After Harden joined the team, the 76ers' winning streak did not stop, and today they defeated the Knicks 123-108 at home to achieve three consecutive wins after Harden joined.
After the 76ers formed the combination of Embiid and Harden, the outside world was optimistic and listed them as favorites to win the championship. This is not only because the 76ers' new duo has indeed delivered an exciting performance, but many people may also glimpse some of the connections between the 76ers of this season and the 76ers of the 1983 champion through the smoke of history. Although it cannot be completely analogous, there are no two identical eggs in the world.
First, the combination of dual MVP
One of the most notable similarities between this season's 76ers and 1983 champion 76ers is the formation of a double MVP combination. Of course, the 76ers' duo can't be called that, but they're incredibly close.
In 1976, Dr. J switched from the Nets to the 76ers on the occasion of the merger of the NBA and the ABA, but then repeatedly failed to win the championship. So, in the 1982 offseason, the 76ers brought in Moses Malone. Prior to joining the 76ers, Malone had won regular-season MVP in 1979 and 1982, while Dr. J lifted the MVP trophy back to Philadelphia in 1981. In the first season of the duo, Malone won the third MVP of his career.
Now in the new double core of the 76ers, Harden was elected MVP in the 2017-18 season. Embiid was a popular candidate for MVP last season, at the top of the official MVP list, but then gave up the top position to Jokic due to injury, who also maintained the advantage until the end of the season. In the final MVP vote, Embiid also came in second.
So far this season, Embiid has climbed back to the top of the MVP list, and his performance this season has been affirmed by many experts and celebrities, and TNT "two males" O'Neal and Barkley have unanimously elected Embiid as the MVP of this season. In addition to his own performance and the team's performance are extremely convincing, Embiid also tells a good story this season. In the first half of the season, Ben Simmons refused to play, and Embiid single-handedly fought, which added a lot of points to him. After Harden joined the team, the outside world's concerns that he would make Embiid more and more distant from the MVP did not become a reality, and the two even had a sense of seeing each other and hating each other.
It is foreseeable that if embiid and Harden's honeymoon period can last a little longer, at least until the end of the regular season, the 76ers can continue to soar, with the accumulation of the first half of the season, Embiid's MVP top position will become more and more secure. Philadelphia fans will suddenly find that after 39 years, they will see the double MVP duo appear in the 76ers again.
Second, the initiative to change after the playoffs
Another similarity between this season's 76ers and 1983 champion 76ers is that both teams have taken the initiative to change after years of failing to achieve their dreams in the playoffs.
When Dr. J arrived in Philadelphia in 1976, the 76ers put the title on the agenda at that moment. However, what awaited them was multiple folds. In 1977, the 76ers led 2-0 in the Finals, led by Bill Walton, the Blazers were 4 consecutive cities, tragically overturned; in the 1980 Finals, Abdul-Jabbar's injury stoppage once gave the 76ers a good chance to win the championship, but the Philadelphia people saw the rookie magicians fame battle in the seventh game; in the 1982 Finals, the 76ers lost to the Lakers 2-4. The continuous rush to the crown was fruitless, and it took 76 people to cross their hearts to introduce Malone.
In contrast, it is difficult to say that the 76ers in recent years are an undisputed member of the championship team, but in the 2020-21 season, the 76ers are still the top place in the East Division, but they lost seven games to the Hawks in the second round of the East Division, and thus laid the foundation for embiid and Simmons' breakup. As of last season, the 76ers made the playoffs four straight seasons, stopping three times in the second round of the Eastern Conference. In 2019, Embiid burst into tears after being killed by the small card, and it is estimated that many Philadelphia fans still remember it vividly.
Although the 76ers in recent years are difficult to match the 76ers from 1976 to 1982 in terms of team strength and championship prospects, in the past two seasons, the industry has continued to throw the shocking question of "whether the 76ers are wasting Embiid's peak" to the Philadelphia executives. At this time, Simmons was determined to make a transfer, so the 76ers ostensibly pursued the "dragging trick", but secretly waited for the opportunity, and finally caught a big fish as desired.
Third, among the chips of the superstars is the defensive toughster
In mid-September 1982, the 76ers sent Caldwell Jones and the 1983 first-round pick to trade malone from the Rockets. In the season before the trade, the 31-year-old Jones played in 81 games for the 76ers, averaging just 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 49.7%, but jun was an All-Star in his early years and was also selected as the best defensive team in 1981 and 1982.
In the trade to send Harden away, the Nets also have Simmons, who has made a living defensively and organizationally, among the chips they have received. He is also not known for offense, but in the past 2 years, he has also been selected as the best defensive team in a row, and ranked second in the vote for the best defensive player last season.
Fourth, the composition of the lineup is more similar
The two 76ers duo maintain an inside-out match, previously Dr. Malone + Dr. J, and now Embiid + Harden. In addition, the 1983 champion 76ers and 2 starting players scored in double figures (Andrew Tony, Maurice Cheeks), and today's 76ers seem to be copying. In addition to the departed Seth Curry, the 76ers this season also have two starters in addition to the double core who have averaged points in double figures per game (Tobias Harris, Maxi).
In addition, in addition to the starters, both 76ers (once) also had a defensively known bench. In the 1983 championship 76ers, Bobby Jones played the role. During his time with the 76ers, Jones was named to the All-Star and All-Team, and also won the All-Sixth Man and was named to the All-Defensive Team seven times; compared to his predecessors, the 24-year-old Sable is still on the road, but in the second season of his career, he has won a place in the All-Defensive Team and was transferred to the starting lineup this season.
The coaches of both teams were former NBA All-Star players
The 1983 champion 76ers was billy Cunningham, who was a good player in his time as a player, was selected as an All-Star five times, won the MVP at ABA, won the 1967 championship with the 76ers, and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame and the 75 Superstars. After becoming a coach, he continued to shine for Philadelphia, and the aforementioned 76ers and 3 Finals trips, he was the brain of the court.
Today's 76ers coach Rivers is not as good as Cunningham when he is a player, but he is not a mediocre person. He dedicated the golden years of his career to the Hawks and was named an All-Star in the 1987–88 season. In 568 games for the Hawks, Rivers started 516 and averaged 13 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game, shooting 45.5 percent from the field. In the coaching position, although multiple 3-1 leads have been reversed seems to have become their fate, the 2008 championship also made Rivers the rank of championship coach.
Looking for some similarities between the two 76ers is actually just a smile on the part of Bo Zhujun, not that the 76ers have won the championship in advance this season. After all, the combination of Embiid and Harden is just on the road, the real test is still ahead, whether the two will succeed is still unknown, and the differences between the two 76ers are as many as similarities (the biggest difference is that the new superstars are temporary, and the two 76s are in very different positions in the league).
Looking back on the past, today's 76 people can draw energy from it, summarize the lessons of their predecessors, and pave a smoother road for themselves. (Supine Braces/Hairy)