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

[Yeezus-]

At this point, I'm becoming convinced that people complaining about Raptor fans on the GB are slowly becoming worse than the few bad Raptor fans

Facts

Dude we aren’t defending you though, you made a dog **** post.

But in a way you are defending me

[AussieRules]

Where was Siakam?

24 points, 7 assists and 3 blocks?

I watched the game, he was a non-factor…okay stats tho

[canz55]

If Sixers can keep up this play they'll win the NBA championship easily.

Sent from my SM-G998W using RealGM mobile app

[mrdressup]

Dude, you guys are openly ROOTING for injuries to Joel Embiid. Cmon man, Sixer fans are a rowdy bunch, but that's as scummy as it gets.

ONE poster rooted for an injury. It's just the SAME poster, reposting it.

ONE poster said it was a dirty play who has since said he was wrong.

It's TWO posters.

The whining about Raptor fans is unreal.

Theres a whole bunch of Raptor fans on your board asking for him to be intentionally injured.

somebody has to dive at Embiids knee. This guy was reckless all game

Hopefully we take Embiid out for the year, he deserves it.

Time to play generous tit for tat...

Where did you see me calling him to be injured. You have an agenda here. If he gets injured as a result of us getting physical with him that's simply unfortunate. If he was throwing his elbows at Ibaka when we had him he'd be picking up his teeth after eating a knuckle sandwich. It would be truly unfortunate if he got injured from anyone getting physical with him. I'm sure he feels the same. This is a chronic issue with this guy, though. It's just a matter of time before it catches up to him. Someone is going to clock him one day. When that day come I will have a good laugh at his expense.

[macNcheese3]

If Sixers can keep up this play they'll win the NBA championship easily.

Sent from my SM-G998W using RealGM mobile app

They played well. But it’s game 1

[LordCovington33]

Harden is trash and Sixers are still winning lol.

They don't even need him to beat the Raptors.

Wait you don't like Harden?

Lol.

Even if I did like him I would call him out when hes playing trash.

As I did throughout his Nets tenure.

He is not shooting well, but his dishing out to the open man has been excellent today. It’s not just about points.

[Infinite Llamas]

> "neutral observer"
> Location: Boston, MA

You mean the divisional rival with both teams? Lol

Celtics fans don't hate Raps fans to nearly the same degree. Y'all fanbases seem quite buddy buddy actually.

As a Celtics fan, I’ve long loved Toronto. The 76ers I have zero time for but it isn’t cause I have no love for the city. I’ve visited there multiple times and loved it. Just hate the players they’ve had on the team more often than not.

[bebopdeluxe]

Dont think it was on purpose. But im off him. The way he plays is likely to hurt ppl..flailing. wailing. Arms everywhere. Diving. Hes a 7 foot marcus smart..**** him.

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Feel free to tell me how many players Joel has caused an injury to in his 6+ yrs playing in the NBA.

Just because he hasn't built up a body count doesn't mean he is not putting players at risk.

What does this fkn word salad even mean?

So...just because he hasn't hurt anyone doesn't mean he can't? THIS is your take?

Hoo-boy.

[pingpongrac]

Sixers have scored 120+ in 11 of 20 games since James Harden has arrived and that's including a couple 130 bombs and a 144 point outing. I don't see why they couldn't put those numbers again, especially if the Raptors are committed to trapping Embiid and letting Maxey/Harris/Harden/Green/Niang bomb away on open 3's.

Your regular season best was 137ORTG.

You just did 147ORTG in game 1. The 5th best outing of the entire NBA season. Like top 10 outing in nba history.

I’m not knocking Philly, but it most likely isn’t happening again. It was a perfect storm.

I get what you're saying, but truthfully it's more likely that the Sixers offense with their weapons blow the scoreboard up than the Raptors come out and shoot nearly 50% from the field and 40% from 3 again. You could say 'perfect storm' if it completely went the direction of Philadelphia.

Truthfully, Toronto had an extremely productive night offensively as a unit and still got routed. Both teams could suffer a setback in that department, I just don't think the Raptors have the firepower to go shot for shot. Something has to change defensively. Philadelphia was way too comfortable out there tonight.

