Quick Reaction: Sixers 103, Raptors 110

Get used to these “all-around” Siakam games where he’s not necessarily scoring 30+ but racking up assists, handling the ball, scoring in isolation situations, taking people off the drive with sometimes suspect finishing, but always providing excellent man and help defense. I thought in the few cases where he dealt with Embiid one-on-one he got the better of him enough times that it might even be a strategy to consider in a pinch.

He’s not only learned to create consistently, he’s doing it in tight spaces requiring precision. His three-point shooting and driving ability have made him our primary offensive weapon. When Philly got off to the early hot start and it looked like it was getting away, it was VanVleet who pulled the Raptors back. This guy’s the fucking man.

Simmons had a good game but he didn’t dominate and Bembry needs to be given credit for dealing with him in mostly single coverage. It’s not like Simmons was resting on the other end either because Bembry (and the Raptors) movement was overall solid.

His drives got muffled at the rim and the threes weren’t dropping. Ran straight into the defense on many of his drives. One to forget, but length bugs him a lot and Philly has plenty of that.

When offensive players see him out of the corner of their eye about to provide help, they think twice about going that way. He did what he’s done all season: been consistently good everywhere. Like, everywhere. He can score through face-up situations even when he’s catching it at the three-point line. He’s able to take you into the post and pick out shooters, and he’s solid in transition. Defensively, he’s always great.

He’s just overall so awkward that it sometimes hides his effectiveness. Had some help guarding Embiid on almost every possession but he did his job by sealing off the obvious driving lanes and leaving Embiid to make a decision to go into help or pass it out. Hitting the side of the backboard from near the rim lowers his grade. I just have to.

I am convinced Philly didn’t plan for him beyond, “hey this new guy can shoot” so just watch out for him if you can”. And shoot he did. Massive third and fourth quarter threes which brought the Raptors back and put them ahead. His block on Embiid made my day.

Wonder if his legal issues were weighing him down? Solid first half pushing the ball in transition and finding shooters. Had some good chemistry with Bembry going. Came into the second half for Norm and immediately had an impact with a steal and an assist.

Came in the first half, probably because Nurse accidentally pointed at the wrong guy. Other than a very specific situation where we’re actively looking for a three, I can’t even think of a time where Nick Nurse might think of him as an option other than to just buy rest.

I think I saw him trimming his nails in the second quarter.

Nice overall approach to dealing with Embiid. Sent help from different angles and different people to confuse him. The only complaint I had was his lack of timeouts in the third when Philly was trying to pull away. Supplied enough help to Baynes when dealing with Embiid, and decided to put Bembry on Simmons to bother him enough. Rest is details.