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 addition, coach Larry Brown, Dikembe Mutombo won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Aaron McKie won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
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 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.
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. So far, the other playoff series are still running on a 2-2-1-1-1 site format.
Awards and records
Allen Iverson, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
Aaron McKie, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
Larry Brown, NBA Coach of the Year Award
Allen Iverson, All-NBA First Team
Dikembe Mutombo, All-NBA Second Team
Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Defensive First Team
21 июл 2019
