Sixers-Hawks storyline to watch: Can Philly stop the Trae Young Show?
The Knicks were among the best regular season defenses in the NBA. They had no answer for Trae Young. In all five games, Young got where he wanted when he wanted. He shredded New York’s defense out of the pick-and-roll, got downhill at will, and exerted his will as both a shot-maker and playmaker.
The Sixers are better equipped to make Young uncomfortable (especially if Embiid plays), but Young has traditionally found success against Philadelphia. He’s not a great individual matchup for Ben Simmons, and he may test just how long the Sixers are comfortable pushing Matisse Thybulle.
If Thybulle is playing 25-30 minutes a night for this specific matchup, then the offense takes a hit. If not, and if Young’s shifty, quick-twitch nature is too great a challenge for Simmons one-on-one, then Philadelphia will have its hands full. Tyrese Maxey isn’t good enough to counter Young (yet), and George Hill’s old legs may prove inadequate.
To make matters worse, the Hawks have built quite the offensive team around Young. He has two elite lob threats, a potpourri of shooters, and no shortage of players who can take a load off his shoulders when necessary. How far can the Sixers bring Embiid up on screens without ceding lob after lob to Clint Capela? How crisp are the rotations? Philadelphia will have several questions to answer.
This is a tricky matchup, and Trae Young has proven he’s ready for the moment. The Sixers cannot expect nerves to get the best of him. This could prove to be Doc’s biggest challenge yet as Philadelphia’s head coach.