Cohesion of starting 5, Embiid's dominance gives 76ers a chance for 3-1 lead over Raptors
The 76ers are one win away from taking a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Toronto Raptors. That would put the Sixers on the verge of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001.
The Sixers put themselves in this position with a resounding 116-95 win over the Raptors in Game 3 on Thursday night. The Sixers were dominant, especially in the fourth quarter when they outscored the Raptors 27-8 up until the final few minutes, when the game had already been decided.
It's clear that as the Sixers get deeper in the playoffs that they're becoming more comfortable with their starting five of Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick.
That unit had only 10 games together in the regular season as Embiid missed 14 of the final 24 games with a knee injury. The Sixers went 8-2 in those 10 games.
Including playoffs, the Sixers are 9-2 at home with that starting unit. The Sixers will be home Sunday for Game 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m (ABC).
Here are three keys for the Sixers:
1. The need for Embiid
Sixers coach Brett Brown was asked after the game Thursday if Embiid, when healthy, is the best player on the floor. The typically loquacious Brown responded with one word: "Yes."
Then, of course, he elaborated after Embiid scored 33 points with 10 rebounds and five blocks. Since the 2009 playoffs, only two players have had least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game – Embiid twice and Golden State's Kevin Durant.
Embiid, of course, did this in 28 minutes. Embiid is the first player since 1990 to have at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes or less during a playoff game, and the fourth overall, according to basketball-reference.com. Boston's Kevin McHale is the other.
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This came after Embiid struggled in the first two games, scoring a total of 28 points. In many ways, the Sixers must feel like they stole a game by winning Game 2 despite Embiid scoring just 12 points on 2-for-7 shooting.
The Sixers are hard to beat if Embiid is back to his dominant self, like he was in Game 3. And Brown said that's more true defensively than offensively.
"For me, it goes straight to the blocks," Brown said. "You know, we can talk about a windmill dunk. You can talk about some finesse post moves and that. But I go to defense. ... He is our crown jewel defensively, and I suppose offensively, too. But certainly defensively. His rim protection and blocking shot ability stood out as much to me as anything in an incredible performance."
2. Leave Kawhi high and dry
If only Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard had some help.
Leonard scored 45 points in Toronto's Game 1 win and has scored at least 33 points in five of his last seven playoff games.
In this series, Leonard is averaging 37.7 points per game and making 60.9 percent of his shots. But while Leonard scored 33 points Thursday on 59.1 percent shooting, the Raptors got very little from the trio of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Marc Gasol, who combined to make 4 of 23 shots.
"I mean, there are a lot more things we can do better," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. "We can’t let the shot-making affect so many other parts of the game. ... We’re going to have to play a hell of a lot more physical. I mean, if we don’t do that, the prettiest things we decided to do offensively aren’t going to matter much."
3. What can Brown do for Sixers?
So far, Brown's adjustments have been masterful in this series. After the Game 1 debacle, in which Leonard and Pascal Siakam (29 points on 12 of 15 shooting) had their way offensively, the Sixers have done a much better job.
Leonard has still gotten his points, but Siakam shot 16-for-40 in the next two games for 41 points total.
In Game 2, Brown found a plan offensively even with Embiid ineffective with a stomach illness. Brown has used the versatility of the starters to the Sixers' advantage, and the Raptors haven't found a way to stop them.
"When we come down to the offensive end, the evolution of Jimmy (Butler) with the ball, or posting (Embiid), or utilizing Ben (Simmons), bringing JJ (Redick) off screens, making sure Tobias (Harris) – you know, who can score a bunch of different ways – is used," Brown said. "I think it’s evolving ... I can tell you winning sure allows us to keep it moving forward."
If Brown can utilize his players like that again, the Sixers will be a great position to close out the series on Tuesday.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.