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The Miami Heat are on the verge of virtually eliminating the Philadelphia 76ers. A win in Game 3 on Friday on the road would all but lock up their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. But the Sixers still have lots of fight in them. With the looming return of Joel Embiid and a home game ahead, the Sixers have every reason to feel confident that they can prevent a 0-3 deficit in this series. With that said, here are three bold predictions for the Sixers in Game 3 against Jimmy Butler and the rest of the Miami Heat.
3 bold predictions for the Sixers in Game 3 vs Heat
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3. Joel Embiid returns and drops at least 40 points and 15 rebounds
Joel Embiid returns and drops at least 40 points and 15 rebounds
If the Sixers are to drag themselves out of the quicksand they found themselves in, they need Embiid to be back before it’s too late. And it’s too late appears to mean past Game 3. The Sixers can’t afford to let Game 3 slip away because that would sound the death knell of their season, considering the fact that no team in the history of the NBA has ever won a series after losing the first three games of a playoff matchup. If Embiid is to play at least one more game in this postseason, it’s Game 3 of this series. And what a way to make his presence finally felt by the Heat by bludgeoning Miami’s defense with a stunning 40-point explosion. Embiid is reportedly trending positively towards an appearance this coming Friday at home, according to John Clark of NBC Philadelphia.
Sources tell me Joel Embiid is progressing well and there is real hope for Friday night Joel would be playing through pain with orbital fracture and torn ligament in his thumb No one can ever question Joel’s toughness
And what could be a better way for Embiid to make his presence finally felt by the Heat by bludgeoning them with a stunning 40-point explosion in his first game back? Embiid suffered a facial injury in the first round against the Toronto Raptors which is on top of an already ailing thumb that will go under the knife in the offseason. Embiid is going to play through pain if he is to see action on Friday and he’ll also have to be dealing with a much healthier Bam Adebayo, who has been feasting without the Sixers center. The Sixers need a massive shot in the arm, which Embiid will provide statistically – and morally in Game 3.
2. Embiid and James Harden each take 15+ free throws
The duo of Joel Embiid and James Harden is a free-throw generating machine. It’s just part of their modus operandi; they fish for fouls and make a big chunk of their scoring output from the charity stripe. Harden hasn’t been taking as many free throws in the second round as he used to back in the regular season. He is only averaging 5.5 free throw attempts against the Heat, down from 8.9 in the regular season (after getting traded to Philly).
It’s about time for James Harden to be extra aggressive given what’s on the line on Friday. The Philadelphia 76ers getting Embiid back will open up plenty of angles and scoring opportunities for the former league MVP – and vice versa. Taking at least 15 attempts from the foul line really seems a lot even for foul magnets like Embiid and Harden, but again, their aggressiveness will be a big key for the Sixers’ survival.
1. Sixers win by at least 10 points
Philadelphia needs to make not just a statement in Game 3 but a huge one to force the Heat to back off. As of this writing, the Sixers are home underdogs for Friday’s game by a point, which means they aren’t even expected by the public to win in their own backyard.
That’s understandable, though, as Miami has done nothing but dominate in the series, thus far. However, this is also where the Sixers turn the corner and play to their potential, notwithstanding Embiid’s less than 100% body. Harden, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris fire on all cylinders in a landslide victory over the visiting Heat.
