Sixers - Raptors Game Six: Wake Up And Crush

 > By the end of any 7-game series, if you don't well and truly hate the opponent, you aren't trying. I really hate the Raptors. I hate their ugly-ass no-guard line up, I hate their fake polite profanity spewing fans, I hate their puling coach, and Drake can go die on an ice floe. I hated this team before thanks to the Kawhi bounce, I hated them last year when they tanked in the bubble and cost me money in fantasy, and I hate them now. Go the hell home and stay there. I'm going to stay up late just to make sure I see TNT take these twerps fishing. (And by the way, the rest of Canada hates Toronto, too.)

> The idea that a basketball team can win a closeout game by over 30 on the road by just, you know, making sure the ball touches the paint on offense, rebounding the other teams' brickwork and making a few threes... this really shouldn't have gone six. Especially when the opponent has no actual, you know, guards once one guy gets hurt.

> Just a joyously effective third quarter to put this away, with Tyrese Maxey doing the honors and the defense waking up to shut down defensive rebounds. If they ever could do this at home, the city might actually believe in them. 

> Nice of Joel Embiid to remember who the hell he was in the second half, and actually rebounding. My man profiles way too much as a front runner -- James Harden was the reason they held a first half lead, and Maxey blew the game open -- but still. Loved Harden's game tonight; he finished instead of begged. The fact that he didn't have to do that for very long was also a plus.

> Really nice series for Tobias Harris. Most consistent player, had 19 and 11 on very few shots and even a lack of cringe moments. He's still overpaid, he still never gets loose balls, but if he's your fourth and playing big defense while making enough threes and layups, you can win. Tonight, by a lot.

> BB Paul Reed had his best game of the series and made us all feel better about his game. He's probably going to disappear in the next series because Miami's bigs have junk in the trunk, but he's an actual NBA player, not a mascot. (OK, he's also a mascot. But still.)

> By the end of this game, when the Sixers were racking up offensive rebounds at will and the Raptors couldn't convert in transition, there was no doubt as to who the better team was. For the last three games, there was actual and credible doubt. Any game that ends with George Springer and Paul Reed dunking while guys lose their minds on the bench is a good time.

> Doc Rivers with a good game tonight, going deeper into the bench than before, and getting more credible minutes from most of the guys that he played. I'm still absolutely thrilled and relieved beyond belief to not have to watch him in a Game Seven.

> Sixers played a lot of zone tonight, which didn't help them with the rebounding, but did at least help Embiid from getting beaten to the rack by Toronto's collection of machine-line semi-bigs. 

> Why this team can't give their home fans happiness, I'll never know. If this had been Game Five, we might actually have confidence in a long run. All we know now is that when they play good, they can truck you, and when they don't, egads.

Next up is our old friend Jimmy Butler and the Heatles, who was absolutely right about the guy who doesn't play anymore (nice trade, Brooklyn! Cheer up, you have the second-best Curry!). Miami has to play guys that Harden and Maxey should punish, but they've got a real coach, bench depth, home court and a rest advantage... and if they feel really good about their next series after seeing this game, they're smoking something strong. See you next Monday night; here's hoping the Sixers send both actual Heat fans home unhappy.

Sixers - Raptors Game Five: Oh Dear God Not This

Wow, this was... awful. I mean, Game Seven against Atlanta level of awful. Like, quit Twitter levels of awful. (Most of that was Elon Musk, but still.)

> I don't know what happened to Joel Embiid, but his game was completely missing tonight. You could always count on this man to care on defense, but tonight, the Raps just drove right at him and scored, over and over again. This would have been a bad game in December; in April, it's inexcusable. Maybe he's just mailing it in because he knows he's not getting past the next round with this thumb and this roster, but for heaven's sake, dude... losing a 3-0 lead in the first round is not going to wash away.

> Short of Carson Wentz and Ben Simmons, I can't remember a local athlete that went from beloved to what the living hell faster than Matisse Thybulle. From the moment the vaccination news came out, his game went into the toilet, and when you don't have that much margin for error in the first place from a miniscule offensive game, he's just unplayable. I don't know how you get him back.

> You'd think that losing Fred van Vliet would hurt the Raptors, but man alive, you would be wrong. Now that everyone on the court is supersized and no one is a defensive liability, the Sixer guards aren't getting separation, and the first two games are a distant memory. Toronto may be better off without him, at least in this series.

> When your two best players are Tobias Harris and Danny Green, you aren't winning a goddamn thing, people. At this point, despite having two shots to get out of this series, I don't think the Sixers will. They'd be the first team in NBA history to lose from 3-0, and yeah, you pretty much blow up the organization at that point. The least you do is fire Doc Rivers into the sun and blame the whole thing on Embiid's thumb, but the bench is also a tire fire and every other thing, really.

