ESPN ECS predictions

[Moranis]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series). 

[Phantom255x]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Seriously?? I've seen this forum call out OUR players when they don't play as well but post around +4.

But "I'm unstoppable on offense" Embiid shoots 5-18, posts a measly +4 and literally the excuses are out for him here.

Wow.

What is this, Sixerstrong? 

And btw, I think PHI steals Game 2. But TOR wins this series in 6 and Kawhi will clearly be the MVP of the series.

[Eddie20]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

[BringToughnessBack]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

To be fair, let’s take a close look at the Raptors plus minus of their starting five
Leonard- plus 26
Siakam- plus 15
Gasol- plus 29
Green- plus 18
Even no show Lowry put up a plus 25

Plus 4 when you are the most dominant player on a team during big playoff games is nothing to write home about when the other teams starters all outperformed you on the floor. Leonard outrebounded the beast, Embiid.

Butler and Harris were Each minus 26

Great players get those around them to rise up in big games...if the rest of the series goes this way, Sixers will be lucky to win one game.

[Moranis]

Guess I should have stuck with my Philly in 6 prediction and not flipped before the series started.  Still some games left, but Philly has looked awesome with Embiid looking mostly like himself.  If Embiid can look like this the rest of the series, they will beat the Raptors.

[footey]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

[gouki88]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

[Moranis]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

Lowry hasn't been that good all season.  I mean he was down to 14.2 ppg on the season.  He has rapidly declined the last few seasons.  Still an excellent passer and floor general, but the Raptors just don't have a consistent 3rd scorer and in the playoffs they can't really take advantage of their great depth. 

I will reiterate again, while Kawhi is the best player in the series, Embiid is the most valuable and along with Butler and Simmons are better than anyone else on the Raptors.  I'll give Siakam the 5th spot, but Harris is 6th and Redick is 8th (I'll still put Lowry at 7).  Gasol and Green are the worst starters.  It is very hard to overcome that sort of talent advantage even with the best player on the floor.  Top heavy talent just matters.

[footey]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

Lowry hasn't been that good all season.  I mean he was down to 14.2 ppg on the season.  He has rapidly declined the last few seasons.  Still an excellent passer and floor general, but the Raptors just don't have a consistent 3rd scorer and in the playoffs they can't really take advantage of their great depth. 

I will reiterate again, while Kawhi is the best player in the series, Embiid is the most valuable and along with Butler and Simmons are better than anyone else on the Raptors.  I'll give Siakam the 5th spot, but Harris is 6th and Redick is 8th (I'll still put Lowry at 7).  Gasol and Green are the worst starters.  It is very hard to overcome that sort of talent advantage even with the best player on the floor.  Top heavy talent just matters.

Ranking players becomes a fool’s errand, and will change throughout a series’ ebbs and flows. Let’s evaluate after a series is completed.

[Moranis]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

Lowry hasn't been that good all season.  I mean he was down to 14.2 ppg on the season.  He has rapidly declined the last few seasons.  Still an excellent passer and floor general, but the Raptors just don't have a consistent 3rd scorer and in the playoffs they can't really take advantage of their great depth. 

I will reiterate again, while Kawhi is the best player in the series, Embiid is the most valuable and along with Butler and Simmons are better than anyone else on the Raptors.  I'll give Siakam the 5th spot, but Harris is 6th and Redick is 8th (I'll still put Lowry at 7).  Gasol and Green are the worst starters.  It is very hard to overcome that sort of talent advantage even with the best player on the floor.  Top heavy talent just matters.

Ranking players becomes a fool’s errand, and will change throughout a series’ ebbs and flows. Let’s evaluate after a series is completed.

Player rankings should absolutely not change over the course of a series.  That doesn't mean a player might not play above or below his rank as that happens all the time, but there is no way anyone should be changing how they rank a player because of a good or bad 7 game series. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Toronto in 4 or 5 over Philly. Short series.
Boston in 6 or 7 over Milwaukee. Long series.

