Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Hawks have tied their series with the Sixers.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brett Smith/USA Today.)
The Hawks hung around and, suddenly, they’re in a best-of-three with the #1 seed in the East.
But the first half looked much like the previous two games for the Sixers. They were pretty much dominant, even leading by 18 at one point. The Hawks only made a third of their shots and it looked really bleak coming into the second half.
Atlanta woke up, though. They started hitting their shots and, in particular, John Collins got the crowd and team going with his electrifying dunks. Yes, we’ve heard before that a dunk is still only worth two points BUT it’s worth more than that if it gives the team a boost. Collins had two putback slams that definitely gave the Hawks some energy.
And by the start of the fourth quarter, Atlanta took the lead after a Bogdan Bogdanovic three. Still, we had a three-minute period where neither team could make a shot. I thought that, at the time, the Hawks were blowing golden opportunities. But on the other side, we’re seeing Joel Embiid completely struggle on the field. More on that later.
In actuality, it took 6 and a half minutes for Philly to make a field goal. Furkan Korkmaz made a big three to put the Sixers up four. But Trae Young made some big plays down the stretch (which he had been making all game, anyway). He was able to get the ball to Collins for a corner three. Then he went down the lane for a perfect floater. Embiid and Young exchanged free throws and the Hawks led by three with 6 seconds left. Officially, Seth Curry didn’t get his three-pointer off but it missed, anyway. Atlanta evens the series at two games apiece.
Embiid wasn’t making any excuses but he looked like he was struggling out there. He definitely didn’t have the usual bounce in his step and that looked obvious when he missed a bunny in the closing seconds of the game. Joel Embiid did end with 17 points and 21 boards but that 0-for-12 second half really stood out.
Trae Young set the table all game. He went for 25 points and 18 dimes. What’s even more impressive was that the Hawks only committed four turnovers, which seems ridiculous given the pace we saw in a lot of instances. The Hawks didn’t shoot a great percentage (.366) but they kept attacking, which is all you can ask for, sometimes. And if Embiid is indeed hobbled, Atlanta could take advantage. We all hate to see it and it’s, unfortunately, a part of the game.
Atlanta can do the unthinkable and return to the conference finals for the first time in 6 years. But Philly has enough offensive players on deck even with a gimpy Embiid. They’re not going down without a fight in their turf on Game 5.
Bullet Passes
The Clippers dumped on the Jazz early and tied their series at two games each. What IS worrisome, though, is that Utah still fought and got the 26-point deficit in the fourth down to 10 at one point. That could give momentum back to Utah.
Donovan Mitchell is not 100 percent but he still scored 37 to give the Jazz a puncher’s chance in Game 4. But Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (who’s had a very good playoffs for the most part) each scored 31.
And at the very least, the Clippers are finally taking advantage of the lack of Mike Conley, who still hasn’t played in this series.
If you really predicted that the Phoenix Suns are the first team to go to the conference finals while the remaining teams are slugging it out in a 2-2 series tie, I want to know your lottery numbers. Also, you’re either an irrational superfan or/and a terrible liar.
I’m laughing that Kawhi Leonard called the internet, “the web.” Also, I wonder what his AIM name is.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 14, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#1 Sixers tied with #5 Hawks, 2-2.
#2 Nets tied with #3 Bucks, 2-2.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#1 Jazz tied with #4 Clippers, 2-2.
#2 Suns defeat #3 Nuggets, 4-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
This was what “the web” was talking about. Kawhi Leonard’s possible Dunk of the Season on Derrick Favors.
😱 KAWHI LEONARD OH MY! 😱#NBAPlayoffs on TNT pic.twitter.com/eTfR1uW1ka
— NBA (@NBA) June 15, 2021
Embiid was definitely talking about it. And Mitchell had a classic reaction.
😳 pic.twitter.com/Ta1vTKUbfm
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 15, 2021
Donovan Mitchell was all of us. And he certainly didn’t do any favors for Derrick.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.