Sixers vs Raptors: 4 takeaways from the game between two of the East's best | NBA 2018/19

Philadelphia suffered a tough loss
Philadelphia suffered a tough loss

The Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers met for the first time since the big trade between the 76ers and the Timberwolves that sent Jimmy Butler to Philly. Philadelphia was 8-2 with Butler in their lineup and the Raptors had just lost on Monday night to Denver after 8 straight wins.

This game was a huge test for both sides. Toronto want to dominate the East without LeBron James, and Philadelphia needs to beat teams like the Raptors to prove they are an elite team in the East. The Raptors had beaten the 76ers in 12 straight games at Toronto and, on Wednesday night, even with the addition of Butler, nothing changed.

The Raptors, who for the third straight game were not shooting well, found themselves leading at halftime by 4, at 53-49. The Raptors feasted on 11 second-quarter turnovers by Philadelphia, along with stifling defence to wrest control of the game at halftime.

The Raptors would win this game 113-102. Shooting 8/29 from 3 point range for 27.6 percent and just 43 percent overall from the field. Toronto held Philadelphia to 31.4 percent from behind the arc and while Butler went off for 38 points in 38 minutes, and J.J. Reddick had 25 points, the only other 76ers player to score double-digit figures was Joel Embiid at 10 points on 5/17 shooting.

The Raptors received 36 points from Kawhi Leonard, 26 from Jonas Valuanciunas and 18 from Serge Ibaka.

Since trading for Butler, the 76ers were 8-2. However, the loss of Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and Robert Covington means Philadelphia is top heavy and light on bench production. Last night was a prime example of this. In a total of about 71 minutes off of the bench, four Philadelphia substitutes tallied 18 points. Also, four of the 76ers' starters played 34-plus minutes. In contrast, the Toronto Raptors played their 12 men.

Here are four takeaways from this Eastern Conference matchup:

The best and the worst from Jimmy Butler

Embiid and Butler are the Sixers' leaders
Embiid and Butler are the Sixers' leaders

Philadelphia not only acquired an offensively and defensively gifted player when they traded for Jimmy Butler, but they acquired an enigma as well. As is usually the case, Butler was trouble for the Raptors. He amassed 38 points in 38 minutes. He hauled in 10 rebounds, three of those on offence. This is the Butler the 76ers hope to see play for them night in and out. He's capable of it.

Butler was also seen engaged with his teammates discussing and listening to strategy on the bench during timeouts. During the game broadcast, he was also heard encouraging teammates to "get up shots" on every possession and "avoid turnovers".

However, the Butler no one wanted to see emerged with about two minutes left in the third quarter. Facing tenacious defence from a shorter Fred VanVleet, Butler chose to shoot a contested three-point shot. Upon landing, there might have been contact by VanVleet with Butler's hip.

Butler decided to berate the referee for the entire Raptors' possession following his missed shot. Butler could have posted up on VanVleet, he could have tried to beat him off the dribble or jab stepped using a head and shoulder fake to draw the aggressive VanVleet into a foul. Butler did none of these things.

This led to a technical, which gave the Raptors easy and extra points. Butler, clearly still annoyed, decided to take two more three-point shots that missed sandwiched between a missed layup and then a turnover on the next few Philadelphia possessions.

Butler has to let these issues go. A bad referee's call cannot be allowed to affect multiple possessions. The Philadelphia coaching staff will need to reign in Butler's ego for the good of the team.

Battle of the benches

Philly's bench is struggling
Philly's bench is struggling

The Raptors played 12 players and Philadelphia just nine. Philadelphia's bench recorded approximately 71 minutes of playing time. The Raptors bench played about 78 minutes. Valanciunas, coming off the Raptors bench, recorded 26 points, which alone, was more than Philadelphia's bench accumulated as a unit. The Raptors ultimately outscored Philadelphia's bench 41-18.

While Toronto's bench lately has been somewhat inconsistent with its scoring, head coach Nick Nurse can play 12 players most nights. Also, because the Raptors refuse to play Valanciunas and start with Serge Ibaka, Valanciunas provides a starter quality player coming off the bench. If Philadelphia wants to be considered in the same class as the Raptors, or even in contention with them, they are going to need a stronger bench.

In acquiring Butler, Philadelphia traded away a veteran combo-guard in Bayless, a strong two-way player with high shooting ability in Covington, who can start for many teams in the NBA, and an offensively solid Saric.

Philadelphia's starting unit is as strong as anybody's in the East, but they lack quality depth on their bench. If they do not figure out a way to balance out their rotation, the starters will get overworked.

The Raptors Three-Point shooting woes continue

C.J. Miles needs to step up for Toronto
C.J. Miles needs to step up for Toronto

After a tough 11/41 against Denver on Monday night from behind the arc, the Raptors continued the trend of poor long-distance shooting. Last night, they connected on just 8/29 three-point shots and Kawhi Leonard had five of them. Quite a few of the long-range attempts were good looks, but the Raptors players just could not make the shot.

Usually reliable shooters like Kyle Lowry and Danny Green combined for 2/13 from long distance. C.J.Miles, the Raptors three-point specialist was 0/1 in just over 10 minutes of playing time, and VanVleet was 1/3. The Raptors attempt more than 30 three-point shots per game so it's a big portion of their designed offence.

What saved the Raptors last night was 27 points off of 21 Philadelphia turnovers and Valanciunas and Ibaka combining for 44 points mostly in the paint. What also helped was Joel Embiid struggled, on 5/17 shooting for 10 points, and Ben Simmons coughed up 7 turnovers after an 11-turnover game the first time these teams met earlier this season.

Ibaka or Valanciunas?

Toronto's big men dominated the Sixers in the paint
Toronto's big men dominated the Sixers in the paint

It seems that head coach Nurse is actually picking Ibaka over Valanciunas, as last night was about his fourth straight start. While Ibaka is playing well at the offensive end of the floor, not having Valanciunas on the court is leading to the exposure of a serious flaw for the Raptors.

Generally a strong team in every defensive category, they have slipped to 27th overall in offensive rebounds allowed to the opponent. In their last 4 games, they have given their opponents 54 offensive rebounds.

The Raptors can count their lucky stars that the shot-clock resets to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound and not 24, as in past years. Every time they fail to close a defensive possession with a rebound, it leads to second-chance points and extended periods of time defending.

It's tiring and demoralising for a team defensively. Think of the defensive rebound as a prize for good defence, it leads to offensive opportunities, which go to the other team if they are grabbing offensive rebounds against you.

This is why it seems odd that Valanciunas did not get the start against the 7-foot 250-pound Nikola Jokic and Denver or last night against Embiid. Jokic recorded a triple-double against the Raptors and Embiid struggled last night. However, while Ibaka can out quick both men offensively, he is not big or strong enough defensively against players of Jokic and Embiid's size.

Valanciunas last night, in 18 minutes, recorded 26 points and 8 rebounds and was a +14 to Ibaka's -4.

When bigger and stronger centres are on the court, it just makes sense to play Valanciunas, who is better suited for the physicality. The only explanation for the extended starts going to Ibaka is salary. Ibaka makes $21 million a year while Valuanciunas' salary is $16 million a year. However, it seems to be currently working for Toronto to have Valanciunas as the sixth man and Ibaka as the starter.

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.