Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers: Nick Nurse's team doesn't look capable of winning so far, but can't back down now

A series that seemed destined to bring a hard-fought contest has so far gone at the dictation of Doc Rivers' team, although the season seemed to say that the team from Canada knew how to deal with Philadelphia.

For every team, a return to the home arena is an opportunity to turn the tide in their favor. This season, however, does not yet offer options for particularly high hopes for that fact. At the end of the season, they have 16 wins and 20 defeats.

Overall, as far as the opposition is concerned, the Raptors' defense failed to deal with any of their opponent's important players in the first game. Big. A dewy rotation, should have given a pressure advantage in the paint and on the rebounding, but that didn't happen, and Barnes' injury took a noticeable toll on the roster and the team's mood.

I really want to believe that when Toronto return home, where they won their last game of the regular season against Philadelphia, Nurse's team will find the right balance between defense and offense and get their first win of the series.

At first, trading Harden for Simmons seemed like a pretty good deal, but after a bright few games, things went back to normal. Mr "The Beard" went back into the shadows. And that was the moment that put the possibility of fighting for the title this season in question.

But the first games of the series with Toronto showed that Harden certainly doesn't need to be a star, just enough, just not failing too much and handing out assists, while Maxi, Harris and of course Embiid will tackle for victory by scoring points.

There are no weaknesses in Doc Rivers' team's play so far, but Doc likes to lose winning stories at times, so let's not rush things.

Returning home will certainly affect the home side's attitude and capabilities, but having two starting players in question at once is a problem, plus limiting attacks from the perimeter. Therefore, despite Torono's victory in the final meeting between the teams in the regular season, it is very difficult to cope with such a confident Philadelphia. Betting on the home team's defense looks like the only option, plus there is nowhere to retreat, the score 3-0 in the series almost a verdict, so for the Raptors today is the moment of truth. And the leaders in Siakam and VanVleet need to show everything they've got in their arsenal.

• Total Under (218.0) for 1.76;
• Fred VanVleet Total Over 24.5 points for 2.80;
• W1 and Total Under (216.5) for 3.60.

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