76ers vs. Heat NBA Playoffs Game 5 Preview and Pick (Archive)
The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers head back to Miami with their series all tied up at 2-2. Each team has won both games on their home court.
Miami will host the game tonight. Will the trend of home-court advantage deciding the winner continue, or can Philadelphia break the streak and take a commanding 3-2 lead? Which team is the right NBA pick?
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 -07:30 PM EDT at FTX Arena
Does Joel Embiid's Return Help the 76ers?
The return of Joel Embiid has meant everything to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Embiid had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the Philadelphia 76ers' 116-108 Sunday night Game 4 win. Embiid changes everything on the floor for the 76ers.
His presence means that James Harden and Tyrese Maxey have more space to work. Embiid is also an excellent, versatile defender, and his ability to protect the rim has stopped Miami's mad charges to the basket.
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Embiid has changed everything about the complexion of the series. The Philadelphia 76ers are happy to have their MVP back in the lineup.
After being maligned for two poor performances in Games 1 and 2, James Harden has returned to life. Harden had 31 points in the Game 4 win.
Harden is back playing with confidence. The burst that comes and goes was back with Harden in Philadelphia.
Will Harden continue to look quick and spry in Miami? Or will the lethargy return when he's back in Miami?
76rs' X-Factor: Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey has been the X-Factor for the Sixers. While Harden and Embiid prefer a slow, methodical half-court pace, Maxey is at his best when he is bursting up the court with boundless intensity.
Maxey's ability to change pace for the team has made the team unpredictable in their half-court offense.
Maxey has been a whirlwind in transition, grabbing any advantage he can with his game-changing speed. Tyrese Maxey's higher level of play has been a key to the 76ers’ wins back at home.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat could not find the basket from 3-point range in Game 4. The Heat shot an uncharacteristic 7-35 from 3.
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While the 76ers played good defense on some of these attempts, there were plenty of attempts in which a Miami player missed a wide-open three.
Philadelphia did an excellent job of funneling the open looks to Miami's less skilled three-point shooters.
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Will Miami Make Philly Pay for Its Philosophy?
Rather than giving their marksmen open looks, Miami's weaker three-point shooters were left all alone from behind the arc.
Miami could not make Philadelphia pay for this philosophy. One would expect that back at home Miami will shoot much better, however.
Was this a temporary anomaly, or has Philly figured out the key to slowing down the Miami Heat offense?
Buttler's Performance
- Jimmy Butler has been excellent on both ends of the floor in this series. Butler did his part in the loss with 40 points and 5 rebounds.
- Butler was also all over the floor on the defensive end. It was Butler's ability to get to the rim and create space that led to many of the wide-open looks for his teammates.
Butler will continue to create, will his team step up and take advantage tonight?
Key Matchup
Jimmy Butler vs. James Harden
Joel Embiid is as close to unstoppable as a player can be, and many teams have approached the Sixers with the strategy they will let Embiid go for his offense, and shut down the rest of the team.
That is what Miami will need to do tonight to get back on track here in Game 5.
Jimmy Butler will be the primary defender on James Harden.
He will run through many screens in order to keep the assignment and prevent the soft switch.
Oftentimes, Miami also blitzed Harden with both players moving to guard Harden, leaving the player who set the screen to be open until the rotation came.
These tactics work excellently in Games 1 and 2. Back home, Harden found his groove.
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Will Harden’s newfound level of elite play continue in Miami, or is that a home-court thing?
If Butler is able to shut down Harden and turn the 76ers into a one-dimensional team, the Miami Heat have a great chance to grab the home win.
If Harden can continue his elite level of play and put up big numbers while getting his teammates involved, the 76ers are going to head home with a commanding 3-2 lead.
Best Bet
I like the Miami Heat to continue the “home team wins” streak.
The home-court advantage means so much to these teams, as each team's role players are shooting so much better at home.
The series switches back to Miami tonight and I expect that they will have a much better performance than their previous 7-35 from 3.
Miami was able to generate open looks, they just didn't knock them down.
Back in the friendly confines of their home arena, I expect Miami to shoot much better.
It should be a bounce-back game for the Heat in a series that will most likely go 7 games. The best bet for tonight's NBA Playoff Game 5 is the Heat - 3.5.
NBA Pick: Heat - 3.5 (-108) with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
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