Miami goes for the home bonus!
It’s set: One of the two semifinals in the Eastern Conference begins with Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers.
The match-ups in the regular season have already shown that it could be an exciting series: Both teams posted two wins each.
Miami Heat – Statistics & current form
The franchise from Florida beat Atlanta 4:1 in the previous round without any problems. The triumph was achieved mainly through strong defensive performances.
The Hawks averaged only 97.4 points per game in the series. Only the Bucks were even more ungracious with their opponent from Chicago (95.2). Especially the way Trae Young was taken out of the game was impressive.
The NBA’s fourth-best scorer in the regular season did not get going as usual on the offensive end against Miami and thus Heat had more or less completely shut down the opponent’s key player.
How little “Ice Trae” could do against Miami was also shown by his more than six turnovers on average per game – the highest value in the postseason!
Philadelphia 76ers – Statistics & current form
The 76ers were already in the Conference Semifinals in the East last year, but were defeated then by the Hawks from Atlanta in a thrilling seven-game series. The round of the best four teams was also the final destination for Philly in three of the past four seasons.
In order to avoid this scenario in the current NBA postseason 2022, the guests should improve compared to the previous series against Toronto.
This applies not least to the Sixers’ top players: both Joel Embiid and James Harden were at least partially less efficient than in the regular season.
However, Philadelphia can be encouraged by the most recent game against the Canadians: This was won very clearly with 132:97 and the team of Head Coach Doc Rivers presented itself in contrast to the two previous defeats against the Raps noticeably improved.
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers Tip
Despite missing two of their starting five in Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler in the last game of the previous series against the Hawks, the home side were able to put their opponents in their place, especially in terms of defensive work.
This makes it clear that even if Miami is struggling with absences, the defensive system of head coach Erik Spoelstra can still be implemented by the Heat.
In addition, the home advantage speaks in favour of the hosts. Especially in this pairing, as the Sixers have won just one of their last six trips to the Sunshine State.
In addition, the visitors will now be without their injured centre and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer during the regular season Joel Embiid. His absence is obviously a huge weakening for the three-time champions on both sides of the court.
