Twice the Philadelphia 76ers have had a chance to take a stranglehold of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks . Twice the Sixers have failed to capitalize on that opportunity...
Trae Young, Hawks Erase 26-Point Deficit to Beat Joel Embiid, 76ers in Game 5
Jun 17, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21), Matisse Thybulle (22) and Seth Curry (31) during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Eastern Conference's top seed is on the brink of elimination in stunning fashion.
The Atlanta Hawks seized a 3-2 lead in their back-and-forth conference semifinal against the Philadelphia 76ers with a dramatic 109-106 victory in Wednesday's Game 5 at Wells Fargo Center. Trae Young led the way for the visitors, who will advance to the East Finals for the first time since the 2014-15 season with one more win after overcoming a 26-point deficit.
The visitors outscored Philadelphia by 21 points in the fourth quarter alone with Young putting his team on his back in an incredible showing.
HAWKS COME BACK VS. PHILLY 🔥
ATL erases a 26-point deficit to take a 3-2 series lead
Impressive outings from Joel Embiid and Seth Curry weren't enough for the 76ers, who will have to bounce back and win two games in a row in this best-of-seven series to prevail.
Trae Young's Superstardom Grows as Hawks Shock 76ers
Philadelphia is the No. 1 seed, but Atlanta already proved it can hang with the powerhouse by splitting the first four games and overcoming a double-digit lead in its last victory with Young taking over in crunch time.
It didn't look that way out of the gates on Wednesday.
The Hawks were lost on the defensive side with no answer for Embiid in the first quarter and then went ice cold on the offensive end on the way to 16 points in the second quarter. The end result was a daunting 22-point halftime deficit and a team that resorted to the desperate measure of intentionally hacking Simmons before intermission.
Although John Collins impressed on the inside, a big part of the problem was the lack of secondary scoring for Young from the wing players. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter each struggled with foul trouble and combined to shoot an ugly 0-of-8 from three-point range.
The only chance the Hawks had was someone else filling the void, and the bench unit did just that in the second half.
Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari and even Onyeka Okongwu provided a much-needed spark off the bench as the visitors gradually chipped away at the 26-point deficit. Even cracking the door open a bit was enough for Young, who burst through it in the fourth quarter with a legendary performance.
He scored 13 points in the final five minutes with a mix of floaters, pull-up jumpers and cold-blooded free throws. Philadelphia had no counter as the star guard silenced its crowd just like he did to Madison Square Garden in the first round.
Young is doing this at just 22 years old in his first ever playoffs. No moment has been too big for him, and he is now one win away from eliminating one of the best teams in the NBA and causing upheaval to the championship picture. And if he continues to play like this in crunch time, he will do just that.
76ers Melt Down in Dramatic Fashion
The biggest storyline coming into Wednesday's contest from Philadelphia's perspective was the status of Embiid.
After all, the star big man is playing through a knee injury and went 0-of-12 from the field in the second half of his team's Game 4 loss. The 76ers will fall well short of their championship goals if he continues to play like that, so they wasted little time establishing him on the blocks.
Embiid was dominant in the early going, making his first eight shots from the field as the home team jumped out to a commanding lead. He was fully engaged and even picked up a technical foul for jawing at Clint Capela following a monster Ben Simmons dunk.
Throw in Curry catching fire from deep and even working his way through the defense at times, and the 76ers were in full control well into the third quarter.
And then everything came crashing down.
Tobias Harris was invisible throughout the game and finished 2-of-11 from the field. The bench was a mess, which forced head coach Doc Rivers to bring back Embiid and Curry likely earlier than he planned as the lead shrunk to single digits.
Ben Simmons also missed 10 free throws, which is a major reason Atlanta intentionally fouled him multiple times. The defense that was also dialed in during the early going went missing as Young found openings throughout the fourth quarter, and Embiid even missed two clutch free throws at the end.
What's more, Embiid and Curry were the only 76ers to even make a field goal in the second half. That spelled disaster for the 76ers and a collapse they won't soon forget.
What's Next?
The series returns to Atlanta for Friday's Game 6.
Trae Young Talks Shoulder Injury After Hawks' Game 4 Win vs. 76ers: 'It's Just Sore'
Jun 15, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 14: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 2, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs on June 14, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young downplayed his shoulder injury following a 103-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
"It's just sore. I don't know. I don't know how to really explain it to you," Young told reporters after the game.
The 2019-20 All-Star also said he hadn't told head coach Nate McMillan about any issue related to his shoulder.
Fans initially had questions when Young took off his warm-up to reveal kinesiology tape on his right shoulder. The shoulder required additional maintenance early in the game.
Trae Young is 0-5 in 10 minutes, now sitting with a giant heat pack on his shoulder… pic.twitter.com/88vAMFoARE
It's somewhat befuddling how McMillan was kept in the dark.
