Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (PHI 3-2)

[bebopdeluxe]

I mean, there was literally a 20+ page thread plus hundreds of posts across other threads specifically on the Raptors getting screwed by the reffing. Many many Raptors fans were taking pretty crazy stances to scapegoat the officiating. It was brutal to read and try to engage with, and it was still going very strong until like 12 hours ago.

There’s gotta be some kind of self-awareness or accountability among raps fans for that. There was easily 10 times as many posts about that as about anything else in the series, tough to just say ‘no ones saying that now, so it didn’t happen.’

This ALL DAY LONG.

And when you point out that their starting 4, Pascal Siakam, played 48 minutes last night and shot ZERO free throws - because he put ZERO pressure on the rim - and point out that maybe the reason for the foul call disparity in the series is because one team is pressuring the rim and the other team is settling for jumpers, all you hear are crickets. To be fair, when I brought this up last night, one Raptors fan (Sisqo) agreed with this, but the rest of the Raptors fans who have spent the entire series whining about the refs didn't seem to acknowledge this as a possible explanation for the disparity.

I think the Raptors have great young talent, and were one of the hottest teams coming into the playoffs (13-2 in their last 15 games). There was a legitimate reason why they were a trendy 1st round upset pick. I think it is ridiculous to talk serious smack before the series started, and then turn around and try to cop a "we're just happy to be here" narrative. That is weak f'k'n sauce. Just own the fact that you losing to a better team.

But they know that.

So well said. But the problem is, they don’t think they’re losing to a better team. They honestly think like most of this board that philly is a loser team who picked up loser Harden and that Embiid will be a career loser. Mark my words this will par for the course for every single series they play in. The same poll you saw before the Raptors series, you will see against miami and if they win that against whoever they go against in the ECF. They will also be getting trashed before a single game of those series are played just like it was here and if they win those series too, the goalposts will move to refs refs refs. Better get used to it…

Yup. I have been around RealGM for a long time and a lot of GB posters like to drink the Sixers Haterade. I also think there is the same dynamic going on with the Raptors fanbase on the GB - which include some of the most ridiculous whiners I have EVER seen on a internet sports forum - and the incessant Jokic fanboys who flood the zone with God-worship of the dude. Fortunately, as the Nuggets look AGAIN like an early exit, perhaps some of those fanboys will show a little humility on the GB as their hero gets his MVP while sitting on a couch.

But I digress.

Philly fans know what it is like to be hated by fanbases of other teams. What it is like to not get respect from the national media. And that's OK. As Malcolm Jenkins said during the Eagles Super Bowl run in 2017-18:

"We all we got. We all we need."

[bebopdeluxe]

Eagles fans don't sit at home and stroke off to the Philly Special. All I care about is what they do NOW.

To each their own.

I was thinking the same thing. The Eagles won the SB in 2017 and fans wanted to fire the GM by 2018. People were totally over the SB, by the end of the next season. The Raptors are still celebrating 3 years later. LOL.

Are they though? Or is it just a group of random fans on a forum? I guarantee if I look I can find another teams fan celebrating their last championship. Hell look at the Yankees fans, Celtics fans, any other team who has ever won a championship. this isn’t unique, but it’s down right stupid to claim it’s a whole fan base in any of those situations.

Dude. You KNOW that post from fbaimeida was some weak f'k'n sauce. It was straight-up trolling. And if he REALLY feels that way, then whatever get you through the night, I guess.

And while I agree that clown posts like that should not lead to a blanket representation of an entire team's fanbase, if you still want to argue that a material percentage of the Raptors fanbase that participates on the GB are some of the whiniest posters on the GB, then I don't know what to tell you. Posters like you and Duffman and other Raptors posters are cool and should be respected, but there IS a reason why Raptors fans have the rep on the GB that they do. And it has been that way for YEARS. I used to marvel about 80-page Raptor game threads for PRESEASON games. That's crazy. And while that certainly reflects a high degree of engagement and passion, there is a not-so-small percentage of that Raptors fanbase that can utterly warp game/series threads with some of the most ridiculous ish that is posted on the GB (and that is a high bar to clear).

Again, you seem to be one of the good guys.

[fbalmeida]

Yup. And it still feels good. Having reached that mountaintop renders you a moment of pure ecstasy and joy that you can invoke at any time. Works as intended.

