Series Thread: 6) Miami Heat vs. 3) Philadelphia 76ers

[SteelersPride]

no embid, and holy shit

 

[knowyourenemy]

How did teams in the East allow Philly to get both Ilyasova and Belinelli when they were bough out?

I think they wanted to play in Philly. Definitely Ersan. Not sure about Bellinelli.

 

[flyerhawk]

Yeah, I can't think of any examples of a team this young being a 3 seed. It's interesting because the East is pretty bad and I'm sure that has a lot to do with the Sixers having such a high seed.

Makes it kind of hard to handicap because, on pure talent, they may be the best team in the East. But they're just so stinkin' young and have no real idea how different things are in the playoffs.

As I said in my original post on here, I'm picking the Heat, but I have no real reason to give as to why and I'm probably going to be wrong. lol

This may seem like piling on after the game but I just got back to a computer.

Just to be clear, the Sixers have a 60% winning percentage against the West and their 52 wins would have comfortably got them the 3 seed in the West.

 

[bksballer89]

This may seem like piling on after the game but I just got back to a computer.

Just to be clear, the Sixers have a 60% winning percentage against the West and their 52 wins would have comfortably got them the 3 seed in the West.

East>West IMO

 

[flyerhawk]

Hey guys. So I was away from a computer all day so I couldn't respond to the game. So here are my thoughts.

First off, while it was a lop sided win there are plenty of reasons for the Heat to chalk this up as a bad game and move on. The Sixers shot 64% from the arc. If they maintain that average, they will comfortably win the title. That ain't happening.

Having offered that conditional, I have to say holy crap!

Ben Simmons was clearly a rookie in the 1st half. Missed lots of shots he normally makes. Several dumb turnovers. He clearly wasn't feeling himself. But he recovered dramatically in the 2nd half and we saw the Ben Simmons of the past 2 months. A basically impossible to defend point guard who can't shoot perimeter shots.

I honestly think that Brian Colangelo should win Executive of the Year, if that is an award, for bringing in Ilyasova and Bellinelli. They are near perfect fits for how this offense wants to operate.

Kelly Olynyk looked really good tonight. Either he or James Johnson were the best Miami player of the night. Dragic really struggled. Whiteside was a no show. Richardson had some nice moments but was simply invisible on offense. Winslow also had a few moments but missed defensive assignments and was largely a no show on offense.

I expect a much closer game on Monday. But I do think the Sixers will win and I'll stick with my earlier claim that if the Sixers won tonight they would win in 4 or 5.

 

[flyerhawk]

East>West IMO

I wouldn't go that far.

 

[flyerhawk]

I absolutely love when I read an article that confirms my personal observations, at least on specific plays.

Simmons was a little scatter shot in the first half. But he settled down big time and I would say that this play defines Ben Simmons..


It's unfair that a guy that big and fast can do that sort of head fake.

 

[Sparhawk]

Saw the score.
Have not watched the game yet.
That was unexpected, though Eaglesnut was pretty close to winning by 30.....

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

I can't wait until Kawhi comes over to the dark side.

 

[Rey]

Are there more?

Yeah, they should come...especially for the playoffs.

I don't think you are a bandwagon fan.

You, Sparhawk, and flyerhawk are regulars.

But, I have seen a few new ones....

It's all good to me.

Many more Sixers fans on this forum, but we have been posting on the Eagles Forum under OT: Sixers threads for several years.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

The player also needs to be great at his job. Whiteside is not that good in the post. If he had moves like Nurkic for example then it would be easier but he doesn't

He may not be "great at his job", but he's been good enough at it the previous 2 seasons to lead the NBA in either blocks or rebounds.
I'm not saying the outcome would have been any different, but playing 12 minutes?

What I am saying is that the Heat have to make an effort to get him involved in the offense vs burning up the first 4-6 minutes of the game running up and down the court ignoring him and often settling for unadvised 3's.

 

[eaglesnut]

How did teams in the East allow Philly to get both Ilyasova and Belinelli when they were bough out?

Ilyasova chose Philly because he's smarter than you.

 

[eaglesnut]

Only took the Sixers one half to get into playoff mode. That was easy.

27 point win. Hey that's almost 30.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Only took the Sixers one half to get into playoff mode. That was easy.

27 point win. Hey that's almost 30.

Team future is def looking bright, but it doesn’t erase what had to be endured to get there.
As a fan and STH, I wouldn’t support it.

 

[larryjohn]

no embid, and holy shit

Interesting that the ball moves more without Embiid. Obvious -- but I really like the way Sixers moved the ball and cut without it. But the shots won't always fall like they did last night. (ask the Blazers) Hinkie for Exec of the Year. It will be interesting to see who plays more in First Round -- Whiteside or TT.

 

[flyerhawk]

Interesting that the ball moves more without Embiid. Obvious -- but I really like the way Sixers moved the ball and cut without it. But the shots won't always fall like they did last night. (ask the Blazers) Hinkie for Exec of the Year. It will be interesting to see who plays more in First Round -- Whiteside or TT.

The way the team is playing right now they don't need Embiid to beat the Heat or the Celtics, if they beat the Bucks. Of course that doesn't mean the shots will continue to fall and that's when you need the big guy.

Oh and they can't beat the Cavs without Embiid.

 

[tlance]

Team future is def looking bright, but it doesn’t erase what had to be endured to get there.
As a fan and STH, I wouldn’t support it.

BS.

That is how you have to build if you aren't a destination city. Miami is a destination city, so you won't ever have to worry about it. But don't knock what the 6ers did. It was brilliant.

They will contend for the next decade because they were horrible for 5 years. Well worth it.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Bellinelli was my favorite player on the Spurs 2014 title team. He was such a vital understated cog of that run.

I was nearly 90% sure he would have signed back with the Spurs, and it was stunning to see him wisely pick Philly. The SPURS desperately need offense and he brings it.

He is one of those guys who gets listed as "spot up 3 point" shooter, but he is a bit more.

He gets to the line at an above average rate base on minutes. That uncanny ability to get to the line leaves him a lot more room to shoot 3's.

Very few of the classic 3-point specialists have that ability.

 

[knowyourenemy]

Team future is def looking bright, but it doesn’t erase what had to be endured to get there.
As a fan and STH, I wouldn’t support it.

As a Heat fan, I think your stance makes sense. You guys have won the title a few times recently. I’ve never seen the 76ers win a title. Outside of the Iverson years, they’ve been pretty bad during most of my prime fandom years. I totally supported the process. But maybe if the 76ers had a few titles under their belt, maybe I’d feel differently.

 

[bksballer89]

As a Heat fan, I think your stance makes sense. You guys have won the title a few times recently. I’ve never seen the 76ers win a title. Outside of the Iverson years, they’ve been pretty bad during most of my prime fandom years. I totally supported the process. But maybe if the 76ers had a few titles under their belt, maybe I’d feel differently.

And they also got really lucky imo. You really need to absolutely hit on several of your lottery/first round picks. Thankfully for your sixers, they struck gold on Embiid, Simmons, Saric, & possibly Fultz.

If one of those 3 turned out to be a bust, the heavy tanking during that 5 year period would seem like a waste