Hawks advance to face 76ers in 2nd Round of Playoffs

[Jamaaliver]

It's a David vs Goliath caliber matchup. We'll have to be on our 'A' Game. And Embiid is a trash talker, too. It's gonna be fun.

Can't wait!!!

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This'll be ground zero for predictions, analysis and friendly trash talk.

[Jamaaliver]

I'd say Philly has bigger guns, but Hawks have more weapons.

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I expect John Collins and DeAndre Hunter to really show out next series.

[HMFFL]

The Cap and Collins matchups with Philly are key. We must contain their frontcourt.

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[Jamaaliver]

Philly fans already overlooking the underdogs...didn't these guys see 'Rocky'?

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[Jamaaliver]

Stephen A. Smith believes Ben Simmons will cost Sixers a championship

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The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the top teams in the East thanks to the star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The two of them are among the top players in the game and they have each been named an All-Star multiple times.

However, while Simmons is a talented player, there are some obvious flaws in his game that get exploited a lot out on the floor on offense.

Washington used the Hack-a-Ben strategy and Simmons was not able to make enough free throws to force the Wizards out of that’s he went 5-for-11 from the line. He is also shooting just 25% from the line now in the series and he shot 53.3% from the line after the All-Star break to finish up the regular season and his lack of offense is an issue right now with Embiid day-to-day with the injury.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith hopped on First Take and he claims that Simmons’ lack of a jumper and subpar free-throw shooting will cost the Sixers a championship...

Simmons will eventually have to contribute more in terms of his scoring, especially with Embiid out for the moment. The pressure will be on both him and Tobias Harris to give more scoring.

USA Today

[tbhawksfan1]

Embiid injury could be a huge factor. If he's out, Trae becomes the clear best player on the floor.

I love that on the GB a lot of neutral fans are talking Hawks to win the series.

I think that we are watching the early stages of the best Atlanta Hawks team ever....

[jayu70]

Not much to learn from the regular season matchup.

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[shakes0]

so fired up now! If Embiid is out we win this thing. If he's in we're in big trouble.

[jayu70]

I just took a look at Trae's points and assists for games vs Philly last year and this year, in 5 games:
25/9
39/18
28/10
26/8
32/4

I get the concern with Simmons and Thybulle guarding him in the playoffs and those a regular season numbers, but still.

[shakes0]

I just took a look at Trae's points and assists for games vs Philly last year and this year, in 5 games:
25/9
39/18
28/10
26/8
32/4

I get the concern with Simmons and Thybulle guarding him in the playoffs and those a regular season numbers, but still.

I'm not concerned with Thybulle guarding him. Trae has his way with bigger guards who can't stay in front of him and Thybulle is no different. Thybulle's strength on defense is getting beat and then reaching from behind and poking/blocking the ball away. As long as Trae is conscious of the fact that Thybulle is always behind him and continues to protect the ball he will be fine.

I doubt Simmons spends much time on Trae unless they want to have some serious mismatches on the wing. If they want to put someone small on Hunter I'm happy to let him post up all game and carve the Sixers up.

[shakes0]

BTw, was anyone else shocked to hear how stupid/ignorant Reggie Miller is? The guy is a HOF and has probably seen over 1000 NBA games since he retired yet he doesn't know that after a made basket the game clock keeps running. Seriously, how can someone who's been in the NBA for basically the past 30+ years now know that?

I hope someone called him out on that later on and he is very embarrassed today.

[kg01]

BTw, was anyone else shocked to hear how stupid/ignorant Reggie Miller is? The guy is a HOF and has probably seen over 1000 NBA games since he retired yet he doesn't know that after a made basket the game clock keeps running. Seriously, how can someone who's been in the NBA for basically the past 30+ years now know that?

I hope someone called him out on that later on and he is very embarrassed today.

Apparently a lot of fans are unaware of that rule too but, then again, they're not HOF players who played in the league and who should know the rules like Miller.

IIUC, a bunch of folks got at him on twitter.

[shakes0]

BTw, was anyone else shocked to hear how stupid/ignorant Reggie Miller is? The guy is a HOF and has probably seen over 1000 NBA games since he retired yet he doesn't know that after a made basket the game clock keeps running. Seriously, how can someone who's been in the NBA for basically the past 30+ years now know that?

I hope someone called him out on that later on and he is very embarrassed today.

