1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers: Consistency

1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers: Consistency

1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers: Consistency

By way of a sign and trade deal, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired free agent center Moses Malone in exchange for center and power forward Caldwell Jones, and this proved to be one of the most significant trades in the history of the franchise. Guided by head coach Billy “The Kangaroo Kid” Cunningham, the 76ers were a model of consistency throughout the 1982-1983 NBA regular season, going 65-17. The 76ers finished 9 games ahead of their Atlantic Division rivals the Boston Celtics.

Moses Malone fit in just nice with the rest of the team, scoring a total of 1,908 points and recording 1,194 rebounds, with 749 of them being defensive rebounds. Malone also had 157 blocks and would average 24.5 points, 15.3 rebounds, 9.6 defensive rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Shooting guard Andrew Toney scored 1,598 total points and recorded 365 assists, averaging 19.7 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Also known as “Dr. J”, small forward Julius Erving scored 1,542 total points and recorded 491 rebounds, 112 steals and 131 blocks, averaging 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Point guard Maurice Cheeks scored 990 total points and recorded 543 assists and 184 steals, averaging 12.5 points, 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Power forward Bobby Jones had 91 blocks and averaged 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

The 76ers built their game around a tough defense and taking charge of rebounding situations, and it was this aggressive style of play that helped them win many games. The 76ers went 35-6 at home and 30-11 on the road. They went 11-3 in November, 11-2 in December, 14-1 in January, 11-1 in February, 11-5 in March and 5-5 in April. The 76ers would enjoy a 14-game winning streak that began on December 21, 1982 with a 122-105 win over the Boston Celtics and ended on January 21, 1983 with a 130-117 win over the Seattle Supersonics.

The Philadelphia 76ers would take on the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the 76ers got off to a great start with a 112-102 win on April 24 on their home court called The Spectrum. Moses Malone had 38 points in Game 1 along with 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Maurice Cheeks had 14 points and 10 assists, and Bobby Jones contributed with 6 assists.

In Game 2 on April 27, the 76ers won again by the score of 98-91. Malone had 30 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks while Cheeks had 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Julius Erving had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Keeping the game close for the Knicks, power forward Leonard “Truck” Robinson had 22 points and 14 rebounds.

The series shifted to Madison Square Garden in New York for Game 3 on April 30, and the 76ers would squeak by with a 107-105 victory. Malone had 28 points and 14 rebounds while Erving had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. Cheeks would have 24 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Once again keeping the game close for New York, Truck Robinson grabbed 15 rebounds and small forward Bernard King had 21 points.

The 76ers would complete the series sweep in Game 4 on May 1 with a 105-102 win as Malone had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. Erving had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Cheeks would contribute with 7 assists. Bernard King tried all he could to keep the Knicks afloat with 35 points and 6 rebounds, and Truck Robinson had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The 76ers would then face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Philadelphia would squeak by again in Game 1 on May 8 by the score of 111-109. Maurice Cheeks had 26 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Andrew Toney had 22 points and 5 assists. Julius Erving had 19 points. The Bucks certainly gave the 76ers a scare, starting with small forward and shooting guard Marques Johnson, who had 30 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Small forward and shooting guard Junior Bridgeman also contributed for Milwaukee, having 22 points and 7 rebounds. Shooting guard Brian Winters had 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.

In Game 2 on May 11 the 76ers would claim an 87-81 victory. Malone had 26 points and 17 rebounds, with 13 of them being defensive rebounds. Andrew Toney had 20 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Marques Johnson showed up again for Milwaukee, having 25 points and 11 rebounds while guard Sidney Moncrief had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Center Bob Lanier had 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The 76ers then won Game 3 on May 14 104-96 in Milwaukee as Erving had 26 points and 8 rebounds, and Malone had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Bridgeman had another good game for the Bucks as he had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Game 4 would be the only speed bump in Philadelphia’s road as they lost to Milwaukee 100-94 on May 15. Toney had 24 points and 5 rebounds, Erving had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and Malone had 17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Milwaukee’s steady attack included 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assist from Johnson, 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists from Moncrief, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks from Lanier, and 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block from Bridgeman.

The 76ers would regroup for Game 5 on May 18, and would eliminate the Bucks with a 115-103 win at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Marques Johnson had 21 points and 8 rebounds for Milwaukee while Junior Bridgeman had 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Andrew Toney led Philadelphia’s charge with 30 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Moses Malone had 28 points, 17 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 blocks. Dr. J had 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

The 1983 NBA Finals pitted the Philadelphia 76ers against the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers, and the 76ers would take Game 1 on May 22 113-107. Malone had 27 points, 18 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks while Toney had 25 points and 4 assists. Erving had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 blocks. Keeping the game close for the Lakers, point guard Norm Nixon had 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson had 19 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists.

In Game 2 on May 26 the 76ers won 103-93. Malone had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Toney had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, and Cheeks had 19 points and 8 assists. Though the series shifted to The Forum in Inglewood, California, the results remained the same as the 76ers took Game 3 on May 29 111-94. Malone had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists while Dr. J had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Toney had 21 points and 5 assists while Bobby Jones had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had another solid game for Los Angeles as he had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Forward Jamaal Wilkes had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Magic Johnson had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists.

The Philadelphia 76ers would complete the sweep in the NBA Finals with a 115-108 victory on May 31. The Lakers gave it all they had with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 28 points and 7 rebounds, Magic Johnson’s 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and 21 points and 5 rebounds from Jamaal Wilkes, but the 76ers proved to be much more consistent. Being named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, Moses Malone had 24 points, 23 rebounds and 3 blocks in Game 4. Andrew Toney had 23 points and 9 assists. Julius Erving had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Maurice Cheeks had 20 points and 7 assists.