Game 80: 76ers vs Miami... Playoff preview?

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

We’ve watched this team play the entire season. We know this team has taken their foot of the gas lately. And we know how good this team can play when locked in.

We also know how the playoff picture looks. We dont want to face the Heat as the second seed. heat is not a team you want to face in the first round. Second seed is a trap.

Hell, I wouldnt want to face the Raps or the Hawks with the first seed either. I’d rather face Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges lead Nets than Trae Young or Siakam.

That said, we should have won this game. Anyway, we still have that Nets game like 3-4 days from now.

If we're looking ahead at who we may be playing, wouldn't we prefer to lose to Brooklyn on Sunday to ensure that they stay in the 6th spot? Do we officially have the 3 seed on lock at this point? If so, I would prefer we lose to Brooklyn to avoid Miami.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

For sure that can also happen. Celts is also no slouch. But I think its likely gonna be a closer series. And I think Heat is a way better team than most think, if you would remove the noise (garbage part of season/game and non-Heat vs Celts stats)

It's definitely hard to bet against Jimmy Butler. Miami has enough talent, they've underachieved this year for some reason. I just don't think they're going to suddenly put it together in the playoffs. They've had their issues defensively all year long, they lack depth, some of their guys have fallen off a bit. They just aren't as good as the names on that roster suggest. Lowry is a role player at this point in his career. Oladipo is a shell of his former self.

Heat is an old team. They can’t play their 90% all season.

They’re the top 4 team in the east, wearing a fringe playoff team clothing.

Their top 3 scorers is as good as the Celts scorers. Their complimentary players are close to as good as the Celts complimentary players.

They’re 26th in 3pt% for the season. But they’re 5th in 3pt% for the last 15 games, better than us in % and makes. They’re the best team in crunch time in their last 10 games.

I get it, the hope is that Miami is peaking at the right time??? They've looked pretty good these last couple of weeks, I can't argue that one. I'd love to see them upset Boston in the first round! It would rejuvenate my faith in full.

[76ciology]

We’ve watched this team play the entire season. We know this team has taken their foot of the gas lately. And we know how good this team can play when locked in.

We also know how the playoff picture looks. We dont want to face the Heat as the second seed. heat is not a team you want to face in the first round. Second seed is a trap.

Hell, I wouldnt want to face the Raps or the Hawks with the first seed either. I’d rather face Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges lead Nets than Trae Young or Siakam.

That said, we should have won this game. Anyway, we still have that Nets game like 3-4 days from now.

If we're looking ahead at who we may be playing, wouldn't we prefer to lose to Brooklyn on Sunday to ensure that they stay in the 6th spot? Do we officially have the 3 seed on lock at this point? If so, I would prefer we lose to Brooklyn to avoid Miami.

Exactly my thoughts. Thats why I find this loss to be a big blow to us, this now force us to make the next Nets game an almost a must win.

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

[Jhawk03]

We have to let Doc do his interpretation of 4d chess. Not resting everyone and letting the Heat build confidence going into the playoffs vs Boston, knowing a loss Sunday guarantees Sixers Nets 1st round. I say let Doc cook

[eyeatoma]

I'm not sure where this belongs, but I'll just leave it here. This season has been fun, I think Joel wins the MVP this year. I think that will be our memory for years to come. However, I don't feel that this team is one that can get to the Finals at this point. I was optimistic after the break. We went on a tear, won some games, but we've come back down to earth hard over these last few weeks. It's disappointing because what I thought we were seeing was a team that had hit an entirely different level and was beginning to really peak. I definitely don't think that's the case at this point. This is going to be a second round exit at best for us. I think we can get out of the first round, but we're going to take a beating doing so. I think our best stuff will be all used up by the end of the first round.
This team is still a year away in my opinion. There were just a few things that didn't click for us this year and it has really seemed as though guys just haven't been able to entirely get on the same page. For example, when Harden and Maxey were out, both Melton and Milton played outstanding basketball for us. My thought at the time was like "holy $hit, we have two other guards on this team that can really play." Yet once Harden and Maxey returned, Shake especially just deteriorated over the next few months. A team destined for the Finals just doesn't have that type of falloff from guys. Shake would have still found a way to contribute from the bench despite Harden and Maxey returning. I could go on with all our guys...Harden, Embiid, Tobias (especially him), Niang, etc

These guys never fully gelled together over a consistent period of time. Our players have peaked and fell off at the wrong times throughout the entire season, and it's been the biggest issue. I think some of that falls back on Doc, and more of it comes down to the lack of mental focus. I watch Milwaukee play and they play with such fire on both ends of the floor. Boston, another team, just locked in on what needs to be done. We're there at times, but it's never been consistent like it is for those guys and we're just a half step behind them at the moment. I truly believe that next season will be our do or die year as far as this era concerned.

