The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams facing the most pressure heading into the 2022 NBA Playoffs. They came up short last season, losing in seven games in the second round to the Atlanta Hawks, who set off a crazy sequence of events.
Ben Simmons requested a trade after that, as Game 7 was the last time he ended up wearing a 76ers uniform. He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal that landed James Harden in the City of Brotherly Love. Daryl Morey was adamant that he wanted an All-Star in exchange for Simmons and he landed his man.
With Harden in the fold, expectations are even higher. The 76ers were a good team before the trade, but no one was sure if they were legitimate contenders despite MVP-caliber play from Joel Embiid. But, with Harden now in town, it looks like a championship or bust for the 76ers.
Philadelphia will begin its quest for a championship in a first-round series against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have a unique advantage over some of their opponents because of the vaccine mandates in Canada. That will impact the 76ers, as Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play in Toronto, leaving them without a key wing contributor.
LATEST NBA NEWS: 2022 NBA Playoffs Predictions: Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors
That could present some issues for the 76ers before even getting into the x’s and o’s of game planning. But, they have a distinct advantage of their own in Embiid. The Raptors are lacking size in their frontcourt, so they will have to get creative when attempting to slow down the MVP hopeful.
Exotic defenses are nothing new for Joel Embiid to face and the Raptors will certainly throw some wild ones at him. But, he is ready for whatever comes his way. Embiid even credited the Raptors with helping make him a better player.
“The way they defend me has never changed,” Embiid said. “They just play recklessly, sending three guys at me as soon as the ball is in the air. Which that made me better honestly…They definitely made me a better playmaker.”
LATEST NBA NEWS: 2022 NBA Playoffs Predictions: Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors
Toronto is going to do all they can to get the ball out of Embiid’s hands. They will want to see if players such as Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris will be able to beat them. For those players to succeed, the 76ers will have to keep their ball movement up.
It is something that Embiid is willing to do, as he knows he needs to trust his teammates.
“I’m not going into a series hoping to average 40,” Embiid said. “They’re gonna get the ball out of my hands, so it’s all about me really not getting frustrated, and keep trusting my teammates.
“All the attention they’re gonna throw at me, I just gotta make my teammates better.”
LATEST NBA NEWS: 2022 NBA Playoffs Predictions: Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are a tough draw in the first round as they have plenty of experience playing against Joel Embiid as both teams are in the Atlantic Division and face off four times per season. Execution is key in a seven-game series and Embiid is taking the best approach to it that he can.
The 76ers have a good team, that is why they won 51 games this season, which was tied for the second-most in the conference. If they play up to their capabilities, they have an excellent chance of advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
