Three(3) Players who must step up for the 76ers to beat the Heat as Joel Embiid Returns to Sixers Practice to Prepare for Miami Heat
The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Miami Heat tomorrow night for the seventh seed in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Here are three players who should step up for Philly.
After six months of regular season action, the Philadelphia 76ers are poised to go to war in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, though they will have to go through a pesky test in the play-in tournament to secure the seventh seed in the East.
Tomorrow, the 76ers host the No. 8 Miami Heat for the right to challenge the second-seeded New York Knicks. No offense to the Knickerbockers, but they would be a much more favorable matchup for both Philly and Miami compared to the top-seeded Boston Celtics, who basically breezed through the regular season.
Havibg said that, if the 76ers want to get a guaranteed playoff spot right away, here are three players who must especially rise to the occasion.
3. Buddy Hield
Having suited up for two teams this season, Buddy Hield has actually been very familiar with Miami’s stylings this season as he’s faced them for a total of five games. Unofrtunately, the veteran sharpshooter has been largely contained by the Erik Spoelstra-coached team, averaging just 11 points per game on a ghastly 27 percent conversion rate from rainbow country.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey will get their numbers, but if the 76ers solely rely on their 1-2 scoring punch, the Heat would gladly take it while stopping everyone else. And in account of Miami’s wheelings and dealings on their defensive tactics, Hield’s A-game will be of utmost importance in this game.
Miami has an aggressive defensive M.O., and Hield punishing the Heat whenever they resort to the zone could be a game-changer. After all, he’s not only a lethal, gravity-flaunting perimeter force — the veteran has been a reliable connector this year as a secondary playmaking hub off close-outs and an improved rim driver.
2. De’Anthony Melton
Despite having just returned from a lengthy absence due to injury, De’Anthony Melton will be slated for another re-baptism by fire tomorrow as he will likely be asked to defend and cover Miami’s three, dangerous guards in Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, and the much improved Duncan Robinson.
Philadelphia ranks sixth in the league in opponent three-point shooting percentage, and they will need to summond just that and crank it up even higher to secure a win against the oftentimes offensively-challenged Heat. Should Melton manage to slow down Miami’s backcourt cogs, the 76ers should have a good chance of outscoring the Heat en route to a victory.
1. Tobias Harris
The easiest shoo-in on this list, Philadelphia’s fate could very well be decided by which version of Tobias Harris suits up. Will the 76ers have the efficient tertiary scorer who can punish mismatches and be physical on defense against Jimmy Butler? Or will they once again grow wear of the version of his who tends to disappear for long stretches on both ends?
This season, the 76ers are 18-9 when Harris registers at least 20 points in a game, which is far from surprising given Philly’s more eclectic attack when he’s able to capitalize on the tremendous defensive pressure wreaked by Embiid and Maxey. It’s not off-tangent from Miami’s brain trust to encourage Harris to shoulder the scoring load and gang up on the two All-Stars, and if so, his performance will be the decider.
Joel Embiid Returns to Sixers Practice to Prepare for Miami Heat
Joel Embiid was present for the Philadelphia 76ers’ Monday practice.
As they prepare for the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t taking any time off between their regular season finale against the Brooklyn Nets and their Wednesday night matchup against the Miami Heat.
For Wednesday’s game, the Sixers hope to see the return of their star center, Joel Embiid. Since battling back from a meniscus injury, which required surgery in February, Embiid has missed two matchups. The finale on Sunday was one of them.
Heading into the game, Embiid was listed as questionable on the injury report, which has been a trend throughout the month. While his presence was expected, considering Sunday’s game posed as a must-win for Philadelphia, the Sixers were cautious.
Embiid was ruled out against Brooklyn. It turned out to be the right move, as the Sixers found a way to win without the seven-time All-Star. Although the Sixers were confident Embiid would be ready for Wednesday’s game against Miami, nobody outside of the organization could be so sure.
On Monday, the Sixers returned to practice to begin preparing for the Play-In. Embiid was a participant in the session, according to the head coach, Nick Nurse.
While participating in practice doesn’t guarantee clearance for Wednesday’s game, it’s a major step in the right direction towards returning.
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