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One down, three to go: Sixers move on to Round 2 and beyond …

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Miami Heat in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Miami Heat in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers advanced to Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs.  The question now is: how far can they go?

Leg one of the mission is complete.

The Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the Miami Heat 104-91 Tuesday night in the first close-out game this young team has played in.  Both teams were tight early, playing sloppy and missing open shots.  The halftime score was tied 46-46 leaving the fans in Philly uneasy.

Then, as has been the pattern for the series, the Sixers wore down the Heat in the second half, outscoring Miami by 14 in the third quarter and holding them off in the fourth to eliminate a tough opponent.

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The game was marred by cheap shots from Heat players Jason Richardson (low-bridged Ben Simmons), Goran Dragic (slapped Ben Simmons’ head), and James Johnson (forearmed Marco Belinelli in the head).  But the Sixers took every shot Miami hit them with and kept their cool in a methodical, relentless win that has propelled them into Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2012.

So, now it’s on to Boston or Milwaukee and beyond…  Boston is up 3-2 and if the Celtics beat the Bucks Thursday night, the Sixers will travel to Beantown for Game 1 on Saturday.  Sixers-Celtics is a historic rivalry which will be a lot of fun to write about.  Of course, it’s better for the Sixers if Boston loses and is forced into a Game 7 with the Bucks, so that whoever ultimately wins is physically drained, while the Sixers rest.

Who would I like to see the Sixers face in Round 2?  I guess home court advantage is always better, so that would be Milwaukee, but I don’t really think it matters.   I see the Sixers beating either team in six games or less, and moving on to face, most likely, Cleveland or Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals.

At this moment, I have to believe the Sixers will be favored against either of those teams.  They’ve won 20 of their last 21 games.  That’s no fluke.

Which brings us to leg four: the NBA Finals.  My guess is Golden State.  I don’t see Houston beating them.  Until Harden proves he can do it on the biggest of stages, I’ll take Golden State.  The Warriors will be favored against the Sixers – as they should be.  They’re the defending champs and have won two of the last three titles (2015 and 2017).

But I have a big question for Steph Curry and company: who on Golden State is going to stop Joel Embiid?  Draymond Green?  Not big enough.  Kevin Durant?  Too thin, and not crazy about defense anyway.

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So that will be an intriguing matchup.  I know, I’m getting way ahead of myself.  They still have to get past legs two and three.  It will be a long, bumpy road and I look forward to covering each of these series as they unfold.  But looking ahead, especially when your team has a legitimate shot, is pretty fun!