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Arsenal wrote:Dual MVPs of the game:

Nicolas Batum and Caleb Martin for turning the momentum by giving free chicken.

Low key MVP Tyler Herro for bricking everything until the 4th, if he hit half of the shots he took, game would have been over at the half.

Murray_17 wrote:I'll give Nurse credit for benching Tobias on the 4th.

The credit for busting the zone is on Batum and Hield for hitting shots. That opened the rest of the game.

Batum said it post-game. 1st half they were hesitating and trying to force it to Embiid who was being swarmed. 2nd half they let it fly. Absolutely cannot turn down open 3s against zone.

Start the prayer circle for Yimmy to get 100% healthy for Saltics!

Damn, I'd hate watching games with some of you guys. If you can't enjoy the hell out of a game like that, why even watch playoff basketball?

Great, gritty team win. Embiid was clearly not himself, but huge contributions from Oubre and especially Batum, who made his acquisition worth it just tonight alone. The upgrade from Glenn to Nurse never showed itself more this season than the way the Sixers came out and in the second half and attacked the zone while amping up their defense.

Fantastic move by Nick to get Tobias the hell out of the game down the stretch and go with Oubre and Batum. Lowry's veteran presence was a factor, and Buddy, despite the missed layup, had some good minutes. Even Payne hit a big 3.

But the biggest factor? Free chicken! That completely changed the mood in WFC, and the Sixers responded and came to life. Really fun game to watch, and now some good rest and bring on the Knicks.

Nothing is going to come easy this playoff season...Nothing.

Negrodamus wrote:God, DeRozan would be so nice here instead of bums like Tobias.

Korkmaz would probably be an upgrade at this point

When teams sell out on Maxey and Joel. They need the role guys to be aggressive and hit shots. Batum and Oubre did exactly what I knew they would, attacked. I think Lowry and to some degree Hield deserve credit with their decisions too. The issues at the first half was that they were looking for the easy shot rather than taking what was there. Miami actually went away from the zone in the 2nd half and it is why they won the game.

I think they wore themselves out, but at the end of the day spo should've just kept at it

Embiid will be fine. He’s just out of condition.

GOAT level response.

Bum Adebayo wrote:Batum was a 10, Oubre a 9 tonight, amazing what passion and energy can do to change a game!

2 out of his 3 made shots (9 FGA, 33%) were assisted by Embiid. I guess shooting 33% is a 9 in your book. Unless you're trolling to get a rise out of people; then it makes sense.

Nurse said he didn't play Tobias down the stretch because he looked tired

I'm not nearly so down on Tobias as a lot of you guys are, but Tobias would not have made that gamewinning 3pt play with under a minute to go.

FlyingArrow wrote:I'm not nearly so down on Tobias as a lot of you guys are, but Tobias would not have made that gamewinning 3pt play with under a minute to go.

Tobi wouldn’t have played defense like Batum or hit the threes at that volume. He’s washed. Couldn’t even make layups under the basket

Negrodamus wrote:

Bum Adebayo wrote:Batum was a 10, Oubre a 9 tonight, amazing what passion and energy can do to change a game!

2 out of his 3 made shots (9 FGA, 33%) were assisted by Embiid. I guess shooting 33% is a 9 in your book. Unless you're trolling to get a rise out of people; then it makes sense.

It was his defense that changed the game, and then the two key made FT in crunch time. He was disrupting the lanes and making life tough for Heat players.

Sixers played dumb in the first half. Heat zone is not that good without Bam in the middle, Maxey needed to attack off the dribble and instead the team passed around the perimeter, looked hesitant on threes and overdribbled on the perimeter.

Started attacking in the second half, Heat lack athletes other than Bam, and everyone did something in that second half. That first half was calling for some Cam Payne speed and penetration and some Ricky energy.

Murray_17 wrote:Nurse said he didn't play Tobias down the stretch because he looked tired

he even lies better than Doc


Doc would have ended up saying something that makes the situation worse

76ciology wrote:Embiid will be fine. He’s just out of condition.

One thing I'll say about Joel. I prefer him playing below the rim. It should lead to him getting less injured. I swear to God, he should play with those knee braces all season on both knees. He should play like Tim Duncan, he could even be better at it with his size and skill . Joel taking athletic chances is his biggest issue with injury.

His biggest role should be to take advantage of one on one play. Move the ball when defenses are over committing to him with easy passes. Set screens and space or crash if the lanes open. Catch and shoot from any spot on the floor. Offensive rebound and finish. Dominate the boards, and play good solid defense without attempting Anthony Edwards style dangerous blocks. He'll finish with 20-30 points and 15 boards every night like tonight. Win some DPOY awards and finals MVPs.

When teams are playing this level of defense, trying to fully run offense through him and trust in his decisions should not be the first move. Instead they should play faster, let Joel crash the offensive glass and set screens, and space the floor.

been saying that for years

he wants to be Kobe so bad tho

FlyingArrow wrote:I'm not nearly so down on Tobias as a lot of you guys are, but Tobias would not have made that gamewinning 3pt play with under a minute to go.

I keep thinking this same thing. Tobias is allergic to and 1 plays.

Nico Batum said postgame he was able to block Tyler Herro's 3 in the clutch because the Sixers coaching staff showed him the exact the play the Heat ended up running just a minute before.

"Coaches showed me that play literally like a minute before. So I was expecting that play."

Coaching our boys up.