Malone would dominate a 35 year old Wilt in the Finals that year similar to the way he abused 35 year old Kareem in the NBA Finals. Wilt was a great defensive force in that era, but he would stand no chance against Moses.

 

West, Goodrich, and McMilian or the Doc, Mo Cheeks, Toney is tough too and I think they wash each other out.

 

I believe there were more quality teams in the league in the early 80's as well versus the early 70's when the league was specifially dominated by Kareem's Bucks, the Celtics, and the Lakers. There were more bottom feeders in that time which led to the Lakers racking up all those regular season wins. 7/17 of the leagues teams won less than 40% of their games. When they played some actual competition though it is clear the Sixers were more dominant.

In that case, I can just give you Kobe and Shaq, 15-1 in the playoffs, and ask you who will be defending O'Neal and how badly Kobe would pick apart that backcourt. Or the 67-win Lakers. Either, or.

 

But I'd say top five, easily. People don't know how good Toney was offensively.

 

Someone brought him up somewhere, by the way. I believe it was on the Lakers site I admin, one of our 35+ year old members that saw him play (the guy was born in Philly). I'm not really sure we've ever discussed Toney's career on OTR.

[Diesel]

In that case, I can just give you Kobe and Shaq, 15-1 in the playoffs, and ask you who will be defending O'Neal and how badly Kobe would pick apart that backcourt. Or the 67-win Lakers. Either, or.

 

But I'd say top five, easily. People don't know how good Toney was offensively.

 

Someone brought him up somewhere, by the way. I believe it was on the Lakers site I admin, one of our 35+ year old members that saw him play (the guy was born in Philly). I'm not really sure we've ever discussed Toney's career on OTR.

 

Shaq and Kobe are great, but when you see all the talent those 80's teams had I don't think teams today can even compare with all of the expansion drafts.

 

After Shaq and Kobe it's a huge drop off. With the Sixers there was Moses Malone, Doc, Toney, B. Jones, Mo Cheeks all who were playing at an all-star level. I just don't see it. I don't think a team in today's era will ever compare to those teams in the past. Jordan's Bulls were a rarity and happened just as all of the expansion teams were starting.

 

And yeah Toney is one of the most underappreciated players in NBA History. I've read some books about the Sixer teams in the 80's and he was a player that always showed up against the top teams in the league. He would play his best games against the top competition. In his prime he could've easily got a PPG average in the high 20's at least. Guy who could get any shot he wanted. He was just playing on a stacked team though so he never shined as much as he could've. He even went out to the playgrounds in Philly to play ball along with Clint Richardson so he was really down to earth and I'm sure your Laker mod did play with him.