Hoops Habit
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Philadelphia 76ers: 3 takeaways from Game 5 advance vs. Nets

By Daniel Lubofsky

PHILADELPHIA, PA - April 23: Joel Embiid #21, Ben Simmons #25, and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Brooklyn Nets during Round One Game Five of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - April 23: Joel Embiid #21, Ben Simmons #25, and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Brooklyn Nets during Round One Game Five of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. A ridiculously fast start

While Brooklyn was the team looking to stave off elimination, it was the Sixers who appeared the more desperate team early on. Their defensive effort was at a high level, enough to keep the Nets off the scoreboard till the 6:08 mark of the first quarter. By that point, Philly had already scored 14 and would go on to claim the frame, 32-15.

What was surprising about this early onslaught was the way the Sixers dominated. They hit just one of their five looks from beyond the arc in those 12 minutes and did just about all their damage from within the restricted area. For a team that struggles shooting the ball at times, it was great to see them get efficient looks near the rim.

Philly is a team with issues that need solving at both ends of the floor. Yet, it’s also one with an abundance of talent that at times has proven capable of going on runs such as the one they pulled off in Game 5. When that happens, they’re a tough squad to handle.

The Nets fought for most of this series, but it was clear that the Sixers weren’t looking to mess around with the chance to advance and send their now rivals home. Philly wanted to squash any sliver of hope early on, and in doing so from the jump, showed the rest of the NBA world what it’s capable of at its best.