> Doc Rivers had no answers tonight, and I get that it's not fair to put this on the coach, but... he rode his starters like a drowning man tonight, even when it was plainly obvious they weren't doing anything to deserve the faith. If there was ever a time to crash paddle a team with an all bench lineup two minutes into a game, this was it. 

> You can't miss every three for something like two-plus quarters in an NBA game at home. You just can't.

> I don't have anything else to say about this abomination, and a team that hasn't lead in regulation in the last three games. What a nightmare.

On Banning Russian Players From Wimbledon

 In the news this week -- the decision of the lords of Wimbledon to ban players from Russia from their tournament this year, in light of the invasion of Ukraine.

Sing the anthem?

The NY Times, ever distrustful of virtue signaling in a world without virtue, gave column inches to their writer today to say that since this won't do anything to stop the war, they should not have done it. Without, well, a thought to what a tournament *with* a Russian player would have looked like.

Folks, did you really want a wrestling face / heel dynamic to break out at a tennis match? And in all likelihood, many tennis matches? The lords of Wimbledon did not, and God bless them for that, because they gave up any amount of Will Smith at the Oscars level of social engagement for that decision. (My lord, integrity in this world? No wonder the Times took a dump on it.)

Because that's what would have happened, no matter what the Russian player would have said or done before or during the match. (Short of, I don't know, getting their relatives killed by signaling support for Ukraine?)

Look, I get that ostracizing all of the people from Russia is in no way comfortable. I did the same thing, on a very minor level, with people from Russia in my LinkedIn feed, and got a number of hurtful false dichotomy arguments in messaging around it. Holding individuals responsible for the actions of their nation is more than a little overblown. 

And yet, it's what we can do, and asking people to do nothing is really not something I'm comfortable in doing. Personally, I'm a doer, and the worst times in my life are when I can't do, for whatever reason. People from Russia are operating in a world of unreality from propaganda, and it's going to take a lot from a lot to solve that.

So if you really think Wimbledon would have been better off this year with the unmatched awkwardness of Russian athletes, and open conflict in the stands between booing and rooting for them, and none of the actual games being bigger than the meta narrative...

Well, you are just an idiot. At best. At worst, you are corrupt and acting from bad faith, and should no longer have access to the public via a vast media megaphone.

And calling you one seems like I've done something, and is good enough.

Sixers - Raptors Game Four: Perfunctory

 > First and foremost, Toronto deserved this ugly win. Lots of hustle boards, a signature game from Pascal Siakam, and if you want to have hope for them going beyond Game Five, Joel Embiid's thumb is a concern. They didn't roll over and die, and they avoided the sweep. Some team somewhere will come from 0-3 to win a series. They have the chance to be that team.

t> Having said that, if the officiating is going to be like this in Game Four when you go for the sweep, just rest the starters and see if playoff experience tells you something about a bench guy. Has any team ever tanked a playoff game?

> I was disappointed in Tyrese Maxey for the first time in a very long time today. No signature moments, didn't connect from deep, and did what he could with other contributions, but like most NBA players, he needs to score to be a net win. Missing technical foul shots late kind of summed up his day.

> Possibly James Harden's best game of the series, which is a little sad to say in a loss that wasn't really in doubt. Danny Green missing a bunch of threes, and Maxey not being his usual self, also cuts down on his impact as a point guard. 

> On some level, this game got less urgent when Atlanta took Game Three against Miami on Friday night. Reality.

> I'm not sure why, given health and other concerns, why Doc Rivers gave Embiid the minutes he gave him today. I get that a sweep would have been nice, but if Joel's not Joel, the Sixers have no shot. 

> I continue to be encouraged by the play of Tobias Harris, who is having a strong series and displaying efficiency. He's still a maddening player when the ball gets sticky, and he does not get you the loose balls you'd like, but the on-ball defense has been good. Remember, Sixer Fan, he's not responsible for the team overpaying him.

> Toronto Fan continues to react to Embiid as if he were the worst man in the world, and... I guess if I rooted for them, I'd hate on him, too. But even in a game where his body and mind are clearly not in it, and he's disgusted by the officiating to the point of comedy, the man can do things no 7-footer should be able to do. I also enjoyed his insincere clapping when he walked off the court. The man just got 21/8/3 in a bad game, for heaven's sake. (Five turnovers.)

> I'm well and truly ready to stop watching this Raptors team, especially where Nick Nurse pules for things that are obviously fouls. Dude has no shame.

> That's two games in a row where the Sixers haven't played well in the playoffs. I fully expect them to close this on Monday night, but they need to just play better.

