The Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 2-0 series lead against the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite the Nets playing solid defense, the 76ers have too much firepower.
One player who has made his presence known in the opening round is Tobias Harris. The forward has excelled on both sides of the court.
In the first two games, Harris scored 20+ points and was perfect from the charity strike.
On the other end of the floor, Harris has been tasked with guarding Nets star player Mikal Bridges.
In the first half of Game 1, Bridges couldn’t miss a shot, but Harris limited his shooting opportunities from that point on.
Without the shots falling for Bridges, the Nets don’t have any other major scoring threats.
Another significant factor in Philadelphia’s defensive success in this series is the big man, Joel Embiid.
Embiid has undoubtedly been a dominant force against Brooklyn because he’s doing some of everything on the court.
The Nets don’t have an answer for Embiid. Their only hope is Nic Claxton, but it is a terrible matchup for him defensively.
Embiid has used his size to his advantage; he’s been a monster on the glass & a force to be reckoned with in the paint.
Philadelphia has attempted 32 free throws in the first two games (Embiid shot 19 free throws).
Embiid’s performance in Game 2 was unbelievable. He totaled 20 points, 19 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal.
Although double teams have challenged Embiid, he continues to make the correct decision.
Whether he is crashing the boards or finding an open teammate, Embiid is displaying his case for MVP.
However, a big question that looms is how will the 76ers prepare for the second round?
If the Sixers advance, they will more than likely face the Boston Celtics.
Regarding defensive ability, the Celtics and Nets are on par, but Boston’s offense is far more lethal.
The Sixers will have to take a different approach in the next round, but it’ll be intriguing to see how Philadelphia game plans against one of the best well-rounded teams in the league.
Featured Image: Yong Kim / Philadelphia Inquirer