Eagles fans don't sit at home and stroke off to the Philly Special. All I care about is what they do NOW.

To each their own.

I was thinking the same thing. The Eagles won the SB in 2017 and fans wanted to fire the GM by 2018. People were totally over the SB, by the end of the next season. The Raptors are still celebrating 3 years later. LOL.

I wouldn't call it celebrating. Celebrations are ephemeral. Happy memories are not. I often find myself recalling that moment with fondness and joy. It works beautifully in tandem with the merited confidence in our front office's ability to rebuild and retool around our younger core going forward.

Being down 0-3 stings, but the big picture is still gravy. We still overachieved this year. Vegas and ESPN had us on the losing end of the play-in. We finished 5 games behind from topping the East.

[Sisqo]

I was thinking the same thing. The Eagles won the SB in 2017 and fans wanted to fire the GM by 2018. People were totally over the SB, by the end of the next season. The Raptors are still celebrating 3 years later. LOL.

Are they though? Or is it just a group of random fans on a forum? I guarantee if I look I can find another teams fan celebrating their last championship. Hell look at the Yankees fans, Celtics fans, any other team who has ever won a championship. this isn’t unique, but it’s down right stupid to claim it’s a whole fan base in any of those situations.

Dude. You KNOW that post from fbaimeida was some weak f'k'n sauce. It was straight-up trolling. And if he REALLY feels that way, then whatever get you through the night, I guess.

And while I agree that clown posts like that should not lead to a blanket representation of an entire team's fanbase, if you still want to argue that a material percentage of the Raptors fanbase that participates on the GB are some of the whiniest posters on the GB, then I don't know what to tell you. Posters like you and Duffman and other Raptors posters are cool and should be respected, but there IS a reason why Raptors fans have the rep on the GB that they do. And it has been that way for YEARS. I used to marvel about 80-page Raptor game threads for PRESEASON games. That's crazy. And while that certainly reflects a high degree of engagement and passion, there is a not-so-small percentage of that Raptors fanbase that can utterly warp game/series threads with some of the most ridiculous ish that is posted on the GB (and that is a high bar to clear).

Again, you seem to be one of the good guys.

I didn't read his post because I don't care what he said. When I see someone has a pattern of being a troll or baiting I just ignore them and move on. I'm here to talk about basketball. If you or the other people who disagree with that stupidness did the same they would slowly disappear into the void like we all want them too. Its beyond annoying but trust me you're better off ignoring them and not entertaining their ****. Raptor fans or any other team, giving them any attention is only going to pollute this board even more.
They are only seeking attention and it will be never ending if we don't just let them argue with themselves because its what they will end up doing. I know its fun to slap them down once in awhile and i'm guilty of it myself but the only way this place gets any better is if we ignore them.

[SelfishPlayer]

The Raptors season is about to conclude, but that treadmill will keep running as long as there is no superstar on that team to provide championship hope.

[bisme37]

Congrats on the great win last night Sixers fans. Cool shot by Jo!

[USWAY]

The Raptors season is about to conclude, but that treadmill will keep running as long as there is no superstar on that team to provide championship hope.

If Scottie Barnes continues to refine his offensive game he is going to be a "top 2 guy on a title team caliber of player". Might be a hot take, but there's really only a handful of true superstars in the league. Giannis, Embiid, Jokic, KD, Kawhi, Steph, Luka, LeBron, and I guess healthy Kawhi. Everybody else is a rung below to me.

[Johnny Bball]

Hmm, I kinda feel like the Raptors have something with that trio in the front court. Obviously, the lack of size at the 5 sticks out, particularly in a series against a dominant center, but that level of length/athleticism/switchability is such an advantage defensively, particularly with their frenetic style.

In the end, you win with stars in the NBA, and a lot of what that team can become relies more on Barnes' development and/or whether they can acquire someone. IMO that should be the focus with trades rather than trying to make some type of fit improvement. Having a bunch of long, switchable guys that can shoot isn't redundant in the NBA, it's ideal.

The problem in my eyes is that like you said, you lose our length advantage by running such a small 5 out there. Everyone needs to shift down a spot, and we need to put a real center into the rotation.

Siakam and Barnes are both 4's (I still view Barnes as a Point-Forward), but the nice thing is they can guard multiple positions.

