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

[Tha Cynic]

This is the realization that I wanted people to have. So can people stop the narrative hat Joel doesn't' deserve his fouls? When in the NBA have we not seen physically dominant superstars, not get free throw calls?

There are multiple things that happen here.

1. Joel earns the majority of his calls.
2. He's one of the most physically imposing players in the league, which gives him the benefit of the doubt, far more physical than other stars.
3. He is a super start, and gets super star calls.
4. Like all super stars, at times he grifts, but it is an every time to the line sort of thing.

The MVP debate around him, and the method of his scoring has been broken down ad-nauseam, and there are a lot of false narratives that have been perpetuated because of how close the MVP race is.

If the 76ers get past the Raptors, the Philly fans will understand the difference in how the Raptors are reffed vs the Celtics or Heat as an example. You won't see Tatum get 3 no impact on play phantom calls take him out of any ability to defend. You won't see Embiid gett calls where the defenders get to their spots and simply go up straight. The Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the league and have the coach who throws out the most schemes. It is definitely frustrating when one end of the floor is reffed differently than the other. Again, this round doesn't matter, but the fans will understand when the 76ers face another American darling team. If those fouls called in the Raptors were legit fouls, then each team would have numerous players foul out each game.

Tatum has a completely different game than Embiid. Why would he get the same calls?

I'm talking about phantom calls against. FVV vs Tatum. The refs won't be calling those teams the same way they call the Canadian team.

[eyeatoma]

If the 76ers get past the Raptors, the Philly fans will understand the difference in how the Raptors are reffed vs the Celtics or Heat as an example. You won't see Tatum get 3 no impact on play phantom calls take him out of any ability to defend. You won't see Embiid gett calls where the defenders get to their spots and simply go up straight. The Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the league and have the coach who throws out the most schemes. It is definitely frustrating when one end of the floor is reffed differently than the other. Again, this round doesn't matter, but the fans will understand when the 76ers face another American darling team. If those fouls called in the Raptors were legit fouls, then each team would have numerous players foul out each game.

Tatum has a completely different game than Embiid. Why would he get the same calls?

I'm talking about phantom calls against. FVV vs Tatum. The refs won't be calling those teams the same way they call the Canadian team.

Ah okay.

[SelfishPlayer]

Raptors are quite literally one of the youngest teams in the league. Also I hope you realize the East is much stronger and much more difficult to qualify for the playoffs .

Both are true, and still the treadmill.

One team won a championship, moved away from all their top players, drafted a stud rookie, didn't even bother to fix their roster issues and were a few games behind the 76ers in the standings. And we have fans of the team going for a championship flexing as if the 76ers have achieved something.

Your two best players are championship winning all stars and 28 years of age. You did what you should have done and will receive your SWEEP!

[Tha Cynic]

Scottie Barnes?

Added literally a future superstar in Barnes.
Not to mention, Achiuwa and Trent are terrific young prospects. Not sure why he makes it seem like they're cans or something.

Because the question is whether the Raptors are rebuilding. Yes, they added Barnes. They didn't trade a veteran for him or for the draft pick to draft him. They selected him with their pick. That doesn't transform the following season into a rebuilding season any more than it does for the other 25 times that used a first round pick on a player last year.

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

[SelfishPlayer]

The Raptors present and future:

Watch on YouTube

[YogurtProducer]

Well after 2020, the Lowry Era is done, the cycle was over. Last year we were pretty bad but also in Tampa, and played for a top pick when it was obvious we weren't going to the playoffs, due to covid absences and our roster, Tampa.

So we end up getting the 4th pick which turns out to be Barnes. No one thought the Raps would be a 48 win team, that Barnes would be this good this quick. Masai hasn't ever done a traditional rebuild, but he's said so himself that this is a team with growing pains to be had. We're in between the we the north Era and transitioning to a post Era with FVV, Siakam, and Barnes developing.

Masai all he's been doing is accruing talent, while trying to remain competitive. Aside from the players I've mentioned we have OG who's 25? Trent is 23 and Achiiuwa is 22? Somewhere in that range. Barnes is 20. Lots of assets going forward, putting us in a familiar situation where we might be able to make a trade in the future. I'm thinking it might be one of fvv or siakam, but we'll see what happens

So basically because Lowry walked and you used a draft pick, it's a rebuilding year. Got it.

