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

[Childs]

If this is the basketball that Toronto is going to play, just sweep us. I dont want to watch this crap one more game longer that it needs to be.

[Black Mage]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

I'm gonna give him credit. He seems to be going that extra distance that only guys like Pop or Phil would try to do. He's on the brink of the "begging the league to fine me" level. Will be interesting to see if it works for him.

[Sisqo]

And Raptors fans are able to participate in a thread discussing a game without the majority of posts bitching about the refs or whining about the Sixers flopping.

Right?

I would like to think so? It seems to be what I'm doing and a bunch of others so why exactly are you bring this up with me? You picked the wrong person to try and make a point with. Im here to talk about the game so I suggest you move along.

If you are not one of the incessant Raptors whiners in the thread, I apologize. I didn't mean to catch you with a stray.

Maybe you should consider who you go after when you are going to make assumptions. The only thing here almost as bad as the whiners is the ones who complain equally as much about whining and bait or feed into the bitching. It only makes it worse. Ignore them and move along.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Its mind blowing that the Sixers are playing this well with Harden continuing to suck.

Conventional wisdom was clearly that Harden had to play at an elite level to win.

Right now he might not even be playing like a top 3 player on his own team.

Are the Sixers this good or was Toronto just a fraud team?

Seems like the latter to me.

[Black Mage]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

It really is pathetic. Tiring. Ridiculous.

Have some class, Nick, and take the L like a man.

Curious, did it just become tiring and pathetic now that its Nick Nurse or wasn't it also pathetic when other teams do it?

Can't be tiring because it does seem to work. It's probably why opposing fans always get annoyed b/c they just fear what happens in the next game.

[bebopdeluxe]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

.

I don't think that Doc Rivers is a whiner about the refs, per se. Brett Brown wasn't, either.

It is just tiring to hear it two games in a row. I mean, you were basically down 20+ points in both games. Was that REALLY because of the refs? Listening to Nurse's pressers, it sure seems like he thinks that.

He is a great coach (and I mean that) with a ring. It is just a really bad look - especially after two consecutive games where your team was basically dusted off the floor. Take some ownership. I would have more respect for him if he talked about missing Scottie and GTJ - which are huge losses.

[Sisqo]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

I'm gonna give him credit. He seems to be going that extra distance that only guys like Pop or Phil would try to do. He's on the brink of the "begging the league to fine me" level. Will be interesting to see if it works for him.

If they can get it to balance out a little bit I don't mind. Doc did a pretty good job himself in the post game pointing out how Toronto is looking to muck up the game a little bit. My guess is things stay the same. I don't care that much in the end about the refs, I just wish it was more consistent across the whole game. what is a foul in the 1st Q might not be one in the 3rd.

[Duffman100]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

.

I don't think that Doc Rivers is a whiner about the refs, per se. Brett Brown wasn't, either.

It is just tiring to hear it two games in a row. I mean, you were basically down 20+ points in both games. Was that REALLY because of the refs? Listening to Nurse's pressers, it sure seems like he thinks that.

He is a great coach (and I mean that) with a ring. It is just a really bad look - especially after two consecutive games where your team was basically dusted off the floor. Take some ownership. I would have more respect for him if he talked about missing Scottie and GTJ - which are huge losses.

The refs did completely change the way the game was called from the 1st quarter to the 4th quarter.

All I really want is consistency.

[Black Mage]

Its mind blowing that the Sixers are playing this well with Harden continuing to suck.

Conventional wisdom was clearly that Harden had to play at an elite level to win.

Right now he might not even be playing like a top 3 player on his own team.

Are the Sixers this good or was Toronto just a fraud team?

Seems like the latter to me.

Sixers were always that good. Their problem was they always had to play 4 on 5 offense in the playoffs where even 5 on 5 offense is challenging. It became impossible when they had a player who wouldn't shoot so his defender basically becomes a free safety able to muck up the court for your other talents... Better hope he doesn't return against Celtics, otherwise its gonna be a quick exit for the Nets.

[bebopdeluxe]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

I'm gonna give him credit. He seems to be going that extra distance that only guys like Pop or Phil
would try to do. He's on the brink of the "begging the league to fine me" level. Will be interesting to see if it works for him.

Really. This is Hall of Fame-level postgame ref whining.

But, again - it is just a really bad look. Doc doesn't do it per se. I don't remember Brad Stevens doing it much. Coach Bud doesn't do it a lot. I guess it is just that Nurse did the exact same thing back in 2019 - woofing about the refs.

It just gets old.

[joeschmo]

I love that this is page 132 between the two most annoying fan bases in the NBA!

Keep at it you schmeggegs!

[bebopdeluxe]

Its mind blowing that the Sixers are playing this well with Harden continuing to suck.

Conventional wisdom was clearly that Harden had to play at an elite level to win.

Right now he might not even be playing like a top 3 player on his own team.

Are the Sixers this good or was Toronto just a fraud team?

Seems like the latter to me.

Sixers were always that good. Their problem was they always had to play 4 on 5 offense in the playoffs where even 5 on 5 offense is challenging. It became impossible when they had a player who wouldn't shoot so his defender basically becomes a free safety able to muck up the court for your other talents... Better hope he doesn't return against Celtics, otherwise its gonna be a quick exit for the Nets.

In the Atlanta series last year, it was 3-on-5 when Thybulle was out there.

[RoyceDa59]

Philly just a better team than us. I’ll cheer for them once they’ve cleared us out of the way.

Embiid is too good.

[Sisqo]

Nurse again complaining about refs post game; feels like he read one of Phil's books and now fancies himself able to do the jedi mind trick with the refs just like the Zen Master used to.

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

.

I don't think that Doc Rivers is a whiner about the refs, per se. Brett Brown wasn't, either.

