Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (PHI 3-2)

[ATLTimekeeper]

Siakam 19.3 drives, 4.5/8 FGA 56%, 40% PASS%, 2.3 assists, 2.6 TO%
Harden 18.5 drives, 2.5/6.3 FGA 40%, 45.9 PASS%, 2.8 assists, 5.4 TO%

When Siakam puts the ball on the floor he's been really good. When he's pulling up for his jumper it's been mostly bad news. This is still a new skill for him. We saw even at the end of game 4 they just gave him a lot of isos and he missed all of them. They were all rhythm jumpers without much of a shot contest. I also think he's been pretty bad at finding cheap baskets for himself, either through transition, cuts, early seals or putbacks, or even just forcing contact when the Sixers are in the penalty.

[SamSepiol]

Doc being up 3-1 right now.

[Zeno]

what happened to Maxey in the last 2 games?

Regression to the mean.

maybe a little but more I think a function of Raptors not sending his man to help on Harden as much.

[Tomhomes33]

Doc being up 3-1 right now.

Sixers will probably win the series either way but man o man..wouldnt I like Raps to take game 5 and make it 3-2 just to see Doc’s press conference after the game and another 3-1 lead being blown at least for that one game
Not to mentio the same thing if by some miracle series is tied 3-3..
i think ESPN 30 on 30 should get their crew to Toronto if Sixers lose game 5..

[rilamann]

Embiid's comments about Nurse are hilarious because we all know that if the FT differential was in favor of the Raptors, Embiid and the Sixers would be whining 10X louder than Nurse.

Not patting myself on the back for saying this last week because everyone knew it was obvious.

But yeah.

[BloodNinja]

https://streamable.com/860mfq

Most insufferable duo of all time

[homecourtloss]

https://streamable.com/860mfq

Most insufferable duo of all time

Pathetic by Embiid and Harden here.

[aminiaturebuddha]

You did all that work, good on ya. the prob is - Philly is a different team since the Harden trade, especially when it comes to 3pt range and Harden has played only about 20 games, so the total season numbers are kind of misleading and not representing the way it really is

Philly has been a different team since the trade, but they're still shooting way above those post-ASG averages (13.3 3FGM at 38.5%) which included some very high 3FGM games against mostly terrible defences (23 3FGM vs Pacers, 21 3FGM vs Hornets, 19 3FGM vs Wolves, 17 3FGM vs Knicks). Literally every single Sixers rotation player is shooting well above their average except Embiid and Green, who are a combined 12/41. It's mostly just Green who hasn't been good though (29% on 7 attempts).

We started to see some regression for the Sixers in the last two games where their starters shot a combined 16/50 (32%) after shooting 23/51 (45%) at home. Toronto really needs a breakout game from GTJ (5+ threes 15 times during the season) and/or FVV if he plays (5+ threes 20 times during the season) while continuing to get the contributions they've got from the bench lately.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using RealGM mobile app

you do realize, them the Raps being very focused on Embiid and guarding Harden awfully close (not sure why) - has led to good\open 3 pt shots in general for the most part

in that final rs matchup between the two, the 76ers were 19/36 almost 53% from 3

Statistically speaking, the 'mean' isn't a team's season avgs - the mean is the avg of an infinite series between these two teams, know what i mean? that's the real dataset

in any event, both Harris and Harden were shooting below their expecation during the rs - they're shooting better now which is in line with their career avgs, I don't think Philly's 3pt shooting in this series has been an anomaly, not a very significant one anway

I've watched all 4 games of this series btw

I believe that's why the first stat that he gave was difference on percentages on "open" 3s. It seems pretty clear from the stats, the Sixers are shooting better than expected on "open" 3s, the Raptors worse.

Kudos to the Sixers, they're hitting their shots and taking advantage of their opportunities, but I'm not sure why you're arguing against pingpongrac's point that this has been an important factor in the series, because it obviously has been.

