Philadelphia 76ers: Outplaying the Raptors, 76ers take 2-1 series lead

The Philadelphia 76ers outplayed the Toronto Raptors in every phase of the game in their Game 3 victory to take a 2-1 series lead

What is wrong with the Toronto Raptors? All season long the Raptors have played like a team destined to come out of the Eastern Conference or at least make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Through three games in their Eastern Conference Semifinals, they are now playing catchup, as they find themselves down 2-1.

Right before the playoffs begin, many members of the media picked the Raptors to come out of the East. After the Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the first round and cruised to a Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers; it seemed almost certain that they would make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Then came Game 2, where the 76ers set the tone early by holding the Raptors to 17 points in the first quarter. The second quarter was not much better as the Raptors struggled to guard the 3-point shot with J.J. Redick finding his stroke. By halftime, the Raptors was down 38-51.

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The Raptors came out hot in the third quarter by going on a 15-2 run to cut the 76ers lead to five with 7:41 remaining in the quarter. Later in the quarter, the Raptors cut the lead to two with just over a minute left.

The Raptors would make several runs in the fourth quarter including cutting the lead to one with 45.7 seconds remaining but could not get over the hump as the 76ers even the series at 1-1.

Heading into Game 3, the Raptors needed to use their late comeback in Game 2 as motivation to get off to an early start. They knew they needed to do a better job of containing Jimmy Butler who went off for 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Game 2.

Early on in Game 3, the Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green kept the game close, but every time Toronto made a run the 76ers had an answer as they led at the half 64-53.

The third quarter began with Redick nailing a couple of 3-point baskets followed by the 76ers using a balanced attack led by Joel Embiid to keep a double-digit lead. Leonard did everything he could do to keep the game close, but at times it felt like the Raptors did not have enough talent to hang with a loaded 76ers team on their homecourt in a loud playoff atmosphere.

The fourth quarter was an embarrassing disaster for the Raptors. The quarter turned in to the Embiid and Butler highlight show. They dunked and scored all over the Raptors like they were playing a high school basketball team. Embiid, at one point, drove through the lane and finished with a windmill dunk that had the crowd cheering so loudly to the point some might have thought the roof would come off. Even before the Embiid dunk, the game was over as the 76ers cruised to a 2-1 series lead with a 116-95 victory in Game 3.

Embiid who was serenaded with MVP chants finished the game with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks.

Butler finished the game with 22 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

So the biggest question now is: What is next for the Raptors? Basketball is a game of adjustments and the Raptors did not adjust after their Game 2 loss. They are getting outplayed and outhustled, but most importantly where is the passion they had in Game 1 because it did not show up last night.

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Leonard is great. Pascal Siakam has been very good, but Kyle Lowry is struggling. In Games 1 and 3, Lowry shot a combined 6 for 20 from the field for a total of 16 points. If he doesn’t get his game together soon and the Raptors get outplayed again; the 76ers will cruise to the Eastern Conference Finals by winning the next two games.