The official count says things are all tied up as it heads back to Miami for Game 5, but the Sixers’ play in Games 3 and 4 was so thorough that it makes you wonder whether the series would already be over had Joel Embiid been on the court from the start.
Let’s be clear about what we’ve seen over the last week. The Sixers are the better basketball team in this Eastern Conference semifinals series. In fact, at times, the difference between them and the Heat has looked downright startling.
That’s a remarkable thing to say given the way the circumstances looked at the start of the series. But two big variables have broken in the Sixers’ favor. The first, obviously, is Embiid. In the aftermath of the Sixers’at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night, somebody asked James Harden how he and his teammates were able to maintain their composure after they opened up the series with back-to-back losses. Harden laughed and looked at the guy sitting next to him. That guy was Embiid.
That Raptors series from three years ago is a fitting mile marker as we turn our attention to the Sixers’ biggest obstacle standing between them and their first conference finals berth of the Embiid era.
That’s mildly concerning, at the very least. Butler’s effort on Sunday was the one thing that kept the Heat hanging around as well as they did. Credit the Sixers that they weathered the storm well enough that the outcome never felt in serious danger. The question is whether that sense of comfort was mostly a product of the Sixers hitting their shots. If Harden goes 3-for-10 instead of 6-for-10 from three-point range, things could have turned out a lot differently.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
James Harden Clutch as Sixers Grind Out Game 4 Win to Even SeriesSixers win! Led by James Harden and Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers once again defended home court and beat the Heat 116-108 on Sunday. The series is now tied 2-2.
Read more »
Danny Green aims to carry Game 3 shooting through rest of Sixers’ series vs. HeatAfter shouldering the blame for the Sixers' loss to Miami in Game 2, Danny Green stepped up in Game 3 to the tune of 21 points. He is looking to carry that momentum over into tonight's Game 4.
Read more »
Sixers fined $50,000 for violating NBA’s injury reporting rules in Joel Embiid’s returnThe NBA fined the 76ers $50,000 for violating the league’s injury reporting rules in their handling of Joel Embiid’s return. The league said the team “failed to disclose [Embiid’s] participation status in an accurate and timely manner” prior to the game.
Read more »
Following Joel Embiid’s return, Sixers aim to even Eastern Conference semifinal against Miami HeatEmbiid’s vision throughout the game was “pretty good,” Rivers said, a welcome development as the big man played wearing a mask to protect his orbital fracture.
Read more »