When the Philadelphia 76ers clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, they doubtlessly assumed that they’d maintain a rather straightforward boulevard during the main two rounds. Finally, they’d shunned the two other championship contenders in the East: Brooklyn and Milwaukee, and with Joel Embiid operating roughshod over the remaining of the league, nobody else in the convention looked adore they could touch them.
Well, now Embiid is fighting through an injure, and the Atlanta Hawks maintain grown into a lethal underdog that has already unseated the Current York Knicks. The Hawks maintain a 31-12 represent since March 1, better than Philly’s 30-12 sign in that span, and not just like the 76ers, they’re rather shut to paunchy power. This will likely very effectively be no cakewalk for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. That is the formula you would possibly want to tune in as they try to stave off the surging Hawks.
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
- Date: Sunday, June 6 | Time: 1: 00 p.m. ET
- Location: Wells Fargo Center — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- TV: TNT | Are residing circulation: TNT
- Odds: ATL +120; PHI -140 | O/U: 220.5 (through William Hill Sportsbook)
Featured Recreation | Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Storylines
76ers: All eyes are on Joel Embiid as he makes an attempt to play through a runt lumber in his meniscus. He is listed as questionable, lawful now, and could struggle through pre-game warmups earlier than the 76ers earn whether or not or not he can play. If he can not, how does Philadelphia respond? Kill they race runt with Matisse Thybulle as their fifth starter? Can they give protection to the rim with out their MVP candidate, and can they generate offense slack in games with out his gravity all throughout the court?
If he can play, what does he explore adore? Is he on a minute limit? Is he compromised? Philadelphia could very effectively have the option to beat Atlanta with out the ideal model of Embiid, but Brooklyn and Milwaukee don’t appear to be merely about as forgiving. Philadelphia will prefer to balance the necessity to take this assortment with Embiid’s health transferring forward.
Hawks: Trae Younger had an spectacular first-spherical assortment, but scoring on Derrick Rose and Reggie Bullock is one ingredient. Scoring on Simmons and Thybulle is awfully any other. Younger will likely be blanketed by two of the ideal defenders in all of basketball on this assortment, and that is the reason going to shine a spotlight on Atlanta’s supporting solid.
Bogdan Bogdanovic couldn’t miss down the stretch in the standard season. He fell serve to Earth against the Knicks. Danilo Gallinari’s playoff history is much from ultimate. Behold for John Collins and Clint Capela to race at Philadelphia on the internal if Embiid is out. Dimension will likely be an advantage for the Hawks in that scenario, and if Simmons has to characteristic as a heart, attacking him has the added perfect thing about doubtlessly getting him into unhealthy misfortune.
Prediction
Making a take here with out know Embiid’s space is quite unimaginable, but if we pick that he’s unlikely to be his standard self, I’d lean Atlanta very moderately. They maintain got good enough shot-creation previous Younger to outlive if Philly’s defenders slack him down, however the Sixers can not reveal the identical if they’re with out Embiid. Clutch: Hawks +2.5
