Sixers opened+160 vs Toronto. Now+200

[magpie878]

Boston is much better than the 15th ranked offense, you can't look at regular season stats at face value. Irving rested many games, Heyward came on late in the year, Boston should win at least 2 games in Boston, the question is if they can win on the road, Stevens did a great job on Giannis in the playoffs last time these teams met.

They struggled to score against Indiana, and only won one game by double digits (10). Of course regular season is one thing, but their totals against the Pacers were less than impressive. Winning in a sweep is, but I don't suddenly think they're going to put up consistent 110-115's or more against the Bucks. Sure, maybe they will, but once I see it done and over I'll believe it.

But if you're not counting the regular season for much, why count last year's playoff matchup, where the Bucks were a mere 7 seed (and took it to 7 games), and Boston was arguably a better team and the #2 seed?


And I see I was mistaken, the Sixers managed to win a game vs Boston, I'd totally forgotten about that one win. Oh well.

[thomorino]

They struggled to score against Indiana, and only won one game by double digits (10). Of course regular season is one thing, but their totals against the Pacers were less than impressive. Winning in a sweep is, but I don't suddenly think they're going to put up consistent 110-115's or more against the Bucks. Sure, maybe they will, but once I see it done and over I'll believe it.

But if you're not counting the regular season for much, why count last year's playoff matchup, where the Bucks were a mere 7 seed (and took it to 7 games), and Boston was arguably a better team and the #2 seed?


And I see I was mistaken, the Sixers managed to win a game vs Boston, I'd totally forgotten about that one win. Oh well.

Boston didn't respect Indiana without Oladipo, they'll play at a higher level here,it will be a good series, if Giannis gets the calls at home Milwaukee will be tough.

[Cuse0323]

I’m not big on Toronto, but may have to wait until the ECF for them to lose.

[jtoler]

jimmy butler guarding kawhi or simmons, little lowry on redick I spose raps play better defense

[Grivas_Digeni]

leonard time

[Goat Milk]

They struggled to score against Indiana, and only won one game by double digits (10). Of course regular season is one thing, but their totals against the Pacers were less than impressive. Winning in a sweep is, but I don't suddenly think they're going to put up consistent 110-115's or more against the Bucks. Sure, maybe they will, but once I see it done and over I'll believe it.

But if you're not counting the regular season for much, why count last year's playoff matchup, where the Bucks were a mere 7 seed (and took it to 7 games), and Boston was arguably a better team and the #2 seed?


And I see I was mistaken, the Sixers managed to win a game vs Boston, I'd totally forgotten about that one win. Oh well.

Did Kyrie even play in that series last year?

[magpie878]

Pretty sure the answer is no.

[gojetsgomoxies]

big raptors fan here...

raptors are 1) very well balanced. alot of ways to beat you, 2) lowry and raptors have eventually choked later in eastern playoffs in past season.

sixers 1) have better players overall, 2) are not well-constructed to play team and/or playoff basketball.

i like the raptors but -200 is way too much.......... i might sprinkle a tiny $ on sixers sweep. raptors were big faves vs cavs and didn't win a game there.

[asiagambler]

big raptors fan here...

raptors are 1) very well balanced. alot of ways to beat you, 2) lowry and raptors have eventually choked later in eastern playoffs in past season.

sixers 1) have better players overall, 2) are not well-constructed to play team and/or playoff basketball.

i like the raptors but -200 is way too much.......... i might sprinkle a tiny $ on sixers sweep. raptors were big faves vs cavs and didn't win a game there.

This is way different Raptors team from last year. If you are a Raptors fan surely you can see that. DeRozan gone, Valanciunas gone, different coach and added a top 5 player in Leonard. Siakam has emerged as a star too. Plus won't be facing James.

[t-wizzle]

Siakam is the better player to me. Harris is a one trick pony. He's a good shooter and excellent at the 2 dribble pullup from midrange. He's a slow-footed defender and also can't make plays for his teammates. He also can't push the fast break. Siakam puses the fast break, is a better defender, can guard 3s and 4s, grabs assists, can score 25 any given night, can grab 15 rebounds any given night, and also does the little things -- he's kind of an unknown/underdog, so he dives for balls, he plays 42 minutes when needed, etc. Siakam is the better player.

