The Toronto Raptors have clinched the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference and have matched up against the Philadelphia 76ers. A tough team with an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid will give the Raptors a hard time on both sides of the court. Coming down the stretch, the Toronto Raptors have gone 8-2 in their final 10. They have played the 76ers four times this year, taking 3 of 4 games. The Raptors are also 8-4 against the top four teams in the East (Bucks, Heat, Celtics, and 76ers). People thought the Raptors would be in the play in tournament and weren’t strong enough to clinch a spot in the top 6.
To their surprise, the Raptors have looked great this year. The arrival of Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa, and having Trent Jr for a full season has made the Raptors more versatile. We all know what happened last time these two matched up in the playoffs but both teams do look a little different coming into 2022. Do the Raptors have a chance? There are a few scenarios that need to happen for the Raptors to move on to the second round.
Shutdown the Big Man
Not a fan favourite but you gotta respect how good of a basketball player he is. Joel Embiid is having the best season of his career and is a finalist for NBA MVP. Averaging 30.6 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, and shooting 49.9% on field goal percentage. Embiid is a player that needs to be shut down to win this series. The Raptors have down it once already but now are missing key players from that series including Lowry and Leonard. The trust will be in the hands of Nick Nurse to build a plan that can stop the big man.
Push until the Clock Strikes Zero
It’s important to get off on the right foot, especially in the playoffs. The Raptors will need their stars shooting lights out early in games. If the Raptors let their foot off the gas, they can be in big trouble especially if Embiid and Harden are having good games. The trust will come from the star players in the lineup. Vanvleet, Siakam, and Anunoby have the championship experience that can lead this team night in and night out. The rise of Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa will give the Raptors size and grit that will be needed against a big Philly team. Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play games in Toronto due to his vaccination status so the Raptors will need to take advantage as he is a big piece to their defensive core. To win this series, the Raptors will need to shoot well and not let up until they hear the buzzer at the end of the fourth quarter.
Stay Healthy
The Raptors will need to be in full force if they want to beat Philly. Everyone from top to bottom in the line-up brings something valuable to the court. Vanvleet and Trent Jr are great shooters and can hit clinch 3s at important parts of the game. Siakam and Barnes bring size and strength inside the paint. OG Anunoby can be effective on both sides of the court. When the roster is completely healthy, the Raptors are 12-6. Having a full line-up can help guys feed off each other and allow them to play at their very best.
This series is not a walk in the park for Philly. Lots of people including Shaq are doubting the skill of the Toronto Raptors. Nick Nurse is a superb coach that has developed a plan during the regular season to play good ball on both sides of the court. If the Toronto Raptors can limit Embiid, this will leave them vulnerable and allow the Raptors to step on the pedal offensively. This will be a tough road for the Toronto Raptors and if they can beat the 76ers, sky’s the limit for these guys!