Seriously. Unless I am missing something, the only "rebuilding" was Lowry for Barnes/Precious. Still had FVV, Siakam, OG, Trent Jr., Boucher, Birch all back from last year's team. What is the "rebuild" here?

So Barnes/Precious/GTJ/Birch all were not on the raptors up until the Trade deadline last year at the earliest.


Our 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th… players in minutes played all were not on our roster last year (other than 15-20 games after the trade deadline for GTJ and Birch).

This was a team who won 27 games last year. I’m not sure how anyone wouldn’t call a 27 win team who lost Lowry and added Barnes/Achiwua wouldn’t be in a development year.

[JujitsuFlip]

This should be a blow out game 2, I'm not even sure who starts in the 2 vacant slots for the Raps.

[BullyKing]

Added literally a future superstar in Barnes.
Not to mention, Achiuwa and Trent are terrific young prospects. Not sure why he makes it seem like they're cans or something.

Because the question is whether the Raptors are rebuilding. Yes, they added Barnes. They didn't trade a veteran for him or for the draft pick to draft him. They selected him with their pick. That doesn't transform the following season into a rebuilding season any more than it does for the other 25 times that used a first round pick on a player last year.

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

I've read the quote and it means nothing. It largely talks about veterans now moving into leadership roles. Really groundbreaking stuff. You should take the word of common sense and being able to view what they've done and whether that constitutes a rebuild. Or better yet, just stop using it as a constant excuse for a loss and move on entirely.

[ken6199]

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Not sure why you posted this one here. I sort of see the motivation but I don't think it is well justified.

What I can tell you is if I was a raptors fan in the arena at that time I would be cheering too - as my first reaction. Not that I wish any injuries on a player but keep in mind this was game 5 of the finals with my team seeing its potentially first ever championship so if my opponent best player went down there was no way my first reaction would be like "geez is that a minor injury I think we should put health above everything I hope KD gets back up and continue to torture our defenders in game 6 and 7". No, you can bet my first reaction would be joy and relief. If KD don't come back our chances are looking much better!

However when those adrenalines are over and I realize that's one serious injury I am going to feel bad for him. I might even feel a bit guilty for that joy I had earlier. That's why fans in the arena were heard starting to clap and wish KD good health, which I believe were genuine. It was out of respect for a competitor who fought back from a calf injury in the same post season only to go down again in game 5.

I am never endorsing cheering injuries on a player. I just don't understand why people keep bringing out this video and hammering it as something utterly bad and inexcusable behavior. Worse, it often comes with a generalization label of "raptors fans" as if the entire fan base was doing this. Let's stop that.

[tdotrep2]

The Raptors present and future:

Watch on YouTube

got the best org in basketball, got a ton of assets. i think we'll be fine, for now and in the future. cant say the same for 90 percent of the other teams

[Tha Cynic]

Both are true, and still the treadmill.

One team won a championship, moved away from all their top players, drafted a stud rookie, didn't even bother to fix their roster issues and were a few games behind the 76ers in the standings. And we have fans of the team going for a championship flexing as if the 76ers have achieved something.

Your two best players are championship winning all stars and 28 years of age. You did what you should have done and will receive your SWEEP!

And like I said - no one said anything about the Raptors being a playoff team, let alone in the 5th spot. No one expected Barnes to be this good - people actually laughed at the Raptors not drafting Suggs. You don't just give players away in their prime. You make moves from a position of strength (well at least the good teams do)

In fact most Raptor fans were more concerned about Barnes losing an offseason of development to injury than about the Raptors doing anything these playoffs.

You're literally arguing with fans who have already won their championship.

[Tha Cynic]

Because the question is whether the Raptors are rebuilding. Yes, they added Barnes. They didn't trade a veteran for him or for the draft pick to draft him. They selected him with their pick. That doesn't transform the following season into a rebuilding season any more than it does for the other 25 times that used a first round pick on a player last year.

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

I've read the quote and it means nothing. It largely talks about veterans now moving into leadership roles. Really groundbreaking stuff. You should take the word of common sense and being able to view what they've done and whether that constitutes a rebuild. Or better yet, just stop using it as a constant excuse for a loss and move on entirely.

