In the key battle of the 76ers' playoffs, Game 4 of the series, the 76ers wanted to use the momentum of the home court to equalize the score, but the direction of the script seemed to be out of the expectations of the 76ers, and finally they lost to the Knicks 92-97 at home, the series score came to 1-3, and the 76ers came to the brink of elimination.
The cheers of Knicks fans before the end of the game echoed over the 76ers' home court, and the huge cheers were a kind of caricature for the 76ers and their fans. Many of them, probably, never imagined that they would hear the cheers of their opponents so loudly at their doorstep. This contrast in sentiment is not only because of the loss of one game, but also because of the disappointment of the 76ers.
In his post-game interview, Joel Embiid revealed his deep disappointment: "I love our fans. I think it's unfortunate. In his words, there is both gratitude to the fans and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Embiid's disappointment is not only due to his individual performance, but also because of the team's overall loss.
In the final minutes of the game, the 76ers' multiple turnovers put them further and further down the path of loss. Embiid's missed shot, Oubre's dunk, every detail seemed to remind Philadelphia that they couldn't win. These mistakes are not only a technical problem, but also a psychological challenge.
Head coach Nick Nurse's last-minute tactical choices were also questioned after the game. He had Embiid play the entire third and fourth quarters. The high-intensity use made Embiid seriously decline in the fourth quarter, and whether this decision was correct or not became the focus of discussion. Nurse's choice expresses his great trust in Embiid, and at the same time, he also doubts the ability of other players, as if to say "none of you have the strength to play key shots"
The Knicks' game strategy was clearly a success. They are fighting for rebounds by all means, and the advantage in offensive rebounding, as well as the outstanding performance of Brunson, the core of the team, have put the 76ers under pressure on the defensive end like never before. The Knicks were able to win this game, and the 76ers were the opposite, they did not rely on the play of individual players in key moments, but relied on the cooperation of the whole team.
In this matchup, the 76ers seem to have forgotten how they won the last game. They forgot that this was their home stadium and that they should be the team that scared their opponents. Not to mention the fact that it has become a backdrop for opponents to celebrate their victories, as it is now. This self-disorientation, attitude problem may be something that the 76ers need to address first.
The 76ers need to reflect not only on this game, but also on the reasons for these three losses. They need to find the problem, find a solution to the problem. Otherwise, they will still not be able to make it out of the East as before, and they will not be able to go far on the playoff stage.
For the 76ers, now is the time for them to find themselves, refuse to be eliminated in the next game, and expect them to show their true quality in the next game and show their attitude with a victory.