The 20-10 Sixers are in Tampa Bay for a two-game miniseries against the 15-15 Toronto Raptors, an eccentricity of a season played during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the basics for Sunday’s game:
- When: 7 pm Eastern time with Sixers Pregame Live at 6 pm
- Where: Amalie Arena
- Streaming: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Live broadcast: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the MyTeams app
And here are three stories to watch:
Two returns for the Sixers
Ben Simmons and Shake Milton are both available to play and are being listed as likely during the day with a disease and a sprained left ankle, respectively.
Milton will have a minute restriction, according to coach Doc Rivers, although he is unsure of the exact number. The Sixers’ bench was again bad without Milton against Chicago, being overtaken by 35-16 by the second unit of the Bulls.
Kyle Lowry is out because of a sprained left thumb. The Raptors haven’t actually lost a game without the Villanova legend since November 16, 2019 and are 5-0 when he sits down this season. Another former Philadelphia college basketball star, the product of St. Joseph’s DeAndre ‘Bembry, started the Raptors’ last two games, wins over Milwaukee and Minnesota.
Embiid wants to stay stable
Before COVID-19 affected the daily pace of life in the NBA, Joel Embiid routinely chatted in his locker with Philadelphia basketball icon and Sixers executive adviser Sonny Hill. When asked on Friday night after scoring 50 points and 17 rebounds, the biggest record of his career, if he was ever surprised, Embiid remembered a nugget of wisdom from those discussions.
“No,” he said. “One thing the great Sonny Hill always said to me – we used to talk all the time after and before the games; with COVID, this is not possible – he always said to me: ‘I can’t get too high, I can’t get too low’. Sometimes I have great games. It looks like it was the last 15 or 20 games, they were all big games and big numbers. But, if that is what is needed from me, then I will do it. … I play to win, so whatever the cost. If I have to define screens and open the guys, pass the ball and execute the attack as I did in the last game when I made nine assists, that’s what I will do. If I’m dominating and just scoring, that’s what I’m going to do.
“But I’m more concerned with the defensive side and I’m very happy with what we did tonight, because defensively we haven’t been doing well in the last few games. My goal is to be the Defensive Player of the Year. I’m more concerned with that and I’m happy that we did a better job tonight. “
Embiid is correct in saying that all of his recent games can be classified as “big”. The last time he scored less than 25 points in a competition was on January 14th. He scored 45 points, 16 rebounds and five steals in the previous game, so it’s not like he has anything remotely like a takedown this season. Although he may eventually have a night of shooting, his extensive range offensively made him immune.
Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher are expected to be Embiid’s two main opponents on the attacking pitch in Tampa Bay. He will try to capitalize on the agility advantages over Baynes and size over Boucher, one of the NBA’s most improved players this year. Expect Toronto to double the Embiid team as much as possible.
A contrast of styles
The Sixers are in second place this season in mid-range shooting frequency and 29th in three-point shooting, for Cleaning the Glass. Raptors essentially have the opposite shot profile, as they are 28th at average frequency and fourth at three points.
Since the Sixers have several very good mid-range snipers, with Embiid the best of the group, their low three-point volume did not cost them many games. Still, Sunday’s clash against Toronto stands out as one in which the Sixers’ opponent could have a huge advantage beyond the arc.
Fred VanVleet, who played a game of 50 points this season (54 points from 23 field shots against Magic on February 2), certainly won’t mind shooting. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in the first season of a four-year extension and $ 85 million.