Already bracing myself for defeat.

Yeah pretty much summed it up. Although if Harden leaves I see Jo asking for a trade.

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[Wilfried]

Bad loss, should have won this if we really wanted to show we belong

If we get Miami in the first round, we are up for a real tough road in the play-offs and there's also a possibility we lose to the Heat.

It will be fun nevertheless

But we lack real heart, like we've said many years now. Don't know if that can change just by adding a PJ Tucker or Melton. It's the stars (like Giannis) who have to show that, not the role players.

Tobias is awful atm, we cannot survive in the play-offs (maybe even not the first round if it's against the Heat) when he scores 10 points. Feel Jimmy is in his head too.

[Jay555]

We’ve watched this team play the entire season. We know this team has taken their foot of the gas lately. And we know how good this team can play when locked in.

We also know how the playoff picture looks. We dont want to face the Heat as the second seed. heat is not a team you want to face in the first round. Second seed is a trap.

Hell, I wouldnt want to face the Raps or the Hawks with the first seed either. I’d rather face Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges lead Nets than Trae Young or Siakam.

That said, we should have won this game. Anyway, we still have that Nets game like 3-4 days from now.

If we're looking ahead at who we may be playing, wouldn't we prefer to lose to Brooklyn on Sunday to ensure that they stay in the 6th spot? Do we officially have the 3 seed on lock at this point? If so, I would prefer we lose to Brooklyn to avoid Miami.

Exactly my thoughts. Thats why I find this loss to be a big blow to us, this now force us to make the next Nets game an almost a must win.

Your maths is way off. Nets have the tie breaker over Heat.

We can tank the rest of the games no problems.

The only scenario for Heat to gain 6 seed is for them to win out and also Nets lose both of the next 2 games.

Nets only need to beat the Magic tomorrow to clinch the 6 seed. If they fail that, they can beat us to get the 6 seed. They only need one win out of the next two.

Unless we become stupid and try to win the game vs Nets, we will be seeing Nets in round 1. Last game vs nets we need to give the G leaguer a look.

Another scenario is Nets deliberately tank the last two games to avoid us which is highly unlikely.

[76ciology]

If we're looking ahead at who we may be playing, wouldn't we prefer to lose to Brooklyn on Sunday to ensure that they stay in the 6th spot? Do we officially have the 3 seed on lock at this point? If so, I would prefer we lose to Brooklyn to avoid Miami.

Exactly my thoughts. Thats why I find this loss to be a big blow to us, this now force us to make the next Nets game an almost a must win.

Your maths is way off. Nets have the tie breaker over Heat.

We can tank the rest of the games no problems.

The only scenario for Heat to gain 6 seed is for them to win out and also Nets lose both of the next 2 games.

Nets only need to beat the Magic tomorrow to clinch the 6 seed. If they fail that, they can beat us to get the 6 seed. They only need one win out of the next two.

Unless we become stupid and try to win the game vs Nets, we will be seeing Nets in round 1. Last game vs nets we need to give the G leaguer a look.

Another scenario is Nets deliberately tank the last two games to avoid us which is highly unlikely.

Ohh.. yeah ur right. My bad there.

Yes, we need to activate Jordan Springer and Tracy McClung

That explains why Heat only has 5% chance to move to 6th. My bad

[Bum Adebayo]

Worst thing? It'll put a bug in people's ears about Embiid and the MVP. I know it shouldn't matter but these guys will use anything. Moronic franchise.

Meh I don't think so, Jokic didn't play vs Suns, at this point it's sealed I think. Besides, it's not like Embiid had a bad game, he just didn't shoot much.

[Negrodamus]

Exactly my thoughts. Thats why I find this loss to be a big blow to us, this now force us to make the next Nets game an almost a must win.

Your maths is way off. Nets have the tie breaker over Heat.

We can tank the rest of the games no problems.

The only scenario for Heat to gain 6 seed is for them to win out and also Nets lose both of the next 2 games.