Except no one is expecting a team lead by FVV and Siakam with literally two playable guards in the entire lineup accomplish something. That's like saying the Magic fans not expecting to win a championship is an excuse lol. The president doesn't come out and make comments that could affect ticket prices of he really felt this team was expected to go far.

The best comment the coach of this team made was to teach young players. Yet you want to ignore all that and act like everyone expected this team to be great lol.

[Courtside]

This is the realization that I wanted people to have. So can people stop the narrative hat Joel doesn't' deserve his fouls? When in the NBA have we not seen physically dominant superstars, not get free throw calls?

There are multiple things that happen here.

1. Joel earns the majority of his calls.
2. He's one of the most physically imposing players in the league, which gives him the benefit of the doubt, far more physical than other stars.
3. He is a super start, and gets super star calls.
4. Like all super stars, at times he grifts, but it is an every time to the line sort of thing.

The MVP debate around him, and the method of his scoring has been broken down ad-nauseam, and there are a lot of false narratives that have been perpetuated because of how close the MVP race is.

If the 76ers get past the Raptors, the Philly fans will understand the difference in how the Raptors are reffed vs the Celtics or Heat as an example. You won't see Tatum get 3 no impact on play phantom calls take him out of any ability to defend. You won't see Embiid gett calls where the defenders get to their spots and simply go up straight. The Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the league and have the coach who throws out the most schemes. It is definitely frustrating when one end of the floor is reffed differently than the other. Again, this round doesn't matter, but the fans will understand when the 76ers face another American darling team. If those fouls called in the Raptors were legit fouls, then each team would have numerous players foul out each game.

Tatum has a completely different game than Embiid. Why would he get the same calls?

I disagree that those were phantom calls. When you get to the line all the time, the 50/50 calls tend to go your way. Many of those calls that some fans pointed out were clear fouls.

You missed his point.

In this series, the calls are being made a certain way and in Cynic's eyes (and many others), it's because the Sixers are the media's pick to win, as they have the star clout that everyone buys into. If the Sixers play in future rounds against the Celtics or Nets - two teams that don't have the default "Toronto are the outsiders and don't deserve the same calls" thing going on - then the calls the Sixers are getting against the Raptors disappear when its Tatum or Durant getting the star treatment at the other end.

THAT is when you notice how good the whistle was for you in this round... though there is a chance the rest of the games aren't officiated as poorly as Game 1.

[Perseus1966]

This should be a blow out game 2, I'm not even sure who starts in the 2 vacant slots for the Raps.

after the bucks game yesterday dont get anything granted.

[eyeatoma]

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Not sure why you posted this one here. I sort of see the motivation but I don't think it is well justified.

What I can tell you is if I was a raptors fan in the arena at that time I would be cheering too - as my first reaction. Not that I wish any injuries on a player but keep in mind this was game 5 of the finals with my team seeing its potentially first ever championship so if my opponent best player went down there was no way my first reaction would be like "geez is that a minor injury I think we should put health above everything I hope KD gets back up and continue to torture our defenders in game 6 and 7". No, you can bet my first reaction would be joy and relief. If KD don't come back our chances are looking much better!

However when those adrenalines are over and I realize that's one serious injury I am going to feel bad for him. I might even feel a bit guilty for that joy I had earlier. That's why fans in the arena were heard starting to clap and wish KD good health, which I believe were genuine. It was out of respect for a competitor who fought back from a calf injury in the same post season only to go down again in game 5.

I am never endorsing cheering injuries on a player. I just don't understand why people keep bringing out this video and hammering it as something utterly bad and inexcusable behavior. Worse, it often comes with a generalization label of "raptors fans" as if the entire fan base was doing this. Let's stop that.

Fair enough, point well taken. The same thing can be said about the Embiid crying meme too right?

Pointing fun at legitimate human emotion.
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[SelfishPlayer]

Added literally a future superstar in Barnes.
Not to mention, Achiuwa and Trent are terrific young prospects. Not sure why he makes it seem like they're cans or something.