[Son Goku 25]

The flop bros were meant to be together

[Joker]

If there is such thing as a precarious 3-1 lead, this is it. Given Doc’s history, Embiid’s hand, Harden’s slip in play, and the kinds of dogs the raptors are.

[76ciology]

Cool. But the truth is that the Sixers don’t have anyone who can guard Siakam, as everyone said before the series, as has been proved in the past. Siakam was very passive in the first 3 games making Tobias look great, and Niang look good, and they had lots of help from the refs who were calling every game 1-way. But Pascal finally showed up and made Tobias look like the mediocre defender he is, and Niang look like the trash defender he is, they called some fouls, and your coach didn’t adjust. Embiid, on the other hand, was passive and got all the fouls he deserved.

Tobias and Embiid can defend Siakam.

This hightlight shows Tobias defense on Siakam.

Read on Twitter

Tobi locked down siakam for 3 games. Its no fluke. He average 18ppg on 40FG% before game 4.

Sixers is not sending any help defense when Siakam drives against Tobi because the team dont consider it as a mismatch.

Same case with Embiid. Since the 2019 playoffs.

Siakam is limited as a scorer where he is very right dominant. All Sixers (even Harden and Maxey do the same thing) has to do was to deny his right side and let him finish with his left hand.

Yeah Pascal was playing into the 6ers hands. We wanted to strangle him. Do you think the reg season or game 4 was a fluke? Did you notice anything different about Pascal or Tobias or was it all on the refs for you?

Game 4, it was not all refs. It’s partly being on fire. Partly hunting mismatch. Partly acknowledging he struggles against Tobi and Embiid and was hunting Danny Green or George Niang instead.

Game 1 to 3, it was almost all of Tobias and Embiid’s defense. Sixers coaching staff did a great job scouting Siakam. Watch the games where they just let his shoot and deny his right.

[SelfishPlayer]

If there is such thing as a precarious 3-1 lead, this is it. Given Doc’s history, Embiid’s hand, Harden’s slip in play, and the kinds of dogs the raptors are.

There is too much of a talent gap for the Sixers to lose 4 straight with a home court advantage and even considering an Embiid that isn't 100%. The Sixers just need one more win. It may be as simple as the Sixers simply needing to score 120 points.

[Mamba81p]

Kobe won an MVP and a Finals MVP(2010) playing with a broken finger, so it can be done.

[rocky_da_best]

Kobe won an MVP and a Finals MVP(2010) playing with a broken finger, so it can be done.

Yeah but Embiitch isn't the guy to replicate Kobe.

[Chandan]

Philly has been a different team since the trade, but they're still shooting way above those post-ASG averages (13.3 3FGM at 38.5%) which included some very high 3FGM games against mostly terrible defences (23 3FGM vs Pacers, 21 3FGM vs Hornets, 19 3FGM vs Wolves, 17 3FGM vs Knicks). Literally every single Sixers rotation player is shooting well above their average except Embiid and Green, who are a combined 12/41. It's mostly just Green who hasn't been good though (29% on 7 attempts).

We started to see some regression for the Sixers in the last two games where their starters shot a combined 16/50 (32%) after shooting 23/51 (45%) at home. Toronto really needs a breakout game from GTJ (5+ threes 15 times during the season) and/or FVV if he plays (5+ threes 20 times during the season) while continuing to get the contributions they've got from the bench lately.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using RealGM mobile app

you do realize, them the Raps being very focused on Embiid and guarding Harden awfully close (not sure why) - has led to good\open 3 pt shots in general for the most part

in that final rs matchup between the two, the 76ers were 19/36 almost 53% from 3

Statistically speaking, the 'mean' isn't a team's season avgs - the mean is the avg of an infinite series between these two teams, know what i mean? that's the real dataset

in any event, both Harris and Harden were shooting below their expecation during the rs - they're shooting better now which is in line with their career avgs, I don't think Philly's 3pt shooting in this series has been an anomaly, not a very significant one anway

I've watched all 4 games of this series btw

I believe that's why the first stat that he gave was difference on percentages on "open" 3s. It seems pretty clear from the stats, the Sixers are shooting better than expected on "open" 3s, the Raptors worse.

