Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Matchup Breakdown

Pascal Siakam vs. Tobias Harris

Siakam and Harris play different roles for their respective teams but are of similar importance. Both players serve as a litmus test for their respective teams.

When Harris plays well, the 76ers look unstoppable. When he disappears (which he does more often than Brett Brown would like), the 76ers are vulnerable.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, he’s shooting under 33-percent from the three-point line, even though he had been one of the best three-point shooters in the entire league earlier this season with the Clippers.

In the first round of the playoffs, Harris improved, hitting 23-47 threes. When he’s shooting the ball that well, the 76ers are a whole different animal.

Against the Raptors, Harris will have to pick his spots. Harris needs to be both efficient and consistent. If Philadelphia hopes to win this series, he can’t score four points one game and 19 the next as he did in round one.

Siakam has become the Raptors’ legitimate secondary scoring option, which would have sounded crazy at the beginning of this season.

Not only has he enhanced his scoring, but he’s made improvements as a passer, ball handler, and decision maker as well. Those improvements, which started in the regular season, have carried over into the playoffs.

In the first round, Siakam averaged almost 23 points per game along with eight rebounds. If that production continues against the 76ers, the Raptors will be in really good shape.

Siakam’s true value in this series, however, is his defensive versatility. He has the length and speed to really bother Harris, and when Siakam gets switched on to Butler or even Simmons, he can handle them as well.

Siakam will need to be steady on offense and do his best to hit the open shots he gets, but if he can lock in defensively and take Harris or Butler out of a game, that might be just as important.