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Hawks head back to Philly with blueprint for limiting Joel Embiid



It’s a different series for the Hawks now. A big question before it started was how effective Embiid could be when playing with what the Sixers say is slightly torn cartilage in his right knee. Embiid seemed to provide an answer in the first three games. He wore out the Hawks while averaging 35 points with a 56.7. effective field-goal percentage and 10.3 rebounds.
In a weird way, it might be better for the Hawks if Embiid is out there doing his best. The Sixers run their offense through him, and the Hawks have seen how he can dominate. Embiid can do it all with the ball: score in the post, bully his way to the basket, make midrange jump shots and 3-pointers, pass, draw fouls.

But it’s clear now that Embiid can perform at his normal level for only so many minutes.

Embiid might rise again for Game 5. He will have only one day of rest between games, as opposed to two between games 3 and 4. But perhaps being back in Philadelphia will energize him. More motivation for Embiid, a master Twitter troll: He knows he will be clowned if the top-seeded Sixers are eliminated by the Hawks after leading the series 2-1.

Still, none of those factors will heal the torn cartilage in Embiid’s right knee.

“There are no excuses,” Embiid said. “I’ve got to do better.”

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nba/article252143418.html#storylink=cpy

Jamaaliver wrote:Kawhi is out injured.

CP3 is out with Covid.

When do we hear Embiid's availability?!?

Read on Twitter

HMFFL wrote:We will show much the refs are a factor tonight knowing that Embiid is hurting more and more

D21 wrote:

HMFFL wrote:We will show much the refs are a factor tonight knowing that Embiid is hurting more and more

I really hope last game was like that because of McMillan game plan, and that he told John and Clint to not try to block Embiid or steal him the ball. The smallest contact has been called by the refs. It's like Rivers asked them to protect him as he's injured, and even if it's not there job, they are doing it a bit.
Don't forget that their 18pts lead was built during a 6 minutes stretch where they were foul free while ATL got something like 4 or 5 fouls!

And last game proves that Embiid faking a 3pts shot then trying to penetrate but stoping for a long 2 is our best option. But not leaving too much free at 3pts, we got a bit lucky because he could have hit one or two more shots.
The main difference was to keep him in front of the basket between FT line and 3pts line, and he has few shots under the basket compared to the previous game :

Jamaaliver wrote:My not so bold prediction:

Trae goes crazy tonight after being snubbed yet again for All NBA status.

DirtybirdGA wrote:Blowout loss coming, they weren't ready to play tonight.

HMFFL wrote:Embiid has yelled at the refs for a foul the last two times he scored.