"When he took off his warm-up, it was the first that I saw that," he said. "I haven’t gotten a report that he has an injury there, but obviously there is something going on with his shoulder there. He hasn't complained, and I haven't gotten a report that they were treating his shoulder."
Things worked out since Young scored a game-high 25 points and had 18 assists in the victory. However, he also shot 8-of-26 from the field and 3-of-11 from beyond the arc.
The 22-year-old has been the engine for the Atlanta offense. He averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists in the first round against the New York Knicks, and he's putting up a double-double (27.3 points, 11.8 rebounds) in the conference semifinals.
Needless to say, the Hawks could be in trouble if Young's injury is worse than he's letting on.
Of course, the Sixers are dealing with injury problems of their own. Joel Embiid's 0-of-12 shooting line in the second half raised concerns about his right knee.
The cliche about how teams simply need to survive and advance at this stage of the season appears apt regarding this series.
Trae Young, Hawks Rally Past Joel Embiid, 76ers in Game 4 Thriller to Even Series
Jun 15, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) looks to shoot against Philadelphia 76ers' Shake Milton (18) during the second half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, June 14, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The second-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks is now a best-of-three battle.
Atlanta evened the series at 2-2 with a 103-100 victory in Monday's Game 4 at State Farm Arena. Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, John Collins and Clint Capela led the way for the Hawks, who ensured there will be a Game 6 in Atlanta with the comeback win.
The defense also deserves plenty of credit, as it limited Joel Embiid throughout the second half including on a key possession in the final 10 seconds when he and Ben Simmons both missed chances that could have given their team the lead. Seth Curry also missed a three that could have forced overtime at the buzzer.
Double-doubles from Embiid and Simmons weren't enough for the 76ers, who will face plenty of pressure as the Eastern Conference's top seed with the series still hanging in the balance after blowing an 18-point lead in this one.
Notable Player Stats
Trae Young, G, ATL: 25 PTS, 18 AST, 4 REB
Bogdan Bogdanovic, G, ATL: 22 PTS, 5 REB
Clint Capela, C, ATL: 12 PTS, 13 REB
John Collins, F, ATL: 14 PTS, 12 REB
Joel Embiid, C, PHI: 17 PTS, 21 REB, 4 AST
Tobias Harris, F, PHI: 20 PTS, 5 REB
Ben Simmons, G, PHI: 11 PTS, 12 REB, 9 AST, 2 BLK
Trae Young and Defense Lead Balanced Effort for Hawks
Young has been one of the breakout stars of the NBA playoffs, and Monday's game was the closest thing he's faced to a must-win after cruising past the New York Knicks in the opening round.
While operating against Simmons' swarming defense is no easy task, he was under the spotlight as his team looked to avoid a 3-1 deficit. It didn't look great from the start, as the guard shot 3-of-12 from the field before intermission and had a large wrap on a shooting shoulder that was already taped when he was on the bench.
The team as a whole also struggled to convert easy opportunities at the rim as it fell behind by double digits in the early going, although Young's facilitating and timely scoring from Bogdanovic kept it within striking distance.
It would have been easy for the Hawks to fold with their star player struggling with his shot and the bench failing to score a single field goal until late in the third quarter as they fell behind by as many as 18 points, but they continued to feed on the crowd's energy and gradually chipped away at the deficit.
Collins electrified that crowd with multiple putback jams, and Young continued to put his teammates in ideal position to score until he finally found the net from deep to cut the lead to two heading into the fourth.
The defense spearheaded the effort for much of the fourth quarter with Capela drawing a key charge on Embiid and the rest of the team helping surround Philadelphia's star and make life particularly difficult for him.
That set the stage for Young to take over during the finishing stretch, and he assisted a Collins three-pointer, made a floater in the lane and connected on four free throws in the final three minutes to ice the win.
76ers Unable to Overcome Embiid's Struggles as They Blow Lead
Winning two straight contests to take the lead in this series wasn't all good news for the 76ers, as they lost Danny Green to a calf injury in Game 3. While he is only a role player, the importance of such absences has been clear with De'Andre Hunter out for the Hawks on the other side.
It also put more pressure on the other players for the visitors who were without one of their sharp-shooters, and they responded right out of the gates.
Philadelphia poured in 62 points in the first half alone to build a commanding 13-point lead. Curry caught fire from deep, Simmons and Embiid had their double-double by halftime, and Tobias Harris was efficient while attacking the lane and hitting from the outside.
With Simmons dishing out assists, Harris dialing in as a scorer and Embiid hitting fadeaway jumpers with impressive touch, it seemed as if Philadelphia would put the game away without much drama.
