7 Takeaways From The First Three Games of Sixers-Raptors
We’re just three games into the Sixers’ first round series against the Toronto Raptors, but we’ve already learned quite a bit about the Sixers’ identity
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We’re just three games into the Sixers’ first round series against the Toronto Raptors, but we’ve already learned quite a bit about the Sixers’ identity. The series has taken a much different direction from what many expected, and is on the verge of becoming a sweep when most expected the series to go deep. With things having taken such a different turn from what was expected, I decided it would be apt to put together a list of things we’ve learned through the first few games of this team’s playoff run. Let’s begin.
No. 1: The Sixers are more than equipped to handle elite defenses in the playoffs
By far the biggest surprise of the series so far has been the fact that the Sixers have turned the Raptors’ ultra-aggressive, swarming defensive schemes — which have generally bothered Joel Embiid throughout his career — into liabilities.
The Sixers are absolutely carving up the Raptors’ help schemes, especially as it pertains to helping off of shooters on Embiid’s post-ups and James Harden’s isolations. Embiid and Harden, while not putting up insane numbers, have found the right balance of calling their own numbers and also making the right plays to keep the offense flowing efficiently.
The Sixers will face better defenses in later rounds; Toronto ranked 9th in the league in defense, compared to Miami, who is 4th, and Boston, who is 1st. But even those teams have areas where the Sixers match up favorably. Miami, for example, has two significant rotation players – Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson – who are walking bullseyes to be hunted on switches for Harden and Tyrese Maxey. Toronto, by contrast, doesn’t have any defenders on par with that level of vulnerability.
While it remains a total mystery if these two teams will match up, Boston also has one key defensive weakness that Toronto shares – they have no one with anywhere near the size and strength needed to guard Embiid one-on-one. They do indeed have a terrifying collection of wing and guard defenders to match up with Harden, but the Embiid piece of it remains a point that the Sixers could attack.
All things considered, the Sixers’ halfcourt offense has aced its first playoff test. They are carving up a ferocious, versatile, well-connected defense, and in the next round against Miami, I’d expect a similar level of execution, especially considering that Miami plays two highly vulnerable isolation defenders. Whatever concerns existed about Harden, Embiid, or the Sixers’ offense in general not being able to handle the intensity of playoff defenses should be very at least partially alleviated after watching this series.
No. 2: This is a different version of Joel Embiid
As the playoffs neared, and Sixers fans and national media alike expressed a level of fear towards the Raptors that was primarily based on the past history between these two teams, one thing I kept coming back to was that this team and this Joel Embiid was simply different from years past. Through three games, Embiid has proven that to be the case.
There is no version of Embiid from past years that could have a game like Game 3. After scoring just 5 points in the first half, the Embiid of past years would have sulked, continued to turn the ball over, committed some bad fouls on defense, taken his L and moved on. This year’s Embiid is calmer, more skilled, and more determined than ever. There will always be a certain level of doubt towards stars until they’ve done it in the postseason, but my level of confidence in Embiid’s ability to carry the team through this round and the next is sky high.
Simply put, this is a different guy. At the risk of overreacting to a first round series, I firmly believe he is ready to lead this team, and they can go as far as his supporting cast will let them.
No. 3: Danny Green should be the full time starter regardless of the opponent
Doc Rivers may have simply decided to start Danny Green in an effort to maintain continuity with Matisse Thybulle ineligible to play Games 3 and 4, but this series has definitively proven that Green should remain in the starting lineup regardless of the opponent.
While the Sixers’ starting lineup was still quite good on offense in the regular season with Thybulle in the mix, the value that Green’s shooting provides against the elite, swarming defenses in the playoffs is abundantly clear. You simply can’t afford to have Thybulle lurking along the dunker spot against the Torontos and Miamis of the world.
Green has also looked as spry as he has all season on the defensive end. Save for a few typical head-scratching plays, Green’s resurgence has been crucial to their success on both ends through three games.
No. 4: James Harden is capable of providing just enough shot creation
Harden hasn’t lit the world on fire by any means, but his stats sell his offensive impact far short — there are an astounding number of possessions in which the Sixers leverage the attention paid to Harden into quality shots for other players.
