The Raptors visit Philadelphia, where the 76ers look to turn around their season. They are slumping – can Toronto keep them there?
The Toronto Raptors have not faced too many back-to-back games to date this season. Unfortunately, they have the second game of one of these tiring features of the NBA “calendar” tonight against the 76ers kiddie corps.
Philadelphia has been slumping since getting out of the gate in an impressive fashion. After reaching a high-water mark of 11-7, they have lost 9 of 12 and sit outside the playoffs at the moment. That’s an all too familiar predicament for this organization, which has endured five seasons without post-season hoops.
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There’s a reward, of sorts, for futility in the NBA, that being single-digit draft selections. The 76ers roster is chock-full of talent selected recently. Not surprisingly, a number of their kids have displayed outlandish skills.
The centerpiece is Joel Embiid, the light-footed giant man in the middle. Sadly for Philly but happily for Raptors fans, he’s likely to be rested against our team. He’s had multiple injury issues since being drafted, but is capable of dominating when right. Their prized #1 pick, Markelle Fultz, will also not dress as he deals with a shoulder injury. Greybeard gunner J.J. Redick may not play either.
The 76ers starters thus become an admixture of newbies and older journeymen. The Raptors once had Jerryd Bayless, but moved him along, and he eventually found his way to The City of Brotherly Love (yeah, sure).
3 keys to Raptors victory
- Never lose Robert Covington. This fellow was undrafted, yet has morphed into a serious 3-ball threat. If Redick can’t go, he’s their only deep shooter we need worry about.
- Keep Ben Simmons on a short leash. Their combo guard is looking strong for Rookie of the Year. In their defeat by Sacramento(!), he was an assist away from a triple-double. Kyle Lowry will be giving away nearly a foot in height to the young Aussie, so he’ll have to compensate with active hands and by staying in front of him. We don’t want Simmons in the paint, but we don’t mind him shooting.
- Give them lots of looks on D. I know zone defenses are out of fashion, but show one anyways. I’d like to see more trapping of the ball-handler on the perimeter. Even the relatively slow-footed Jonas Valanciunas has shown he can pick his spots and force a turnover or two. This is a young roster – get in their heads.
Prediction
This is a tough one to call, due to the game-time decisions to be made about many injured players. A quick for-instance: Amir Johnson was listed as a starter until about 11:30AM, when Joel Embiid’s name showed up.
The key men for the Raptors weren’t worn out in Charlotte last night. We should be OK.
Toronto 115 – Philadelphia 108