Grade: C
This one will be a little shorter. The “C” grade would mean the Sixers lose in the second round in a relatively competitive series, but the problems they have faced all year show no signs of improvement.
The lack of depth becomes a major struggle as their starters cannot find valuable rest time. The second unit is unable to hold its own and T.J. McConnell is unable to provide the spark that he has brought to the team for the better part of the last two seasons.
The shooting becomes too streaky and the Sixers go into a tundra-cold stretch, reminiscent of the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of last year’s Conference Finals. J.J. Redick leads the way as he has two nights of going 1-7 from beyond the arc.
Turnovers pile up and the Raptors even resort to Hack-A-Ben. Brett Brown draws up a scheme that leaves Danny Green wide open in the corner for a three-point shot to seal the series in a Game 6 overtime. The team reflects on the “what ifs” during press conferences where Joel Embiid walks off the set with the same vulgarity towards the refs as he had after their Feb. 12 loss to the Celtics.