This is where I am at now too.
Toronto in 5/6, Boston in 6.

LOL and the raps are down 2-1 now

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

LOL incorrect

[footey]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

Lowry hasn't been that good all season.  I mean he was down to 14.2 ppg on the season.  He has rapidly declined the last few seasons.  Still an excellent passer and floor general, but the Raptors just don't have a consistent 3rd scorer and in the playoffs they can't really take advantage of their great depth. 

I will reiterate again, while Kawhi is the best player in the series, Embiid is the most valuable and along with Butler and Simmons are better than anyone else on the Raptors.  I'll give Siakam the 5th spot, but Harris is 6th and Redick is 8th (I'll still put Lowry at 7).  Gasol and Green are the worst starters.  It is very hard to overcome that sort of talent advantage even with the best player on the floor.  Top heavy talent just matters.

Ranking players becomes a fool’s errand, and will change throughout a series’ ebbs and flows. Let’s evaluate after a series is completed.

Player rankings should absolutely not change over the course of a series.  That doesn't mean a player might not play above or below his rank as that happens all the time, but there is no way anyone should be changing how they rank a player because of a good or bad 7 game series.

You have Simmons and Butler rated better than Siakam.  I think most GM's would strongly disagree with you today on that assessment.

[Moranis]

76ers starting 5....

Embiid with a beautiful no-show

Embiid was +4 in 30 minutes. They lost about a point a minute with him on the bench.

Really weird to come to the defence of a guy who shot 5-18, wasn’t a great defensive presence and who also admitted he played poorly

I was merely pointing out that despite him shooting poorly, the team was actually better when he was on the floor, which is different than every other Sixer starter in that game.  Those things do actually matter.  Embiid, even when he plays sub-par, still positively effects the game in so many ways.  He is the most valuable player in that series (even though Kawhi is a better player).

I actually expected something like that to happen yesterday.  I think though the Sixers will win game 2.  I just don't see Siakam continuing that level of shooting and think Kawhi will step back a little.  Embiid will play better as will Butler and Harris.  I expect the Sixers to steal game 2 (though I think Toronto gets it back in Philly before winning a 7 game series).

You continue to overrate the Sixers, and that’ll just lead to greater disappointment wren they are dispatched in 5.

Not so fast, Eddie.

I think people (myself included) forgot how much of a playoff no-show Kyle Lowry is

Lowry hasn't been that good all season.  I mean he was down to 14.2 ppg on the season.  He has rapidly declined the last few seasons.  Still an excellent passer and floor general, but the Raptors just don't have a consistent 3rd scorer and in the playoffs they can't really take advantage of their great depth. 

I will reiterate again, while Kawhi is the best player in the series, Embiid is the most valuable and along with Butler and Simmons are better than anyone else on the Raptors.  I'll give Siakam the 5th spot, but Harris is 6th and Redick is 8th (I'll still put Lowry at 7).  Gasol and Green are the worst starters.  It is very hard to overcome that sort of talent advantage even with the best player on the floor.  Top heavy talent just matters.

Ranking players becomes a fool’s errand, and will change throughout a series’ ebbs and flows. Let’s evaluate after a series is completed.

Player rankings should absolutely not change over the course of a series.  That doesn't mean a player might not play above or below his rank as that happens all the time, but there is no way anyone should be changing how they rank a player because of a good or bad 7 game series.

You have Simmons and Butler rated better than Siakam.  I think most GM's would strongly disagree with you today on that assessment.

I absolutely think Butler and Simmons are better players than Siakam are.  People can certainly disagree with that assessment, but they aren't changing that position based on one playoff series either. 

[Moranis]

Didn't really want to be right about the C's/Bucks series, but unfortunately appears I might have been.  Still gotta have faith they can pull even in game 4, but the last 2 games have not gone well and the Bucks have looked every bit of the best defensive team and a top 3 offensive team in the league.  Plus, they have the best player in the series, which has always mattered in the playoffs (it can be overcome, but it matters).