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After a 131-115 victory in Brooklyn on Thursday night, the Sixers can go home to a game in advance.
Paul Hudrick and Noah Levick give their forecasts for the fourth match:
Hudrick
With Joel Embiid listed as questionable … I have no idea what that means. He was doubtful in the first game, but played. He was questionable in the second game and played. He was questionable and said that his knee was better before the third match, but he did not play.
If the Sixers seek to rest from Embiid, they play a dangerous game. If Embiid is available, even if it's not 100%, it would make more sense to play against him, win Match 4, and then let him rest for Match 5. When you start to get into these scenarios, it seems risky.
The good news for the Sixers is that they have proven they can defeat the Nets without their All-Star center. Ben Simmons was the best player on the floor Thursday night, while Tobias Harris seems to have recovered his courage. Brooklyn seemed to have never seen JJ Redick's dribble transfer action before, as the Sixers have repeatedly managed to reach that goal.
The main reason why the Sixers seem to be OK without Embiid is the regular game of Boban Marjanovic. The center is the most consistent player on the team in the series. You expect an effective attack (14.3 points in 17.3 minutes per game, with 62% success), but his defense was a major concern for this series. He has more than met the challenge of being able to influence the shots on goal of the dangerous trio of guards Nets.
The proposal to start Greg Monroe is not great, but if the veteran can be a little better than he was in match 3, it could go a long way.
With or without Embiid for the fourth game, the Sixers return to the Wells Fargo Center with a chance to win their ticket for the second round.
Levick
The Sixers attack dictated the action in Game 3, playing at a pace that Nets coach Kenny Atkinson admitted was beyond the comfort level of his team. The ability of Simmons, Jimmy Butler and Harris to push the ball to the ground allowed the Sixers to play at a fast tempo with no exorbitant turnovers.
In theory, the idea of forcing the Sixers away from their favorite habits and actions makes sense for the Nets, but it does not matter if the Sixers do not give the Brooklyn defense time to set up. Using a zone also does not seem to be the smartest idea for the Nets when Harris (6 for 6 from three points in Game 3) and Redick (5 for 9) are on the ground.
Joe Harris, 0 for 6 on three points in the last two games, is expected for a big game. Butler also, limited to 19 points in Games 2 and 3. I'm expecting Butler to take the lead in the fourth quarter and help the Sixers to win another victory at Barclays Center.
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