Philadelphia 76ers win while Heat Winslow pays $15K fine

Takes more than that to sideline Embiid

The tactics of Winslow were more than just provocation. Winslow’s efforts had some secondary motivation. Trying to get a hot Joel Embiid off the basketball court was likely another reason for the move.  But the Heat has been trying to rattle the Sixers all series. What resulted instead, is the Philadelphia 76ers have gotten a tad peeved and doubly motivated in this one.

You can hear it in Embiid’s interview. The late layup of Goran Dragic set the tone for this series. The Heat has not won since.  And if the strategy is to win games, the effort to intimidate this Sixers team has resulted in the Heat’s own intimidation.  The Heat have kneed Dario Saric in the groin multiple times. Goran Dragic launches at 76ers players like a monkey grabbing at tree branches. In fact, the description of the game reads more like an ice hockey event rather than a basketball game. So be it. That’s the NBA.

Fine needed in this one

There will be some who claim stepping on the facemask doesn’t warrent NBA intervention, let alone a fine of $15,000. But I wholly support the move. It had nothing to do with basketball, competiveness, or simply the play of the game. It was a rather futile effort by a Heat player to take Joel Embiid out of the game for a period of time.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Coach Brown loves defense, and it shows

If not successful, at least provoke the entire Philadelphia 76ers  team to retaliate.  And those types of moves can not be ignored in any NBA setting. Sure, the Heat cannot match up well against this Philadelphia 76ers lineup. But when there best strategy involve components of wrestling, ice hockey, and playground bullying, NBA fans have seen enough. And apparently, so has the NBA.