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  • Regular season archives
    by Jeff Wilson
    posted May 5, 2003

    In the 1980s, fans were deprived of Barkley-Rodman rebounding battles in the Playoffs.
    Allsport
    It’s pretty amazing that this week marks the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Sixers in almost half a century. When looking at the Eastern Conference in the 1980’s, three teams basically dominated the rest – the Celtics, Detroit and Philadelphia. In fact, from 1980-1990, only those three squads emerged as NBA Finalists from the East.

    Ironically, though, the Pistons and Sixers franchises have just once convened in the postseason. That one meeting was way back in 1954-55, when the Syracuse Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons, 4-3, for the NBA Championship. Since the franchises moved to Philadelphia and Detroit, respectively, the teams have not faced one another in the postseason – even during their heydays in the 1980’s. The Pistons returned to the playoffs in 1983-84 after a six-year absence and qualified in each of the next nine seasons, winning the NBA Championship in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile, the Sixers only missed the playoffs once during the 1980’s, grabbing the 1983 title.

    Somehow, by a sardonic twist, NBA fans were deprived of seeing two of the greatest floor generals of all-time, Isiah Thomas and Maurice Cheeks, clash for the right to prolong their seasons. How intense would a battle between Charles Barkley and the “Bad Boys,” Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and Dennis Rodman, have been? Of course, one of the more intriguing match-ups would have been Mark Aguirre, in his prime, going toe-to-toe with Julius Erving at the end of his illustrious career.

    Throughout much of the 1990’s, though, both franchises struggled as the Bulls conquered the East. At their worst, the 76ers were in the NBA Draft lottery seven years in a row. From the drafts, Philadelphia brought in Allen Iverson and used the likes of Jerry Stackhouse, Keith Van Horn and Larry Hughes as trade bait. After the retirement of the unmatchable backcourt of Thomas and Joe Dumars, the Pistons revamped their roster with a few lottery picks themselves. Through the draft, Detroit acquired Grant Hill, Lindsey Hunter and Allan Houston to help pull them out of a slump.

    A new era has begun, one in which Iverson is at the top of the league. Ben Wallace is – without much argument – the best defensive big man in the NBA, winning the league’s top defensive honor in back-to-back years. The Pistons and Sixers are both supported by a cast of unheralded players, but still have lately managed to be among the Conference’s best teams.

    It’s fitting now that as the Pistons and 76ers are reemerging as Eastern Conference powers, they will meet for the second time ever in the playoffs.

    After missing the postseason in four of six years, the Pistons have bounced back to qualify for the playoffs four of the last five seasons. The 76ers followed seven-straight losing seasons by qualifying for the Conference Semifinals in four of the last five.

    This year’s Pistons-76ers match-up might not have as many appealing storylines as the teams had in the 1980’s, but this series may be just as wild and unpredictable as a Motown-Brotherly Love spat in the Reagan Era. Eventually, an Eastern Conference finalist will emerge. Hey, retro is in now … luckily, we finally get to enjoy the Pistons and 76ers in May.
    Jeff Wilson is a 21-year-old sports and recreation management major at Temple University. The Oneida, NY, native is spending this semester interning with the 76ers Public Relations Department. Jeff also has experience working with the athletic departments at Syracuse University and Temple University.