Welcome to the playoffs.
The Sixers beat the Heat, 130-103, Saturday night to the tune of "Trust the Process" chants echoing throughout the Wells Fargo Center.
Their win streak now stands at 17, dating back to the regular season, as they captured Game 1 with a statement victory.
• The Sixers came out of a four-point deficit at halftime and basically said, "We'll take care of the third quarter, thanks." They outscored the Heat 34-18, including a 15-0 run. Ersan Ilyasova had five points, three boards and a block during that spurt. The Sixers have been dominating third quarters as of late. They outscored their opponents 480-367 in that quarter during their 16-game winning streak and were outscored only three times.
• The Wells Fargo Center was so loud it was hard to hear yourself think. The Sixers set the tone by having Joel Embiid ring the ceremonial pregame bell … in a mask. Yes, the Phantom of the Process still was part of Game 1. The crowd got hyped to see Allen Iverson and LeSean McCoy in attendance. Even former Sixer Nik Stauskas returned to the arena to support the Sixers.
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• Can a rookie point guard lead a team in the postseason? Ben Simmons proved it with 17 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists. He ran into foul trouble (four) and committed five turnovers, but he didn't have any in the second half, showing his discipline. Simmons, who usually keeps a calm demeanor, was showing more emotion on his face as he competed on a bigger stage.
• The value of the buyout additions of Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova is going to be immeasurable in the postseason. The Sixers' bench went from struggling to find a scorer to having two reliable options. Belinelli dropped 25 points and Ilyasova recorded a double-double by the third quarter (17 points, 14 rebounds on the night). Simmons is the first rookie to ever record that stat line in the playoffs.
• JJ Redick started off the game with a hiccup. He fell awkwardly on his left side and landed on his arm and face. Redick returned and looked unfazed, scoring a game-high 28 points and a perfect 8 for 8 from the line. He is one of the more interesting Sixers to watch in-between plays. Redick often is talking to teammates after a make or miss, frequently making hand motions to direct the next call and providing an invaluable leadership in-game.
• This game wasn't about the bigs. Hassan Whiteside didn't have the impact it seemed like he would have going into the series. He played just 12 minutes and scored two points with six rebounds. Backup center Bam Adebayo also had a limited role with two points with one rebound in 21 minutes. Instead, it was stretch forward Kelly Olynyk who was a pest off the bench, netting a team-high 26 points, including four threes, and seven boards.
• The postseason version of Dario Saric competes on another level. He provides gifs for days with his post-basket reactions. In spite of still experiencing discomfort from cellulitis in his right elbow, Saric scored 20 points (4 for 6 from deep), six rebounds and three dimes.
Fill in the blank. Playoff Dario is ___________.
I'm going with wonderfully intense.— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) April 15, 2018
• Yeah, Markelle Fultz is ready for the playoffs.
🌀FULTZ🌀
He spins in for the floater to end the third quarter with a bang. Sixers lead by a dozen. pic.twitter.com/Hf0Pq6aFij— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 15, 2018
• Don't look at the box score to get the full impact of Amir Johnson's game. The 30-year-old has an internal hustle. Those early years on the veteran-heavy Pistons have carried over in his career.
• The Sixers continued their uptempo, three-point shooting strategy. They hit 18 of 28 from long range, a massive 64.3 percent.