Fair and good analysis. I can’t disagree with anything really but Harris is a more polished player and in a playoff game atmosphere in the halfcourt, that may prove to be a big difference.

[2daBank]

<br>
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Many posts to potentially quote, just chose two. And purely playing devil's advocate here, though my leanings are towards the two favorites.

Not sure why'd there'd be serious doubt about why the Bucks can't get past Boston, though statistically, it should be close. #1 defense efficiency vs #6. Bucks #1 scoring team vs #15. Bucks 2-1 vs Boston this year, winning home and away. Indiana was a highly ranked defense as well, and without its best player, didn't score much. Boston themselves didn't score much either, only topping 100 in two of the four games. I'd be very surprised if Milwaukee loses the series, let alone doesn't win in 6.

Only one season to go by (last year), but the Sixers haven't accomplished anything in playoffs either. Crappy Heat team, then getting bombed and swept in a series they were favorites in. Looked clueless a lot of the time. Both teams made changes. Toronto still has the Sixers number this season. Even in the win yesterday, I watched the first half, and Brooklyn had PLENTY of good looks, just couldn't hit a shot for their lives early and never recovered. Sixers better figure out how to win IN Toronto, let alone at home.. play better defense (vs Toronto's #9 offense AND #4 defense), and stop Embiid from taking 3's. I'd love to see the Sixers win, but they haven't shown much vs Toronto, nor did the Brooklyn series convince me they've stepped up their game THAT much from last year's humiliating exit.

Since I’m not likely to be playing philly other than in spots to ensure series goes deep, don’t doubt craptors can beat them but think it be a competitive series cause nba wants that I’d think, Philly being in it good for league.

Far as my doubt milw can beat celts it pretty simple, celts without kyrie were best east team last year, just couldn’t beat best player in world. I don’t care how they looked this year with the chemistry issues, if you don’t think they more suited for playoff success w possibly the best closer in league you gotta be crazy imo. Kyrie only guy who knows what if takes in this series, and the rest of Boston players learned what it takes last year. I’m not saying milw can’t beat them, I’m saying imo there no chance in hell they win this series the 75% of the time the -300 implies! I don’t think anyone being objective would argue that. I think Boston will absolutely steal a gm in milw and if they do that I’m not sold at all the young bucks can steal it back in Boston. I have no doubt this going 6 if not 7 so lot of value on the dog imo. While things have changed in nba, things I don’t like what still hasn’t changed is a team like milw typically has to pay their dues in the playoffs before busting thru, as great as Greek freak is think we all agree he not jordon who had to take some beatings to learn to go all the way. Boston the team who I believe will make bucks even more hungry next year! Bucks the darlings but celts the team who will show them the value of physical defensive play. I don’t think Boston gonna have to score those high point totals cause I belueve they will throw a defensive wrench in that “well oiled bucks machine”. Let’s see how they respond when they playing games well below 110.,

[inspektr]

Raptors won the last 21 out of 24 head to head matchups against Sixers. Raptors haven't lost a home game to Sixers since 2012.. think im siding with the raptors on this series lol

[Seto]

This is way different Raptors team from last year. If you are a Raptors fan surely you can see that. DeRozan gone, Valanciunas gone, different coach and added a top 5 player in Leonard. Siakam has emerged as a star too. Plus won't be facing James.

People said the same shit last year. "This year they move the ball" "Best bench in the NBA" "DeRozan has developed into a top 15 player" "This is their year". Clowns got swept. Obviously the personnel change from last year to this is much more than from 2 years ago to last year but the loser genes of Kyle Lowry and co are still very much present in this bunch, make no mistake.

[Seto]

Raptors won the last 21 out of 24 head to head matchups against Sixers. Raptors haven't lost a home game to Sixers since 2012.. think im siding with the raptors on this series lol

Yeah, because matchups during the Sixers tanking seasons have a lot of relevance here.