Apparently a lot of fans are unaware of that rule too but, then again, they're not HOF players who played in the league and who should know the rules like Miller.

IIUC, a bunch of folks got at him on twitter.

Sactowndog, our resident Bogi Stan and Trae hater was one of the dummies on the general board game thread ripping on Trae for "showboating by not picking up the ball". No surprise there.

[GTR11]

Embiid injury could be a huge factor. If he's out, Trae becomes the clear best player on the floor.

I love that on the GB a lot of neutral fans are talking Hawks to win the series.

I think that we are watching the early stages of the best Atlanta Hawks team ever....

Biid going to play. Will he be 100%? Hell no. That's opening door for you guys.

• can Nate expose Ben being offensive liability
• can Collins be that x factor guy this series
• can your guards expose their guards because they very limited.

You cover two of those three questions and ATL is in very good place. Gallo needs to wake up and that kid Hunter needs to keep it up. Damn, he's balling right now.

[GTR11]

Good luck to you guys. Hopefully we'll meet in ECF. Thanks for having me during duh nix series, it was pleasure.

[jayu70]

Embiid injury could be a huge factor. If he's out, Trae becomes the clear best player on the floor.

I love that on the GB a lot of neutral fans are talking Hawks to win the series.

I think that we are watching the early stages of the best Atlanta Hawks team ever....

Biid going to play. Will he be 100%? Hell no. That's opening door for you guys.

• can Nate expose Ben being offensive liability
• can Collins be that x factor guy this series
• can your guards expose their guards because they very limited.

You cover two of those three questions and ATL is in very good place. Gallo needs to wake up and that kid Hunter needs to keep it up. Damn, he's balling right now.

I need our 2 high priced FAs in Bogi and Gallo to not disappear, especially Gallo. At least if Bogi's shot is not falling he is finding other ways to impact the game running the offense, defending and rebounding. If Gallo's shot is not falling, he's a dud.
Collins will most likely be matched up against Tobias Harris.
Hunter on Simmons.
It's going to be interesting to see who gets the Trae Young assignment to start.

[GTR11]

Embiid injury could be a huge factor. If he's out, Trae becomes the clear best player on the floor.

I love that on the GB a lot of neutral fans are talking Hawks to win the series.

I think that we are watching the early stages of the best Atlanta Hawks team ever....

Biid going to play. Will he be 100%? Hell no. That's opening door for you guys.

• can Nate expose Ben being offensive liability
• can Collins be that x factor guy this series
• can your guards expose their guards because they very limited.

You cover two of those three questions and ATL is in very good place. Gallo needs to wake up and that kid Hunter needs to keep it up. Damn, he's balling right now.

I need our 2 high priced FAs in Bogi and Gallo to not disappear, especially Gallo. At least if Bogi's shot is not falling he is finding other ways to impact the game running the offense, defending and rebounding. If Gallo's shot is not falling, he's a dud.
Collins will most likely be matched up against Tobias Harris.
Hunter on Simmons.
It's going to be interesting to see who gets the Trae Young assignment to start.

See this exactly what I ment.

•Bogs and TRAE clearly have advantages vs Philly guards. Thybulle is great D player, can't make jump shot if his life depends on it. Green washed up, Seth can't guard chair, Korkmaz no different.
• Collins can ball. Can he be a force after PnR and take his man down low, give me some easy baskets. Can he match same production that Tobby brings on the table.
• With Biid being hurt, Capella needs to hold his own and let guards do the damage. Most likely he'll be a beneficiary with easy baskets.

It's clear as day that your guards will be key to this series. If they'll expose the likes Korkmaz, Seth etc than this is a ball game Philly don't want. If it ain't the case, well let's find out.

[Jamaaliver]

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[MasterIchiro]

Rooting for you guys but for the love of Dominique Wilkins can Gallinari not crap his pants in this series? Painful to watch. Hawks also missed so many wide open threes vs. the Knicks. Very frustrating because they thoroughly outplayed the Knicks but played most games in the series back-and-forth. You simply cannot afford to miss open looks vs. the Sixers. Do some justice for the talent on this team. It doesn't mean squat if you don't execute. Nerves? Well, you made it past the first round. Time to relax and hit your shots.

[atlantabbq99]

Not much to learn from the regular season matchup.

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This is a useless stat, because Hawks were 0-3 vs the Knicks in the reg season and look how it turned out in the Playoffs...