It is just tiring to hear it two games in a row. I mean, you were basically down 20+ points in both games. Was that REALLY because of the refs? Listening to Nurse's pressers, it sure seems like he thinks that.

He is a great coach (and I mean that) with a ring. It is just a really bad look - especially after two consecutive games where your team was basically dusted off the floor. Take some ownership. I would have more respect for him if he talked about missing Scottie and GTJ - which are huge losses.

Yeah Doc isn't so obvious about it that's for sure. but every team does this. He's trying to work every angle, it would be stupid to not try.
Nurse and the Raptors know this isn't because of the refs at the end of the day. They need to play better and get healthy. Even with that it's probably not enough but it gets them closer.

This is the team everyone thought would struggle to get to a play-in, now they want to mock them for having a bad first round.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Its mind blowing that the Sixers are playing this well with Harden continuing to suck.

Conventional wisdom was clearly that Harden had to play at an elite level to win.

Right now he might not even be playing like a top 3 player on his own team.

Are the Sixers this good or was Toronto just a fraud team?

Seems like the latter to me.

Sixers were always that good. Their problem was they always had to play 4 on 5 offense in the playoffs where even 5 on 5 offense is challenging. It became impossible when they had a player who wouldn't shoot so his defender basically becomes a free safety able to muck up the court for your other talents... Better hope he doesn't return against Celtics, otherwise its gonna be a quick exit for the Nets.

Just wait till Harden gets targeted on defense and starts getting less attention on offense for Maxey.

Raptors don't seem to have the talent to do it. Miami will be different.

[bebopdeluxe]

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

I'm gonna give him credit. He seems to be going that extra distance that only guys like Pop or Phil would try to do. He's on the brink of the "begging the league to fine me" level. Will be interesting to see if it works for him.

If they can get it to balance out a little bit I don't mind. Doc did a pretty good job himself in the post game pointing out how Toronto is looking to muck up the game a little bit. My guess is things stay the same. I don't care that much in the end about the refs, I just wish it was more consistent across the whole game. what is a foul in the 1st Q might not be one in the 3rd.

Doc saying that Toronto wants to "muck" the game up is not the same as Nurse whining about the refs, IMO. I actually think that Doc's point was a legit point - after Game 1, both Nurse and FVV seem to say in their postgame pressers that they were not physical enough against the Sixers. You certainly would expect them to come out and be more physical - and they were. I got no problem with that - this is playoff basketball.

[Hussien Fatal]

The raptors have no answer for tyrese maxey. He has been the best player so far this series.

[Sisqo]

I'm gonna give him credit. He seems to be going that extra distance that only guys like Pop or Phil would try to do. He's on the brink of the "begging the league to fine me" level. Will be interesting to see if it works for him.

If they can get it to balance out a little bit I don't mind. Doc did a pretty good job himself in the post game pointing out how Toronto is looking to muck up the game a little bit. My guess is things stay the same. I don't care that much in the end about the refs, I just wish it was more consistent across the whole game. what is a foul in the 1st Q might not be one in the 3rd.

Doc saying that Toronto wants to "muck" the game up is not the same as Nurse whining about the refs, IMO. I actually think that Doc's point was a legit point - after Game 1, both Nurse and FVV seem to say in their postgame pressers that they were not physical enough against the Sixers. You certainly would expect them to come out and be more physical - and they were. I got no problem with that - this is playoff basketball.

I feel like you read half my post and respond.
I wasn't suggesting Doc was saying anything bad or whining at all. I said it was a good counter to what nick nurse said.

[Black Mage]

Its mind blowing that the Sixers are playing this well with Harden continuing to suck.

Conventional wisdom was clearly that Harden had to play at an elite level to win.

Right now he might not even be playing like a top 3 player on his own team.

Are the Sixers this good or was Toronto just a fraud team?

Seems like the latter to me.

Sixers were always that good. Their problem was they always had to play 4 on 5 offense in the playoffs where even 5 on 5 offense is challenging. It became impossible when they had a player who wouldn't shoot so his defender basically becomes a free safety able to muck up the court for your other talents... Better hope he doesn't return against Celtics, otherwise its gonna be a quick exit for the Nets.

Just wait till Harden gets targeted on defense and starts getting less attention on offense for Maxey.

Raptors don't seem to have the talent to do it. Miami will be different.

If Miami keeps PJ Tucker out on the floor, I'd just stick Harden on him on defense.

[bebopdeluxe]

What coach hasn't tried that before? lol. The league has become a mess of either players or coaches talking about the refs after a game doesn't go their way. I really wish we could just get to a point where they play and don't complain so much. The whole league, not talking about raptors or philly.

.

I don't think that Doc Rivers is a whiner about the refs, per se. Brett Brown wasn't, either.

It is just tiring to hear it two games in a row. I mean, you were basically down 20+ points in both games. Was that REALLY because of the refs? Listening to Nurse's pressers, it sure seems like he thinks that.

He is a great coach (and I mean that) with a ring. It is just a really bad look - especially after two consecutive games where your team was basically dusted off the floor. Take some ownership. I would have more respect for him if he talked about missing Scottie and GTJ - which are huge losses.

Yeah Doc isn't so obvious about it that's for sure. but every team does this. He's trying to work every angle, it would be stupid to not try.
Nurse and the Raptors know this isn't because of the refs at the end of the day. They need to play better and get healthy. Even with that it's probably not enough but it gets them closer.

This is the team everyone thought would struggle to get to a play-in, now they want to mock them for having a bad first round.

I can tell you that the Sixers fans I know wanted no part of the Raptors. They are physical, well-coached and athletic.

Honestly, without Maxey blowing up, this is a LONG series (and it may still be). He is the difference.