It was a nail-biting series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. With Atlanta taking a series lead in Game 1 they would continue to go back and forth exchanging victories until their inevitable clash in Game 7. Despite utilizing their home-court advantage, Ben Simmons had arguably the worst games in his postseason career.
Throughout the last three games of the series 76ers star, Ben Simmons, has only managed to put up a sum of 19 points for his team. With his total stats for Game 7 being 5 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds he clearly showed his teammates and fans watching around the world that he is not capable of being a point guard on a winning team. Especially after he passed up a wide-open layup in the fourth quarter to give it to a double-contested Matisse Thybulle. Head coach, Doc Rivers, was in fact asked this question in a postgame interview and responded with the simple statement, “I don’t know the answer to that.” However, trying to put the team on his back and pick up the slack, Joel Embid had an impressive game contributing 31 points, 3 assists, and 11 rebounds.
Overcoming the regular season obstacles all the way through New York and Philadelphia, Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks look to add the Milwaukee Bucks to their list of defeats. Against the 76ers, Young racked up 34 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, and even 3 steals while advancing his team to the Eastern Conference Finals; not to mention all the help given from his teammate Kevin Huerter who would show out with an impressive career-high 27 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds. Propelling their team to a 103-96 victory, both athletes are only improving as they prepare for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals held June 23, 2021.