It All Comes Down To Game 7

The Sixers melted under the weight of expectations and pressure. It’s very hard to close out a really good team; Boston found that out last year with Golden State when they had opportunities.

Look at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and how many players wilt in the fifth set when they’re up 5-1 and can close out the set. How many famous meltdowns have there been?

The Sixers' only hope, as I see it, is that they will not be favored in game seven on the road against the Celtics. So much in the Sixers' DNA spells a loss to the Celtics in a game seven. But that will work in the Sixers' favor. I think they do better as underdogs, as do the Eagles and the Phillies. The pressure will be off of them, after all. Now it’s Boston that has to close out a good team, Boston that has some doubts given how the Sixers have played against them in three games, at their place yet.

Let’s hope the Sixers get off to a fast, loose start like they didn’t in game five. Again, they have nothing to lose, and Doc has to stress this. Just go for it, a lot of points in transition, giving Maxey, their only relatively reliable shooter, the ball more. Figure out before the game where Embiid needs to be to make a shot, hold Harden back from his ridiculous runs to the rim, encourage Harris to take advantage of his height advantage over Brogdon, and maybe we come away with a win!

All the pressure and expectations are on Boston now. They and their fans expected to win the NBA finals. The Sixers' goal, going into the preseason, was realistically just to get out of the second round. So if the Celtics lose, it will be truly devastating. If the Sixers lose, and the Celtics go on to win the championship, it's an "immoral victory" to have pushed the champs to seven games, and the hurt won’t be quite as bad.

While everyone in the Delaware Valley is predicting the worst case scenario of a Sixers loss, it may be the best environment that this team has faced. It’s like game five. Go get 'em, boys!