[Seto]

Fair and good analysis. I can’t disagree with anything really but Harris is a more polished player and in a playoff game atmosphere in the halfcourt, that may prove to be a big difference.

Yeah I am curious to see whether Siakam's wild and raw style holds up in high leverage games especially down the stretch. I'm not quite sure he's the better playmaker though they average about the same number of assists and Siakam has more playmaking responsibilities than Tobias does.

I think people overall are rating Lowry and Gasol way too high. These 2 guys are well past their primes, let's be honest here. Lowry is having his worst shooting season in ages, has dealt with health problems all year and is 33 years old. Marc doesn't need to be a focal point of the offense like he was in Memphis (good thing because he can't be anymore), and has been shooting the ball very well in a small sample size in Toronto but the guy is 34 years old and has stretches where he looks spent.

People seem to believe Kawhi will completely dominate Jimmy and Lowry/Gasol can play Simmons/Embiid to a spirited draw. I believe the exact opposite. Think Spurs/Thunder 2012. Hopefully it won't take them 2 games to figure this out like it did OKC that year. Ben and Joel will dominate in this series the way people thought they would dominate Boston last year. They needed to go through failure last year to earn their stripes.

Raptors' bench is wildly overrated too. Sixers don't have much of a bench themselves but I think it's pretty much a wash there.

[Goat Milk]

Yeah I am curious to see whether Siakam's wild and raw style holds up in high leverage games especially down the stretch. I'm not quite sure he's the better playmaker though they average about the same number of assists and Siakam has more playmaking responsibilities than Tobias does.

I think people overall are rating Lowry and Gasol way too high. These 2 guys are well past their primes, let's be honest here. Lowry is having his worst shooting season in ages, has dealt with health problems all year and is 33 years old. Marc doesn't need to be a focal point of the offense like he was in Memphis (good thing because he can't be anymore), and has been shooting the ball very well in a small sample size in Toronto but the guy is 34 years old and has stretches where he looks spent.

People seem to believe Kawhi will completely dominate Jimmy and Lowry/Gasol can play Simmons/Embiid to a spirited draw. I believe the exact opposite. Think Spurs/Thunder 2012. Hopefully it won't take them 2 games to figure this out like it did OKC that year. Ben and Joel will dominate in this series the way people thought they would dominate Boston last year. They needed to go through failure last year to earn their stripes.

Raptors' bench is wildly overrated too. Sixers don't have much of a bench themselves but I think it's pretty much a wash there.

Vanvleet can be a starting pg on a lot of NBA teams. Ibaka is a starting PF on a lot of NBA teams. Those guys come off the bench for the Raptors. And then also, Spurs were the best team in the West from 2012-2014. OKC was lucky to beat them. That's why Spurs went to the finals B2B years after that.

Don't think Simmons will be dominating any playoff series anytime soon in his career. He'll get his normal numbers, which are inflated, just like Westbrook's are.

Gasol is one of the best matchups on Embiid in the league. He's one of the bigger centers that we have in the NBA. Tough to move Gasol off the block.

[Goat Milk]

Fair and good analysis. I can’t disagree with anything really but Harris is a more polished player and in a playoff game atmosphere in the halfcourt, that may prove to be a big difference.

I think you may change your mind after watching this series. We shall see how they both fare.

[JaimeMiro]

Simmons = Lowry
Reddick = Green
Butler < Kawaii
Tobias < Siakam
Embiid > Gasol

TJ Mcconal, Mike Scott, Ennis, Boban < Ibaka, Vanvleet, Powell, Lin

Matchupwise, I don't see how Philly's bench is gonna matchup with Powell Ibaka and Vanvleet specifically. I think those guys will do whatever they want. The staring 5 on each side is kind of a wash. Some games Philly will play better, some games Toronto.

Philly's defense is susceptible -- both units -- and I don't think anyone on that time is gonna be diving for loose balls save for Jimmy Butler and perhaps Reddick. Philly is a bit too Hollywood and I think the Raptors should beat them in 6/7.

