@KeepTheJuice21 NBA Playoff Picks - 5/12

My biggest takeaway from the last two games in this series is that Embiid is gassed. He’s asked to do too much and when the focal point of the offense is a center, it’s really difficult to have continuity. The wing defenders for Philly are having a tough time keeping up, which is arguably the most important defensive factor in today’s NBA. The 76ers are built like a team in the 90s, and they would’ve been great in the 90s but the looks the Heat are getting on the outside are too good. And what it would take from Embiid to win the game is more than he’s got in him after these past 2. Harden had one great game but he’s not the Harden of old, he can’t carry a team like he used to. The better team should win this one even away from home.

The Suns should win this game. There’s no doubt they have the more talented roster front to back. The margin error for the Mavs is just so much lower that the odds are stacked against them. But you cannot dispute that the Mavs have the best player on the court and he’s capable of turning a game around single handed. Maybe not quite at the level of say Giannis, but Luka could absolutely drop 50 points if the Suns let him. Late in the game the Suns have been deadly though, which leaves the winner very up in the air. That said, the early part of the game has leaned Mavericks so far in the series, more so at home. In an elimination game I think the Mavs will come out hot and have a solid lead at half time to set up for a tight finish.