On 1983 Philly - How do they compare to the great teams post merger

[migya]

In light of the thread on 1983 Philly v 1984 Boston; How does that 83 76ers team compare to the great teams post merger? They were great and were the first team to just lose one game in the playoffs, had very strong RS also.

Teams post merger that were great and to be considered in comparison, could be more teams - 1986 Celtics, 1987 Lakers, 1989 Pistons, 1992 Bulls, 1996 Bulls, 1997 Bulls, 2000 Lakers, 2008 Celtics.

Philly looks like one of the best two way teams and allround, with most positions filled with talented players.

[homecourtloss]

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2012241

[One_and_Done]

In what context? If you're wondering how they'd do in today's league, the answer is poorly.

[trelos6]

We know how valuable second chance points are, and Moses was just about the king of offensive rebounds.

I feel like they will still be a great defensive squad in any year, but the offensive profile is what will struggle as the team gets more modern.

[Warspite]

83 sixers were the best team I have ever seen. 5 legit all-star players.

[falcolombardi]

83 sixers and 86 bears feel like they hold the same spot in their leagues mythos as legitimately goat-tier or at least sub goat tier teams which had a crazy 1-year "revenge tour" beating on everyone for a big city team that otherwise is prone to making their fanbase suffer so they become a bit more famous for that

[migya]

83 sixers were the best team I have ever seen. 5 legit all-star players.

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

[falcolombardi]

83 sixers were the best team I have ever seen. 5 legit all-star players.

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it while still being an all star, i feel neither was bobby jones compared to his 70's version but still at a great level, if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius so the team fell down a lot in 84

It feels similar to the 2008 celtics in a way whilr obviously being more effective in the postseason as far as a stacked roster of guys in their late primes goes

[migya]

83 sixers were the best team I have ever seen. 5 legit all-star players.

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it while still being an all star, i feel neither was bobby jones compared to his 70's version but still at a great level, if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius so the team fell down a lot in 84

It feels similar to the 2008 celtics in a way whilr obviously being more effective in the postseason as far as a stacked roster of guys in their late primes goes

Erving was just out of his prime it can be said, early thirties though, so not old, but performed at star level. I mean noone would say he wasn't a top 10 player at least still in 84. Jones was one of the oldest on that team and obviously not as good as was some five years before but did his job in defending and running well still. They were real underachievers after 83. They should have gotten to the finals at least in 84 or 85. One of the biggest fades ever. The Garnett Celtics still kept going deep in the playoffs, when relatively healthy, until 2011. For pure dominance and well built team, the 83 76ers ar hard to top.

[kcktiny]

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it

Erving was voted all-NBA 1st team in 1982-83, at the age of 33.

if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius

Erving declined so much he was also voted all-NBA 2nd team in 1983-84, at the age of 34. Helluva decline.

They were real underachievers after 83.

The next 3 seasons, 1983-84 to 1985-86, the 76ers averaged 55 wins a season. Only 3 teams averaged more wins (Celtics, Lakers, Bucks), with 19 teams being worse. They also had the 4th most playoff wins those 3 seasons.

They should have gotten to the finals at least in 84 or 85. One of the biggest fades ever.

Boston did not win a title after 1985-86 until 2007-08, 22 years later. How big of a fade was that?

The Lakers did not win a title after 1987-88 until 1999-00, 12 years later. How big of a fade was that?

From 1976-77 to 1985-86, a full decade, the 76ers, with Erving, had the league's best W-L record, averaged 56 wins a season. Only 6 different teams won a title over that decade, and Philadelphia was one of them.

Also over that decade the 76ers were the best defensive team in the league (101.2 pts/100poss allowed), 6th best on offense. For all intent and purpose if there was a team over that decade that did not fade, it was Philadelphia.

[CumberlandPosey]

they had the boston strangler who just killed guys even with two broken feet.dont feel like that squad should take a backseat to anyone.lil biased right now as i rewatched ecf against cs from early 80ies.

