The Toronto Raptors face another must-win situation tonight in Toronto against the Philadelphia 76ers. After falling down 3-0, the Raptors have reeled off 2 wins in a row to force the series back to Toronto tonight. Will the 76ers finally vanquish their foe, or can the Raptors force a game 7? Which team is the right NBA pick?
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Thursday, April 28, 2022 – 07:00 PM EDT at Scotiabank Arena
Philadelphia 76ers
After dominating the first two games in the series, the Philadelphia 76ers squeaked out a win in Game 3 and had problems competing in games 4 and 5. Joel Embiid is injured once again in the playoffs, this time dealing with a sprained thumb. James Harden has not been his dominating self. And after a huge Game 1, Tyrese Maxey has returned to Earth for the 76ers.
The Raptors have confounded the 76ers with an all-forward style lineup. This allows them to easily switch on pick and rolls, which keeps the Sixers' offense from getting to the rim. The Raptors have decided to double Joel Embiid and use physical coverage on him, which is notably exhausting the 76ers star known for his conditioning issues.
Join Now: $1,000 BMR 12-Week All Sports Challenge
The Sixers once again have leadership issues in their locker room. While some might credit Joel Embiid for being honest, most people prefer that teammates keep their criticisms of each other in the house.
This is the second season in a row where Embiid has publicly blamed a teammate in a press conference rather than talking to him privately. After blaming last season's loss on Ben Simmons, Embiid has now turned his ire to James Harden, who Embiid says needs to pick up his scoring.
Joel Embiid is a wonderful player and a great personality in the NBA, but he has a lot to learn about leadership and accountability when it comes to being a superstar in the NBA.
Toronto Raptors
So far, Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse has been coaching circles around Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers. Nick Nurse switched to the all-forward rotation once he had Thad Young and Scottie Barnes back from injury.
An argument could be made that without the injury to Barnes, Toronto would be ahead right now in the series. Of the eight players who logged minutes in Game 4, 7 of them had 7-foot wingspans. That allowed the Raptors to switch freely without worrying about a size disadvantage on Joel Embiid.
Nurse has also increased the timing and frequency of his double teams against Embiid, forcing the other Sixers to try and create shots against larger defenders. So far Harden and Maxey have not been able to solve the long, athletic, perimeter defense of the Raptors' forward lineup.
Check Out: BMR’s Sports Betting Forum
With Fred VanVleet out of the lineup, Scottie Barnes has been assuming ball-handling duties as a point forward. Barnes often has a smaller defender on him and he has been getting into the post quite often to take advantage of the Sixers' smaller guards. Barnes has proved to be an excellent playmaker in the clutch so far in this series and with Barnes back to full health, the Raptors' offense is firing on all cylinders.
Key Matchup
Khem Birch vs. Joel Embiid
As much as Joel Embiid loves to deflect criticism to his teammates, the fact remains that he is responsible for leading his team to victory. Khem Birch’s physical play has worn down the 76ers center, and he has been fading as the game continues. Take this in mind next time you review our NBA odds.
Of course, Embiid will not recognize this, he is much quicker to find fault in his teammates and the officials. This is working into the Raptors' hands. With Embiid looking tired and worn down as the game continues, the Raptors have been able to take control in the second half of these games.
BMR Betting Blogs: Improve Your Betting Strategy
Embiid’s game is also highly reliant on the referees’ whistle. If he is not getting to the foul line, his efficiency can be greatly decreased. If Khem Birch can play a physical game to wear Embiid down and keep from fouling, the Raptors will force a game 7. If Embiid has a dominant night and gets to the foul line often, the Sixers can end the series tonight.
Best Bets
There are two ways to approach betting on this game. The first look is the total. The 76ers and Joel Embiid are highly reliant on getting to the foul line. They will not get the calls that they want here in Toronto tonight. Without getting to the foul line, the Sixers' offense can be redundant.
Also, with the bigger lineup that the Raptors play, the pace is often slower. The Raptors are using their size at every position except for the center to take advantage of the 76ers, and this correlates to a slow pace. The first bet for tonight's playoff action is the Philadelphia 76ers/Toronto Raptors under 211 (-110).
The Raptors will force a Game 7 tonight. Although the Raptors lost Game 3, they have outplayed the 76ers in the last three games. Raptors coach Nick Nurse continues to make adjustments, while the Sixers are reliant on their same game plan of beating their opponents in isolation.
As the Raptors have figured out the Sixers' tendencies, their performance has gotten better and better. The Sixers team lacks leadership, with Doc Rivers not making adjustments and Joel Embiid blaming his teammates instead of taking accountability as the team leader.
On the other hand, the Raptors are a tightly-knit unit that is making adjustments as the series continues, and playing as a team. The Raptors have an opportunity to force an exciting Game 7 and they will get it done tonight. Our second bet for today is the Toronto Raptors +1.5 (-110).
NBA Pick: Under 211 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors +1.5 (-110) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