Because the question is whether the Raptors are rebuilding. Yes, they added Barnes. They didn't trade a veteran for him or for the draft pick to draft him. They selected him with their pick. That doesn't transform the following season into a rebuilding season any more than it does for the other 25 times that used a first round pick on a player last year.

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

The Kawhi trade wasn't a strategy it was good fortune. Popovich is probably the only GM that would banish an All NBA player to Canada.

[eyeatoma]

If the 76ers get past the Raptors, the Philly fans will understand the difference in how the Raptors are reffed vs the Celtics or Heat as an example. You won't see Tatum get 3 no impact on play phantom calls take him out of any ability to defend. You won't see Embiid gett calls where the defenders get to their spots and simply go up straight. The Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the league and have the coach who throws out the most schemes. It is definitely frustrating when one end of the floor is reffed differently than the other. Again, this round doesn't matter, but the fans will understand when the 76ers face another American darling team. If those fouls called in the Raptors were legit fouls, then each team would have numerous players foul out each game.

Tatum has a completely different game than Embiid. Why would he get the same calls?

I disagree that those were phantom calls. When you get to the line all the time, the 50/50 calls tend to go your way. Many of those calls that some fans pointed out were clear fouls.

You missed his point.

In this series, the calls are being made a certain way and in Cynic's eyes (and many others), it's because the Sixers are the media's pick to win, as they have the star clout that everyone buys into. If the Sixers play the next round against the Celtics or Nets - two teams that don't have the default "Toronto are the outsiders and don't deserve the same calls" thing going on - then the calls the Sixers are getting against the Raptors disappear when its Tatum or Durant getting the star treatment at the other end.

Yeah that makes sense. It's a conspiracy but I can see it happening haha.

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[Tha Cynic]

Because the question is whether the Raptors are rebuilding. Yes, they added Barnes. They didn't trade a veteran for him or for the draft pick to draft him. They selected him with their pick. That doesn't transform the following season into a rebuilding season any more than it does for the other 25 times that used a first round pick on a player last year.

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

The Kawhi trade wasn't a strategy it was good fortune. Popovich is probably the only GM that would banish an All NBA player to Canada.

Ah so this was good fortune but the 76ers getting a disgruntled star get traded twice in less than a season isn't. Gotcha.

[Perseus1966]

If the 76ers get past the Raptors, the Philly fans will understand the difference in how the Raptors are reffed vs the Celtics or Heat as an example. You won't see Tatum get 3 no impact on play phantom calls take him out of any ability to defend. You won't see Embiid gett calls where the defenders get to their spots and simply go up straight. The Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the league and have the coach who throws out the most schemes. It is definitely frustrating when one end of the floor is reffed differently than the other. Again, this round doesn't matter, but the fans will understand when the 76ers face another American darling team. If those fouls called in the Raptors were legit fouls, then each team would have numerous players foul out each game.

Tatum has a completely different game than Embiid. Why would he get the same calls?

I disagree that those were phantom calls. When you get to the line all the time, the 50/50 calls tend to go your way. Many of those calls that some fans pointed out were clear fouls.

You missed his point.

In this series, the calls are being made a certain way and in Cynic's eyes (and many others), it's because the Sixers are the media's pick to win, as they have the star clout that everyone buys into. If the Sixers play the next round against the Celtics or Nets - two teams that don't have the default "Toronto are the outsiders and don't deserve the same calls" thing going on - then the calls the Sixers are getting against the Raptors disappear when its Tatum or Durant getting the star treatment at the other end.

last night tatum shot 12 ft most of them refs gift.

[SelfishPlayer]

Except their president literally came into the season and told fans to expect pain and losses. Do we take the opinion of fans who barely watch a team or follow the way they run the team or do we trust the guy who's actually building the team?

You don't need to dump all your players in a rebuild. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at developing players. They don't follow the same path as the Magic, Kings, etc. They win while developing and them make a trade when the roster is ready.

The Kawhi trade wasn't a strategy it was good fortune. Popovich is probably the only GM that would banish an All NBA player to Canada.

Ah so this was good fortune but the 76ers getting a disgruntled star get traded twice in less than a season isn't. Gotcha.

Harden went where he wanted to go, Popovich refused to do that for Kawhi and opted to banish him to Canada. Philadelphia offers desirability to NBA players that Canada can not.