[migya]

they had the boston strangler who just killed guys even with two broken feet.dont feel like that squad should take a backseat to anyone.lil biased right now as i rewatched ecf against cs from early 80ies.

They seem forgotten don't they but they are not less than any Magic or Bird teams in the same era, no doubt.

[lessthanjake]

I think they were one of the most talented teams ever.

At that point, they had as their five most-played guys: (1) a three-time MVP in his peak years; (2) a top 25 all-time player in his prime (albeit nearing the end of it); (3) one of the best defenders ever, who was rightly voted into the RealGM Top 100 at #73; (4) a four-time all-star who was a consistent DPOY contender and was entering his best years; and (5) a two-time all-star in his best years.

I’m not very inspired by the rest of the team, but I’d put the talent of those top five guys up against any starting lineup (or top five guys) in the history of the NBA. And, of course, it did result in 65 wins and a 12-1 playoff record.

I think they were a bit disappointing in subsequent years, but Moses Malone’s peak ended, and Dr. J and Bobby Jones were declining with age, so I guess it makes sense. Kind of crazy that the 1985 team also had a rookie Charles Barkley on top of still having all the aforementioned players, though. But they just weren’t as good by then.

[Warspite]

83 sixers were the best team I have ever seen. 5 legit all-star players.

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it while still being an all star, i feel neither was bobby jones compared to his 70's version but still at a great level, if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius so the team fell down a lot in 84

It feels similar to the 2008 celtics in a way whilr obviously being more effective in the postseason as far as a stacked roster of guys in their late primes goes

In a NBA that had 10 of the top 20 players play SF he was 1st team all NBA. He was the last person to win an MVP since Moses was the 2 time defending MVP.

I dont understand the whole logic of judging the 83 sixers by looking at what they did in 84 and 85. The celtics/lakers/76ers were all 3 great teams that battled each other for a title every year. No team ever beat the other 2 in the same year. They were that close.

Any Laker/Celtic or 76er team from 80-85 could win a title vs any other Finals team from 1990-2025.

[falcolombardi]

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it while still being an all star, i feel neither was bobby jones compared to his 70's version but still at a great level, if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius so the team fell down a lot in 84

It feels similar to the 2008 celtics in a way whilr obviously being more effective in the postseason as far as a stacked roster of guys in their late primes goes

In a NBA that had 10 of the top 20 players play SF he was 1st team all NBA. He was the last person to win an MVP since Moses was the 2 time defending MVP.

I dont understand the whole logic of judging the 83 sixers by looking at what they did in 84 and 85. The celtics/lakers/76ers were all 3 great teams that battled each other for a title every year. No team ever beat the other 2 in the same year. They were that close.

Any Laker/Celtic or 76er team from 80-85 could win a title vs any other Finals team from 1990-2025.

I mean you could also look at julius stats in the 83 post season too, it was not his finest one

[migya]

They were a beast trampling through the grass and trample on the other teams they did. They were stacked and most of their players in their primes.

I dont think julius was quite on his prime, more like a bit out of it while still being an all star, i feel neither was bobby jones compared to his 70's version but still at a great level, if anythingh i think moses going off hid some of the decline of guys like julius so the team fell down a lot in 84

It feels similar to the 2008 celtics in a way whilr obviously being more effective in the postseason as far as a stacked roster of guys in their late primes goes

In a NBA that had 10 of the top 20 players play SF he was 1st team all NBA. He was the last person to win an MVP since Moses was the 2 time defending MVP.

I dont understand the whole logic of judging the 83 sixers by looking at what they did in 84 and 85. The celtics/lakers/76ers were all 3 great teams that battled each other for a title every year. No team ever beat the other 2 in the same year. They were that close.

Any Laker/Celtic or 76er team from 80-85 could win a title vs any other Finals team from 1990-2025.

It was a gauntlet those years. Add the Bucks for a few years in the mid 80s. Juggernaut teams that battled and would have won multiple championships most other eras and eras. Just looking at one year, that 83 Philly team is of the top end.