Playing Barnes at the 1 is really where we get our size advantage, but I still think he needs to tighten up his handles for us to be able to do that, and we'd need a really good off ball shooter at the 2 spot. Someone like a Mikal Bridges would be perfect (although unrealistic).

If Siakam is a 4, to play FORTY EIGHT minutes and have ZERO free throws should pretty much shoot down any woofing about the refs not making enough calls for the Raptors.

Pressure the rim, son.

There is a lot of bs rambling from you but I'll stick to just this one, it is downright clueless to think that Raptors haven't done that more/enough in the paint in comparison, or as you say, pressured the rim. Son.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/shooting/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Playoffs&Division=Atlantic&sort=Less%20Than%205%20ft.%20FGA&dir=1

Especially Siakam.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?sort=DRIVE_FGA&dir=1

Maybe stick to something you know instead of making **** up.

[Johnny Bball]

The Raptors season is about to conclude, but that treadmill will keep running as long as there is no superstar on that team to provide championship hope.

If Scottie Barnes continues to refine his offensive game he is going to be a "top 2 guy on a title team caliber of player". Might be a hot take, but there's really only a handful of true superstars in the league. Giannis, Embiid, Jokic, KD, Kawhi, Steph, Luka, LeBron, and I guess healthy Kawhi. Everybody else is a rung below to me.

Also no clue. Barnes is going to be a star. Bookmark it if you like.

[bebopdeluxe]

Are they though? Or is it just a group of random fans on a forum? I guarantee if I look I can find another teams fan celebrating their last championship. Hell look at the Yankees fans, Celtics fans, any other team who has ever won a championship. this isn’t unique, but it’s down right stupid to claim it’s a whole fan base in any of those situations.

Dude. You KNOW that post from fbaimeida was some weak f'k'n sauce. It was straight-up trolling. And if he REALLY feels that way, then whatever get you through the night, I guess.

And while I agree that clown posts like that should not lead to a blanket representation of an entire team's fanbase, if you still want to argue that a material percentage of the Raptors fanbase that participates on the GB are some of the whiniest posters on the GB, then I don't know what to tell you. Posters like you and Duffman and other Raptors posters are cool and should be respected, but there IS a reason why Raptors fans have the rep on the GB that they do. And it has been that way for YEARS. I used to marvel about 80-page Raptor game threads for PRESEASON games. That's crazy. And while that certainly reflects a high degree of engagement and passion, there is a not-so-small percentage of that Raptors fanbase that can utterly warp game/series threads with some of the most ridiculous ish that is posted on the GB (and that is a high bar to clear).

Again, you seem to be one of the good guys.

I didn't read his post because I don't care what he said. When I see someone has a pattern of being a troll or baiting I just ignore them and move on. I'm here to talk about basketball. If you or the other people who disagree with that stupidness did the same they would slowly disappear into the void like we all want them too. Its beyond annoying but trust me you're better off ignoring them and not entertaining their ****. Raptor fans or any other team, giving them any attention is only going to pollute this board even more.
They are only seeking attention and it will be never ending if we don't just let them argue with themselves because its what they will end up doing. I know its fun to slap them down once in awhile and i'm guilty of it myself but the only way this place gets any better is if we ignore them.

It is one thing to straight-up troll. It is another to COMPLETELY FLOOD THE ZONE with ridiculous narratives like "the refs are screwing us" or "5 on 8", which, for many (not all) Raptors posters is the go-to move. And it has been that way for YEARS - it is not just this series. I personally think that some of it comes from Nick Nurse, who - in my mind - is the single biggest ref-whining HC in the NBA, bar none. He did the EXACT same thing in 2019 - whining incessantly when the Raptors were down 2-1 in that series. He couldn't in good consciousness do it last night - between admitting after Game 2 that their strategy was to send Embiid to the foul line and make him make free throws and Embiid pwning him in the national media after the game. He had to keep his mouth shut last night. But he got what he wanted (a favorable whistle), especially in the 1st half.