Sixers - Raptors Game 3: Go On, Canada, Curse At Joel Embiid Some More

 Oh dear God in heaven, what a game.

> Joel Hans Embiid. Could not shoot three pointers when he entered the league. Turned himself into a guy who ends teams from distance during a career-threatening injury -- two years of that. 

NBA sportswriters will likely vote for Nikola Jokic as the Most Valuable Player over him, as Jokic gets himself tossed from a series which is going to end in a desultory first round loss.

In the immortal words of Jason Kelce, no one likes us and we don't care. If you've ever wondered why Philly Fan has a chip on his shoulder the size of a Buick, this. And decades of nonsense like this.

> I have had *very* little use for Doc Rivers all season, and then the man calls a perfect time out to save the final possession and has a damn near perfect rotation to get this beast of a game over the line. Good heavens.

> I have had even less use for Tobi Harris all year, and he might have played the best game of his season. Really wanted him to end it in regulation and claim the honors he deserves, but it's Joel's year.

> The Raps had all kinds of luckball makes tonight, with shots at the buzzer, a festival of turnovers in the first half, and James Harden fouling out when the team needed a calm veteran hand the most. Did not matter. Joel Hans Embiid.

> Canadians get a lot of noise about being polite, and it's all trash. Sports fans everywhere are the same, and the fact that they chanted obscenities at the guy that ended them is the best.

> It honestly felt like the Sixers did not want to lead the game in regulation. Just insane.

> We finally found a use for Deandre Jordan; guarding the inbounds with under a second left. He didn't foul anyone. Great job, DJ. Go ice those knees.

> This might have been the first time this year that the moment looked too big for Tyrese Maxey in overtime, and then he just made an absurd stop and pop deuce. 

> Joel Hans Embiid. All they needed, exorcising the demons of Kawhi Leonard, proving he's the best player in the world right now, bouncing around like a little kid on the same court he wept on. There's never been a big man more loved in this laundry.

Sixers - Raptors Game 2: Danny Green Says Nay

 > On a night where the Sixers more or less went into cruise control as soon as Fred Van Vliet stopped making every possible shot, my favorite Sixer might have been Danny Green. The punctuation dunk from a broken down old wing was just exceptional, and the look on Green's face said, well, yep, he didn't know he could still do that, either. "Danny dunked, he's 100%... that's like me dunking." - Doc Rivers in the post-game. Also loved the made threes and the defensive plays. Just remarkable.

> Great first quarter from Joel Embiid, and in what might be the first time in his career in the playoffs... the bench extended the lead. The Paul Reed Victory Tour continues, and don't tell me that bullying doesn't work, because Philly Fan totally bullied Doc Rivers into playing him.

> Most young players have to have a good start to have a good game in the playoffs, but Tyrese Maxey is not most players. Watching this kid in the open court is just insane -- he's faster while dribbling than other guys at a full sprint. He also nearly had a triple double, and to do all of that with no first quarter points for being deferential -- dude is just a delight. The most delight. ("I think we were all just praying he was OK." - Maxey on Green's dunk)

> The look on the Raptor bench when Embiid made the baseline shake and three -- that's a meme. Just in the presence of what the hell and yeah, this isn't our night. And with teams that go up 2-0 being 92% to win a series, maybe not that either.

> The Sixers' interior and half-court defense has been stellar, but before we start planning a parade -- they are playing a bad half-court team. Embiid has been exceptional at not going for blocks that put him out of rebounding position, but the revelation has been Tobias Harris, who keeps bullying the hell out of the smaller Raps.

> Losing Scottie Barnes and playing a sick Gary Trent meant that the Raps had to play Malachi Flynn in this game, and if Flynn is an NBA player, I'm an airplane. The Raps were supposed to be the deeper team in this series, and were also supposed to own the glass and fast break points. Nope, nope, nope.

> The Raps made a run late to make this not a rout, and it started to be a little antsy... at which point Maxey picked up a loose ball and drained a 25-footer, because he's too young to know that Philly teams blow leads and break hearts. Never grow up, Tyrese.

> For the Raps, they finally got a good game from, well, anyone -- OG Anunoby went 10 for 14 and made some remarkable shots -- but we're now two games into a series where it just doesn't seem like anyone is definitively winning their matchup. More and more, this just looks like a small team that can't score in the half-court, and won't be around much longer. Really not the series we were expecting.

> James Harden continues to do what the team needs, which is set up shooters for wide-open looks that they've been cashing in on, and limit the number of cover your eyes possessions. The little things he does, like milking the clock late, taking advantage of an overeager young defender to get to the line, and a surprising amount of defensive attention and rebounding -- aren't really pretty any more, and we're all going to regret the contract he signs. But in terms of being right for this team, right now -- yup.