In the first two games of the series, Harden carved up the Raptors’ aggressive off-ball help schemes, and in Game 3, he remained just as effective against a slightly dialed back defense that was more geared towards making him score.
Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Harden in this series is that he’s found the right flow to his game, hasn’t over-dribbled, and has allowed the Sixers’ supporting cast to fall into place. He has been enormously helpful to Tyrese Maxey — Maxey doesn’t explode in this series like he has without all of the direct and indirect help from Harden — and has also been diming up Tobias Harris repeatedly for quality looks.
Miami and Boston might have a bit more success stopping Harden in isolation, but all things considered, I think that Harden has found his footing against a very good defense, and he is in the exact proper role for this point in his career.
No. 5: The Sixers have reached a level of defensive cohesion that they did not have at any point in the regular season
This is not a possession that the Sixers would have had in the regular season:
The Sixers have really upped their defense in the first two games against Toronto.
Their rotations here are absolutely spot on. pic.twitter.com/43CWWIK0Nw— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 19, 2022
I’ll touch more on Harris’ individual defense later on — he is the single biggest reason for their improvement — but the bottom line is that the Sixers’ team defense is on a string in a way that was not evident in the regular season, and is required for postseason success.
One thing that was apparent from the beginning of the series is that the Raptors simply don’t have the ability to create good looks in the half court. As the Sixers have been switching the majority of their ball screens, the Raptors haven’t been able to come up with answers; Siakam can only do so much against solid defenders like Green or Harris.
Here’s the reality of the playoffs: half court shot creation is all that really matters. When both teams are working their assess off on every defensive possession and switching every ball screen, all that counts is whether or not you have the shot creation to punish it. With the Sixers now having proven that they can hit that level defensively, I feel more confident in their ability to make a deep run. They simply have more shot creation than Miami, and I think that with this level of defensive intensity, they can put Miami’s offense into a similar funk that they have with Toronto.
No. 6: The bench rotation is very much still a question mark
While the Sixers’ bench hasn’t been a liability, per se, one wonders how it will hold up against better opponents later on. No individual bench player has been an albatross, but they also haven’t gotten any spark whatsoever. Going forward, it will be interesting to see if the Sixers’ rotation remains at 9 or if it gets shrunk down to 8.
In regards to backup center, B-ball Paul has been a bit up and down this series, but he’s done enough to win the job against any opponent — not just against smaller front lines. Shake Milton has done absolutely nothing, but he’s also done absolutely nothing wrong. Georges Niang continues to hit shots, but one worries how badly he’ll be targeted on defense against better opponents.
Thybulle remains a question mark. I wasn’t inspired in the least by his Game 1 and 2 performances, and this has continued a trend throughout each year of his career in which he just doesn’t feel additive in the postseason. His rookie year, he was benched against Boston after Game 2, and last season, he was thoroughly ineffective against Trae Young. If they do wind up facing Miami, it will be interesting to see if he’s able to provide enough of a defensive impact against Jimmy Butler to justify playing him more than 10-12 minutes per game.
No. 7: Tobias Harris has fully bought in
Over the past few years, perhaps no one has been more critical of Tobias Harris than I have. I said I wouldn’t pay him 40 percent of his contract. I said I would trade him for Kevin Love. I said I would play Georges Niang over him in crunch time.
While I don’t feel the need to apologize — I would still feel that way if we were still watching the version of Tobias that we were watching at that time — I do feel the need to give him the utmost credit for finally buying into what this team needs out of him.
It is no small feat for a player who has been relatively gun-shy from 3 for his entire career to suddenly be firing away like Danny Green. And Harris’ defense has hit a level that absolutely no one could have expected; he is giving them exactly the dimension of physicality on the wing that I was worried about this team lacking.
In Wednesday’s Game 3, Pascal Siakam could hardly get the ball in the second half while being guarded by Harris. Gary Trent, Jr. attempted to challenge him on a switch and was thoroughly embarrassed. For Harris to be giving this team a renewed focus on 3-and-D, while also providing his usual shot creation support, is an incredible testament to his character.