But when your team's head coach spends so much time after games whining about the refs, it makes sense that some fans will see the game the exact same way...and then absolutely pollute the game threads with this ish. It is brutal. and it is not just 1 or 2 posters, either. The sheer number of Raptors posters on the GB - the same ones who drove the series poll to "Raptors in 6" - means that there will always be a material subset of posters that do that One-Note-Johnny "the refs are screwing us" crap that Nurse constantly spills out. Now, you can say that Nurse is just doing some good old-fashioned "working the refs"...but is is simply over the top, IMO. Watching him on the sidelines during games and in his postgame pressers, it is either "the refs screwed us" or "we had a ton of open looks and we just missed them". I rarely - if ever - hear, "well, we just sucked tonight", or "my gameplan was poor" or "we just got run off the floor by the other team". I think he is a good coach, but I am SO tired of his ish.

[Johnny Bball]

**** clueless...

Make excuses for this one too while you're single-handedly posting walls of rambling trash that isn't factual.

NBA rule book Section IV—The Coach...
The coach’s position may be on or off the bench from the substitution box line (closest to the coach’s bench)...A coach is not permitted to cross the midcourt line and violators will be assessed an unsportsmanlike technical foul immediately

And Embiid was whining about the refs more than Nurse ... the hypocrisy from Sixers fans is pretty damn funny.

[JShuttlesworth]

There is a lot of bs rambling from you but I'll stick to just this one, it is downright clueless to think that Raptors haven't done that more/enough in the paint in comparison, or as you say, pressured the rim. Son.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/shooting/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Playoffs&Division=Atlantic&sort=Less%20Than%205%20ft.%20FGA&dir=1

Especially Siakam.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?sort=DRIVE_FGA&dir=1

Maybe stick to something you know instead of making **** up.

I didn't bother responding to him because it was just another example of Philly fans rambling on about FT's when it wasn't the topic of conversation. His response hat nothing to do with what I was talking about, I don't even know why I was quoted to begin with.

[bebopdeluxe]

**** clueless...

Make excuses for this one too while you're single-handedly posting walls of rambling trash that isn't factual.

NBA rule book Section IV—The Coach...
The coach’s position may be on or off the bench from the substitution box line (closest to the coach’s bench)...A coach is not permitted to cross the midcourt line and violators will be assessed an unsportsmanlike technical foul immediately

And Embiid was whining about the refs more than Nurse ... the hypocrisy from Sixers fans is pretty damn funny.

What is funny is raptors fans whining about Doc being out of the box to call that TO. They could call that EVERY GAME on EVERY COACH.

Really? That is what you've got?

Harris got mugged on his shot at the end of regulation, but he was enough of a grownup to know that the refs weren't going to call that (he admitted as much in his postgame presser). Just like the refs aren't going to call a "coach out of the box" call in a tied playoff game with 3 seconds to go.

Raptors fans like you are INSUFFERABLE.

[bebopdeluxe]

There is a lot of bs rambling from you but I'll stick to just this one, it is downright clueless to think that Raptors haven't done that more/enough in the paint in comparison, or as you say, pressured the rim. Son.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/shooting/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Playoffs&Division=Atlantic&sort=Less%20Than%205%20ft.%20FGA&dir=1

Especially Siakam.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?sort=DRIVE_FGA&dir=1

Maybe stick to something you know instead of making **** up.

I didn't bother responding to him because it was just another example of Philly fans rambling on about FT's when it wasn't the topic of conversation. His response hat nothing to do with what I was talking about, I don't even know why I was quoted to begin with.

Pascal Siakam. FORTY EIGHT minutes. ZERO free throws.

I guess that was all blown calls by the refs - right?

[Johnny Bball]

**** clueless...

Make excuses for this one too while you're single-handedly posting walls of rambling trash that isn't factual.

NBA rule book Section IV—The Coach...
The coach’s position may be on or off the bench from the substitution box line (closest to the coach’s bench)...A coach is not permitted to cross the midcourt line and violators will be assessed an unsportsmanlike technical foul immediately

And Embiid was whining about the refs more than Nurse ... the hypocrisy from Sixers fans is pretty damn funny.

What is funny is raptors fans whining about Doc being out of the box to call that TO. They could call that EVERY GAME on EVERY COACH.

Really? That is what you've got?

Harris got mugged on his shot at the end of regulation, but he was enough of a grownup to know that the refs weren't going to call that (he admitted as much in his postgame presser). Just like the refs aren't going to call a "coach out of the box" call in a tied playoff game with 3 seconds to go.

Raptors fans like you are INSUFFERABLE.

