Playoffs 2000:Sixers try to get healthy, wait for weekend

Sixers try to get healthy, wait for weekend
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers don't care which team they play in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Considering all their injuries, the Sixers are just happy to have survived the first round.

"We just want to play basketball. Let the chips fall where they may," said Eric Snow, who sat out Monday's series-clinching 105-99 victory over the Charlotte Hornets because of a chipped bone in his ankle.

The Sixers beat Charlotte in four games to advance to the second round where they'll meet the winner of the Milwaukee-Indiana series in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday.

Milwaukee routed Indiana 100-87 Monday night to force a fifth game of that series on Thursday night.

"I don't care who we play now," said Allen Iverson, who admitted he didn't want to face Charlotte in the first round. "Whoever it is, we got to beat them anyway. We want to win a championship."

If Milwaukee wins, the Sixers get home-court advantage. If Indiana wins, the Sixers open on the road.

"We'd love to be home," said Iverson, who routinely incites the sellout crowds in Philadelphia to make more noise by cupping his ear and circling the court after a big play. "This house is special. I feed off these fans. I'd have trouble playing here (as a visiting player) and I don't even care about that stuff."

Snow missed his second straight game with a chipped bone in his right ankle. Iverson played with a chip fracture in his right ankle along with an inflamed right elbow and a broken left toe. He aggravated his elbow injury at the end of the first half and wore extra padding on it in the second half.

"When you got a broken toe and ankle, I wouldn't say it limited me, but it took away from my speed, my explosiveness," said Iverson, who scored 26 points in Game 4. "I know someone is looking out for me."

Without Snow, Aaron McKie again started at point guard and single-handedly brought the Sixers back from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit by nailing four consecutive 3-pointers and scoring 13 straight points.

McKie had career playoff highs with 25 points and 11 assists.

"He has come through for us all season," Snow said. "He's always going to be there. He's going to be professional. He's going to play hard and do everything he is asked to do. We wouldn't be where we are right now if it wasn't for Aaron McKie."

Snow, who has not played since Game 2 on April 24, expects to return for Game 1 Saturday.

"That was a big reason for me sitting out the past two games, to try and be ready for the next round if we advanced," Snow said. "Fortunately, we were able to do that."

Charlotte, meanwhile, faces an offseason of uncertainty. Eddie Jones will be a free agent and teams are lining up to sign the star guard.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Jones, who scored 17 points on just 10 shots in Game 4. "I'm going to tell everyone I love them. Orlando. Chicago. The Clippers. Who else has money? Whoever has the money, that's what I'm going to tell them. ... But seriously, it won't come down to money. To me, it's about winning, about getting the ring on my finger."

The Hornets overcame the tragic, mid-season death of Bobby Phills to win 49 games and earn the No. 4 seed in the East. They're already looking ahead to next season.

"This gives us an opportunity to look forward to next year," forward Anthony Mason said. "It's a learning process for the whole organization. It's a step-by-step process."

Iverson and the Sixers completed the first step of their learning process. Now, they face the next step. Last year, after beating Orlando in four games in the first round, the Sixers were swept by Indiana.

"We've been here before and we know the feeling," Iverson said. "We got to the second round and got swept. We don't want that to happen again."