However, Embiid was never really the same after receiving treatment in the locker room during the first half, per the TNT broadcast. The entire team's offense went missing as he missed every shot he attempted in the second half and appeared to grimace multiple times as he fought through his knee injury.
The visitors saw their lead disappear completely as their star player labored through possessions. To his credit, he continued to rebound, which helped keep it close heading into crunch time.
Still, it was fitting when he missed a potential go-ahead shot at the rim on Philadelphia's penultimate possession. While the 76ers may ultimately win this series, it is difficult to envision them cashing in on championship hopes if Embiid isn't healthy and playing better than he did Monday.
What's Next?
The series shifts back to Philadelphia for Wednesday's Game 5.
NBA Rumors: 'Unnatural' Motions Like Trae's, Harden's Subject of Possible Rule Change
Jun 14, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 11: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 2, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs on June 11, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
There may be fewer free-throw attempts during the 2021-22 NBA season.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the league's competition committee met Monday and discussed potential rule changes regarding "unnatural motions" such as leaning backward and sideways that players use in an effort to draw more fouls.
While Wojnarowski highlighted Trae Young and James Harden as two examples of "star players with greater usage and exposure who many people identify with this issue," he also pointed out "the league and teams generally see this as a universal problem throughout rosters that gives offenses too great of an advantage."
There are still multiple steps that have to be taken before any rule change is implemented.
The committee will discuss possible changes with the league's general managers to decide which motions it should recommend for elimination. After that, the recommendations will be brought to the league's Board of Governors, which will vote on the possible rule changes for 2021-22.
Frankly, there would be a number of benefits to eliminating the "unnatural motions" from the game.
It would lead to less frustration with officiating from defensive players and fans since such motions are only used to fool referees into making calls they shouldn't. It would benefit the flow of the game with fewer whistles and trips to the line and perhaps even improve the relationships with players and officials.
"Privately, team executives are expressing concern to the league office about the relentless strife and volume of players and coaches complaining to refs," Wojnarowski wrote in May when reporting on the same issue. "Even teams are worried it's turning off fans, and the league office knows it's an issue."
Fow now, these movements from offensive players will continue and remain a talking point, especially with players like Young and Harden still in the playoffs.
But there may be less frustration across the board as soon as next season.
Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons Lead 76ers to Game 3 Win over Trae Young, Hawks
Jun 12, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) is fouled by Atlanta Hawks forward Tony Snell (19), right, as Hawks forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Philadelphia 76ers took a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series after taking down the host Atlanta Hawks 127-111 on Friday in State Farm Arena.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid's 27 points guided six 76ers in double digits. He and Ben Simmons each posted 11 points in a third quarter that featured Philadelphia outscoring Atlanta 34-19 en route to a 95-75 lead going into the final 12 minutes.
The 76ers, who shot 58.2 percent from the field, never led by fewer than 13 in the fourth quarter.
Trae Young's 28 points paced the Hawks. John Collins added 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Atlanta struggled shooting from deep, however, hitting just 6-of-23 three-point shots.
The 76ers are now two wins away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2001.
Notable Performances
76ers C Joel Embiid: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists
On the 76ers' next possession, Simmons found shooting guard Seth Curry with a cross-court pass, and he responded with a corner three to kickstart an 11-0 run:
Overall, Simmons led a sensational third-quarter effort that effectively put the game out of reach, with Derek Bodner of The Athletic providing some relevant details.
Overall, the Sixers shot 12-19 from the field for 34 points in that third quarter, with 7 assists and 0 turnovers. Simmons and Embiid both had 11 in the quarter.
For starters, Simmons took advantage of some mismatches, with Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari struggling to contain the guard, as Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice noted:
Gallinari is having an extremely bad time with Simmons this quarter lol
On the other end, the 76ers' excellent defense led to quality offensive opportunities. An 11-0 third-quarter run turned a close 65-60 game into a commanding 76-60 lead, and that span featured five missed shots and a turnover from the Hawks. Of note, Young also scored just two third-quarter points.
Atlanta cut into Philadelphia's lead a bit in the fourth, but the 76er lead was never seriously threatened. Simmons played a pivotal role in that effort, and now, Philadelphia is one step closer to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Hawks Offense Held in Check
Atlanta had no answers for Simmons and Embiid, particularly in a third quarter that saw Philadelphia outscore the Hawks by 15 points.
The onus, therefore, was on the Hawks to try to keep pace offensively in a track meet.
That did not happen.
The Hawks needed Young to play the part of a superhero to win this one. He has largely been sensational in this year's playoffs and averaged 30.2 points per game through his first six contests, and ESPN Stats & Info shouted out his efforts before Friday's game began.
