Not all losses are treated as equals. Yes, the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday 107-95 as they have yet to win in Toronto since 2012, but when considering their circumstances, it was hard to really be critical of this loss.
Already missing superstar Joel Embiid, the Sixers then lost Josh Richardson in the opening quarter to a left hamstring strain and yet had a chance to win late. They were hanging with the defending champions on the road before Toronto put them away late and showed their championship mettle.
“I thought that we competed,” said coach Brett Brown. “There was a physical difference I felt from them to us as the game started to get going in the fourth period. I give them credit, when you play in June there are lessons that you learn that spill over to the regular season and there was physicality to their game that you felt.”
The Sixers had to battle against a championship tested team on the road and had to rely heavily on youngsters such as Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Norvel Pelle, and others. That is not an easy thing to do.
“You know, we got Matisse, Furk, Shake (Milton) and Norvel and the young guys that are feeling what it’s like to play against an NBA champion,” Brown added. “We will come out of this thing I think more realistic of what it really takes to play as deep into the calendar as we hope to.”
Ben Simmons, who had a solid stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, echoed his coach’s thoughts saying the young guys have a lot of learning to do. The best teacher is experiencing it for yourself and with the young guys being forced into action, they can take this and grow from it.
“I think it was a good learning experience for some of the guys, especially against a great team in Toronto who have been to the championship last year and won it,” said Simmons. “We know that’s the level we have to play at – that physicality – offensively and defensively.”
Tobias Harris led Philadelphia with 22 points and six rebounds to go along with four assists and he was happy with the way the team competed despite the loss.
“I thought even with guys out we still had a chance to be in this game and get a win,” he said. “Give them credit, they did a really good job after the first quarter in defending us. We had a great first quarter, but after that they scored too many points in the paint. I think it was 52 points in the paint. That’s too many. They were the more physical team all throughout after the first.”
The Sixers will now have two days off before hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. [lawrence-related id=24046,24037,24005]