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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

After dropping two consecutive games in a row, the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back with a win over the Atlanta Hawks. Now in the post-Harden era, the 76ers seem to be better than ever, dominating the Eastern Conference while being in a constant battle for the number one seed.

The second-seeded 76ers squad barely faced any problems. The game was controlled mostly by reigning MVP Joel Embiid, as neither Trae Young nor Dejounte Murray could come up with a response. Here are three takeaways from the face-off.

1. Philly would need Joel Embiid to step up consistently

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The Philadelphia 76ers rallied behind their star center, Joel Embiid as he willed his team to victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Embiid had an excellent game as he finished the night with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in the 37 minutes he played. No one on the Hawks roster was able to go toe-to-toe with the Cameroonian, who came through every time his team needed a few buckets.

USA Today via Reuters

Embiid?s performance surely has 76ers fans breathing a sigh of relief. However, he will have take up more offensive duties consistently till the team looks for another All-Star level scorer to fill the void.

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No doubt that Tyrese Maxey has risen to that All-Star caliber lately. He has, at least, displayed hints of stardom. But the team would regularly need to rely on Embiid for the major chunk of their scoring given that Maxey needs to run the team?s offense as well.

2. The need for another star-caliber player for the 76ers

Many believed that the Philadelphia 76ers would go on to struggle after the departure of James Harden. Instead, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the squad.

The 76ers found a player with star caliber in Tyrese Maxey without having to look for a trade to acquire one. Maxey seems to be a good cultural fit for the ?76ers, but even more so for their style of gameplay.

He has been a huge help to Embiid in terms of scoring and has taken quite the load for the team?s playmaking as well. Maxey seems to be a blend of both; a pass-first and score-first type of point guard.

But to not burn the candle at both ends, the 76ers might want to look for another All-Star to take the load off of both Embiid and Maxey. Now, this player could be brought in for either help on offense or playmaking.

A shooting guard with a quick trigger would help the team in scoring. Meanwhile, a proven point guard would help Maxey, allowing him to focus more on generating offences of his own.

3. Are the Hawks duo in trouble?

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The Atlanta Hawks lost the game 116-126. Even though they lost by a 10-point margin, it surely wasn?t because of the team?s star duo. To many, Trae Young?s performance may seem like a successful night.

But 22 points while shooting 5-14 from the field is far from successful. His 13 assists did help others on the squad find their knack. Be that as it may, the same cannot be said for Dejounte Murray.

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Murray finished the night with a mere 13-point game while shooting an abysmal 5-16 from the field. Although, he has looked good so far this season, the 76ers game was a clear indication that he had an off-night.

The Hawks have been splitting their past few games for a while now. With this loss, the team is 6-6 for the season and in seventh place in the East. If these two-star guards hope to play together in the future, things need to be shaken up.?