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

[Madhouse]

Not as confident as my fellow Raptors fans. I believe in star power and Embiid is one of the brightest stars in the game at his offensive peak.

It's going to be tough slowing him down, especially if Scottie is starting at the 5.

In the Boston/Brooklyn thread you literally just said you believe in defense. Now you just said you believe in star power. Which one is it?

If you believe in star power then there is no better team to choose than the Brooklyn Nets. If you believe in defense than the Raptors would be the pick over the Sixers.

I'm just way more confident in C's beating the Nets than I am in Raptors beating the Sixers.

I picked the Raptors in 7 I just don't think it'll be as easy as people make it out to be.

agreed. I see toss-up and lots of very close games. Could easily be Sixers due to Embiid going off.

[Jadoogar]

He did choke really badly at the end of the last few games during the Hawks series. He was just foolishly turning over the ball left and right and seemingly had no composure to make plays. He choked. 5-8-8 turnovers in subsequent games, I believe? He also was shut out in a second half earlier in that series?

Those were not great, but that doesn't label you a choker. He is the only reason the team is as good as it is. Ben Simmons is the #1 reason the Sixers lost that series.

Yeah I wouldn't define him as a choker at all. I do think he gets significantly worse at the end of playoff games and especially as series progress, though. His decision-making at the end of close games has been really, really bad. I chalk it up to slowly accruing experience (obviously something that he will continue to get better at - he is a basketball savant after all) and to his body just, for whatever reason, just getting gassed out by the end of playoff games. I strongly disagree that Simmons was the main reason the Sixers lost that series though. Embiid's disappearing act in game 4 when they had the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead was a major reason they lost. Following it up with being by far the worse of the two players at the end of game 7 solidifies that. Yes, irrespective of Ben's mental cowardice in passing up an open dunk, Embiid was just awful in that 4th quarter and has somehow avoided the ire that Ben received.

So no, I don't think Embiid is a choke artist. But he absolutely choked last postseason, and badly.

How much of this is due to playing with Simmons? Like Embiid shouldn't be driving in from the 3 point line. The only reason he had to have the ball up there was because Simmons was scared. Alot of his turnovers were due to him trying to be a perimeter player.
He also had to carry such a big offensive load (again looking at simmons) that he naturally wore down by the end of the game/series.

Theoretically most of these problems should be solved with Harden

[Jadoogar]

Not as confident as my fellow Raptors fans. I believe in star power and Embiid is one of the brightest stars in the game at his offensive peak.

It's going to be tough slowing him down, especially if Scottie is starting at the 5.

In the Boston/Brooklyn thread you literally just said you believe in defense. Now you just said you believe in star power. Which one is it?

If you believe in star power then there is no better team to choose than the Brooklyn Nets. If you believe in defense than the Raptors would be the pick over the Sixers.

I don't think the Celtics are lacking in star power either. Yes Durant is the best player but Tatum and Brown are better than Kyrie. The gap between Tatum and Durant is much smaller than the gap between Embiid and Siakam.

[Los_29]

Not as confident as my fellow Raptors fans. I believe in star power and Embiid is one of the brightest stars in the game at his offensive peak.

It's going to be tough slowing him down, especially if Scottie is starting at the 5.

In the Boston/Brooklyn thread you literally just said you believe in defense. Now you just said you believe in star power. Which one is it?

If you believe in star power then there is no better team to choose than the Brooklyn Nets. If you believe in defense than the Raptors would be the pick over the Sixers.

I'm just way more confident in C's beating the Nets than I am in Raptors beating the Sixers.

I picked the Raptors in 7 I just don't think it'll be as easy as people make it out to be.

The Raptors are the underdog. No one is making it out to be easy. Celtics are also without Robert Williams. That defense won't look as good without their most important defensive player.

I think both series will be competitive. I just find it funny how you contradicted yourself within a span of 5 minutes. lol.

[Gasolina]

Those were not great, but that doesn't label you a choker. He is the only reason the team is as good as it is. Ben Simmons is the #1 reason the Sixers lost that series.

Yeah I wouldn't define him as a choker at all. I do think he gets significantly worse at the end of playoff games and especially as series progress, though. His decision-making at the end of close games has been really, really bad. I chalk it up to slowly accruing experience (obviously something that he will continue to get better at - he is a basketball savant after all) and to his body just, for whatever reason, just getting gassed out by the end of playoff games. I strongly disagree that Simmons was the main reason the Sixers lost that series though. Embiid's disappearing act in game 4 when they had the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead was a major reason they lost. Following it up with being by far the worse of the two players at the end of game 7 solidifies that. Yes, irrespective of Ben's mental cowardice in passing up an open dunk, Embiid was just awful in that 4th quarter and has somehow avoided the ire that Ben received.

So no, I don't think Embiid is a choke artist. But he absolutely choked last postseason, and badly.

Just because an MVP candidate has never won a second round playoff series doesn’t mean he should be called a choker. Competitively challenged sounds nicer.

