When great players carry mediocre teams the brink

Since the start of the 2000’s century, it has become a normalcy for teams in the NBA to have one or more high scoring player on their rosters in order to make the NBA Finals or to win the title. With duos like Shaq and Kobe, and trios like Duncan, Parker and Ginobili running the show, the NBA rarely has had many teams find success using only one main player as their offensive production. But two teams come to mind that used this type of system, the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers and the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers, both of which lost in the NBA Finals but represented their conference that year in the championship series. Like many people, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to pit two teams from different times against one another. So I am going to match-up the 2001 76ers against the 2007 Cavaliers. Let’s see who comes out on-top.

2001 Philadelphia 76ers:

Record: 56-26

Coach: Larry Brown

Leading Scorer: Allen Iverson, 31.1 PPG

Next Leading Scorer: Theo Ratliff, 12.4 PPG

Playoff Results: In the First Round, beat the Indiana Pacers (reigning Eastern Conference champions) in four games

In the Semi-Finals, beat the Toronto Raptors in seven games

In the Conference Finals, beat the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games

In the NBA Finals, lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games

2007 Cleveland Cavaliers:

Record: 50-32

Coach: Mike Brown

Leading Scorer: LeBron James, 27.3 PPG

Next Leading Scorer: Larry Hughes, 14.9 PPG

Playoff Results: In the First Round, swept the Washington Wizards

In the Semi-Finals, beat the New Jersey Nets in six games

In the Conference Finals, beat the Detroit Pistons in six games

In the NBA Finals, were swept by the San Antonio Spurs

While LeBron’s 2007 performance was amazing, Iverson’s complete domination on an NBA Finals team is something that won’t soon be repeated. By thanasim25 (Arthur Mouratidis), via Wikimedia Commons

Both of these teams made it to the NBA finals, yet the 76ers were actually able to win a game, even if it was only because of a huge 48-point game by Allen Iverson to halt the Lakers perfect postseason. But, as I said, in the recent NBA it takes at least two (if not three) “star” caliber players to make it to the Finals, let alone win it. In the 2001 season, the 76ers had a 18.7 point per game difference between their top two leading scorers while the 2007 Cavaliers only had a 12.4 PPG difference. Neither of the two teams has made it back to the Finals since these marvelous seasons and the stats are the reason why. My hat is off to what LeBron James and the entire 2007 Cavs team did by making it to the Finals but what Allen Iverson was able to accomplish in 2001 was simply amazing and can’t ever be repeated. He not only won the MVP award that season but led his team to a win in the Finals, which was the only loss the Lakers surrendered that entire postseason.

The 76ers’ second leading scorer was Theo Ratliff, and no disrespect to him, but his 12.4 PPG in the 2001 season was the highest of his entire career and because of that Iverson was forced to put the team on his shoulders and that is exactly what he did. Yes, they lost in the Finals but looking back, I respect everything Iverson was able to do that season. I am not an advocate of ridiculous individual statistical performances as I see basketball as the main “team” sport but both Iverson and LeBron had great seasons and I congratulate both of them for what they accomplished in their respected seasons.

Advantage: Iverson.