Embiid+Harden combined for 41 PTS/20 REB/18 AST on 51 TS% with 1 TOV and Harris+Maxey combined for 64 PTS/10 REB/8 AST on 80 TS% with 1 TOV while Philly's bench chipped in 24 PTS/6 REB/3 AST on 91 TS% with 1 TOV (in garbage time from a 3rd stringer). The only player that didn't have a good game for Philly was Green (1/6). I'd expect Embiid+Harden to score a bit more, but I'd also expect their AST/TOV ratio to be more in line with their season average (3.1 for Harden and 1.3 for Embiid) than the combined nearly historical 18:1 ratio it was tonight. Maxey literally had the best game of his career thus far while Harris had one of his best games of the season too, so I don't expect repeat performances from both of them. Thybulle/Niang/Milton didn't take a lot of shots tonight, but they made their mark. Thybulle (30% on 2.1 attempts) and Milton (35% on 2.1 attempts) weren't very good shooters all year long whenever they were open though Niang (41% on 4.9 attempts) was elite, but I have a hard time seeing those players scoring an uber efficient 20+ points for the rest of the series.

On the flip side, Toronto had a few good individual performances (OG with 20/7/2 on 9/15 shooting and Scottie with 15/10/8 on 4/6 shooting). Mostly everyone else underperformed or was taken out of the game. FVV and Boucher were scoring efficiently, but they both fouled out early in the 4th while GTJ (2/11 with a point blank missed layup lol) and Achiuwa (3/9) were really struggling. Siakam had a decent scoring game, but he did most of his damage in the 2nd half (16 PTS on 6/13 shooting with 5 AST) after Toronto was already down by ~20.

The biggest thing though, is the possession/miscellaneous side of things. All season long, Toronto was elite in transition (#3), 2nd chance points (#2) and scoring off turnovers (#2) whereas the Sixers have been mediocre in those areas this season (16th, 27th and 18th respectively). Those numbers were even more pronounced when these teams played each other during the season as Toronto outscored Philly by 10.8 PTS in transition, 8.8 2nd chance PTS and 2.5 PTS off TOV. Philly outscored Toronto by 19 PTS in transition (!!!), 10 2nd chance PTS and 7 PTS off TOV in G1. That is a ridiculously massive swing.

Obviously major credit goes to Philly's staff and the players for basically flawlessly executing the gameplan. Their offence tonight was literally historical and I would have very much enjoyed watching it if it happened against any other team than my Raptors lol. I believe that there were way too many statistical anomalies -- all in favour of the Sixers -- to think this series will play out like it did tonight though. Even without Barnes (and potentially Thad), Toronto still has a very clear path to winning a few games and making this a series again. They just need to get back to what they did all season long and hope that Maxey+Harris+Niang+Milton+Thybulle don't combine for 85 points on 85 TS%. I can live with Embiid+Harden scoring ~60 points combined each night, but I can't bear to see Philly's role players completely dominate us again lol.

[LordCovington33]

someone needs to take a crowbar to Embiids knee.

Rabid fans are weird. It’s just a sport.
I’m guessing you watched I, Tonya while posting this.

[bebopdeluxe]

Theres a whole bunch of Raptor fans on your board asking for him to be intentionally injured.

a) We were talking about this GB thread.
b) You go to team specific board and you're going to see the same thing in a similar circumstance.

So you’re saying it’s ok to wish a player to be injured, but only on a team specific board?
You’ve got to be kidding me.

You can't make this stuff up. Priceless.

[bebopdeluxe]

Your regular season best was 137ORTG.

You just did 147ORTG in game 1. The 5th best outing of the entire NBA season. Like top 10 outing in nba history.

I’m not knocking Philly, but it most likely isn’t happening again. It was a perfect storm.

I get what you're saying, but truthfully it's more likely that the Sixers offense with their weapons blow the scoreboard up than the Raptors come out and shoot nearly 50% from the field and 40% from 3 again. You could say 'perfect storm' if it completely went the direction of Philadelphia.

