Original title: Embiid returns to flip the balance of the series, Harden breaks out and the heat is in a dilemma
On May 9, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA playoffs will continue. The Philadelphia 76ers ushered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat. After the whole game, the 76ers defeated the Heat 116-108, rewriting the total score of the series to a 2-2 tie.
Sure enough, the 76ers and the Heat’s this round of series came back from Embiid, and it really started when the emperor put on a mask.
Originally, in the first two games of the series, the 76ers suffered a comprehensive suppression in Miami. But starting from the third game, the return of the Great Emperor completely turned the balance of the game upside down.
Embiid’s return, the main change, of course, is in the three-second zone. Before the return of the Great Emperor, Adebayor had obtained enough dislocation attack bonuses in the first two battles, but starting from G3, this bonus quickly disappeared.
Originally, the 76ers had to shrink their defense from time to time in the first two games to resist the Heat’s attacking basket. But when the great emperor is in charge of the inside line, the 76ers’ players can finally expand the defense to the three-point line, and the 76ers’ outside defense has also improved by a level.
As a result, starting from G3, the Heat’s shooting efficiency has dropped significantly. They made 14 of 65 three-pointers, and the shooting rate was as low as 21.5%. The offense can’t be opened, and the Heat can only passively bear more defensive pressure.
However, as one of the top stars in active service and the regular season scoring champion this season, Embiid’s offensive deterrent is equally astonishing.
If it is said that the first battle of the comeback is considered, considering the factors such as injuries, the emperor is still a little conservative. Then when it came to G4, the Great Emperor was on fire in the first quarter, completely changing the Heat’s defensive structure.
The Great Emperor’s containment on the inside also gave the outside players more room to play. Among them, veteran Danny Green has benefited the most. In the first two games of the series, Tielin only made 2 of 14 three-pointers on the outside, but in the past two games, he made 10 of 13 three-pointers. .
To point to point, the emperor’s comeback can be said to have fully activated the 76ers’ offense.
Of course, of all the positives, Harden’s soaring state is undoubtedly the most gratifying thing.
So far this season, Harden has been questioned a lot by the outside world, and because of injuries and the new rules for fouling, his combat power has indeed declined a bit.
But it turns out that when Harden is no longer the focal point of the offense, when there are tougher teammates sharing the pressure for him, he can still find a sense of ease in the game.
Today’s G4 is a special illustration of the problem. In the opening stage, Harden made a series of strikes and mistakes, and his fragile psychology showed obvious fluctuations. However, in the following game, Embiid attracted enough defensive attention, and because of the great scoring bottom, Harden was given enough room to adjust.
So in the last quarter, the 76ers finally waited for Harden’s outbreak. In this quarter, he hit four difficult step-back three-pointers in a row, but for Harden’s outbreak, the Heat deliberately adjusted but could not do anything.
After all, after the return of the Great Emperor, marking Harden is no longer the Heat’s top priority, and they can no longer defend Harden as recklessly as they did in the first two games.
In defense, the Heat need to make choices, but inevitably fell into a dilemma of hesitation. With Embiid’s comeback and Harden’s outbreak, the 76ers’ paper advantage over the Heat is gradually emerging. (Poirot)Return to Sohu, see more
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