1966-1967

WORLD CHAMPION

PHILADELPHIA 76'ERS

In the

1967 NBA PLAYOFFS

Following their memorable NBA record-setting championship year, the 76’er ballclub commissioned the production of a film highlighting their journey through the playoffs to their first World Title. This beautiful color film, just recently restored by Rare Sportsfilms, and now available on DVD for the first time, covers most games of the playoffs, including all three series vs. the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics, and San Francisco Warriors. Narrator of the film is Charlie Swift, with additional comments from club owner Irv Kosloff, G.M. Jack Ramsay, and coach Alex Hannum. An introduction to the film shows members of the 76’er team in action: Larry Costello, Hal Greer, Luke Jackson, Wally Jones, Matt Guokas, Dave Gambee, Bill Melchionni, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, and Wilt Chamberlain, now back in Philadelphia after a trade from the San Francisco Warriors.

In the Eastern Division Semifinals at Convention Hall, the Cincinnati Royals upset the Sixers 120-116 to go ahead 1-0 in the best-of-five series. However, Philadelphia won the next three games by wide margins despite losing Larry Costello with an injured knee for the rest of the playoffs. Royals players you’ll see during the series include Jerry Lucas, Oscar Robertson, Connie Dierking, Happy Hairston, and Adrian Smith.

Since acquiring Chamberlain from the Warriors and also since losing by 1 point at Boston Garden in 1966 when “Havlicek stole the ball” in game 7 of the Eastern Finals, Sixer players and fans alike had been eagerly waiting for a Philadelphia-Boston re-match for this 1967 Eastern series! In fact, almost half of this film concentrates on the action (including the 76’er locker room celebration) from this historic matchup! The Boston dynasty had now stretched back 10 years and Bill Russell had replaced Red Auerbach as coach. In this series, in addition to the 76’ers, you’ll see all the Celtics in action: John Havlicek, Don Nelson, Satch Sanders, Wayne Embry, Bailey Howell, Ron Watts, Jim Barnett, Sam & K.C. Jones, Larry Siegfried, and Bill Russell vs. Wilt.

The first game is played at the Polestra, and behind Hal Greer’s 39 points and 24 from Wally Jones, the 76’ers win, 127-113. After a narrow win in Boston, game 3 is back home at Convention Hall, and the 76’ers win their third straight game, an intense one most of the way, with Wilt sinking two free throws at the end to bring the final score to 115-104. The camera crew travels to Boston for game 4, and the Sixers want very badly to finish a sweep of the Celtics and the series at the Garden. But Boston wins by 4 points, despite a 29-point effort by Luke Jackson, sending the series back to Philly for game 5. At Convention Hall, the desperate Celtics forge to a second-quarter 59-43 lead, but by halftime, the Sixers have closed the gap to 5 points. The tired Celts get the lead back, 93-92 late in the third quarter, but hot shooting by Wally Jones (8 of 9 from the floor) takes the Boston lead away for good, and the final score is 140-116. The 76’ers have realized their dream – beating the Celtics and moving on to the NBA Finals! The dressing room celebration is covered, with the pouring of champagne on many heads, after Chamberlain reminds everyone that they still must win 4 more games over the San Francisco Warriors to win the NBA Championship.

The NBA finals vs. San Francisco are almost anti-climactic. The 76’ers win three of the first five games of the series, with limited action shown from both Convention Hall and the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Warriors Nate Thurmond, shooting star Rick Barry, Jim King, Tom Meschery, Fred Hetzel, Clyde Lee, and Jeff Mullins are all shown in action in San Francisco. Sixth-game action picks up late in the 4th quarter at the Cow Palace with the 76’ers leading 114-113. Scoring is back and forth down to the final seconds, with Barry doing most of the clutch shooting for the Warriors. Wilt’s two free throws and his stuff of a free throw miss by Jackson gives the 76’ers a 1-point lead, but another Barry jump shot erases it. The end of the game, series, and season is shown, and with 15 seconds left and the Sixers leading 123-122, Barry again has the ball on the right side of the basket. Chamberlain and Chet Walker then force Barry into a bad shot, and Walker with the rebound is fouled. His two free throws make the final score 125-122 and clinch the title for the Sixers, 125-122!

To get your own DVD of this rare film, send $29.95 plus $4.60 for shipping and handling to: