The only reason I added “near” to the title is because there’s no such thing as “perfect” in basketball. You’ll be able to rewind that film and find defensive breakdowns, 1-on-1 losses, missed open shots and scoring opportunities, but that’s just the way the game goes. Point being, those breakdowns, losses, and missed opportunities were limited and the made shots, converted opportunities, and wins were maximized. They couldn’t have played better.

Now….

That’s against a team that doesn’t even see a light at the end of the Larry O’Brien tunnel, but you still need to go out, play the game, and execute, and that they did. Breaking a franchise three-point record always helps, and although that outpouring won’t continue at the same clip, the Sixers shooting threes at a high percentage immediately makes them a scary opponent for anyone. With Embiid dominating wherever he wants and the rest of the squad lacing threes and playing their part, we’re legit contenders.

If we keep the series short and sweet and go into Round 2— against a Celtics team that the face of our franchise, nicknamed after the phoenix resurrection of a historically putrid decade of basketball, and the league’s should-be-MVP, has openly admitted isn’t a rivalry—with some fucking fire in our bellies and the scraps of a jigsaw puzzle of a Nets team still hanging from our jaws, we can fucking do this thing.

Win that series and anything is possible. I don’t think the Sixers necessarily match up better against the Bucks than the Celtics, but we’ve got a couple big wins over the Bucks, whereas the Celtics, for the moment, have our number.

The team’s success through Round 2 is directly connected to the following:

• Embiid sustains High-Q-level play with limited turnovers.

• Harden remains present and has a real impact on each game. He doesn’t have to play Superman every night but he can’t disappear and slow the offense to a standstill when the Celtics defense squeezes the Sixers offense phone booth tight. The latter can also be said for Embiid

• Maxey shows out when needed, scoring in bursts the way that he can, and ending opposition runs with speedy, timely buckets, as he has in playoffs past.

• Tobias & Tucker hit the open jumpers they’ll get at a high rate and continue their stalwart defensive efforts.

• Bball Paul, Niiang, Melton, House, McDaniel, and the rest of the squad provide positive stretches with the stars getting necessary rest.

• Doc not doing dumb shit and letting his ego affect his decisions.

Sixers in 5.

Sixers in 7.

Sixers in 7.

Sixers in 6.

Parade.