While the second-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks are knotted at 1-1, Sixers fans have all the right to remain confident. Game 1 could've been just a series of failed executions. However, Game 2 might be how the series would look: a dominant showing by the kings of the east.
But more than the final scores, a closer look at some of the nuances of the game reveals why the 76ers are just the better team. And no, we're not going to talk about Joel Embiid. It's already a given that he's the best player on the squad.
76ers Own the Fourth Quarter
In Games 1 and 2, the 76ers outscored the Hawks 41-29 and 27-18, respectively. This is not just a matter of nitpicking a stat. As cliche as it sounds, the last quarter is the most important quarter in the game. After all, by the fourth quarter, teams should've made the proper adjustments and figured out the exact way to beat their foe.
Though looking at the fourth quarter numbers may seem an exercise in nitpicking, this may actually be the secret to the 76ers' success in the regular season as well as in the playoffs. As for one, the 76ers lead the playoffs in several significant fourth-quarter statistics. On average, the 76ers drop 29.0 points (first among active teams) on 49.2 percent shooting (second behind the LA Clippers) in the fourth quarter. On defense, the 76ers hold an 86.4 defensive rating, record 2.6 steals, and swat 2.7 shots — all of which rank first in the playoffs.
You can check the stats for the Hawks yourselves. Among the aforementioned categories, the Hawks are nowhere near the 76ers. They're usually somewhere in the middle and close to the bottom. If you're a diehard Hawks fan, it's better to close your eyes once the fourth quarter begins.
Hawks Do Not Have a Transition Game
If there's one thing the Hawks can exploit, it's the 76ers soft transition defense. They've actually admitted that this is their main weakness. In the regular season, they gave up 19.5 points in transition. This ranked 11th worst in the regular season. The other teams worst than the 76ers are the likes of the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings. Or in short, most of the bottom-feeding teams that are not in the playoffs. Elite teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers have decent fastbreak defense. For some reason, the 76ers — amid their regular-season success — have not come up with a proper defensive transition playbook.
Good for them, the Hawks do not have the presence of mind to exploit this weakness. In Games 1 and 2, the Hawks had just 10 and nine fast break points. Did the Sixers suddenly turn into a defensive transition powerhouse? Not really. The Hawks never really had the predilection to run the break. In the regular season, they scored just 16.6 points on the break for eighth-worst in the NBA. So far in the playoffs, they score just 17.0 points.
It doesn't make sense that they don't have this in their arsenal. They have a pretty mobile team especially with John Collins on the frontcourt. Young has proven his talents in the halfcourt setup through his great reads, passing, and ability to draw fouls. But he can easily lead a fastbreak from time to time as well. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they cannot simply introduce a new style of play in the middle of the postseason. They would have to beat the 76ers in other aspects of the game. And frankly, the chances are very slim.
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