> Game Three is quick turn Wednesday, and the Sixers need to manage a road game with Mattis Thybulle, as well as show the steel to choke a team out. Every new playoff game is an adventure, but when you win the first two games by a lot... well, you just may be the better team. By a lot.

Sixers-Raptors Game 1: Well, That Was Downright Fun

 Quick points from a rollicking good time:

> 1 turnover -- one! -- in the first 40 minutes of the game, i.e., when it mattered. They ended the game with a 29-4 assist to turnover ratio.

> James Harden was 14/1 to lead the parade, hit a couple of step-back 3's at the end of bad possessions, and generally looked far from spent and shot. Nice to nail the prediction of rest = better James.

> This will be remembered as the Tyrese Maxey Quarter, when the Raps kept hitting 3s and threatening to make a game out of it, and the kid just would not let them. Could not love him more.

> Minutes -- and chants from the smart Philly crowd -- for Paul Reed, none for Deandre Jordan. It's almost as if Doc Rivers wants to keep this job.

> Best Tobias Harris game in a long time. He bullied the smaller Raps, got a kind roll on a few shots, played good defense and didn't have the ball stick in his hands.

> If the Sixers win by 20 and I don't mention Joel Embiid until five bullets into the recap, that's a hell of a game, honestly. Joel needs to not get baited into dumb beef with lesser players, but his adjustment in this contest -- focusing on defensive rebounding and half-court passing -- was exactly what was needed.

> For the Raps, wow, this did not go well. Your Rookie of the Year candidate left with an injury and looks done, your star point guard got owned by a second year guy, and your active bigs with range that provoke turnovers got nothing and did not like it. This roster looks hurt and overmatched, and while every game in a playoff series is different, a 20+ point win in Game One without a massive Embiid effort is really not good.

> The idea that this franchise drafted backcourt players *twice* with the #1 pick in close succession, had both of them flame out due to mental and physical injury, and got a dramatically better player deep in the first round... well, that's not the way the Association works, honestly. Or life.

> Won fast break, rebounding, turnovers, shot over 50% from the arc, got reasonable bench minutes from Reed, Shake Milton and George Niang. Maybe the best game they've played this season. Now, let's see if they can handle success.

> Game Two is Monday at 7:30pm. Expect more from the Raps -- but maybe more from Embiid, too.

Sixers-Raptors: The Pick

 Reasons why Philly will win: Home court matters in the playoffs, especially when two of those guys get to the foul line constantly. Toronto has no one who can contain Joel Embiid. James Harden has had a week off, and he's been remarkably better this year coming off extended rest. Danny Green has played his best ball of the year in the past couple of weeks. Tyrese Maxey is going to win a game or two by himself. Tobias Harris doesn't have to do much. Paul Reed gives them an energetic big man that actually makes hustle plays. Shake Milton is showing signs of health and utility. 

Reasons why Philly will lose: Doc Rivers. Doc Rivers will play Deandre Jordan instead of Paul Reed. Doc Rivers will play bench guys with a lead, they'll lose the lead, and then they will panic. Tobias Harris will try too much and do too little. Embiid will miss time with some random injury. They'll give up transition points to the point of pain. Chris Boucher will have a game, Pascal Siakam will have one, Fred van Vliet another and then we're in Doc Rivers in Game 7, which is always death. Matisse Thybulle's asshat vaccination lapse will cost them a road game. As the nominal favorite with the biggest stars, has way more to lose from a first round exit.

Reasons why Toronto will win: Just waves of athleticism that's well-coached. Possibly the biggest home court advantage in the NBA, because Toronto Fan is never mean to the home team. Secretly not a 5 seed, because they've been beaten up all year and aren't now. Van Vliet will own Harden, because he's a lot younger and has limitless range. OG Anubuoy is an all-around beast. Comes into this with no real championship aspirations, which means loose and easy. Some of these guys have won rings. Nick Nurse may be the best coach in the NBA.

Reasons why Toronto will lose: No bigs with heft, which means constant gadget defenses on Embiid that will eventually fail, with massive fouling. Guys that have been hurt all year will get hurt again. Playoff basketball is halfcourt basketball, which does not help this offense at all. Gary Trent has no conscience and will take enough bad shots to cost them a game. Does not have the two best players on the floor, which is not a recipe for playoff success. 

The pick: Sixers in six, because I just think that Embiid wants vengeance for the Kawhi Leonard Series and will get it. Besides, at some point the entire Sixers team will rise up, stuff Rivers in a box and mail him to Los Angeles with Jordan, and play Reed. As bad as Rivers is as a coach, he's got the best players, and that matters. (But only if a rested Harden is one that's able to score on his own, rather than just set up teammates.)