But can Embiid play the whole game? Toronto have Gasol and Ibaka playing the same position, which gives them the edge

[Seto]

Vanvleet can be a starting pg on a lot of NBA teams. Ibaka is a starting PF on a lot of NBA teams. Those guys come off the bench for the Raptors. And then also, Spurs were the best team in the West from 2012-2014. OKC was lucky to beat them. That's why Spurs went to the finals B2B years after that.

Don't think Simmons will be dominating any playoff series anytime soon in his career. He'll get his normal numbers, which are inflated, just like Westbrook's are.

Gasol is one of the best matchups on Embiid in the league. He's one of the bigger centers that we have in the NBA. Tough to move Gasol off the block.

Seriously? Who would VanVleet start for? I honestly can't think of a single team. Suns maybe? Ibaka could probably start at center for a few teams but the guy isn't what he was. He got benched in last year's Cavs series because he was getting exposed so badly. Let's remember this is basically the 1st round for both teams. Those games against the Nets and Magic were glorified regular season games. I don't think either team's performance in round 1 proves anything considering how dreadful the opposition was. Things are about to go to a whole different level and some players are gonna get exposed and I'm betting most of them will be on the Raptors.

To bring up that 2012 OKC team again, their 3 main guys off the bench were Harden, Derek Fisher, and Nick Collison. Really Harden was a fake bench guy so in essence their bench was Sefolosha, Fisher and Collison. That's hardly an impressive bench. OKC absolutely crushed the Spurs those last 4 games in 2012. And I'm the first to admit I thought the Spurs were better and were in full control of the series after the first 2 games. But their youth and athleticism completely took over from there.

That summer, Harden got traded. While it's true Duncan had somewhat of a career rebirth after looking like a shell in 2012, that OKC team was a horrible matchup for them and came close to forcing a game 7 in 2014. If they have Harden in that series, it's likely they win. The Spurs never really faced anyone special in the West. They played the fukking Grizzlies in the 2013 WCF. In 2014, they almost went down 3-1 to the shitty Mavericks in the 1st round. They were very good don't get me wrong, but hardly an all-time great team. People drool over their 2014 Finals performance but the Heat were a completely spent force. I was on the Spurs in that series as many of us were but that was more of a fade of Miami than anything else. It was obvious that team was done.

Maybe Gasol from a few years ago. I dunno, I just don't see it. I watched the Grizzlies a lot last year and the beginning of this year and while he has some good games and stretches, he has clearly taken a massive step back and has other stretches where he looks like completely spent. It's easy to look like you're having a rebirth when you play one of the easiest schedules down the stretch as I'm pretty sure the Raptors had, then 5 games against a shitty Magic team. Let's see what he does against Embiid for 5-7 games over 2 weeks.

[Goat Milk]

Seriously? Who would VanVleet start for? I honestly can't think of a single team. Suns maybe? Ibaka could probably start at center for a few teams but the guy isn't what he was. He got benched in last year's Cavs series because he was getting exposed so badly. Let's remember this is basically the 1st round for both teams. Those games against the Nets and Magic were glorified regular season games. I don't think either team's performance in round 1 proves anything considering how dreadful the opposition was. Things are about to go to a whole different level and some players are gonna get exposed and I'm betting most of them will be on the Raptors.

To bring up that 2012 OKC team again, their 3 main guys off the bench were Harden, Derek Fisher, and Nick Collison. Really Harden was a fake bench guy so in essence their bench was Sefolosha, Fisher and Collison. That's hardly an impressive bench. OKC absolutely crushed the Spurs those last 4 games in 2012. And I'm the first to admit I thought the Spurs were better and were in full control of the series after the first 2 games. But their youth and athleticism completely took over from there.

That summer, Harden got traded. While it's true Duncan had somewhat of a career rebirth after looking like a shell in 2012, that OKC team was a horrible matchup for them and came close to forcing a game 7 in 2014. If they have Harden in that series, it's likely they win. The Spurs never really faced anyone special in the West. They played the fukking Grizzlies in the 2013 WCF. In 2014, they almost went down 3-1 to the shitty Mavericks in the 1st round. They were very good don't get me wrong, but hardly an all-time great team. People drool over their 2014 Finals performance but the Heat were a completely spent force. I was on the Spurs in that series as many of us were but that was more of a fade of Miami than anything else. It was obvious that team was done.

