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

[Johnny Tomala]

76ers in 6.

[SF_Warriors]

Big upset energy with this matchup. Philly will need embiid to dominate, Raps have the personnel to make life tough for the other guys.

[AussieCeltic]

How do the Raptors guard Embiid?

I think the Celtics did a great job on him sending the hard double as soon as he catches the ball. It forces him to be a passer (which he is ok at) but he does turn the ball over a bit. You can also see him start to force shots over double teams (which he is also pretty good at).

Aside from the one game where we had Enes Freedom on him, this strategy really worked.

Nurse is a smart coach so I could see him doing something similar.

[Raptors_Dynasty]

How do the Raptors guard Embiid?

I think the Celtics did a great job on him sending the hard double as soon as he catches the ball. It forces him to be a passer (which he is ok at) but he does turn the ball over a bit. You can also see him start to force shots over double teams (which he is also pretty good at).

Aside from the one game where we had Enes Freedom on him, this strategy really worked.

Nurse is a smart coach so I could see him doing something similar.

That's how we have been playing him too, sending doubles with long mobile defenders from different directions. Has worked so far.

[lobosloboslobos]

They've been awesome at defending Embiid. Quick doubles but not in a predictable way, with long active arms from the other defenders contesting his passing lanes. It's thrown him off for sure, in my mind they bothered him the most of any team (although I wasn't taking notes or anything).

That said, I feel like the Raptors haven't really faced the full-on Harden/Embiid pn'r game, and I think that'll be a much better set for the Sixers than Embiid isos in this series. Hopefully Doc makes ample use of that, cuz the post-ups are much more work and much more room for mistakes against a team like TOR.

the thing is p'n'r doesn't work very well against the Raptors because they are so long and disruptive and fast.

Already said too much on this in this thread but in short, yes, the Raptors are good at defense, no that doesn't mean that a Harden/Embiid pn'r is doomed against them. It's the Sixers' best set and there's no easy way to take it out. We'll see what happens, should be a good battle.

Also that article is just saying that teams run fewer picks than them because they try to force teams to run other things, not that they're so dominant at defending pn'r that no one even bothers.

totally agree we will see and I too don't want to get cocky. but fwiw i think the idea is not that other teams don't try it's that they do try but they just can't run it like they want because the raps are so good at covering ground and so long and disruptive. but yeah we'll find out soon enough. good luck to both teams. i hope it's a great series and you guys lose.

[links135]

How do the Raptors guard Embiid?

I think the Celtics did a great job on him sending the hard double as soon as he catches the ball. It forces him to be a passer (which he is ok at) but he does turn the ball over a bit. You can also see him start to force shots over double teams (which he is also pretty good at).

Aside from the one game where we had Enes Freedom on him, this strategy really worked.

Nurse is a smart coach so I could see him doing something similar.

That's how we have been playing him too, sending doubles with long mobile defenders from different directions. Has worked so far.

One big reason it's worked for Toronto is passes out of double teams don't create further mismatches, as we can then put anyone on pretty much anyone save the bearded midget, which is probably why our record against .500+ teams is better than our record against under .500 teams.

We 'can' disrupt stars by getting them out of their rhythm, whereas how TF are we supposed to gameplan against trash.

[facothomas22]

The 76ers in 7 games. However I can't say I'm confident this team will get it done.

1. James Harden is known to disappear in the big games and he has looked quite bad shooting wise these last couple of weeks. Also appears to be out of shape.
2. The Raptors have been known to slow down Joel Emiid down and perhaps that might be the case again.
3. Tobias Harris is not known to show out and really he's much better suited as a 3rd or 4th option on a Championship contending team
4. Matisse Thybulle won't be able to play away games. He's quite important on defense, despite of being quite bad on offense.
5. I like Tyrese Maxey,but I'm worried he be 2nd in scoring on This team know that Harden has been out of shape and clearly not the same he once was. I can't see the 76ers winning like that,unless Maxey some goes off for 25+ points per game.

Due the fact I do believe Emiid will dominate this time around and James Harden will do just enough to help this team get past the Raptors,but barely.

[76ersForLife]

Raptors or Boston was the worst possible matchup for the Sixers. Sixers would have easily handled the bulls or cavs. Sixers even matchup way better against the Bucks because Milwaukees doesnt have great wing athletes like Tor and Boston.

Its going to be rough watching Korkmaz,Niang,Harden and washed up Danny Green getting destroyed by those Toronto athletic wing players.

Daryl Morey needs to be fired.

[Wolfgang630]

As many know Embiid said Toronto is the team he doesn’t like facing because of their defense. He’s having a MVP year so you’ll expect to still give you similar numbers even if there is some drop.

I don’t trust Harden or Doc though. This has upset written all over it. I hope it goes 6-7 games.

[falcolombardi]

is a bit dissapointing that people still mock embiid for crying after a tough loss

god forbid people have emotions

Lol we only do it cause he was acting like a clown all series doing airplane celebrations and whatnot. You can’t expect to troll the way he did and then not get trolled back when you’re crying cause you lost.

doing celebrations = bad?

