Atlanta Hawks: 3 keys to the Philadelphia 76ers playoff series

Atlanta Hawks playoffs key No. 1) Win the battle of the bigs

While there is a possibility that Embiid does not play, the Hawks are preparing for the series as though he will take the court. If he does, then the Hawks’ battle becomes even more intense. He is their best player and changes the way the teams play each other.

Clint Capela has been a beast for the Hawks all season. He led the league in rebounding and was fourth in blocked shots. He has led the Hawks’ defense, been the voice from the middle, calling out what is needed for the perimeter. To put it simply, he has changed the defense of the Hawks for the better.

Embiid, with the exception of when he was injured, was having an MVP-type season. He averaged 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. He is a true threat from both inside the paint and outside the arc,

If Capela is able to slow down Embiid, then this will go a long way to helping the team win the series. Capela is not going to put up the numbers that Embiid does, that is not his role. He has the ability to change so many shots in the paint, which will slow down the 76ers offense.