Raptors: 3 reasons Toronto could win head-to-head games vs. 76ers

The Toronto Raptors have been the dominant team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division for nearly a decade. Since 2013 the Raptors had appeared in seven consecutive playoffs, won the Atlantic Division six times, and appeared in two Eastern Conference Finals, and won a championship.

They were an Eastern Conference playoff fixture until this past season, when they missed the NBA playoffs for the first time in eight years. This offseason has brought about significant change to the Raptors’ roster, with the most significant moves being the departure of Kyle Lowry and the addition of Scottie Barnes.

Two years removed from an NBA Title, the Raptors will operate this season under lowered expectations.

It is expected that Toronto’s Atlantic Division rivals will once again surpass them in the standings. At least head-to-head, this may not necessarily be the case for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia was good in 2021, winning 49 of 72 games to claim the Atlantic Division title and the Eastern Conference’s best regular-season record. However, all the hype over Philadephia in recent years has never materialized into a deep playoff run.

2021/22 could be the year they distance themselves from the pack in the Eastern Conference as a contender, but some issues will make it a challenge to take down the Raptors in head-to-head games.

3 ways the Toronto Raptors could win some games against the 76ers.

3. Coaching Staff

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has had immediate and meteoric success early into his coaching career. Replacing former long-term head coach Dwane Casey in 2018, Nurse led the Raptors to a championship in his rookie season. The team failed to make a second consecutive ECF in 2020 after a classic series vs. Boston in the second round.

This past season with the team was displaced in Florida due to COVID-19 protocols and the pandemic affecting the team severely. On top of that, several assistant coaches left for other opportunities before the season.

Despite all of that, Nurse proved his quality by keeping everyone together. Doc Rivers is a potential Hall of Famer, but he has his flaws.

Is Doc Rivers’ prime as a head coach over?

Rivers replaced Brett Brown as the 76ers head coach this past season. While they had a good regular season, they failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Rivers, despite getting to two Finals matchups and winning one, has a slight reputation as a ”choke artist.”

"While I do think basketball is the most “player driven” league across all professional sports, and you should always blame the on-court talent before turning one’s attention to the coaching staff….(Rivers) is a guy who has now made a bit of a name for himself as being one of the worst “chokers” in professional basketball."

Nurse and the Raptors may have an edge one on one vs. Philadelphia this season from a purely schematic point of view, especially in the clutch, but also because of other issues that will test Rivers’ leadership in Philly.

2. Team chemistry and leadership

2021/22 is the season that Fred VanVleet will be given the reigns to running the Raptors’ offense after the departure of Kyle Lowry, the former heart and soul of the team. Last month, Lowry was signed and traded to the Heat for Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic.

This coming season, VanVleet’s leadership and influence on the Raptors’ offense will be on full display. Even with the turnover that’s affected the Raptors’ roster, it was by design, and the team maintains a quality core of players, including VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher, and OG Anunoby.

Philadelphia cannot boast the same thing. When asked if Ben Simmons could be the point guard on a championship Philly team, Head coach Rivers said:

"“I don’t know the answer to that right now,”"

This could make for a very frosty situation if Simmons isn’t traded.

Is Joel Embiid a true leader?

There are also questions about the MVP caliber player on this team in Joel Embiid. He did average a double-double in three contests vs. Toronto in 2021, and has dominated basically every great big at least once, but he has struggled mightily in recent years vs. the Raptors and sometimes disappears when the lights shine brightest on the grandest stage.

Jimmy Butler, a former 76er, was asked about the work effort of the team from Philadelphia, and his response was:

"“Everybody don’t work like that. That’s just what it is.”"

After missing both his rookie and sophomore seasons due to a severe foot injury, Embiid has yet to play more than 70 games in any season for Philadelphia since 2016, even though the past two seasons have been shortened to 72 games.

Tobias Harris, who signed a five-year $180 million contract extension with Philadelphia in 2019, hasn’t been a consistent performer either. He was 2-15  on three-balls in the playoffs during the Disney Bubble.

There is talent in Philadelphia, but whether it’s the coaching or the players, it just hasn’t gelled well as of yet despite ample time together. Let’s say Toronto gets hot from beyond the 3-point line. Why couldn’t they steal a few games here and there against a less-than harmonious situation?

1. The Ben Simmons effect.

Ever since a Magic Johnson dominated the NBA from 1979-1991, teams have dreamed of a player with his physical tools to not only facilitate their offense, but score and defend as well. Simmons was the first overall selection in the 2016 draft, and despite all the hype, he has not shown signs of reaching his maximum potential.

He can pass, run the floor, and defend just about anyone, but he is a liability in half-court sets on offense, as he has shown either an inability or fear to shoot the basketball.

The final three games of the semifinals vs. Atlanta were very telling, as Simmons went three straight fourth quarters without a field goal. It is also troubling that he shot 59.7%  for the season on free throws and 34% in the playoffs.

His numbers are getting worse during the regular season. He averaged only 14.3 points and 6.9 assists per game this year. This meant his 2021 numbers were down from his rookie year. He’ll be paid $33 million this season after signing a five-year $170 million extension in 2019.

Can the Raptors capitalize against a Simmons-less 76ers team?

Simmons is frustrating because he does not want to report to camp next month after demanding a trade. Even with the flaws associated with Simmons, the 76ers are not as good as they were last season without him, and even if he does play without improvement, he’s not going to put the team in a position for a long, deep playoff run.

Philadelphia can fine him if he fails to report to training camp, but he becomes an asset that’s a distraction and useless to the team. With Simmons coming off of a bad playoff run at this stage of the off-season, not many teams have cap space or the desire to add a player who responds to criticism with this mentality.

It also does not help that Philadelphia management has asked for a ridiculous package of assets in return if rumors are believed.

In a league that values shooters, especially the Raptors, consider this Aron Baynes took 103 three-point shots. Simmions, a guard of All-Star caliber, took 10 and made three all year. Ultimately, the longer the Simmons drama drags on, the harder it is for Philadelphia to win on the court.

At this stage, Toronto has a more harmonious vibe surrounding their team, plus a return to the confines of Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Raptors could move further up the Eastern Conference Standings than most think.

Four dates vs. Philadelphia will be a solid test of how close Toronto is to returning to elite status in the East. The Raptors lead this Atlantic Division series 58-41 all-time in regular-season games, having lost two of three in 2021 to Philadelphia. However, those games were close, with all three games won by seven points or decided by two possessions.