The Miami Heat travel to the City of Brotherly Love this Saturday to open their postseason campaign against the Philadelphia 76ers, who make their return to the playoffs after years of missing it. Read on for a preview of the Game 1 of this series that is expected to be physical and full of drama.
The Heat are coming off the heels of a 116-109 overtime home win against the No. 1 East seed Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, which was a confidence booster for Miami ahead of the playoffs. If the Heat need more confidence, then they could get that from a Rotoworld update on Joel Embiid that says the Sixers big man is unlikely to play in the season opener. If Embiid would get ultimately ruled out, then the Heat’s frontcourt tandem of Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo should be able to capitalize. Whiteside has been solid in the four meetings with Philly in the regular season in which he put up 15.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks. With Embiid not around, expect plenty of chicken barbecues to be cooked in the shaded area in Philly this Saturday.
The Heat are 5-3 ATS in their last eight trips to the Sixers’ court.
With Embiid unlikely to play in Game 1, the Sixers are going to depend more than usual on super rookie Ben Simmons, who has been doing an admirable job of running the offense of Philly. Simmons finished the regular season with a fantastic stat line of 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. Embiid’s absence could also put a heavier workload on JJ Redick, the team’s second leading scorer with 17.1 points per game, though, it would be easier for the Heat to cover him in the perimeter without Embiid attracting plenty of attention down low. In lieu of Embiid, the Sixers are going to increase the minutes of Richaun Holmes and veteran big man Amir Johnson.
The Sixers, who are averaging 109.8 points per game, are 10-SU and 8-2 ATs in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction:
Miami wins and banks game 1 in round 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, 103-101.
