RADIO
Do not be mean to the 76ers. DO NOT be mean to the 76ers. But, the Hawks are just the better team when it matters. Truthfully, it has to be tough to be a fan of a team where one of your superstars doesn't have the energy or athleticism to hit that next level consistently, while the other one can't score outside of the paint. That might be the recipe for regular season success, but players who can't do a bit of everything have always struggled in the playoffs when pressure is applied.
Whether they are targeted on one side of the ball or not, the fact that Trae Young's defense isn't the storyline here, but Ben Simmons and the 76ers defense is, says enough about this series as a whole. Philadelphia is a regular season team and they always have been. At least for the Clippers and Jazz, both teams have shown well-rounded skill and ability across the board, with both Paul George and Donovan Mitchell showing everyone why they are in the upper-echelon of NBA players.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
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PHI @ ATL
Joel Embiid (PHI) MORE 33.5 Points - Trae Young (ATL) MORE 28.5 Points
Even after ripping the 76ers, you have to be able to admit when you're wrong and for that last game, I couldn't have been more wrong. Both Joel Embiid and Trae Young had free range to do whatever they wanted with the ball and we all know how that game ended. Assuming Tobias Harris can score in the second half, Philadelphia clearly needs every point they can scavenge, but in terms of Embiid and Young, there just isn't downside. Great defense doesn't beat great offense and we've seen more than a few instances of that throughout this series.
Even with lingering injuries, Young hasn't taken his foot off the pedal and Embiid is still winning his matchup with Clint Capela. Last game was a bit of an anomaly with the Hawks completing an epic comeback, and playing in Atlanta likely won't help the 76ers chances. Still, Embiid and Young should be good-to-go tonight, but there's no telling what their supporting casts will bring to the table.
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UTA @ LAC
Donovan Mitchell (UTA) MORE 33.5 Points - Paul George (LAC) MORE 31.5 Points
If both Paul George and Donovan Mitchell are going to be hoisting up three-pointers at the rate they are, taking the under is asking for trouble. With Kawhi Leonard in the mix, there's potential to both being held under 30 points for certain reasons, but that's not the case as of right now. Paul George is going to command all the usage for the Clippers, so his over is pretty much set in stone until something in that regard changes.
Donovan Mitchell has the luxury of a solid supporting cast and once Mike Conley returns, upside changes for the the entire rotation. Mitchell will be the head of the totem pole like he has been for most of the season, and his recent shot attempts only further cement that idea despite not being efficient. It was just a poor shooting night for Mitchell and he still put up 21 points against this Clippers defense. Ultimately, upside is oozing from everywhere in this game.
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