The Philadelphia 76ers are holding a 3-2 lead in their first-round series of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, but things are certainly not trending in a good direction. The team is now traveling back to Toronto after being unable to put them away in Game 5 at home.
That presents some challenges as their rotation is changed in Toronto because of vaccine mandates in Canada. Matisse Thybulle will not be making the trip, as he is ineligible to play in games in Toronto.
Not only that, but this is another game that Joel Embiid will be playing in with his injured thumb. Embiid will have to undergo surgery on torn ligaments in his right thumb, which is his shooting hand, after the postseason. Philadelphia would have loved to get him some extra rest but they came out flat against a feisty Raptors team, who extended the series.
With Embiid hampered, the 76ers are going to need other players to step up their performance. James Harden getting on track would certainly be helpful. Following Game 5, Embiid talked about Harden, sending a direct message that the team needs more from him.
“I’ve been saying all season since he got here, he needs to be aggressive and he needs to be himself. That’s not really my job, that’s probably on coach to talk to him and tell him to take more shots”
Embiid is certainly right, as the team needs James Harden to be more aggressive. Philadelphia has other players that can score the ball in Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, but it is Harden that needs to take his game to another level.
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11 shot attempts are not enough for a former MVP and someone that the 76ers acquired in hopes of him being a 1B to Embiid’s 1A.
There were numerous instances when the ball was passed to him and he seemed hesitant to shoot it. That seeming lack of confidence is something that Philadelphia cannot afford, especially with Joel Embiid being hampered as well.
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For the Philadelphia 76ers’ sake, they had better hope that Game 5 was just an aberration and they can get things back on track. But, if they bring the same energy and effort level to Game 6 on the road, there very likely will be a seventh game back in the City of Brotherly Love.
