Sixers-Heat playoff predictions

They are now on a 16 game winning streak entering the playoffs, which is the biggest streak in franchise history.

Embiid, who has since been cleared of a concussion suffered from the accidental headbutt, had surgery on March 31.

For the majority of this young Sixers team, the playoffs will be a new experience for them going into Saturday’s first-round series. I wouldn’t put it past Dwyane Wade to turn out a couple of games that make us think it’s 2006, and I expect that James Johnson will be working his butt off trying to slow down Ben Simmons, even if its just a tiny bit.

On Wednesday, Embiid stumped for Brown to win National Basketball Association coach of the year, teammate Ben Simmons for Kia Rookie of the Year and himself, naturally, to win the KIA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

The goals keep changing in Philly – from a playoff berth to 50 wins to the No. 3 seed.

Could the Sixers do something like that, in Game 1 of the playoffs, and play him anyway?

With game-breaking dynamos surrounded by a cast of versatile supporting players, the Sixers have a legitimate chance at a deep playoff run this spring.

“Sixers head coach Brett Brown appeared on NBCSN’s Dan Patrick Show (h/t NBC Sports Philadelphia) on Friday and said: “[Embiid] will not play in Game 1. But if the third-seeded Sixers want to beat the Heat, they’ll need their All-Star center/social media darling/leading scorer/court jester/leading rebounder in the lineup. Miami has won 12 straight playoff games when scoring at least 100 points, so that will be the magic number for them in this game. “If it was my decision, I would probably play”. 1 thing that the Heat have going in their favor, however, is what Dwyane Wade was able to do previous year with Chicago in the playoffs.

The Sixers were 2-2 against the Pacers during the regular season and they’re the last team that the Sixers lost to, while the Sixers were 1-1 against Houston. If the Sixers list him as inactive, he won’t be allowed to play under any circumstance. And there’s sure to be plenty of trash talk to boot – thanks to Embiid’s trolling and trash-talking Heat big man Hassan Whiteside earlier this season.