Nets only need to beat the Magic tomorrow to clinch the 6 seed. If they fail that, they can beat us to get the 6 seed. They only need one win out of the next two.

Unless we become stupid and try to win the game vs Nets, we will be seeing Nets in round 1. Last game vs nets we need to give the G leaguer a look.

Another scenario is Nets deliberately tank the last two games to avoid us which is highly unlikely.

Ohh.. yeah ur right. My bad there.

Yes, we need to activate Jordan Springer and Tracy McClung

That explains why Heat only has 5% chance to move to 6th. My bad

Don’t forget Louis Bernard King.

[HardenGoat]

Part of why they didn’t play hard was to avoid an injury. That’s exactly what happened to Harden down the 2021 stretch. You can’t read too much into the final games especially when winning wouldn’t change their seeding.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Speaking of injury...Is Melton ok?

[Jay555]

Part of why they didn’t play hard was to avoid an injury. That’s exactly what happened to Harden down the 2021 stretch. You can’t read too much into the final games especially when winning wouldn’t change their seeding.

Exactly. Heat were playing to survive. Different mentality.

[mjkvol]

Part of why they didn’t play hard was to avoid an injury. That’s exactly what happened to Harden down the 2021 stretch. You can’t read too much into the final games especially when winning wouldn’t change their seeding.

You can't read a damn thing into games like this. Once your playoff seed is locked in, it's going through the motions, trying to stay healthy, and doing just enough to remain sharp.

If pro players went through the Jekyll and Hyde swings that some fans do after every win or loss, they would be out of the league in a year. Win, and we're a real contender, lose, and we're 2nd round fodder that might not win the 1st round. Win, or should we tank to plan who we want to play, and on and on. Insanity.

[Eyeamok]

So I turned on he game just as the TNT crew were saying that the 76ers were going to give "Tucker" a new contract because he jelled so well with Embiid. I was like what? What did I miss. Is there anyway Doc goes all out to win the last game against the Nets so the 76ers are playing "well" going into the playoffs.

[rzzzzz]

Time to play our G-league stars. (Or are they too good and we have a better chance of helping the Nets nail down 6 by just playing our regular bench?)

[Bum Adebayo]

I just don't get why we did play Embiid and Harden if they played at half effort. In the end we lost by a lot and they are more tired compared to them not playing.
I love this team, but we need to take better decisions.

[76ciology]

Heat can beat the Celts in the first round.

no they can't

their gimmick zone only bodies us and they don't have enough offense to keep up with the celts

Their zone is not a gimmick.

Their zone allows them to play Herro or Dipo for long stretches. Which artificially impacts the game like a 3rd star because it hides him on defense. Celts third best scorer is Brogdon at 14ppg.

Heat then have 3 20ppg scorers in Jimmy (averaging 26 last 15games), Bam and Herro. With competent 2 way shooters like Vincent and Struss (both shooting 40% last 15 games)also dipo, lowry and martin. Which WILL get into close games in most games. Refs also play their part in this.

Then I’d take Jimmy and the Heat in crunch time than Tatum (i find him struggling this season) and the Celts.

They almost beat the Celts last season in the playoffs. They split their head to head this season, with Heat winning the last two.

Heat has turn it up lately. Top 5 offense with 119 ORtg the last 15 games. Top team in crunch time 8-2 last 10 with +48NetRtg.

[GoSixersBro]

no they can't

their gimmick zone only bodies us and they don't have enough offense to keep up with the celts

Their zone is not a gimmick.

Their zone allows them to play Herro or Dipo for long stretches. Which artificially impacts the game like a 3rd star because it hides him on defense. Celts third best scorer is Brogdon at 14ppg.

Heat then have 3 20ppg scorers in Jimmy (averaging 26 last 15games), Bam and Herro. With competent 2 way shooters like Vincent and Struss (both shooting 40% last 15 games)also dipo, lowry and martin. Which WILL get into close games in most games. Refs also play their part in this.

Then I’d take Jimmy and the Heat in crunch time than Tatum (i find him struggling this season) and the Celts.

They almost beat the Celts last season in the playoffs. They split their head to head this season, with Heat winning the last two.

Heat has turn it up lately. Top 5 offense with 119 ORtg the last 15 games. Top team in crunch time 8-2 last 10 with +48NetRtg.

This man 76ciology is back for blood.