2001 76ers and 2021 Celtics

[KG Living Legend]

Name   Height   Weight   DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)   From
G   11   Bell, Raja   6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)   204 lb (93 kg)   1976-09-19   Florida International
G/F   23   Buford, Rodney   6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)   189 lb (86 kg)   1977-11-02   Creighton
G   12   Claxton, Speedy Injured   5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)   166 lb (75 kg)   1978-05-08   Hofstra
C   52   Geiger, Matt   7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)   243 lb (110 kg)   1969-09-10   Georgia Tech
F/C   40   Hill, Tyrone   6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)   240 lb (109 kg)   1968-03-19   Xavier
G   3   Iverson, Allen (C)   6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)   165 lb (75 kg)   1975-06-07   Georgetown
F   33   Jones, Jumaine   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)   218 lb (99 kg)   1979-02-10   Georgia
F   9   Lynch, George   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)   218 lb (99 kg)   1970-09-03   North Carolina
C   50   MacCulloch, Todd   7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)   280 lb (127 kg)   1976-01-27   Washington
G   8   McKie, Aaron   6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)   209 lb (95 kg)   1972-10-02   Temple
F   7   McLeod, Roshown   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)   221 lb (100 kg)   1975-11-17   Duke
C   55   Mutombo, Dikembe   7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)   245 lb (111 kg)   1966-06-25   Georgetown
G   5   Ollie, Kevin   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)   195 lb (88 kg)   1972-12-27   Connecticut
G   4   Sánchez, Pepe   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)   195 lb (88 kg)   1977-05-08   Temple
G   20   Snow, Eric   6 ft 3 in (1.91 m



 I have been thinking about how terrible this 76ers roster was that made it to the finals. I know, I know,  this is the Era of super teams and players dictate seemingly everything. 

 In theory.  Tatum is borderline better than Iverson already.  Throw in his size, rebounding,  and defense and he's better. 

 Than throw in Brown at 25ppg and an elite two way player, and in theory surround those guys with three and D players and you should be able to get to the finals In a normal year.

 However we still need to get buy a team with three top 15 nba player.  Here's to hoping they get hurt again.

 

[Ed Monix]

The difference between the Eastern Conference of 2001 and 2021 is chalk and cheese. The current NBA depth is most likely the greatest in history.

Talent of the NBA in general was very weak in the early 2000’s but the east was especially bad. The other ‘contenders’ were the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell and the Raptors with Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis.

Not enough is said about how weak the NBA was during the L.A Lakers three-peat, especially because of how Faker fans bemoan and downgrade Russell’s championships.

[slamtheking]

The difference between the Eastern Conference of 2001 and 2021 is chalk and cheese. The current NBA depth is most likely the greatest in history.

Talent of the NBA in general was very weak in the early 2000’s but the east was especially bad. The other ‘contenders’ were the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell and the Raptors with Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis.

Not enough is said about how weak the NBA was during the L.A Lakers three-peat, especially because of how Faker fans bemoan and downgrade Russell’s championships.

Don't forget those weak Nets teams that were also East 'contenders'.  90's and early 2000's were absolutely weak in overall league talent

[KG Living Legend]

The difference between the Eastern Conference of 2001 and 2021 is chalk and cheese. The current NBA depth is most likely the greatest in history.

Talent of the NBA in general was very weak in the early 2000’s but the east was especially bad. The other ‘contenders’ were the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell and the Raptors with Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis.

Not enough is said about how weak the NBA was during the L.A Lakers three-peat, especially because of how Faker fans bemoan and downgrade Russell’s championships.

 I here you teddy Brosky. However we have TWO Iverson's who are 6'6" and 6'8". If they're is ever a team you could build without a third star. It's us, now.

[KG Living Legend]

The difference between the Eastern Conference of 2001 and 2021 is chalk and cheese. The current NBA depth is most likely the greatest in history.

Talent of the NBA in general was very weak in the early 2000’s but the east was especially bad. The other ‘contenders’ were the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell and the Raptors with Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis.

Not enough is said about how weak the NBA was during the L.A Lakers three-peat, especially because of how Faker fans bemoan and downgrade Russell’s championships.

 Yeah your right Ed. The Lakers do suck

[Kernewek]

In theory.  Tatum is borderline better than Iverson already.

Hm. I think the eras and players are too different to really compare them, but I would say that high as I am on Tatum I would be pleasantly surprised if he can have the same kind of impact that Iverson did on the 76ers in the 00-01 season. Also I think you're underrating Iverson's defense but there's a massive difference between being 6'8/210lbs and 5'10-5'11/165lbs in that department.

[KG Living Legend]

In theory.  Tatum is borderline better than Iverson already.

Hm. I think the eras and players are too different to really compare them, but I would say that high as I am on Tatum I would be pleasantly surprised if he can have the same kind of impact that Iverson did on the 76ers in the 00-01 season. Also I think you're underrating Iverson's defense but there's a massive difference between being 6'8/210lbs and 5'10-5'11/165lbs in that department.

 I remember exactly the type of Defense Iverson played.  High risk,  high reward.  Gambling for steals all the time.

 But as a two way player,  it's hard to take Iverson over Tatum. Period.

[Moranis]

That team isn't nearly as weak as the 2007 Cavs and some other teams that have made the Finals, but yeah the Eastern Conference was garbage back then.  West was a lot stronger.  The Lakers, Spurs, and Kings were clearly the 3 best teams in the sport and you could argue the Jazz, Mavs, Suns, and Blazers were also better than any team in the East.

That season the Lakers swept their way to the Finals, but along the way they beat the Blazers (Pippen, Sheed, Smith, Stoudamire, Sabonis), then the Kings (Webber, Peja, Vlade, J. Williams), and then the Spurs (TD, Robinson, Porter, Johnson, Daniels).  The Sixers were arguably the easiest opponent they played and still saying that there have been weaker teams in the Finals. 

[Surferdad]

The difference between the Eastern Conference of 2001 and 2021 is chalk and cheese. The current NBA depth is most likely the greatest in history.

Talent of the NBA in general was very weak in the early 2000’s but the east was especially bad. The other ‘contenders’ were the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell and the Raptors with Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis.

Not enough is said about how weak the NBA was during the L.A Lakers three-peat, especially because of how Faker fans bemoan and downgrade Russell’s championships.

 I here you teddy Brosky. However we have TWO Iverson's who are 6'6" and 6'8". If they're is ever a team you could build without a third star. It's us, now.

Agreed.  If EVERYTHiNG goes right, it would not surprise me if this team wins it all.  Just go down the roster and decide for yourself about the upside/best-case scenario of each player.  This is a team with a lot of defense and perhaps just enough on the other end. Again, best-case.

[Who]

I forget how amazing Iverson was. That guy was a one-man offense especially that season. It was incredible how much responsibility he had on his shoulders. He was their main scorer, their man ball-handler, their main playmaker and he did it all while playing 40+ minutes getting hit over and over again while playing next to the worst offensive supporting cast in the league.

And he took them to the Finals, wow!

[mobilija]

Lots of love for Iverson on this thread, deservedly so.

It always surprises me when you guys do a historical draft he is always a late draftee. How come no love for his game in that format? I think he would at least be a top 6th man/microwave scorer for that exercise.

[Donoghus]

Always wondered what that '01 Finals would've looked like with the Bucks in there instead of the Sixers.

Now, that's a conference finals that doesn't get talked about enough.

[Walker Wiggle]

Iverson that year was out of this world. Easy to forget how insanely good he was back then.

With that said, the lesson from that Sixers team was that you can go along way with great coaching and team play, as long as you’ve got a superstar as the head of the snake.