NBA Playoffs 2022 on Sunday, 17.04.2022
The NBA Playoffs are underway and the Philadelphia 76ers have certainly not been assigned an easy draw with the Toronto Raptors. In fact, like many experts, I expect the home side to have problems in Canada at the latest.
But at home and with Matisse Thybulle “still” eligible to play, I am convinced that the Sixers will keep up the pace. My 76ers Raptors tip also unearths more tactical quibbles, all of which favour the seventy-sixers – at least in Game 1!
The Sixers didn’t quite come out on top in the photo finish. In the end, both the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers were in second place with a record of 51-31 each, but due to the direct comparison, it ended up being only 4th place for the Blue and Whites.
Accordingly, the seventy-sixers now have to face the Raptors, a franchise that many expect to be a stumbling block. This assumption is by no means made up out of thin air.
After all, the Canadians have recovered impressively from a very bumpy start to the season and fought their way back to within three wins of Philadelphia (5th place)! Since the beginning of the year, the Raptors even shine with a record of 33-17 – the sixth-best yield in the league during this period.
In addition, if they had been tied with the Sixers on points, they could have overtaken them in the standings as well! The reason? The last two duels of the season have already gone to Toronto, by scores of 119-114 and 93-88.
All this at once is certainly a hell of a lot for the heart of every Sixers fan, but I remain confident! Because both of these losses to their upcoming opponents occurred before the trade deadline!
This is so important to mention because the 76ers bosses were thinking something when they let the injured Ben Simmons move to the Nets in February to get a “tactically” important player in James Harden.
James Harden has never really been that convincing in the playoffs, but since he is looking for a contract tweak and has the necessary talent, I am in good spirits that he will start highly motivated in this Game 1.
His contribution will also make a big difference compared to the last two losses against the Raptors.
Because Philadelphia’s weak spot until recently was not having enough quality on the floor when their big-play centre Joel Embiid had to go to the bench to catch his breath.
To put it in a nutshell: In the two defeats, the cumulative score during the minutes of play in which the Cameroonian was not on the floor was 61:36 for the Canadians! In exactly that time span they made the sack!
Now, however, the Sixers have brought in Harden, a player who can replace Embiid in those minutes when he has to go into the box to tank without the team completely collapsing as a result.
Moreover, the Cameroonian will get much more playing time than during the Regular Season! After all, it is the playoffs! Thus, there will not be a comparably big vacuum under the basket as during the last two head-to-head duels.
Furthermore, the Raptors have no one at the centre position who could even remotely compete with Embiid! The Canadians can defend smartly, but they won’t get “The Process” stopped without fouls.
I also expect the Sixers to go extra hard in the first two games!
After all, since Matissy Thybulle is unvaccinated and thus not allowed to fly to Toronto due to Canadian entry regulations, the pressure is on to win at least the first two games.
Conclusion: The Raptors have won their last two games against the Sixers – even though Joel Embiid, the supposedly best centre in the NBA, was on the floor.
However, the home side has upgraded and brought in James Harden, a player who can help to bridge the time in which Embiid has to rest unscathed.
Moreover, the Cameroonian will be on the pitch longer in this important match than he was during the regular season.
The Canadians are a good outfit, but they lack the quality at the five to take on The Process! As long as he is on the floor, the Raptors will not be able to do much!
My 76ers Raptors tip: The Sixers win Game 1!