[Marty_Budda]

is a bit dissapointing that people still mock embiid for crying after a tough loss

god forbid people have emotions

Lol we only do it cause he was acting like a clown all series doing airplane celebrations and whatnot. You can’t expect to troll the way he did and then not get trolled back when you’re crying cause you lost.

doing celebrations = bad?

When you’re winning a game by 30 and you do a wide open windmill dunk and then run to the other side of the court doing an airplane celebration…yeah fans take it personal lol

[Prez]

Lol we only do it cause he was acting like a clown all series doing airplane celebrations and whatnot. You can’t expect to troll the way he did and then not get trolled back when you’re crying cause you lost.

doing celebrations = bad?

When you’re winning a game by 30 and you do a wide open windmill dunk and then run to the other side of the court doing an airplane celebration…yeah fans take it personal lol

Is there anything else he did that series that I’m forgetting? Because that alone is a pretty weak thing to hold against him, especially 3 years later.

[HotelVitale]

How do the Raptors guard Embiid? I think the Celtics did a great job on him sending the hard double as soon as he catches the ball. It forces him to be a passer (which he is ok at) but he does turn the ball over a bit. You can also see him start to force shots over double teams (which he is also pretty good at).

Aside from the one game where we had Enes Freedom on him, this strategy really worked. Nurse is a smart coach so I could see him doing something similar.

That's how we have been playing him too, sending doubles with long mobile defenders from different directions. Has worked so far.

It looked really good the last couple games. Didn't stop Embiid completely obviously but got him out of rhythm and made him panic more than he usually does (he's been making good strides with that since lookin foolish on double teams in the '19 and '20 playoffs). The Raptors are a little sneakier with their doubles than the Celtics too, vary the looks and the quickness of the help defense. Prevents Embiid from settling into his version of triple-threat and also forces the Sixers side players to do things they don't want to (e.g. Harris driving into traffic, Green or Thybulle taking more than one dribble ever).

Sixers have some other weapons though so we'll see how it goes. The defense be more exciting to follow than most series here.

[KamikazeK]

Fully expecting a Toronto win in 6 games. 76ers are a joke and Raptors are tough in the playoffs.

I just don't want Nick Nurse doing any of that "pretending to be a player" bull again like in the bubble.

[Meeksology]

As many know Embiid said Toronto is the team he doesn’t like facing because of their defense. He’s having a MVP year so you’ll expect to still give you similar numbers even if there is some drop.

I don’t trust Harden or Doc though. This has upset written all over it. I hope it goes 6-7 games.

Dooes anyone have a clip or vid of this?

Sent from my SM-N950W using RealGM mobile app

[WuTang_CMB]

Toronto will win 6-7 games.

Tor's defense will force Harden to be a playmaker so if does a good job chasing their shooters, that's the game. Embiid will be bothered but will get his.

Siakam and Nurse will have a huge series

[Marty_Budda]

doing celebrations = bad?

When you’re winning a game by 30 and you do a wide open windmill dunk and then run to the other side of the court doing an airplane celebration…yeah fans take it personal lol

Is there anything else he did that series that I’m forgetting? Because that alone is a pretty weak thing to hold against him, especially 3 years later.

I don’t think it’s a thing of holding anything against him. We remember that series fondly. We just use it as ammo to get under philly fans’ skin more than anything.it’s just banter.

You’re a bucks fan. Imagine you’re playing the nets first round and Kyrie does a shimmy shake every time he makes a 3. You then end up winning the series in dramatic fashion and he just starts crying after acting cocky all series long. Your fans would definitely use that against nets fans if you ever came up against them again in the playoffs.

[tdot_steel]

In my estimation the Raptors game plan should be to make Harden and Embiid work really hard on the defensive end. Hunt the matchup and make Harden defend especially when playing in Toronto. The lack of depth for the Sixers should be exploited. Either get them into foul trouble or get them tired by the 4th quarter.

[falcolombardi]

When you’re winning a game by 30 and you do a wide open windmill dunk and then run to the other side of the court doing an airplane celebration…yeah fans take it personal lol

Is there anything else he did that series that I’m forgetting? Because that alone is a pretty weak thing to hold against him, especially 3 years later.

I don’t think it’s a thing of holding anything against him. We remember that series fondly. We just use it as ammo to get under philly fans’ skin more than anything.it’s just banter.

You’re a bucks fan. Imagine you’re playing the nets first round and Kyrie does a shimmy shake every time he makes a 3. You then end up winning the series in dramatic fashion and he just starts crying after acting cocky all series long. Your fans would definitely use that against nets fans if you ever came up against them again in the playoffs.

i dont think mocking someone crying falls under banter, that would be initiating his airplane thingh after beating him

mocking someone for crying after a loss just comes across as a low blow instead

[LewisnotMiller]

In my estimation the Raptors game plan should be to make Harden and Embiid work really hard on the defensive end. Hunt the matchup and make Harden defend especially when playing in Toronto. The lack of depth for the Sixers should be exploited. Either get them into foul trouble or get them tired by the 4th quarter.

I think making Harden defend is good, but I'd add 'in space'.
Game plans that try isolating him in the post, for example, aren't a good idea imho.

He can use his strength, is less like to give cheap fouls, and doesn't need to expend as much energy.