We need to shut down the 76ers until we figure out what's going on
PLUS: Local beam remains unlit and L.A. almost survives without Kawhi.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Así sucedió; Francisco Goya; 1814-16
It feels like the NBA playoffs are exploring new levels of unnecessary and excessive saltiness. And by “the NBA playoffs” I mean “the Philadelphia 76ers.”
In this example, Nic Claxton steps over Joel Embiid, which is not strictly necessary but not a fighting offense and actually quite important to Philadelphia basketball lore. Embiid does something that should get you kicked out of basketball games and, frankly, maybe civil society.
Nope. There is no defense for that. Embiid should have been ejected and perhaps suspended for that. Instead, after review, he gets just a Flagrant-1. After the game, the referees explained to the pool reporter that because he, uh, missed it was not deemed “excessive.” An absurd conclusion. Embiid should have missed the rest of the game. That’s the standard the NBA has set.
In the third quarter, the officials found their make-up call.
WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY LEARNING IN PHILADELPHIA, DOC RIVERS? Do y’all have a section of the playbook dedicated to “blows to the midsection”? Good grief.
Harden was ejected on a Flagrant-2 for this. That’s not really cosmic justice because this came much later than the Embiid play and Embiid is far more important than Harden. But at least the officials are effectively telling the Sixers that their continued attacks on the Nets’ groins will not be tolerated.
Unfortunately, the officials had one more important decision to make.
Claxton had picked up a technical for stepping over Embiid. The right decision here is to swallow your whistle. Claxton dunks on the soon-to-be MVP, who kicked him between the legs earlier in the game. Let that dude say WHATEVER he wants. Instead, the refs hit him with a technical for taunting, which leaves him ejected.
To be clear, Joel Embiid kicked Nic Claxton in the groin in the opening minutes of the game and Claxton is the player that didn’t get to finish the contest. Just so we’re clear.
Anyway, Brooklyn didn’t really have a shot in this series unless the Sixers melted down, and the Sixers melted down a little with their actions, but Embiid was able to remain in the game to make a defensive impact (he had another low scoring night) and Tyrese Maxey carried the Philadelphia offense once Harden was booted.
Embiid had a HUGE block to preserve the Sixers’ lead …
… and then the Nets totally bonked on their final possession. You can see it here at the end of this video summing up the final minutes.
Brutal loss for the Nets, especially considering that Embiid could very well be suspended for Game 4. Winning this one would have left open the possibility of going back to Philadelphia 2-2. Now, it’s either a sweep or a gentleman’s sweep. You can blame the refs for making a soft decision on Embiid, but Brooklyn had the game in their grasp and fumbled it. Really tough way to go out.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is doing all of this in what should have been the easiest first round series for any contender. That’s not a great sign to me. And cosmic injustices have ways of working themselves out.
Scores
Sixers 102, Nets 97 (PHI leads 3-0)
Kings 97, Warriors 114 (SAC leads 2-1) — Look, the Kings are not going to win the series if they shoot below 30% from three for the series. They are at 27% and up 2-1 right now. During the regular season they had the fifth highest frequency of three-pointers and ninth highest conversion rate. They shot 37% in the regular season and are at 27% in the playoffs. In that specific respect, it’s a miracle they are up 2-1.
Part of this is that the Golden State defense has been fairly locked in on shutting down the arc: even without Draymond Green, the Warriors continued to blow up the Kings’ dribble hand-off action and have taken away Domantas Sabonis’ comfort as a hub at the top of the key — not by crowding Sabonis, but by denying the shooters space. Kevin Huerter (one of the few Kings with playoff experience) was 1/6 from three in the game and is 3/20 for the series. He shot 40% on almost seven attempts per game this season. Keegan Murray was 1/5 in the game and is 1/8 for the series. He shot 41% on six attempts per game this season. Part of it is random bad luck. Part of it is the Warriors’ smart defensive game plan and able bodies.
One other thing to note about the Kings is that they are not built to exploit individual defenders in the way that most top offenses are. So Jordan Poole can play 28 minutes and not really get targeted in much pick-and-roll or isolation action off the switch. The Warriors don’t have rim protection behind the point of attack, but the Kings just don’t really put that consistent pressure on. They shoot and they get out in transition. Neither aspect really worked on Thursday.
Also, Stephen Curry is a damn living legend.
The Kings continued to defend the Warriors quite well … but Curry and Andrew Wiggins (who is the right type of player to give the Kings trouble) unlocked enough to rack up a good offensive performance. Curry has a knack for this: putting the Warriors offense on his back and blowing up the opponent’s blueprint. One of the greatest ever.
Shout out to Kevon Looney with 20 rebounds and nine assists. The other Warriors cut behind the Kings defense when Looney found space, and he found them. Brilliant work for a persistently undersung piece of the dynasty.
Suns 129, Clippers 124 (PHX leads 2-1) — Kawhi Leonard didn’t play due to a knee sprain suffered in Game 1, which means he played Game 2 (in which he was brilliant) hurt, but was too sore to play at home two days later. Not a great sign for a team already missing Paul George for the series.
And yet, L.A. hung in there. Phoenix never led by more than 13 despite a killer effort from Devin Booker …
… and an efficient 28 from Kevin Durant. If there’s a red flag for Phoenix here it’s that their defense couldn’t slow down a Clippers offense without Kawhi or PG. Norman Powell, 42 points! Holy smokes!
It sounds like Kawhi is now tentative, which is obviously tough news for the Clippers. What an immense disappointment that would be if he couldn’t finish the series.
Schedule
All times Eastern. Please note that for the sake of my continued health and sanity I am not planning to newsletter all weekend. The plan is to be back on Monday … unless conditions warrant otherwise.
FRIDAY
Celtics at Hawks, 7, ESPN (BOS leads 2-0)
Cavaliers at Knicks, 8:30, ABC (Series tied 1-1)
Nuggets at Timberwolves, 9:30, ESPN (DEN leads 2-0)
SATURDAY
Sixers at Nets, 1, TNT (PHI leads 3-0)
Suns at Clippers, 3:30, TNT (PHX leads 2-1)
Bucks at Heat, 7:30, ESPN (Series tied 1-1)
Grizzlies at Lakers, 10, ESPN (Series tied 1-1)
SUNDAY
Cavaliers at Knicks, 1, ABC (Game 4)
Kings at Warriors, 3:30, ABC (SAC leads 2-1)
Celtics at Hawks, 7, TNT (Game 4)
Nuggets at Timberwolves, 9:30, TNT (Game 4)
Be excellent to each other.
man I love you so much it physically hurts when you get something super wrong. but check the Harden highlights carefully again. there was no intent there whatsoever, just a run of the mill James strongarm that inadvertently landed in the wrong place. yes Embiid shouldve been ejected by the established standard of low-ball shenanigans, but to suggest the Sixers have a general problem with this issue is off base.
Just a random thought, but the way Steph plays makes me wish Kyrie would play more like that. It feels as if he has so many tools that are similar but the way he puts them together is never as impactful. I know Kyrie also has the brain worms but still, that off ball movement and weaponized shooting distance is so pleasing and I wish more players could do it.