2000–01 Philadelphia 76ers season

NBA season

team = Philadelphia 76ers
end_year = 2001
record = 56-26
division_place = 1^st
conf_place = 1^st
coach = Larry Brown
arena = Wachovia Center
playoffs = Lost NBA Finals

Allen Iverson arguably had his best season in 2001 — he led his team to win their first ten games, he started and won All-Star MVP honors at the All Star Game. The Sixers also posted a 56-26 record, which was best in the Eastern Conference that season. He also averaged a then-career high 31.1 points, winning his second NBA scoring title in the process. Iverson won the NBA steals title at 2.5 a game. Iverson was named NBA Most Valuable Player for his accomplishments.

In the playoffs, Iverson and the Sixers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the first round, before meeting Vince Carter-led Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Semifinals. The series went the full seven games. In the next round, the Sixers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, also in seven games, to advance to the 2001 NBA Finals against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Iverson scored a playoff high 48 in Game 1, which the Sixers won. However, the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led Lakers would win the next 4 games and the title. It was the high point of Iverson's tenure in Philadelphia.

Offseason

NBA Draft

NBA Finals

*Game 1 - June 6, Wednesday , 9:00pm et @Los Angeles, Philadelphia 107, Los Angeles 101 (OT): "Philadelphia leads series 1-0"
*Game 2 - June 8, Friday , 9:00pm et @Los Angeles, Los Angeles 98, Philadelphia 89: "Series tied 1-1"
*Game 3 - June 10, Sunday , 8:30pm et @Philadelphia, Los Angeles 96, Philadelphia 91: "Los Angeles leads series 2-1"
*Game 4 - June 13, Wednesday , 8:30pm et @Philadelphia, Los Angeles 100, Philadelphia 86: "Los Angeles leads series 3-1"
*Game 5 - June 15, Friday , 8:30pm et @Philadelphia, Los Angeles 108, Philadelphia 96: "Los Angeles wins series 4-1"

The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. The NBA, after experimenting in the early years, restored this original format for the Finals in 1985. As of yet, the other playoff series are still running on a 2-2-1-1-1 site format.

References

* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2001.html Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference]