Philadelphia 76ers have been essentially the most spectacular NBA workforce within the postseason

Recreation 4 towards the Brooklyn Nets is a sport that will usually be a disappointing loss for the “Belief the Course of” period Philadelphia 76ers. The chance to shut out a first-round collection towards an inferior workforce, together with a Joel Embiid harm to navigate.

In 2021, the consequence was a Recreation 4 loss to the Washington Wizards when up 3-0 as the highest seed within the Japanese Convention — Philly went on to shut out the collection in 5 video games. Final season they have been up 3-0 towards the Toronto Raptors. The 76ers misplaced two in a row earlier than defeating the Raptors in six video games.

There’s no ‘I’ in workforce

Embiid suffered a knee harm throughout Recreation 4 of Wizards collection, and performed via a torn thumb in his capturing hand towards the Raptors. He limped via the 76ers’ Recreation 3 win towards the Nets on Thursday, going 5-13 for 14 factors. On Sunday, the 76ers closed the collection with out their MVP candidate. They defeated the Nets 96-88. It was the 76ers first best-of-seven collection sweep since 1985, and they’re the primary workforce within the 2022 NBA Playoffs to advance to Spherical 2.

Harris led the cost for the 76ers with Embiid out of the lineup with a knee harm. He tried 19 photographs and scored 25 factors. Nonetheless, it was the 76ers’ protection that allowed them to run away with the sport within the fourth quarter.

Mikal Bridges hit a leap shot with 8:55 remaining within the sport. The Nets didn’t make one other area objective till the 4:28 mark, and have been profitable on solely 4 extra makes an attempt. One was Nic Claxton alley-oop, and the opposite three have been leap photographs with 76ers up by double digits with lower than one minute remaining within the sport.

Getting the job accomplished

The 76ers solely really dominated the Nets in Recreation 1, profitable 121-101. It took some sizzling fourth-quarter capturing from Tyrese Maxey for the 76ers to each draw back in Recreation 2, and escape with a victory in Recreation 3. That 76ers’ protection although, the Nets broke 100 factors solely as soon as within the collection.

It was unlikely for the 76ers to crumble and undergo one of many worst upsets in franchise historical past, however for this workforce to drag out the franchise’s first sweep in 38 years — as a No. 3 seed — a breakthrough has lastly taken place.

The Nets have been removed from one of many league’s most gifted groups, however they aren’t a lot completely different than the Raptors in 2022 or the Wizards in 2021. With the entire Nets’ wing depth, this collection had all of the makings of a contender in boxing getting flustered by a clumsy southpaw.

Offense was at instances troublesome to return by for the 76ers, however they received baskets after they wanted them essentially the most. Maxey has confirmed in his third season that he’s prepared for prime time, and with Harris because the 76ers’ fourth possibility, they’ve one of many deepest lineups within the east.

When will Embiid return?

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi reported that Embiid can be obtainable early this week. As a result of the 76ers dealt with enterprise, they received’t want him till the weekend on the earliest. The Boston Celtics dropped a sport on Friday to the Atlanta Hawks. Even when they do win on Sunday, the earliest that they’ll shut the collection is on Tuesday at dwelling. The Celtics — a championship favourite — will likely be dealing with a well-rested 76ers workforce that hasn’t been this assured since Allen Iverson stepped over Tyronn Lue.

Giving a contender credit score for a dominant first spherical may appear superfluous, however the 76ers did really earn a brand new badge. They dispatched an inferior — but feisty — opponent as shortly as humanly potential. Now they get to attend — and their star will get to heal — because the 76ers get able to play in crucial collection within the entirety of the “course of.”