![]() ![]() It’s unclear exactly what was said between Young and McMillan or what led to the apparent verbal spar. The coach walked away as Young’s teammate pulled him in another direction. The Hawks were 14-20 when they fired former Sixers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce on March 1 and promoted Nate MacMillan to the interim job.Ī 12-year NBA player and 16-year head coach with the SuperSonics, Trail Blazers and Pacers, MacMillan immediately pushed the right buttons as Atlanta won eight in a row on the way to a 27-11 record with him and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.Trae Young argues with Jamelle McMillan after final possession of first quarter /NZeaixG9iQ- Pat Benson April 12, 2023 ![]() “We have a lot of weapons – a lot of guys that can make plays,” Young said. They’re the only NBA team with nine players to score in double figures during the 2020-21 season. The Hawks have a balanced scoring attack behind Young. Veterans Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams and youngster Kevin Huerter provide offense off the bench. High marks: Sixers make the grade(s) with Eastern Conference-best NBA regular seasonĬenter Clint Capela is an alley-oop dunk specialist/shot blocker who had the most rebounds in the league (a career-high 14.3) and fifth starter De’Andre Hunter is known for his defense (just ask the Knicks’ Julius Randle). With a starting five featuring 3-point specialist Bogdan Bogdanovic (.438 in regular season) and stretch ‘4’ John Collins (.399 on 3s), Atlanta can spread the floor and keep defenses honest.įor starters: Sixers' starters again prove too much for the Wizards in playoffsĭoing it all: Sixers' Ben Simmons shows off unique skill set in playoff series against Wizards Defensive Player of the Year finalist Ben Simmons could continue playing a lot of center if Embiid is out, so it’s unclear if he’d be able to defend Young as much as if Doc Rivers’ team is at full strength. ![]() Young averaged 29 points and shot 19 for 38 (.500) in his two regular-season games against the Sixers, which the teams split.įigure Matisse Thybulle remains a starter for the Sixers, beginning with Game 1 of the second-round series Sunday (1) at the Wells Fargo Center, if injured star Joel Embiid (slightly torn right meniscus) cannot play and for Thybulle to spend some time on Young. “He’s very clever,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. Missing a star: Sixers' Joel Embiid leaving Game 4 with sore knee a reminder of how much he's missed The biggest piece: Why Joel Embiid is Sixers' main topic of conversation despite not playing in clinching win Guessing game: Joel Embiid is the big unknown in Sixers' playoff series with Atlanta Hawks He loves big moments and gets his teammates involved, averaging 9.8 assists in the New York series. The kid has personality, which he showed when he put his finger over his mouth to shush the Knicks’ faithful late in a Game 1 victory, with his on-court bow after nailing a 30-footer to seal the clinching Game 5 win and by smiling at the fans' repeated vulgar chant directed at him, which was the same one the Philly fans serenaded Russell Westbrook with in Game 5.Ī natural scorer, Young possesses an array of floaters and jumpers. The slender, 6-foot-1 Young was more productive on the road against the Knicks in his first playoff series, averaging 32.7 points in the three New York contests and 24 during the Hawks’ two wins in Atlanta. ![]()
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