NBA Playoffs Game 5: Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers Live Game Thread

WHO: Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers (76ers lead 3-1)

WHAT: Nets have to win. Duh. A loss ends the season for them, but of course they won’t go down without a fight. Win. Win. Win.

WHERE: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, 76ers

WHEN: 8:00 p.m. EST

HOW: WWOR, NBCSP; TNT

THE STORY: Preview

This series looks a lot different if Joe Harris hits his threes. The NBA’s regular season three point percentage champion is 0-of-16 from three in the Nets last three losses, and his inability to find his shot has stunted the Nets entire offensive game plan. Kenny Atkinsons’s offense is predicated on the Nets making a significant number of their three point attempts, and Joe Harris is the No. 1 guy for run off screens, hit spot-up jumpers behind the line. He has not done his job. It doesn’t help that DeMarre Carroll is shooting 25% from three this series, or that Rodions Kurucs is 0-for-5. The Nets are ice cold from deep, and it’s a major contributor to why they’re down 3-1. If Joe makes even just two of his 6 threes in Game 4 we could be watching a 2-2 series right now.

I guess we should talk for a minute about Jared Dudley. When he ran up and bumped Joel Embiid back, I literally stood up from my seat and pumped my fist. Embiid was being a troll, and Dudley was having none of it. This has obviously been a chippy series, and the Sixers have shown a whole lot of disrespect towards the Nets the entire time. Embiid pointing at Jarrett after fouling him was clearly the last straw, and I’m glad we have someone like Jared to do something about it.

For more on the 76ers, check out: Liberty Ballers

Bad blood is no stranger to the NBA playoffs. In fact, the two often go hand-in-hand. Tensions between Jared Dudley and the Sixers have bubbled to the surface over the past week. Dudley made comments about Ben Simmons’ half-court limitations in between Games 2 and 3. Simmons responded the same way anyone would respond to Jared Dudley shade:

“It’s coming from Jared Dudley, c’mon.”

A Simmons taunt, Dudley copycat taunt, and baseline altercation later, and the Sixers are now a win away from the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They’ll attempt to close out the Nets tonight from the comfort of their Broad Street home.

If Dudley felt that Simmons and Embiid were showing ill will, wait until he is reintroduced to the Philadelphia fans in attendance Tuesday night.