Truthfully, Toronto had an extremely productive night offensively as a unit and still got routed. Both teams could suffer a setback in that department, I just don't think the Raptors have the firepower to go shot for shot. Something has to change defensively. Philadelphia was way too comfortable out there tonight.

Embiid+Harden combined for 41 PTS/20 REB/18 AST on 51 TS% with 1 TOV and Harris+Maxey combined for 64 PTS/10 REB/8 AST on 80 TS% with 1 TOV while Philly's bench chipped in 24 PTS/6 REB/3 AST on 91 TS% with 1 TOV (in garbage time from a 3rd stringer). The only player that didn't have a good game for Philly was Green (1/6). I'd expect Embiid+Harden to score a bit more, but I'd also expect their AST/TOV ratio to be more in line with their season average (3.1 for Harden and 1.3 for Embiid) than the nearly historical 18:1 ratio it was tonight. Maxey literally had the best game of his career thus far while Harris had one of his best games of the season too, so I don't expect repeat performances from both of them. Thybulle/Niang/Milton didn't take a lot of shots tonight, but they made their mark. Thybulle (30% on 2.1 attempts) and Milton (35% on 2.1 attempts) weren't very good shooters all year long whenever they were open though Niang (41% on 4.9 attempts) was elite, but I have a hard time seeing those players scoring an uber efficient 20+ points for the rest of the series.

On the flip side, Toronto had a few good individual performances (OG with 20/7/2 on 9/15 shooting and Scottie with 15/10/8 on 4/6 shooting). Mostly everyone else underperformed or was taken out of the game. FVV and Boucher were scoring efficiently, but they both fouled out early in the 4th while GTJ (2/11 with a point blank missed layup lol) and Achiuwa (3/9) were really struggling. Siakam had a decent scoring game, but he did most of his damage in the 2nd half (16 PTS on 6/13 shooting with 5 AST) after Toronto was already down by ~20.

The biggest thing though, is the possession/miscellaneous side of things. All season long, Toronto was elite in transition (#3), 2nd chance points (#2) and scoring off turnovers (#2) whereas the Sixers have been mediocre in those areas this season (16th, 27th and 18th respectively). Those numbers were even more pronounced when these teams played each other during the season as Toronto outscored Philly by 10.8 PTS in transition, 8.8 2nd chance PTS and 2.5 PTS off TOV. Philly outscored Toronto by 19 PTS in transition (!!!), 10 2nd chance PTS and 7 PTS off TOV.

Obviously major credit goes to Philly's staff and the players for basically flawlessly executing the gameplan. Their offence tonight was literally historical and I would have very much enjoyed watching it if it happened against any other team than my Raptors lol. I believe that there were way too many statistical anomalies -- all in favour of the Sixers -- to think this series will play out like it did tonight though. Even without Barnes (and potentially Thad), Toronto still has a very clear path to winning a few games and making this a series again. They just need to get back to what they did all season long and hope that Maxey+Harris+Niang+Milton+Thybulle don't combine for 85 points on 85 TS%. I can live with Embiid+Harden scoring ~60 points combined each night, but I can't bear to see Philly's role players completely dominate us again lol.

Nurse bet the house on selling out on the Embiid/Harden pnr and his old standby, "EVERYBODY GUARD EMBIID" playbook.

Only problem is Embiid has seen this before. And every time the defense bent to Jo/James, Maxey and Harris roasted them.

Time for Plan B, Nick.

(I am sure he will come up with something...he is a good coach)

[celticfan42487]

Celtics fans don't hate Raps fans to nearly the same degree. Y'all fanbases seem quite buddy buddy actually.

Not in the slightest.

Compared to the Raptors rivalry the 76ers don't exsist.

Which is why Raps fans and Celtics fans are on each others boards sending well wishes. That's not a real rivalry and those two teams have minimal competitive history.

More recent competitive history than the 76ers and Celtics.

For the past 15 years, 13 of those years the Atlantic has been won by the Raptors or the Celtics.

We also just had a 7 game series against them a couple playoffs ago whereas recently with the 76ers we've had a 4-0 and 4-1 win. Not very competitive.

