Doc Can’t Win A Game 7
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
The city of Philadelphia and their fans now know how the fans of New York and Brooklyn feel. Both teams lost game 7 on their home court failing to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. A case could be made that the Philly loss was more devastating in that Brooklyn played with a team that was hobbled with injuries. James Harden missed the first four games of the series after straining his right hamstring only 43 seconds into game 1. Kyrie Irving grotesquely rolled his right ankle in game 3 and watched the rest of the series with a boot on from the bench. Harden did return in game 5 but was a shell of himself as the hamstring limited his mobility. He was used more as a decoy trying to get his teammates involved in the offense.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Philadelphia simply had no excuse in losing to a young Atlanta Hawks team. First, they lose game 5 on their home court. They rebounded, gutting out a win in game 6 in Atlanta. The 76ers had all the momentum coming into game 7 last Sunday night. In the 103-96 loss, the Sixers were their own worst enemy turning the ball over 17 times. Center Joel Embid, who dealt with a right knee injury, turned the ball over 8 times. Contrast that with Atlanta turning the ball over only 10 times and it was one of the biggest reasons in the outcome of the game.
No team took more than a 5-ponts lead in the opening quarter as Philly took a 28-25 lead after a Embid (11 points) lay-up to end the first. The rollercoaster game continued in the second quarter when an unlikely player began to step. Kevin Huerter ended the half chipping in 12 points giving the Hawks a 2-point halftime lead 48-46. His overall impact would be seen in the second half. Meanwhile, the struggles continued for the much maligned Ben Simmons. At the Half, with Atlanta up by only 2 (48-46) Simmons had only 2 points. He and the teams struggle would continue in the second half as Atlanta took a 5-point third quarter lead (76-71) with Huerter adding 7 points. Embid chipping in an additional 5. Atlanta had the lead despite their wonder boy Trey Young struggling from the field scoring only 11 points. When it counted though, Young (10 assists) stepped up.
