East 1st Round - Game #5: Bullets @ 76ers 7 PM (NBA TV/NBCSW/1500 AM)

[dobrojim]

Davis seriously needs a personal trainer and to spend this off-season working on his conditioning.

It also wouldn’t hurt to get better at doing a number of other things
so when he has an off shooting game, he’s not a total detriment to
the team.

[dobrojim]

Wiz really need to use Mathews this game for significant minutes - if for nothing else than to provide a threat that spreads the defense. And play Gil some for defense, smarts, and an occasional open 3. I trust him over Hutchison. Hutchison and Len's value might be in their 6 fouls. Obvy, we need Beal and Russ to have good games - limiting unforced errors. Rui can't get in foul trouble, and it'd be great if he can have a repeat performance. Hopefully he's past the dear in the headlights look phase. He can and should out-play Harris.

Agree with much of this. Re Rui, I think it’d be more fair or realistic to say
he might outplay Harris and if he does, it would be a huge boost to our chances.
Rui has never had a game in his career close to what Harris did in gm 1.
Tonight would be a good time to get one but I’d settle for simply him
playing hard nosed D without getting in foul trouble ie keeping Harris
under 20, especially since without Embiid, Harris is their first, second and
third option.

BTW, stay home on shooters. Russ/Beal, I am talking to you.

[Ruzious]

Wiz really need to use Mathews this game for significant minutes - if for nothing else than to provide a threat that spreads the defense. And play Gil some for defense, smarts, and an occasional open 3. I trust him over Hutchison. Hutchison and Len's value might be in their 6 fouls. Obvy, we need Beal and Russ to have good games - limiting unforced errors. Rui can't get in foul trouble, and it'd be great if he can have a repeat performance. Hopefully he's past the dear in the headlights look phase. He can and should out-play Harris.

Agree with much of this. Re Rui, I think it’d be more fair or realistic to say
he might outplay Harris and if he does, it would be a huge boost to our chances.
Rui has never had a game in his career close to what Harris did in gm 1.
Tonight would be a good time to get one but I’d settle for simply him
playing hard nosed D without getting in foul trouble ie keeping Harris
under 20, especially since without Embiid, Harris is their first, second and
third option.

BTW, stay home on shooters. Russ/Beal, I am talking to you.

Plus 1 on that last point. Philly is not a good 3 point shooting team, but if you give them open 3's, they'll make their fair share. If you defend them, they won't. And with no double-team needed on their centers, it becomes actually easy to defend them. Watching Milwaukee defend Miami - with both Butler and Bam refusing to shoot from more than 10 feet out; it's the same thing with Howard and Simmons. If you force them out of the paint, they become offensive liabilities. And let Thybulle have all the 12 to 20 footers he wants. And Green has become such a 3 point specialist that I doubt he can make mid-range shots anymore. Maxey will make open shots but miss contested shots. Same with Milton. And Harris won't beat you if you defend him adequately. Just play smart D, and they're not a good playoffs offense without Embiid.

[nate33]

Deserve has nothing to do with it.

It's about attempting to match the Sixers physicality to grind out a win in an elimination game now that we no longer have Bertans available.

In that case, give the start to Gafford or even Gil (or Mathews for that matter but he's not physical either), he's looked better than Hutchinson this year.

I did mention a starting lineup of Westbrool/Beal/Hutchinson/Hachimura/Gafford.

I'd go with that lineup too.

I think Mathews should get minutes, but I don't think he has the defensive chops to start against that Philly front line. Mathews can play when Thybulle is in the game.

[dlts20]

Embiid with a small meniscus tear and Russ has to be due some time soon, right? I'm starting to feel confident. Harris will cool off and Simmons has to be mentally down after last game. Start strong and create some doubt, not only for this game but the series. On top of that again, for all of Embiids greatness, he has proven to be fragile mentally.

If we go back home for game 6 with the crowd going nuts and Joel has to feel the pressure of carrying them on a bad knee then I like our chances to get into his head, especially if Russ can start going beast mode again. I could even see Embiid being slower to move on defense, causing our guys to get him into foul trouble. Offensively, will he be confident doing all those dream shakes? Take it boys. It's there

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Good chance Embiid doesn’t play the rest of this series.

