NBA Playoffs 2022 on Tuesday, 03.05.2022
With the start of the Conference Semifinals, it’s now down to the wire! One of the most exciting series to start tonight according to our NBA Playoffs schedule is between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Actually, I would have thought the Sixers had a good chance in the duel against the Floridians recently! However, the guests received some really bad news in the last few days, which had a huge impact on my present Heat 76ers tip.
In Game 6, the last game of the series against the Raptors, the Sixers were clearly ahead with four minutes to go when suddenly disaster struck. The Canadians’ star player, Pascal Siakam, unintentionally elbowed Joel Embiid in the face during a drive!
The Cameroonian then suffered a fracture of the eye socket and a concussion that will keep him out of action for at least two, but most likely three games – an absolute tragedy for the 76ers.
Philadelphia is enormously dependent on its massive centre! For just as the planets revolve around the sun, so does the Sixers’ game revolve around their superstar. After all, Embiid’s contribution was also decisive in the game against Toronto.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will not be happy about Embiid’s injury, of course, but there is no denying that the Floridians would have had their biggest problems in the duel at the five – even if Bam Adebayo is a perfectly capable man.
Apart from that, the top of the table is also much better staffed across the board than Philadelphia! The Sixers will now put James Harden – for lack of alternatives – more and more in the focus of their plays.
However, The Beard is not a “playoff guy”! At least the superstar traded from the Nets has never pulled up trees in the postseason. The enormous expectations that now weigh on him could thus become more of a burden.
The Heat, on the other hand, have an extremely well-built squad that helped them win against the Hawks and will serve them well in the upcoming Conference Semifinals.
For example, when Duncan Robinson had a slump this season, Miami could simply fall back on Max Strus and Victor Olapido. Having the luxury of not just five, but eight top-level players is a huge advantage.
Moreover, with Joel Embiid out, his designated man-to-man counterpart will breathe a sigh of relief.
Bam Adebayo is an excellent defensive force who would only have had real problems with the Cameroon man, but will in all likelihood provide excellent cover for the rest of the Phillies.
As long as Embiid is out, the Heat clearly have the advantage! However, if the Cameroonian does get involved later in the Series, Adebayo will have to try and avoid getting into early-foul trouble in the 1-on-1.
Without their battering ram, however, I think the Sixers simply lack a player who can dig through and upset Floridians’ buck-strong defence.
Philadelphia’s weak perimeter defense, on the other hand, poses a not insignificant problem for the visitors with Harden and Tyrese Maxey, which Miami could easily capitalize on.
The Floridians simply have to be considered the clear favourites – not only because of the prominent absence on the other side, but also because the home advantage is of enormous importance.
A win for the Philadelphia team, on the other hand, is traded at around 3.70 – depending on the exact provider
Summary: The Floridians are playing at home and also have the advantage of not having to worry about Joel Embiid. He is guaranteed to miss the first two games of this series.
This means that their real man on the five, Bam Adebayo, can turn to easier targets. No other Sixers player poses as much of a threat as the Cameroonian.
Now James Harden is indeed a superstar of calibre, but The Beard has never really been able to convince in the playoffs – especially when the hopes of an entire city rested on him.
My Heat 76ers tip: Floridians win their opener in style!
