The Sixers entered Game 4 fresh off Joel Embiid‘s poetic game-winner, boasting a 3-0 series lead and considerable momentum. Having parried Toronto’s best attack in Game 3, Philadelphia looked ready to clinch the sweep and a week of rest. ‘Twas not to be, however, as the Raptors decided to fight and the Sixers decided to sleepwalk.
Philadelphia had every chance to win Game 4. They were within striking distance the whole time, despite losing the turnover battle, the rebounding battle, and the free throw battle. The Raptors didn’t even play that well, but the Sixers felt determined to hand the game away and try their chances back home.
It’s still 3-1 in Philly’s favor — the fanbase shouldn’t be panicking — but the game did unearth some concerns about Philadelphia ahead of a potential second-round battle with the top-seed Heat. Let’s just hope Doc Rivers’ squad doesn’t let Toronto hang around too long.
Sixers-Raptors game four takeaways: Poor depth still haunts Philly
The Sixers’ only real chance of advancing far in the playoffs is if Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris all perform. That’s why the Sixers were up 3-0 entering the game — the starters were dominating in extended minutes. The bench, however, just cannot give the Sixers much in these playoffs.
Georges Niang has been shooting the ball well, and despite some miscommunication with Embiid, Shake Milton looked fine in Game 4. Even Paul Reed showed out with eight points and two made 3s. It mattered not — Philadelphia doesn’t have enough firepower down the bench to overcome bad nights from its stars. If Embiid, Harden, and Maxey all struggle, or even if one or two of them struggle, it gets a lot harder for Philadelphia to mount any sort of run offensively.
The Raptors were able to mine key contributions from the likes of Thaddeus Young and Precious Achiuwa in the face of injuries. Fred VanVleet missed the second half, OG Anunoby no-showed offensively, and the Raptors still won. The Sixers can’t expect that kind of lift from the second unit. Either the stars show up or they lose.