This is not Houston, but we have a problem.
Joel Embiid did not play in game one; it did not matter for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Ben Simmons had 17 points, 14 assists and was one rebound away from a triple-double in his playoff debut, and the Sixers rolled to a 130-103 victory over the Miami Heat for their 17th straight win.
The Sixers have stormed through the NBA since mid-March, and the Heat was just another victim in a winning streak that includes nine straight without Embiid.
If Miami is not careful, they will heat themselves to cooked out of the playoffs quickly especially when Embiid returns in the lineup.
“Can’t lose your mind over one game, if they won by 100 points or win by 1 point, it is still a loss,” Center Hassan Whiteside stated. “Both coaches will go to the drawing board both of the players will go to the drawing board, now it is game two.”
Whiteside in twelve minutes of play scored 2 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two blocks. Whiteside cannot be used as the excuse to the Heat woes. Moreover, Whiteside will not save this team in this series. If the Heat expects Whiteside to, you will have more problems for the remainder of the games ahead.
The Heat was a lost of words for Sixers subs Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli; the duo combined to hit four 3-pointers in the third quarter. Sixers used a 15-0 run in the third in their first postseason game in five seasons under head coach Brett Brown.
“I feel this group has something special in it,” coach Brett Brown said.
Brown, who won championships as an assistant in San Antonio, won 47 games his first three seasons as the Sixers underwent the Process they succeeded winning 52, plus Game 1 this season.
Now the Heat needs to Ring the Liberty Bell and wake up.
The Heat shot 26 percent in the third and were outscored 34-18. Sixers outscored the Heat 74-43 in the second half.
The first half was a different perspective. The Heat got production from James Johnson, and Kelly Olynyk helped them take a 60-56 lead at the break. Olynyk led the Heat with 26 points.
Things were too easy for Simmons who is arguably a 7-foot point guard. With Simmons quarterbacking this offense, Heat had 18 turnovers that led to 28 Philly points.
“Ultimately, they are beatable just like every other team, we just have to figure it out,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade stated. “We have one game to try it. It didn’t work. Now we have another game to try it on their home floor.”
The Heat have nearly the same opportunity again to get their first win of the series. Embiid has cleared the concussion protocol but will not play in Game 2. Sixers coach Brown shared that the club does not have a clear idea of when Embiid might return.
Okay, let’s go heat.
