Sixers-Hawks Game 4 takeaways: Joel Embiid is all that matters

Sixers-Hawks Game 4 takeaways: Atlanta can… win this series

The Sixers are favorites. The Sixers should win this series. So long as Embiid is on the court, there is no excuse for Philadelphia not to advance to the conference finals. Knee injury or not, Embiid has been great all postseason, and the Sixers have put a competent roster around him. The odds lean in Philadelphia’s favor.

All that said — and it must be noted that I did indeed say it — the Hawks have a shot. The Sixers cannot take this 2-2 tie lightly. Atlanta has been winning a lot of games ever since Nate McMillan took over, and the Hawks are at home for Game 6. If the Sixers fall victim to a hot shooting night, or simply fail to execute in Game 5, then Philadelphia is facing elimination on the road. Not the ideal setup!

Frankly, it’s a bit frustrating. The Sixers got blown out in Game 1 not because they lacked energy or effort, but because the game plan was so woefully ill-prepared that even 39 points from Embiid and a masterclass in crunch-time defense could not overcome Doc Rivers’ worst game of the season. If the Sixers had made basic, obvious pre-adjustments to combat Atlanta’s personnel and scheme, the Sixers could very well have entered Game 4 up 3-0, rather than 2-1. Now, instead of 3-1, it’s 2-2, and Embiid’s knee is freshly problematic.

The Hawks have a dynamic playmaking guard, two great lob threats, and a nice assortment of shooters. They are built to challenge even Philadelphia’s defense. The Sixers looked the better team in Game 3 — bigger, more physical, and better executed — but if Embiid is out of sorts, the Sixers are known to crumble. Any hope of a quick exit is out the window. This is going to be a long series — at least six games, and knowing Philadelphia, probably seven to make things more stressful. Buckle up.