Toronto Raptors vs. Sixers: Three Takeaways from a Game 1 Win

The Toronto Raptors defended home court Saturday night, cruising to a 108-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Kawhi Leonard led all scorers on the night, dropping 45 points on 16-23 shooting (3-7 3PT). What else did we learn from Game 1?

Philadelphia jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the Toronto Raptors responded quickly and never looked back, taking Game 1 in convincing fashion, winning 108-95.

The hosts led by as many as 20, whereas the Sixers’ biggest lead of the evening was five, at 7-2.

As has been the tradition in these playoffs, the Raptors were led by Kawhi Leonard who finished with 45 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Pascal Siakam poured in 29 points, shooting an impressive 12-15 from the field. At the half, with the Raptors leading 61-52, Siakam and Leonard had scored 49 of Toronto’s 61 points. Game 1, essentially, was a two-man show.

Philadelphia was led by JJ Redick who finished with 17 points thanks to five made threes on 12 attempts. Joel Embiid pitched in 16 in 20 minutes but looked gassed down the stretch. Conditioning continues to be an issue for the Sixers’ man in the middle.

Now, here are three other takeaways from Saturday’s impressive win by the Toronto Raptors:

Playoff Kawhi (w/ some ‘Spice’ on the side)

Kawhi Leonard wasn’t kidding when he said the regular season was merely a practice spanning 82 games, because the former Spur, since the playoffs began, has been nothing short of remarkable, apart from one game in round one where he was battling flu-like symptoms.

Healthy and hydrated, Leonard has been unguardable this postseason, and his 45 points in Game 1 was a playoff career high. It featured a mix of drives, mid-range shots, and after going 5-5 from three in the final game versus Orlando, Leonard converted on three of seven attempts in the opener versus Philly.

…and then there was Pascal Siakam.

This year’s Most Improved Player (SPOILER) finished with a stat line more often found in video games, shooting 80 percent from the field (12-5), including hitting three of four attempts from beyond the arc. Both he and Leonard took turns carrying Toronto’s offense in this one, as they were the only two Toronto players to score double-digit points Saturday.

Nobody doubted Kawhi’s ability to dominate in the playoffs, but Pascal Siakam’s ascension to Proven Playoff Performer has gone down at warp speed, much like how he moves on the court.

If Toronto’s two-headed monster keeps up this level of play, Philadelphia could be going home before long.

Defense Leads to Offense

The 76ers entered play Saturday averaging 122 points per game through five games in the playoffs, but they finished with only 95 in a losing effort. Furthermore, entering play with the third highest playoff field goal percentage, at 49 percent, Philadelphia shot just 39 percent in Game 1.

Toronto also forced the visitors into 16 turnovers and committed just 10 themselves. The hosts were +8 in fast-break points as well (21-13). As prolific as Nick Nurse’s offense looks at times, it’s on the defensive end where this team can really sink its claws into you, getting after every player, swarming them on kick outs and drives. Toronto’s length and quickness make breaking them down extremely difficult, and that was evident on this night.

Only the Boston Celtics are giving up fewer points than Toronto to this point in the playoffs.

Finally, while it was tough night offensively for Serge Ibaka, the YouTube sensation was able to impact the game down the other end, finishing with two emphatic blocks. Toronto, as a team, swatted away six balls in total whereas Philly only had two.

All in all, the series opener showed just how capable the Raptors are of shutting down the Sixers when, as a team, Toronto buys in defensively. At the same time as that was going on, the hosts made it loud and clear that Philly simply does not have anybody on its roster capable of guarding Toronto’s two best players for 48 minutes…

Too Many Offensive Rebounds

Toronto’s offensive rebounding issues aren’t going anywhere, as they allowed 13 more in Saturday’s win. Even in a winning effort, this is an area of the game Nick Nurse and his team need to address as they head deeper and deeper into playoff waters.

Several rebounds that wound up in Sixers’ players’ hands came off missed threes. Those shots typically result in long rebounds and often times, Toronto has a tendency to collapse into the paint, leaving opposing perimeter players free to track down rebounds that wind up away from the basket. Luckily, Philadelphia didn’t do much with their 10 additional field goal attempts Saturday.

As the series gets set for its second chapter, Toronto will need to find innovative ways to keep the lonnnngggg Sixers off the glass. If the dinos can solve that puzzle and limit Philly’s second chance opportunities in the process, they’re all but a lock to advance to the third round of the playoffs, just one round shy of what would be the team’s first appearance in an NBA Finals.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…Round 2, Game 2 goes down Monday at Scotiabank Arena.

Tip-off is set for 8 pm (Eastern Time).