Sixers: 3 advantages over Hawks in second round

Sixers advantage over Hawks in second round: Defense

This is where the Sixers can hang their hats in the second round. The Hawks are a good offensive team, with more than enough firepower to keep pace. That’s especially true if Embiid is wonky. Where Philadelphia has the overwhelming advantage, however, is defense. There may not be a better holistic defense in the playoffs.

Embiid can defend the paint better than anyone, and he has the footspeed to play in space and defend up on screens (knee injury, general uncertainty, etc. etc.). Then there’s Ben Simmons, who will probably finish second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He’s probably the only 6-foot-10 dude who can credibly draw the Trae Young assignment, and not totally botch it. Danny Green is rock-solid, Seth Curry plays hard, and Tobias Harris is dramatically improved.

In the second unit, Philadelphia has the likes of Matisse Thybulle, George Hill, and Dwight Howard. It’s Thybulle who will take center stage in this series as arguably the Sixers’ best answer to Trae Young’s dynamic skill set. Thybulle totaled more steals than Simmons and more blocks than Embiid this season despite playing fewer total minutes. He is an ace in the hole for Doc Rivers.

The Sixers’ adaptability and sheer defensive talent is what makes them favorites over Atlanta. While the Hawks have a commanding presence on the glass in Clint Capela, as well as a strong wing defender in DeAndre Hunter, Atlanta simply cannot string together stops the way Philadelphia can.  That is the Sixers’ chief advantage.