With expectations running high, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Toronto for Game 1 on Saturday night. Brett Brown’s squad failed to show up, as Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam both detonated for a combined 74 points.
The Sixers are underdogs, but most entered the series expecting a competitive battle. There’s still a good chance it shakes out that way, but Philadelphia’s inability to impede Toronto’s best players — combined with some sketchy halfcourt offense — left some fans concerned. And rightfully so.
Few teams are better equipped to exploit the Sixers’ flaws and limit their strengths.