Top 5 Sixer Playoff Games Since 2018
5. Sixers vs Nets Game 3- The Simmons Silencer
The Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Brooklyn after dropping the first game in the series at home but bounced back to take game 2. Simmons was welcomed with a roar of boos every time he touched the ball because of Dudley’s comments that he was “average” in the half-court. Without Embiid, LeVert was able to get off to a red hot start by exposing the Sixers’ lack of centers. To begin, LeVert attacked both Boban and Monroe and was able to have his way all first half. It was a back and forth first half until Ben Simmons was able to silence the crowd with a mean putback slam to end the 2nd quarter.
The Sixers took control in the second half and dominated the game with the help of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. Sixers ended up winning this game easily by a score of 131-115. It was fantastic to see Simmons shut up the Brooklyn crowd and silence the critics that said his game couldn’t translate to the playoffs. After all, Sports media made this series out to be way closer than it ever was, especially by giving the irrelevant Jared Dudley a place in the spotlight.
Simmons- 31 points, Harris- 29 points, Redick- 26 points
4. Sixers vs Heat game 4- The Slugfest
Game 4 of the Process Sixers’ first playoff series proved to be quite the test. The Heat adapted an extremely physical style of play after their game one loss that led to an absolute slugfest. The young Sixers team was in Miami playing in front of a rambunctious crowd of 20 Heat fans (Seriously, their arena was practically empty). This game had absolutely everything from an abundance of technicals, 26 Sixer turnovers, Embiid trying to sneak in the game without his mask, and a Goran Dragic flop that led to a baseline brawl. It was a sloppy, yet exciting 48 minutes of basketball. Embiid struggled in his second game while wearing a mask, shooting an inefficient 2-11. Of course, Embiid made up for his lackluster offensive performance with an impressive 5 blocks, including a clutch block on Dragic that involved taking off his mask just to stare Dragic down.
The game went all the way down to the wire unit Ben Simmons silenced the crowd with his lane clearing two-handed jam. Shortly after, J.J. Redick put the Heat away sinking a long two with 30 seconds left. This series was fun but it also made me grow and extreme dislike for the Miami Heat. Their physical style of play turned into “let’s see how many fights we can initiate.” Embiid staring down Dragic will be a memory I will never forget
Redick- 24 points, Simmons- 17 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists
3. Sixers vs Nets game 4- The Brooklyn Brawl
Jared Dudley was back trying everything possible to stay relevant for the final time in his career. After Dudley hit a three for probably his first points in the series (who cares) he held his hands high towards Simmons. Tensions from the whole series were rising: Let the games begin… With 7:42 left in the third, Embiid committed a hard foul? That was all ball? Anyway, Dudley decided to be the hero for the Nets as he rushed Embiid and lightly shoved him. Embiid was smart because he’s way too valuable to the team, even though we all know Embiid could’ve rocked him. Butler stepped in and so did Simmons as they both pushed Dudley into the stands. Somehow the Nets ended up getting the better end of the fight causing Butler to get ejected, even though it was Dudley who initiated the brawl.
The Sixers used this to their advantage when it lit a fire in them in the second half. Embiid dominated showing that when he plays like that he can be the best big man in the league. It was Mike Scott who hit the game-winning three with 18 seconds left plunging his way into the hearts of Sixer fans forever. We love you, Mike Scott.
Embiid- 31 points, Simmons- 15, 8, 8, Harris- 24 points
2. Sixers vs Raptors game 3- The Windmill Game
It was very hard not to put this game at number one considered there is some personal bias towards this game 3 blowout. I was personally at this game and let me tell ya, it was the loudest I’ve ever heard the Wells Fargo. The arena was shaking. The Sixers made Leonard work hard in this one with Simmons showing early flashes of his Defensive Player of the Year potential. The Sixers had an explosive second quarter playing debatably their best basketball of the season. Leonard had an excellent third quarter bringing the Raptors back to only trail by single digits.
Then came the fourth quarter… It all started when Siakim stuck out his leg to slow down the fast break and tripping Embiid in the process. Siakim was hit with a flagrant and the madness commenced. Embiid got his revenge by blocking Siakim off the backboard, Butler with a fast-break dunk and a foul, Embiid with the and-1, and Butler with another fast-break dunk. The peak of the game however came when Embiid got Gasol with a pump fake and barreled down the lane throwing down a windmill slam. Wells Fargo was shaking. Embiid topped it off with a classic airplane celebration. Playoff basketball is gonna be sad without Wells Fargo this season. Sixers took game 3 116-95.
Embiid- 33 points, Butler- 22 points
1. Sixers vs Heat game 5- The Return of Meek Mill
This game was nothing short of perfection. Shortly before the start of game 5, word got out that Meek Mill was being released from prison. Michael Rubin swooped in and picked Meek up on a private jet and took him to Wells Fargo to ring the bell. With a chance for the Process Sixers to win their first playoff series, plus the long-awaited return of Philly’s martyr, this game was simply a fairy tale ending. I do miss that Sixers roster with fan favorites such as Belinelli, Covington (love/hate relationship), Ilyasova, and the one and only Dario Saric. The Sixers had so much momentum coming into this game after Meek’s release that there was no possible way they were losing this game. Not even a slap to the back of the head from Dragic could affect the Sixers’ steam.
The first half was a back and forth game but the Sixers eventually pulled away in the 3rd. Joel Embiid bounced back from his sloppy game 4 to play an extremely efficient game of basketball. The Sixers took the series in five and moved on to play the Celtics. Hopes were at an all-time high with a serious discussion of playing Lebron in the Conference Finals. At least the Celtics series gave us the Embiid poster dunk on Baynes. Process that!!!
Redick- 27, Embiid- 19, Dragic- One head slap