Maybe Gasol from a few years ago. I dunno, I just don't see it. I watched the Grizzlies a lot last year and the beginning of this year and while he has some good games and stretches, he has clearly taken a massive step back and has other stretches where he looks like completely spent. It's easy to look like you're having a rebirth when you play one of the easiest schedules down the stretch as I'm pretty sure the Raptors had, then 5 games against a shitty Magic team. Let's see what he does against Embiid for 5-7 games over 2 weeks.

Just off the top of my head, Vanvleet is better than:

Reggie Jackson
Augustine
Whoever is the PG for the Suns
Jaylen Brunson
Khris Dunn
Lonzo Ball

All those guys start and are awful.

Gasol is legit, trust me. Embiid should destroy him a game or 2, but I like Gasol to guard him better than anyone else (maybe in the entire league). Imagine a guy like Clint Capella or Rudy Gobert trying to guard Embiid for 7 games. Straight destruction.

Philly is a very good team and can easily win this series, but I'm predicting Toronto wins. They're deeper, better defensively, less turnover prone, less Hollywood, and most importantly, they have better chemistry.

If Jimmy Butler is taking 7, 8, 9 shots in a playoff game, there is a serious problem.

[cwnotorious]

Ibaka had one of his best years as a pro, early season before the gasol trade he was on fire.
This series will boil down to sixers defense(mostly 3point d) and raptors bench.
Yes gasol doesn't play as many minutes but with ibaka he doesn't need to
If Philly can guard they will win in 6
If not raptors in 7
Siakam is a growing talent who is already pretty close to the level of a Tobias harris, tonnes of potential in Siakam's game.

[t-wizzle]

I think you may change your mind after watching this series. We shall see how they both fare.

Change my mind about what? I agreed with you.

[t-wizzle]

Embiid struggles with big, strong centers. Gasol isn’t the player he was 3-4 years ago but he’s still a big dude who knows how to defend. Embiid’s best chance to score at will is to face up and hit that little 10-15 foot jump shot. If he tried to overpower him and back him down it simply won’t work. It takes too much time to back down a guy like Gasol. By the time he gets to his spot, a double team will arrive and he’ll be trapped.

[thomorino]

Embiid struggles with big, strong centers. Gasol isn’t the player he was 3-4 years ago but he’s still a big dude who knows how to defend. Embiid’s best chance to score at will is to face up and hit that little 10-15 foot jump shot. If he tried to overpower him and back him down it simply won’t work. It takes too much time to back down a guy like Gasol. By the time he gets to his spot, a double team will arrive and he’ll be trapped.

Not that I care that's completely wrong, Embiid struggled against smaller quicker centers like Horford, which is why Boston has owned Philadelphia, he dominated bigger slower centers like Drummond.

[thomorino]

Philadelphia's biggest problems are closing out close games, winning on the road, and defense in general, their bench isn't that good either and the Ennis injury hurts.Philadelphia will get some calls because the NBA sees Simmons and Embiid as stars who will be part of the face of the league and Philadelphia should win 2 games at home, but I think Toronto wins in 6 at most. Toronto's depth should be a big advantage as the series goes on.

[bryant81]

Not that I care that's completely wrong, Embiid struggled against smaller quicker centers like Horford, which is why Boston has owned Philadelphia, he dominated bigger slower centers like Drummond.

Horford and Marc Gasol are two of the best Embiid defenders in the league. Embiid has never scored more than 15 points in a game against Marc Gasol.

[t-wizzle]

Not that I care that's completely wrong, Embiid struggled against smaller quicker centers like Horford, which is why Boston has owned Philadelphia, he dominated bigger slower centers like Drummond.

I’m not going to get into a back and forth with this idiot but if you think Horford is small and quick then you have no business discussing basketball in this thread.

[thomorino]

I’m not going to get into a back and forth with this idiot but if you think Horford is small and quick then you have no business discussing basketball in this thread.