I literally said he shouldn’t be called a choker. But he did choke last year. That doesn’t define him, but we also can’t pretend it wasn’t a choke.

[sam_I_am]

Yeah I wouldn't define him as a choker at all. I do think he gets significantly worse at the end of playoff games and especially as series progress, though. His decision-making at the end of close games has been really, really bad. I chalk it up to slowly accruing experience (obviously something that he will continue to get better at - he is a basketball savant after all) and to his body just, for whatever reason, just getting gassed out by the end of playoff games. I strongly disagree that Simmons was the main reason the Sixers lost that series though. Embiid's disappearing act in game 4 when they had the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead was a major reason they lost. Following it up with being by far the worse of the two players at the end of game 7 solidifies that. Yes, irrespective of Ben's mental cowardice in passing up an open dunk, Embiid was just awful in that 4th quarter and has somehow avoided the ire that Ben received.

So no, I don't think Embiid is a choke artist. But he absolutely choked last postseason, and badly.

Just because an MVP candidate has never won a second round playoff series doesn’t mean he should be called a choker. Competitively challenged sounds nicer.

I literally said he shouldn’t be called a choker. But he did choke last year. That doesn’t define him, but we also can’t pretend it wasn’t a choke.

I literally made a joke. Anyway, lots of great players underperformed in playoffs before they became champs - even Lebron. Maybe Embiid will figure it out too. I just wouldn’t count on it this year as I see 76ers losing to Raptors.

[Los_29]

Not as confident as my fellow Raptors fans. I believe in star power and Embiid is one of the brightest stars in the game at his offensive peak.

It's going to be tough slowing him down, especially if Scottie is starting at the 5.

In the Boston/Brooklyn thread you literally just said you believe in defense. Now you just said you believe in star power. Which one is it?

If you believe in star power then there is no better team to choose than the Brooklyn Nets. If you believe in defense than the Raptors would be the pick over the Sixers.

I don't think the Celtics are lacking in star power either. Yes Durant is the best player but Tatum and Brown are better than Kyrie. The gap between Tatum and Durant is much smaller than the gap between Embiid and Siakam.

You really think Jaylen Brown is better than Kyrie? Not only is he not better than Kyrie but you can easily make a case that Kyrie is as good if not better than Tatum. I mean even in the regular season Kyrie is the more efficient scorer compared to Tatum. Kyrie's TS% was 60% this year. It was even more than 60% last year.

KD/Kyrie are on another level than Brown/Tatum. I said this the other day, they aren't even close. And it's not because Tatum/Brown aren't good. It's because KD is the best player on the planet. He almost beat the Bucks by himself last year.

And I actually don't even agree that the gap is smaller between KD/Tatum than Embiid/Siakam. Statistically I would agree with you. But not when the Sixers play the Raptors and that's the most important thing. It was Pascal not Embiid that looked like the MVP candidate when they played this year. Raptors have traditionally played Embiid quite tough.

[Fencer reregistered]

Yeah I wouldn't define him as a choker at all. I do think he gets significantly worse at the end of playoff games and especially as series progress, though. His decision-making at the end of close games has been really, really bad. I chalk it up to slowly accruing experience (obviously something that he will continue to get better at - he is a basketball savant after all) and to his body just, for whatever reason, just getting gassed out by the end of playoff games. I strongly disagree that Simmons was the main reason the Sixers lost that series though. Embiid's disappearing act in game 4 when they had the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead was a major reason they lost. Following it up with being by far the worse of the two players at the end of game 7 solidifies that. Yes, irrespective of Ben's mental cowardice in passing up an open dunk, Embiid was just awful in that 4th quarter and has somehow avoided the ire that Ben received.

So no, I don't think Embiid is a choke artist. But he absolutely choked last postseason, and badly.

Just because an MVP candidate has never won a second round playoff series doesn’t mean he should be called a choker. Competitively challenged sounds nicer.

I literally said he shouldn’t be called a choker. But he did choke last year. That doesn’t define him, but we also can’t pretend it wasn’t a choke.

Embiid has at times been given too much to do at both ends of the court, and not handled it successfully. That looks a lot like choking. Also, like many great scorers he had a period when he was lousy at passing out of a double-team. That looks like choking too. But he doesn't seem to really be a choker, certainly not recently.

Simmons, on the other hand ...

[Claud]

I just don't see Harden being able to beat ANY of the Raptors monster 6'8 defenders consistenly,
which means he'll sulk and check out while giving you double digit assists, poor effort on defense, but shooting a cool 4/15 on average.

Have seen this movie too many times.

Only chance Philly has is for Embiid to go absolutely bonkers and destroy the Raps. They're also going to need their shooters to make tough shots.

I expect Raptors in 5 to 7 games.

[Joker]

I just don't see Harden being able to beat ANY of the Raptors monster 6'8 defenders consistenly,
which means he'll sulk and check out while giving you double digit assists, poor effort on defense, but shooting a cool 4/15 on average.

