2. Toronto Raptors (August 12)
The Sixers’ schedule in Orlando is essentially a bunch of low-tier contenders sandwiched between Indiana, Toronto, and Houston (…more on Houston in a second). The Sixers start and end with their biggest challenges, and Toronto undoubtedly marks the most difficult opponent.
The Raptors are the only top-four seed left on the Sixers’ schedule. To make matters worse, this game happens to come on the second night of a back-to-back. While the first game isn’t a frightening one — it’s Phoenix, who may be out of playoff contention by this point — it still means Philadelphia will face Toronto on diminished fuel reserves.
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At this point, it’s no secret. The Raptors have the Sixers’ number. And while a close seven-game series last summer would seem to indicate a close rivalry, the Sixers have fallen much further than the Raptors this season, even after the departure of Kawhi Leonard. Toronto has one of the few bigs who can physically handle Embiid in Marc Gasol, as well as one of the few wings who can physically handle Simmons in OG Anunoby.
Toronto can aptly defend the Sixers’ size, while also possessing more finesse on offense. Tobias Harris struggled defensively last season, and this season it’s only made worse by his occasional need to play small forward. Al Horford is no longer a trustworthy source of defense on Pascal Siakam, as was once intended. Gasol and Serge Ibaka can force Embiid to the perimeter on defense. It’s a difficult matchup all around.
The Sixers obviously can win this game, and a win here would ideally mark the culmination of a strong seven-game stretch in Orlando. But it’s not a game the Sixers will be favored in, unless the Raptors are locked into the No. 2 seed and rest their starters — a strong possibility.