Not that I care you're a moron. We are talking about centers, not guards. Horford is much more mobile and quick than flat footed 7 footers like Drummond.

Here are the number little guy whose down over 100 units in the NBA.


There's a 9 point drop off when Embiid faces Horford from his season average, which is a big part of the reason why Boston is 10-2 against Philadelphia with Embiid.

Embiid has dominated Drummond, he scored 33, 38, and 24 in a blowout where his minutes were limited - Embiid was +30 in plus minus against Drummond in the game he scored 24.

Horford is quick and mobile for a center, he's much quicker than Drummond and most other 7 footers Embiid dominates.

[bryant81]

People said the same shit last year. "This year they move the ball" "Best bench in the NBA" "DeRozan has developed into a top 15 player" "This is their year". Clowns got swept. Obviously the personnel change from last year to this is much more than from 2 years ago to last year but the loser genes of Kyle Lowry and co are still very much present in this bunch, make no mistake.

Who is the "co" here? This team is almost completely different from previous years. 4 of their 5 starters are different. Kawhi is a superstar and DeRozan wasn't. Siakam is a legit star now. Marc Gasol is much better than JV. The load on Lowry is much smaller. This is by the far the best Raptors team of the last few years. Old Raptors team would even struggle in the first round to put inferior opponents away. This team dominated and took care of business, literally something the other Raptors teams hadn't done. Also there is no LeBron. I was one of the biggest non-believers in the Raptors the last few years, but this team is just different and it's simply lazy to expect them to falter like previous Raptors teams when the roster is drastically improved in so many ways.

[thomorino]

Not that I care, Embiid also dominated Adams, probably the strongest center in the league, he struggled against Jokic, another player with good quickness for a center.

[thomorino]

Who is the "co" here? This team is almost completely different from previous years. 4 of their 5 starters are different. Kawhi is a superstar and DeRozan wasn't. Siakam is a legit star now. Marc Gasol is much better than JV. The load on Lowry is much smaller. This is by the far the best Raptors team of the last few years. Old Raptors team would even struggle in the first round to put inferior opponents away. This team dominated and took care of business, literally something the other Raptors teams hadn't done. Also there is no LeBron. I was one of the biggest non-believers in the Raptors the last few years, but this team is just different and it's simply lazy to expect them to falter like previous Raptors teams when the roster is drastically improved in so many ways.

Agree Lowry is the only player who is a core part of this team that struggled on the previous teams, Ibaka is coming off the bench now and Derozean is gone, the bench is significantly different than last year and previous years also.

[thomorino]

Gasol should matchup fine with Embiid, he's quicker more mobile center like Horford than the slow strong centers Embiid dominated this year like Drummond and Adams.

[t-wizzle]

Morino is truly an idiot. He’s trying to look smart and make some argument about Horford for no reason whatsoever.

Buddy, I watch every single Sixers game. I’m well aware of embiid’s struggles with Horford. If you think a 6’10” center with some of the longest arms is small, then you really need to start watching another sport. This one ain’t for you bud.

[USCPHILLYGUY]

Philly plays zero interior D. How many pick and roles and slashes to the basket did the Nets accomplish in the last series. I’m as homer as they come but let’s be honest here, that 1st rd series should have went at least 6 games, against the god dam Nets! You also must factor in Brett Brown. I honestly wouldn’t be shocked if Toronto wins in 5.

[thomorino]

Morino is truly an idiot. He’s trying to look smart and make some argument about Horford for no reason whatsoever.

Buddy, I watch every single Sixers game. I’m well aware of embiid’s struggles with Horford. If you think a 6’10” center with some of the longest arms is small, then you really need to start watching another sport. This one ain’t for you bud.

Not that I little one,Horford and Gasol are much quicker than most 7 foot centers. Horford and Gasol are both undersized and quick for centers. Embiid has dominated the biggest and stronger centers in the league like Drummond and Adams is whole career.

Steven Adams is the strongest center in the league and Embiid dominated him, you're argument is as dumb as you are. I live in Philadelphia area and I've done very well betting on and against PHiladelphia all year.