Have seen this movie too many times.

Only chance Philly has is for Embiid to go absolutely bonkers and destroy the Raps. They're also going to need their shooters to make tough shots.

I expect Raptors in 5 to 7 games.

Nurse isn't Casey. If Embiid's going for 35+ a night, Nurse will adjust defensively so that other Sixer players are forced to beat us.

[bbalnation]

The last time these teams played in the playoffs, there were constant blow outs till game 7 where it was a toss-up. I wonder if that happens again.

[PD28]

The last time these teams played in the playoffs, there were constant blow outs till game 7 where it was a toss-up. I wonder if that happens again.

As a neutral fan that might be nice, but speaking out of past experiences - those series' took years off my life.

[TOStateofMind]

Expecting every game to be close. Raps in 6.

[pingpongrac]

Expecting every game to be close. Raps in 6.

Obviously both teams have changed a bit over the past 3 years, but every game since the start of 2019/20 has been close. 10 of 11 games have been decided by 7 points or less and the average margin of victory is 6 while all 4 games this season were two-possession games that basically came down to the final possession. I'd honestly be surprised if there is more than one blowout in this series. Even if it ends in 5 games, this will be a hard-fought and stressful series.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using RealGM mobile app

[Tor_Raps]

Read on Twitter

?s=21&t=1ruVUXFUzL73dETxF_jO4g

Never doubted it. Otherwise how he was able to play for national team. I mean Australia send best tennis player home.

So Thybulle could have gotten the 2nd shot right after the season ended. By the time the Sixers have to travel to Toronto, he could have been good to play here.

[kuclas]

Read on Twitter

?s=21&t=1ruVUXFUzL73dETxF_jO4g

Never doubted it. Otherwise how he was able to play for national team. I mean Australia send best tennis player home.

So Thybulle could have gotten the 2nd shot right after the season ended. By the time the Sixers have to travel to Toronto, he could have been good to play here.

I'm glad Thybulle isn't playing. He's makes toronto defensive schemes easier to leave him wide open. I'd take my chances of over the hill Danny Green playing 25 minutes and Shake Milton (who isn't a good defender) playing another 20 minutes over Thybuylle playing 25 minutes in a playoff series.

[Bankai]

I really stood up for Embiid on RealGM. Despite his injury history, I always believed in the guy. When all that "Simmons or Embiid?" debate was going down, I stood firm that the Sixers should always keep Embiid as he is 10x the player Simmons is, despite the injury concerns. Well, Simmons and Embiid both answered that question themselves. Embiid turned into an MVP player, and Simmons sulked his way out of Philly.

This Series might be the toughest to call in the East. Philly may be able to win, but its going to be likely a long, tough, series.

[Tripod]

Never doubted it. Otherwise how he was able to play for national team. I mean Australia send best tennis player home.

So Thybulle could have gotten the 2nd shot right after the season ended. By the time the Sixers have to travel to Toronto, he could have been good to play here.

I'm glad Thybulle isn't playing. He's makes toronto defensive schemes easier to leave him wide open. I'd take my chances of over the hill Danny Green playing 25 minutes and Shake Milton (who isn't a good defender) playing another 20 minutes over Thybuylle playing 25 minutes in a playoff series.

That seems weird to me.

You would rather a 10% increase in a shot going in for 5-8 shots a game....vs having your best defender on every defensive possession.

[Backcountry]

Crap, it's still 2 days until Game 1!!! Come on!

Happy Easter, everyone. Enjoy the weekend.

[pingpongrac]

So Thybulle could have gotten the 2nd shot right after the season ended. By the time the Sixers have to travel to Toronto, he could have been good to play here.

I'm glad Thybulle isn't playing. He's makes toronto defensive schemes easier to leave him wide open. I'd take my chances of over the hill Danny Green playing 25 minutes and Shake Milton (who isn't a good defender) playing another 20 minutes over Thybuylle playing 25 minutes in a playoff series.

That seems weird to me.

You would rather a 10% increase in a shot going in for 5-8 shots a game....vs having your best defender on every defensive possession.

It's not just the "10% better chance of 5-8 shots going in" though. Toronto's defence can load up on Embiid (and Harden to a lesser extent) if Thybulle is on the floor because they'll take their chances with a low volume 30% three-point shooter beating them or making plays if/when he gets the ball. That can't happen as frequently with someone like Niang or Green on the floor instead of Thybulle.

On the flip side, Thybulle isn't going to have an impact on the defensive end for every possession. Whoever the Sixers end up putting Thybulle on (whether it be GTJ, FVV or Siakam) won't have the ball in their hands every possession. He'll obviously have some kind of an impact on the defensive end, but likely not enough to turn the tide of a game whereas an 0-for-5 type shooting night would be tough for Philly to overcome if Embiid and Harden are being swarmed whenever they get the ball.