[Ruzious]

From Rotowire.com:

Diagnosed with small meniscus tear
June 2, 2021
Embiid (knee) has been diagnosed with a small meniscus tear and will be day-to-day after sitting out Wednesday's Game 5 against the Wizards, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Embiid has avoided a truly serious knee injury, but even a small meniscus tear puts his availability in question for the rest of the series, if not the rest of the playoffs. Even without Embiid, the Sixers will still be favored to close out the series against the Wizards, but if the big man misses multiple games it certainly jeopardizes the team's chances to advance deep into the postseason. As long as Embiid is sidelined, expect Dwight Howard and Mike Scott to see increased run at center.

We're going 7 games - bet the mortgage and the kids on it!

[mhd]

Gafford can dominate the paint if there is no Embiid. He had Harris shook from driving inside during the last game.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

This is going to be a tough one to win in my book even without Embiid. Philly is going back home where they are tough to beat and may be playing off adrenaline in wake of Embiid news. We are going to have to survive the inevitable haymaker they are going to throw at us in the beginning of the game and do better at guarding the three.

[pancakes3]

Phily can't win without Harris going for 30. Harris will have a tough time going for 30 if he has a man in his face. However, this doesn't mean that we can leave Simmons to double*.

I keep seeing people leave Simmons, which is hilarious for a screen grab, but the reason Simmons can have success despite being a complete nullity from deep is that if you lave him wide open, he'll just get the the rim and yam it and/or draw fouls. It's the same way Giannis has success.

*can't double off Curry or Green either, so basically, can't double Harris. Dude needs to be face-guarded and ball-denied.

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[Ruzious]

Neither Hutchison or Mathews will start. Instead, it will be Neto. So, we will have defensive size issues against Philly's starting lineup. And Neto is going to have to contribute something offensively - at least make his open shots.

[dobrojim]

Phily can't win without Harris going for 30. Harris will have a tough time going for 30 if he has a man in his face. However, this doesn't mean that we can leave Simmons to double*.

I keep seeing people leave Simmons, which is hilarious for a screen grab, but the reason Simmons can have success despite being a complete nullity from deep is that if you lave him wide open, he'll just get the the rim and yam it and/or draw fouls. It's the same way Giannis has success.

*can't double off Curry or Green either, so basically, can't double Harris. Dude needs to be face-guarded and ball-denied.

I think the thing with Simmons is simply not allow him to get to the restricted area.
They back off him daring him to shoot and instead he simply drives until the defense
allows him to be at the rim where he shoots very well. Stop the drive!

[Ruzious]

Phily can't win without Harris going for 30. Harris will have a tough time going for 30 if he has a man in his face. However, this doesn't mean that we can leave Simmons to double*.

I keep seeing people leave Simmons, which is hilarious for a screen grab, but the reason Simmons can have success despite being a complete nullity from deep is that if you lave him wide open, he'll just get the the rim and yam it and/or draw fouls. It's the same way Giannis has success.

*can't double off Curry or Green either, so basically, can't double Harris. Dude needs to be face-guarded and ball-denied.

I think it'll be harder for Simmons without Embiid there - since Howard doesn't have to be guarded when he's more than 10 feet from the hoop. That allows us to pack the middle, so there's an extra defender near the basket.

[dobrojim]

Neither Hutchison or Mathews will start. Instead, it will be Neto. So, we will have defensive size issues against Philly's starting lineup. And Neto is going to have to contribute something offensively - at least make his open shots.

Our winning percentage soars when he at least scores double figures.

If he doesn’t score then he can’t be exploited defensively either.

Whoever plays has to defend well. Period.

I’d like to think Gill or Mathews are also capable of making plays.
Show me. Mathews drawing fouls for moving screens. Gill taking
a charge, something.

[dobrojim]

Rui needs to defend without fouling. Harris is an outstanding FT shooter.
Show us you’ve arrived.

[EDC10]

Split minutes between Gill, Hutch and Matthews. If we defend the three point line, and rebound, we win the game.

[Tyrone Messby]

Westbrook goes HAM tonight. We are bringing this series back to cap one.

[FAH1223]

Ben Simmons is starting at C.

Thybulle is inserted in starting lineup.

[80sballboy]

Great move by Doc to start Simmons at center.