NLL Insider - Philadelphia V Charlotte Preview!

by DallasPride77, updated on Sunday, August 08 2021, 06:35 pm EST

The NBA Playoffs are heating up. And in the case of the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte

Hornets sparks are bound to fly in their second-round meeting.

Both teams are entering the second round of the playoffs after impressive first-round matchups

against their respective opponents.

In the 76ers case, the team just finished sweeping the Detroit Pistons. The series was

seemingly over before it started. The average margin of victory was 20 points, and the Pistons

had no answer for the loaded 76ers roster.

On the other hand, Charlotte is coming off of a seven-game series where they traded blow-out

wins with the Washington Wizards the entire way.

Now, two of the highest-scoring teams in the league are meeting for what promises to be one of

the best second-round series of this year’s NBA Playoffs.

“Charlotte is a tough team,” 76ers shooting guard James Harden said to the media Saturday

night. “They play hard. They are well-coached. They care. And heading into this series, we have

our work cut out for us.”

The Star Battle:

The winner of this series will be the team that maximizes its stars early. For Philadelphia, that

means getting the most out of Harden and Damian Lillard. And for Charlotte, it means getting

the most out of Joel Embiid, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, and Kristaps Porzingis.

Out of both teams, Harden is the leading scorer in the series. He is currently averaging 36.8

points per game in the playoffs. Yet, scoring isn’t all he does. He’s chipped in with seven assists

and six rebounds, as well.

When asked about the way he elevates his game during the playoffs Harden described it as “a

necessity for all great players.” He knows he can’t go down as one of the best if he doesn’t play

his best with the season on the line.

Harden’s backcourt running mate - Lillard - has joined him in playing extremely well this

postseason. Through the four games against the Pistons, Lillard averaged 24.3 points, five

assists, and two steals per game.

He and Harden make up arguably the most impressive backcourt in these playoffs.

“This is just what we do,” Lillard said. “You can try to take away one of us but it’s impossible to

stop both of us.”

Charlotte doesn’t possess a point per game scorer like Harden, but they make up for it with

depth.

Embiid, through the first round, averaged 25 points and 16 rebounds per game. He was a force

on the inside, cleaning the glass at a playoff historic rate.

“This is what I do. Y’all should know me by now,” he said. “I stay ready, and I am one of the best

big men in the league. Dominating is my every day.”

Alongside Embiid is Ingram - a walking matchup nightmare. As a 20 point per game scorer on

the wing, the 76ers will struggle to find an adequate matchup for what he can do offensively.

Murray and Porzingis both average 17 and 16 points respectively. They provide shooting around

Embiid and Ingram, and with the space, they create on the floor, the 76ers will struggle to stop

the inside attack of the Hornets.

“We are here to do our job,” Porzingis said. “Anything the coaches want from me, I can do.”

The supplemental players:

Outside of the superstars, each team has a group of players that star in their roles. In the 76ers

case, those players are Derrick Rose and Zion Williamson.

Rose enjoyed a strong start to the playoffs, as he averaged 12 points on 55 percent from the

field. He provides a veteran presence. And he is no stranger to the big moments on the playoff

stage.

Williamson, on the other hand, is a youthful forward who provides athleticism and energy for

Philadelphia’s frontcourt. He hasn’t emerged as the go-to star many expected early on for

Philadelphia, but he does enough to warrant extended minutes on the floor.

“I love the way coach has been using me within the offense,” Williamson said. “I think in this

series I can play an extended role for sure.”

Charlotte’s role players are equally impressive, and it all starts with Jrue Holiday.

In the playoffs, Holiday is averaging 13 points per game. His efficiency has fallen off, with his

shooting percentages slumping to 34 percent. However, it can be believed that a player of his

caliber will find his groove sooner rather than later.

Following Holiday’s lead is the youngster, Michael Porter Jr. As a big wing, who can score at

will, Porter proves to be a matchup nightmare. He has actually increased his scoring to 10.9

points per game in the playoffs. And against Philadelphia, he wants to take advantage of the

smaller matchups he will benefit from.

“I know I can score with anyone,” Porter said. “Just get me the ball in my spots.”

In the battle of supplemental players, the edge goes to Charlotte.

Series expectations:

With a series like this, things can swing either way. It’s the proverbial coin-flip series. Both teams

have players the other can’t stop. And for as cliche as it may sound, it will come down to simply

who makes more shots in big moments.

Expect this matchup to go at least six games. Each team will throw their punches. And each

team will have the chance to adjust. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

“I can’t wait to play,” Embiid said. “I live for the playoffs. My teams live for the playoffs. We know

what we can do. It’s just about going out there and executing."

NLL Insider - Philadelphia V Charlotte Preview!

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