You've not answered any one single point because you're wrong all the way through, so now all you do is point fingers at everything else and call us names. Maybe I'll make it my day job just to rip these dumb posts to shreds for kicks. You're outclassed here, son.

And no, they wouldn't call it because that takes courage, but don't pretend the sixers didn't get a break, which was the **** point.

[Sixersftw]

Damn they got the rule book out. It's tough out here.

[bebopdeluxe]

**** clueless...

Make excuses for this one too while you're single-handedly posting walls of rambling trash that isn't factual.



And Embiid was whining about the refs more than Nurse ... the hypocrisy from Sixers fans is pretty damn funny.

What is funny is raptors fans whining about Doc being out of the box to call that TO. They could call that EVERY GAME on EVERY COACH.

Really? That is what you've got?

Harris got mugged on his shot at the end of regulation, but he was enough of a grownup to know that the refs weren't going to call that (he admitted as much in his postgame presser). Just like the refs aren't going to call a "coach out of the box" call in a tied playoff game with 3 seconds to go.

Raptors fans like you are INSUFFERABLE.

You've not answered any one single point because you're wrong all the way through, so now all you do is point fingers at everything else and call us names. Maybe I'll make it my day job just to rip these dumb posts to shreds for kicks. You're outclassed here, son.

And no, they wouldn't call it because that takes courage, but don't pretend the sixers didn't get a break, which was the **** point.

What - EXACTLY - was the "break"? Huh? Not making a call THEY FREAKING NEVER CALL?

That's the "break"?

Refs want the game decided on the court. That is why they didn't put Harris on the line. And that is why they did not make that RIDICULOUS "coach out of the box" call that Raptors fans are flooding the internet with - and being ABSOLUTELY (and rightly) RIDICULED for.

Bye, Felicia.

[LloydFree]

Damn they got the rule book out. It's tough out here.

... And they're not even embarrassed about it. LOL!

[SwaggyB]

I promise - and I mean it this time - this is my last ref-based post

Hey remember this? This was last night, back on page 45... guess how many times you've mentioned the refs since then? I'll tell you this much, its more than one. Pretty much every discussion about them at this point in the thread has been initiated by you..

[nikster]

This ALL DAY LONG.

And when you point out that their starting 4, Pascal Siakam, played 48 minutes last night and shot ZERO free throws - because he put ZERO pressure on the rim - and point out that maybe the reason for the foul call disparity in the series is because one team is pressuring the rim and the other team is settling for jumpers, all you hear are crickets. To be fair, when I brought this up last night, one Raptors fan (Sisqo) agreed with this, but the rest of the Raptors fans who have spent the entire series whining about the refs didn't seem to acknowledge this as a possible explanation for the disparity.

I think the Raptors have great young talent, and were one of the hottest teams coming into the playoffs (13-2 in their last 15 games). There was a legitimate reason why they were a trendy 1st round upset pick. I think it is ridiculous to talk serious smack before the series started, and then turn around and try to cop a "we're just happy to be here" narrative. That is weak f'k'n sauce. Just own the fact that you losing to a better team.

But they know that.

So well said. But the problem is, they don’t think they’re losing to a better team. They honestly think like most of this board that philly is a loser team who picked up loser Harden and that Embiid will be a career loser. Mark my words this will par for the course for every single series they play in. The same poll you saw before the Raptors series, you will see against miami and if they win that against whoever they go against in the ECF. They will also be getting trashed before a single game of those series are played just like it was here and if they win those series too, the goalposts will move to refs refs refs. Better get used to it…

Yup. I have been around RealGM for a long time and a lot of GB posters like to drink the Sixers Haterade. I also think there is the same dynamic going on with the Raptors fanbase on the GB - which include some of the most ridiculous whiners I have EVER seen on a internet sports forum - and the incessant Jokic fanboys who flood the zone with God-worship of the dude. Fortunately, as the Nuggets look AGAIN like an early exit, perhaps some of those fanboys will show a little humility on the GB as their hero gets his MVP while sitting on a couch.

But I digress.

Philly fans know what it is like to be hated by fanbases of other teams. What it is like to not get respect from the national media. And that's OK. As Malcolm Jenkins said during the Eagles Super Bowl run in 2017-18:

"We all we got. We all we need."

Funny criticizing Jokic for an early exit when Embiid never made it out the 2nd round