It was one of the most anticipated matches of the evening, and yet there was a bunch, some of which were much more publicized. Traveling to Atlanta a few months after the famous semi-finals of the 2021 Playoffs, the Sixers hung on and managed to bring down Trae Young’s Hawks in the money-time. Victory 98 to 96, the clenched fist of Joel Embiid said it all.
Here is one, of win, which does good to the fans of Philly. For a whole lot of reasons, and which go beyond the symbolism of the opposition.
No need to draw a large picture to put the context back in place. You just have to ask yourself one simple question to understand all the weight there was in this game on the Sixers side: when was the last time Ben Simmons played an NBA game? It was against Atlanta precisely, in this terrible Game 7 lost by the Sixers at home, plunging the franchise and their fans into a most frustrating summer. Since that tragic day, much water has flowed under the bridges, and much has changed on both sides. The team of Doc Rivers, precisely, showed up this Friday evening in Georgia by dragging the leg. Three losses in the last four meetings, apart from the short victory against Orlando and which had required some heroic acts in the money-time, it was soup to the grimace in the streets of Philadelphia. Setback against Minnesota, shower at Golden State and setback against Boston, the kind of trio that does not please. Especially since, even though Joel Embiid was back, it’s not like he’s on a masterful level. Yes, against the Wolves it was the monster we know, but against the Celtics it was another song. And the last possession of the meeting in Massachusetts had summed up the recent state of the Sixers pretty well, a Tobias Harris porridge ending with a shot blocked by Rob Williams on the buzzer, while Embiid watched all these beautiful people playing rugby in full money-time. Not cool, frustration, nothing to smile about, very far seemed the time at the start of the season when Joel said chut to Chicago fans, the collective outweighing the absence of Ben Simmons. This match in Atlanta therefore had several pressures, both on the shoulders of the players present, and in a context of reunion oh so spicy. All we wanted to know was if Seth Curry and his boys were going to make it out. The affair started rather well for the sniper and his friends, but unfortunately then it is the Hawks who will take control of the meeting. Between posters of John Collins, floaters of Trae Young, work of the bench of Nate McMillan and beautiful defensive locks, the hosts took 10 points in advance at the start of the last quarter and could be confident.
However, the end of the meeting will be totally opposed to the expectations of the teammates of a good Danilo Gallinari, the attack of Atlanta becoming quite simply silent. Only 4 points scored in the last 8 minutes, a clearer defensive lock among the boys of Philly and holders who will take time to return to the field. Did it take more for Embiid to pick up his own in the score? Clearly not. While he remains in delicacy with his shooting following recent physical glitches, Joel will motivate his troops and find the teammates demarcated when the opposing defense comes to double on him. Danny Green? Filoche and filoche. A few good, patient reads, a few good, well-anticipated rotations, and what was a real battle in the Atlanta trenches will suddenly tip over to the Sixers. Opposite, the offensive inspiration of the beginnings will disappear, to the delight of Philadelphia fans. See the Hawks crack offensively in the money-time in front of their home crowd, in a match they controlled? Like an air of inverted karma, deja vu in a city of brotherly love. Yes, Clint Capela’s friends will crack, and it is precisely the visiting soldiers who will make the last stops necessary to complete the victory. A succession of good defensive covers will lead to a final disaster shoot from Danilo Gallinari, ricocheting off the bottom of the hoop. Buzzer, 98-96 victory for the Sixers and a huge 20-9 (!) For Philadelphia in the money-time, enough to make Embiid explode in front of an audience that provoked him more than once this year. The leader of his franchise, clenching his fist in rage and releasing all his frustration, had just led his people to victory in a game the Sixers so badly needed. Another loss would have been one loss too many, especially against Atlanta there. Instead, the gang at Thybulle will spend two consecutive evenings in Charlotte hoping to calm LaMelo Ball’s intentions, then return home to test themselves against the Jazz and Warriors’ defense. Suffice to say that it will be necessary to be in shape and motivated for these matches, which had to go through a nice catchy success on the road.
The 28 points of Joel Embiid and the 18 points of Seth Curry will have made the difference, but it is above all the self-sacrifice and the defensive effort of these Sixers which will have tipped the scales in a match seeming lost at the beginning of last quarter. It just goes to show that there is mentality in Philly even when these guys are on the move in Atlanta.
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