I think you're just upset you're dead wrong here on multiple levels for a Celtics fan point of view.

I could see if you view the Celtics as bigger rivals than the Raptors after being smacked around in the playoffs in such a manner recently but it's not hard to see why the Raptors have been the competitor for the Celtics in the division for over a decade now.

Two teams that have been at the top of their games in the division over that time for a long time. Both recently had championship teams, ect ect ect.

[GusFring]

The bias in these poll results. Lol raptors are gone in 5.

[Johnny Bball]

> "neutral observer"
> Location: Boston, MA

You mean the divisional rival with both teams? Lol

Celtics fans don't hate Raps fans to nearly the same degree. Y'all fanbases seem quite buddy buddy actually.

This is one really dumb post.

[Johnny Bball]

Sixers are gonna win this series but some of these Sixers fans taking fat Ls in this thread. Like your team just won, why you still in here crying about what opposing fans post on the internet lol

Because they have been hearing all week and getting no respect. Sixers punched raptors in the mouth and brought them back down to earth a bit. Sixers fans have ever right to call out the raptors fans who've been flooding their boards and the GB with disrespect

I guess that's fair. Speaking of the Raps brigade on here, a (now) former mod who was a Raps fan once GB banned me like 7 years ago for having the audacity to say that some Raps fans are delusional lol

EDIT: And said mod wasn't Duffman who I see is both a retired mod and a Raps fan. Don't wanna bring unnecessary heat his way itt lol

Tsherkin I bet.

[tdot_steel]

This Raptor team will fight back...you can hang your hat on that. But when they start throwin elbows don't complain if the refs swallow the whistle.

[LAL1947]

This Raptor team will fight back...you can hang your hat on that.

Sorry... but the ending of this post made me think of this meme.

[Appostis]

Feel free to tell me how many players Joel has caused an injury to in his 6+ yrs playing in the NBA.

Just because he hasn't built up a body count doesn't mean he is not putting players at risk.

What does this fkn word salad even mean?

So...just because he hasn't hurt anyone doesn't mean he can't? THIS is your take?

Hoo-boy.

....you can drive through red stop lights dozens of times without a accident... doesn't mean you're not putting people at risk.

Complicated idea? No...

[stormi]

Not in the slightest.

Compared to the Raptors rivalry the 76ers don't exsist.

Which is why Raps fans and Celtics fans are on each others boards sending well wishes. That's not a real rivalry and those two teams have minimal competitive history.

More recent competitive history than the 76ers and Celtics.

For the past 15 years, 13 of those years the Atlantic has been won by the Raptors or the Celtics.

We also just had a 7 game series against them a couple playoffs ago whereas recently with the 76ers we've had a 4-0 and 4-1 win. Not very competitive.

I think you're just upset you're dead wrong here on multiple levels for a Celtics fan point of view.

I could see if you view the Celtics as bigger rivals than the Raptors after being smacked around in the playoffs in such a manner recently but it's not hard to see why the Raptors have been the competitor for the Celtics in the division for over a decade now.

Two teams that have been at the top of their games in the division over that time for a long time. Both recently had championship teams, ect ect ect.

You're typing mald paragraphs at me trying to convince yourself. Not me.

The actions speak loud enough. Celtics mods on page one of the Raptors game day threads wishing them luck and giving support. Celtics around the league thread praying for Toronto success. There's just no genuine deeprooted hatred amongst those two teams or their fans, and it shows.

And it makes sense. Only one playoff series between y'all in history and no fans even got to witness it live.

Marcus Smart tweeted "King of the North" after game 7 and not a minute was even played in Canada. Lame. Just no real impact.

Sixers/Raptors -> 2001 & 2019 >>> Raptors/Celtics bubblemania brawl. And Boston/Philadelphia have participated in 21 playoff series' all time. That's how rivalries are developed. See --> Clippers/Mavericks semi ascensions after 2020 & 2021.

The Sixers have a stronger individual rivalry against both of these two teams than y'all do with each other, and it's why in this estranged love triangle you guys turn to support each other when push comes to shove.