Kudos to the Sixers, they're hitting their shots and taking advantage of their opportunities, but I'm not sure why you're arguing against pingpongrac's point that this has been an important factor in the series, because it obviously has been.

There are many degrees of difficulties to open threes.
Were the players on the move? Are they expecting a close out? Were they in their usual comfort spot?
How long were they able to starr at the basket before receiving the ball? Do they trust their teammates in getting them the ball?

I think most of the raptors fans have know about how we allow corner threes. The simple act of giving up a few of those early in the game and allowing shooters to get in the flow/confidence can be the difference of a 10% margin. Fred us supposed to be half a step slow right? What if their shooters know he wont be able to make a defensive play? There are many factors i dont think a "open shot" stats tell the whole story.

[Marty_Budda]

Cool. But the truth is that the Sixers don’t have anyone who can guard Siakam, as everyone said before the series, as has been proved in the past. Siakam was very passive in the first 3 games making Tobias look great, and Niang look good, and they had lots of help from the refs who were calling every game 1-way. But Pascal finally showed up and made Tobias look like the mediocre defender he is, and Niang look like the trash defender he is, they called some fouls, and your coach didn’t adjust. Embiid, on the other hand, was passive and got all the fouls he deserved.

Tobias and Embiid can defend Siakam.

This hightlight shows Tobias defense on Siakam.

Read on Twitter

Tobi locked down siakam for 3 games. Its no fluke. He average 18ppg on 40FG% before game 4.

Sixers is not sending any help defense when Siakam drives against Tobi because the team dont consider it as a mismatch.

Same case with Embiid. Since the 2019 playoffs.

Siakam is limited as a scorer where he is very right dominant. All Sixers (even Harden and Maxey do the same thing) has to do was to deny his right side and let him finish with his left hand.

Yeah Pascal was playing into the 6ers hands. We wanted to strangle him. Do you think the reg season or game 4 was a fluke? Did you notice anything different about Pascal or Tobias or was it all on the refs for you?

Pascal needs to learn to sell the contact better. Because if you watch Tobias’ defense on him, he’s smacking his hands constantly. If that was harden, he’d flail his arms and get a call.

Tobias is a garbage defender. The reason he’s suddenly turned into a good defender is because he’s playing super aggressive and the refs are letting him get away with it. I’m cool with that, but as soon as OG tries into harden for example, raptors get called for a foul after a soft graze.

[iBall101]

Sixers fans should be honouring Tyrese right now, without him and his play… this series is tied and you all know it

[76ciology]

Sixers 3rd most in wide open 3s made per game in the playoffs. 7.8 made per game at 47% shooting

[eyeatoma]

Kobe won an MVP and a Finals MVP(2010) playing with a broken finger, so it can be done.

Yeah but Embiitch isn't the guy to replicate Kobe.

He played on a torn meniscus and dominated. Shows how much you know.

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk

[bebopdeluxe]

When did the hatred between Raps/6ers fans start? This thread is like one pro wrestling promo after another and I’m into it. Genuinely curious if it’s safe for Raps fans to go to a game in Philly. My brother is a Vikings fan and he went to a game in Philly once. He’s a chill, quiet guy and people were still throwing stuff at his head and threatening to kill him the entire time.

To be honest, fanbase to fanbase, I don't think there is much heat. There is simply a subset of Raptors fans on the GB who are insufferable - and have been that way for YEARS,

Yeah, it's the insufferable Raptor fans, and not at all the insufferable Sixer fans who are every bit as responsible for the **** these threads have been.

Both fanbases have dbags and trolls. Blaming any one side is entirely dishonest, especially when you personally have added playing victim as a form of attack, which the post above is proof of. "They've been so bad for so long that I am now entitled to constant shrieking criticism in every thread" to put yourself on some imaginary high horse.

if you want to ignore the reputation of Raptors fans on the GB having a material subset of that base being absolutely insufferable, that is fine. The rest of us, however, are keeping it 100 here.