2018-19 Sixers Season

[el-pietro]

I'd agree with this. I'd feel much more comfortable against the Bucks, and I felt that way before they got blown out by the Celtics. I'd even have preferred the Celtics though I feel like they have a sort of hoodoo over the Sixers.

[VoteForKalas]

You can't build a game plan to combat a team if you don't have the parts to implement it successfully. I don't really know if I want Brett Brown back but this Raptors team is a hard match-up for the sixers.

This could be over quickly.

I tend to agree; I guess I assume a coach's job is to make lemonade out of lemons and come up with creative ways for the personnel he does have to maximize their strengths and attack the opponent's weaknesses whenever possible.

Obviously, I'm firmly on the record that this is flawed team construction more than bad coaching, but at this juncture no one is riding in on the white stallion to save them. I hope to see some significant adjustments tonight unlike last season when it appeared Brown had them keep banging their heads against the Boston wall.

[bigegypt0417]

You can't build a game plan to combat a team if you don't have the parts to implement it successfully. I don't really know if I want Brett Brown back but this Raptors team is a hard match-up for the sixers.

This could be over quickly.

Obviously, I'm firmly on the record that this is flawed team construction more than bad coaching, but at this juncture no one is riding in on the white stallion to save them. I hope to see some significant adjustments tonight unlike last season when it appeared Brown had them keep banging their heads against the Boston wall.

The problem with last years team isn't they didn't have the shooters to make boston pay for taking simmons/embiid out of the game. This year they would be able to combat that with butler and harris.

[phillychuck]

So I look at the line score at NBA.com and our leading scorer is James Ennis. And we're winning. That's pretty remarkable.

Lots of time left, though. JoJo has taken 1 shot and we have 51 points.

[bigegypt0417]

Sixers giving it all back. Up 3 in the 3rd.

[bigegypt0417]

What a gutsy win for the Sixers!

[phillychuck]

Toughed out a win with Embiid clearly sick. Remarkable.

[bigegypt0417]

Jimmy butler was such a monster.

[el-pietro]

Wow, just finished watching it. That last few minutes were tense, thought they had lost it on that Green shot.

To back up my point yesterday, Sixers 39.5% on 76 shots. Toronto 36.3% on 91. The difference though as at the line. Sixers 24/26. Raptors 13/15.

[VoteForKalas]

Greatly improved performance by the 76ers and Brown

If they play like they did in the first quarter and most of the first half, they have a real chance to win this series. Defensive and offensive adjustments were evident by Brown and the players executed well.

Turnovers:
76ers - 19
Raptors - 10
76ers again need to manage the ball better, helped keep the Raptor's hopes alive

Free Throw %:
76ers - 92%
Raptors - 86%
This was a huge factor in the game, great job by the 76ers

3 PT %::
76ers - 29%
Raptors - 27%
Especially in the first half, the 76ers did much better holding the Raptors down on defense and running their offense to get better shots

[zambonir]

well, I'll be damned

[bigegypt0417]

Just dominant.

[el-pietro]

Watched the game before work this morning, I feel like I could take on the world. Kawhi is incredible, but the Sixers dominated everytime he took a breather. The lead was what 7/8 points at the start of the 4th and it was 18 within 2 minutes?
It was great seeing Jo back at his best or close to it. If they can take game 4 I think this series is done. Kawhi still scares me though, so I'm not getting too cocky.

[phillychuck]

They went on a 20-3 run at the start of the 4th. Game 4 is the overconfidence trap, though...Toronto is much better than they've played in the last 2 games.

[VoteForKalas]

Best performance of the year IMO by the 76ers.

The team is gelling, developing that chemistry and trust that winning team all have together.

Embiid and Butler drove the ship, but production was very balanced throughout the lineup and again their defense stymied the Raptors for most of the night. Great job.

[bigegypt0417]

There is really no comparison on talent level between the Sixers and the Raptors.

The one quality that I've seen with the sixers lately has been their resilience. They seem to be able to not let the game get away from them when the opposing team goes on a run.

I still don't know if they win the series but one thing is for sure...they need to convince Jimmy Buckets to stay here long term.

[bkeich]

All other things standing out, but to me the Sixers are winning this series on the boards so far. Raptors get 1 shot, but the Sixers are getting multiple shots with everyone crashing the boards, even Reddick actually stole a rebound from Butler last night. Sixers have been a very good rebounding team all year, but they are dominating the boards in this series.

Embiid was a +31 in 28 minutes last night. That is almost unheard of against a very good team.

[el-pietro]

Jame Ennis was +20!

[bkeich]

Ennis was +20!

Last year it was McConnell that came off the bench and had a great few games (not enough to save us), this year it has been Ennis. He has taken some bad shots, but he has also been there for some good buckets and he has been a defensive stalwart and has rebounded shockingly well.

[el-pietro]

Scott has been key too. I'm not sure if Ennis should be compared directly to McConnell though I loved TJ's performance in the win over the Celtics. Last years team relied heavily on Ilyasova and Bellinelli off the bench in the playoffs and during the win streak.