On April 26, Beijing time, the 2021-22 season was in full swing, and the Celtics swept the Nets 4-0, becoming the first team to advance to the semifinals of the division. The remaining 7 group showdowns have not yet been won or lost, and the 76ers' series with the Raptors is interesting. Previously, the 76ers were the most likely to become the first team to sweep the promotion. But the 76ers missed their chance and were pulled by the Raptors in two straight sets!
Although the 76ers are leading the Raptors 3-2 in the series and still have the match points of the series, the 76ers will have a seven-game game if they lose again, and I don't know if 76ers coach Rivers is panicked? After all, since 2003, Rivers' coaching career has seen seven series leads reversed by opponents, including 3 times when they were eliminated by opponents in three consecutive sets with a 3-1 lead. If the 76ers are really dragged by the Raptors into the seven-game game, then it is really unpredictable!
Let's talk about Embiid first, the main reason why the 76ers were pulled by the Raptors for 2 consecutive innings is that Embiid's injury has a great impact. Embiid played 2 games with an injury, and 76 all lost the game. Embiid has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb, but he said he would not undergo surgery right away, but would wait until the end of the season. Embiid showed tough guy style, but he was really not in good shape when he came out with injuries, which is also an inescapable fact.
Let's talk about Harden, Harden's last 2 games have been in a very sluggish state. In the first round of G4, Harden hit only 5 goals in 17 shots, and there were 4 turnovers. In the first round of G5, Harden hit only 4 goals in 11 shots, and 5 turnovers were the highest in the game. Now embiid is plagued by injuries, if Harden can't stand up and carry the team forward, then Harden will really have a hard time fulfilling his dream this season. Even if the 76ers successfully advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, then the opponent is most likely the Heat of the First Place in the East, and the 76ers will usher in a more severe test.
Not only that, but we also have to take into account the home field factor. The 76ers' series G6 with raptors will be played at the Raptors' home court. Earlier, Embiid publicly criticized the referee's penalty, which led to Embiid being fined $15,000 by the NBA league.
Embiid was punished for a simple reason, that is, Embiid was unhappy with the referee's bias toward the Raptors. At that time, it was also played at the home of the Raptors, so the home factor is a link that cannot be ignored. Now that the Raptors have chased the big score to 2-3, as long as the Raptors can beat the 76ers at home again, then the two sides will have a brutal seven-game battle. This will definitely have a huge psychological gap for the 76ers who were expected to sweep the promotion!
According to the schedule, the two-side series G6 will be played at 7 am on April 29. The Raptors, who play at home, naturally want to drag the series into the seventh, and the 76ers want to end the series as soon as possible, so as not to have too many dreams. It can be seen that the G6 will be a fierce battle, depending on whether the 76ers can withstand the test!