Trae Young has 202 points and 70 assists this postseason. He is the first player with at least 200 points and 70 assists through his first 7 career playoff games in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/yoMufendXa
However, he's (mostly) been held in check ever since Philadelphia made some defensive adjustments before Game 2 of this series. 76ers reporter Lauren Rosen quoted Philadelphia reserve guard George Hill, who complimented Simmons' efforts after Game 2.
George Hill on Ben Simmons' Game 2 defense against Trae Young:
"I think he's done a tremendous job - we need him to do it three more times. It's hard to stop the little guy, but I think Ben's done a good job of making it hard for him, making it tough."
Young is seeing more of Simmons, and that's clearly had an effect on his play. In Game 2, he shot just 6-of-16.
In Game 3, he went just 1-of-3 with two points and a turnover in a 76ers pivotal third quarter that gave Philadelphia a commanding edge.
Young did score 16 in the first half and added 10 more in the fourth as he continued to pile up the points, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with Philadelphia's efficient attack.
The Hawks largely struggled outside Young though.
Atlanta shot just 26.1 percent from three-point range. Outside Young, the team went just 3-of-17.
The Hawks also had just 20 first-quarter points and 19 in the third, and Philadelphia reserves also outscored the Atlanta bench 48-32.
Ultimately, Friday wasn't Atlanta's night, but this series is far from over as the matchup now moves to Game 4.
What's Next?
Atlanta will host Game 4 on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Joel Embiid, 76ers Even Series Against Trae Young, Hawks After 118-102 Game 2 Win
Jun 9, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, goes up for a shot against Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela during the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Philadelphia 76ers salvaged a split at home.
The Eastern Conference's top seed defeated the Atlanta Hawks 118-102 in Tuesday's Game 2 of their second-round playoff series at Wells Fargo Center. Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Seth Curry and Shake Milton led the way for the victors, who still have to win at least one game on the road to advance to the conference finals.
Notable showings from Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari weren't enough for the Hawks to steal each of the first two contests in Philadelphia.
Embiid, Harris and Shake Milton Power 76ers to Series Tie
Tuesday was the first true playoff pressure the 76ers have faced this postseason.
After all, they cruised past the outmatched Washington Wizards in five games and didn't even need Embiid in the final win. Atlanta is a different story, especially after it stole Game 1 on the road and seemed up to the challenge against the Eastern Conference's top seed.
They responded to that dialed-up pressure right out of the gate, as Harris torched the Hawks by backing down smaller defenders and getting into the lane. He was unstoppable as the 76ers jumped out to an 18-point lead in the opening minutes and helped set the tone in what felt like something of a must-win for the home team.
Embiid also dominated down low, while Curry caught fire from deep. It looked like the game would be over quickly, but Philadelphia's defense and second unit was nowhere to be found in the second quarter as Atlanta battled back and, once again, increased the pressure on the top seed.
While Harris took over in the first quarter, it was Embiid's turn in the third. The big man consistently got to the free-throw line as he poured in 17 points in the quarter alone. That effort, along with a buzzer-beating launch from just inside halfcourt by Milton, put a nervous crowd somewhat at ease heading to the fourth.
That Milton buzzer-beater may have been the most important shot of Philadelphia's season, as he took over to start the fourth quarter and put the game away. He threw an alley-oop to Dwight Howard, battled for boards and hit multiple three-pointers to bury the Hawks.
It was the lift the team was looking for all game when Embiid wasn't on the floor and gives the 76ers another weapon as they head to Atlanta for series-shifting games.
Hawks' Comeback Attempts Fall Short in Second Half
It would have been easy for the Hawks to simply go through the motions and accept their loss after already stealing Game 1.
That was especially true after Philadelphia jumped out to a commanding lead in the opening minutes with Harris controlling the offense and Ben Simmons chasing Young around on defense. Young couldn't find his shot from deep with bigger defenders in his air space, and the Hawks were fighting an uphill battle from the start.
Specifically, Huerter and Gallinari, who each scored 15 points in the first half while Philadelphia's bench went scoreless, showed up. They each hit three shots from outside to spearhead the comeback, and Embiid even picked up a technical foul when he pushed Gallinari as Philadelphia grew frustrated while the visitors pulled within two by intermission.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, as Atlanta battled back to take the lead after falling behind by double digits once again, with Bogdan Bogdanovic hitting threes. That it was well within striking distance even though it lost that lead before the fourth quarter felt like a win, especially since Young wasn't scoring like he typically does.
Still, Atlanta needed that scoring from Young if it was going to win another one on the road, and it never truly came with Simmons containing him for extended stretches.
The go-to option was 1-of-7 from three-point range and never took over like he did during Game 1 and in the first round against the New York Knicks. While he still finished with a solid stat line thanks in large part to his facilitating, he will need to be better if the Hawks—who scored just 18 points in the fourth—are going to win this series.
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