My Favorite NBA Playoff Moment Came in 1983

In 1983, following the free agent signing of Moses Malone in the previous offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers finally reached the "promised land", winning the NBA Finals in a four game sweep of the defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. After losing in the NBA Finals in three of the previous 5 seasons, twice to the aforementioned Lakers, blowing a 2-0 lead to the Portland Trailblazers in 1977 and watching a 3-1 lead vanish in the Eastern Conference Finals to the hated Boston Celtics, the Sixers finally earned championship rings.

Adding Moses Malone to an already stellar cast of players including Julius "Dr. J" Erving was the final piece of the championship puzzle. The 76ers could finally play a halfcourt grinding style when necessary in addition to the racehorse style the team preferred. In the NBA playoffs, the games are often won by scores in the low to mid 80's with the higher stakes and more conservative style of play most playoff teams revert to in the postseason.

The Philadelphia 76ers had so many close losses and blown leads in the previous seasons and had been the NBA's bridesmaids ever since Dr. J had arrived in the "city of brotherly love" in 1977, at times it seemed the championship would never come. With Erving, sharpshooting guard Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks (one of my favorites for the "all-name team"), Bobby Jones and now Moses Malone, in the regular season of 1983, the Sixers appeared unstoppable with a league high 65 wins. But would history repeat itself in the playoffs once more? Especially with the defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers lurking with their All-Star cast of James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and especially Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

The previous year, the 76ers cleared a hurdle they had failed to clear in the past. The 76ers beat the Boston Celtics in the playoffs in game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in Boston no less, a place where the Celtics lost in the playoffs about as often as George W. Bush admits a mistake. However, that accomplishment was lessened by the loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

The 1983 NBA Champion Philadelphia 76ers

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