Free NBA Pick: 76ers vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the 76ers taking on the Raptors on Friday, October 28th, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this 76ers-Raptors matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(1-4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors (3-2)
Date: Friday, October 28th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: 76ers +100 | Raptors -118 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Raptors -1
NBA Betting Total: 213.5
The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors play for the second consecutive game on Friday, October 28th. Toronto won the initial contest 119-109. The clubs will play twice more this season in Philly on December 19th and March 31st.
Last season, the squads played four times with the Raptors winning three of the four contests. The Raptors hold the all-time record having won 62 matches of the 104 played versus Philly.
Philadelphia 76ers
While the score shows a 10-point differential in the loss to Toronto the truth is it never felt like the Raptors would lose the match.
Philly’s Big-3 played to their averages with Joel Embiid offering 31 points, five rebounds, and three assists, James Harden adding 18 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds while Tyrese Maxey registered 31 points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Yet, as strong as that statistical output seems the 76ers offense is based primarily on half-court or iso-ball offense with the occasional burst from Maxey in transition opportunities or when he creates for himself.
Nick Nurse’s defensive strategy was to try to keep the ball out of Embiid’s hands or double-team him to force him to pass it — let Harden play his iso-ball with one defender on him and try to shut down everyone else knowing Maxey will be the player they concede will score.
Toronto Raptors
Doc Rivers’ defensive game plan also seemed clearly designed to force Pascal Siakam to shoot from deep as PJ Tucker sagged off him and the Raptors star was more than happy to oblige hitting his first four 3-point attempts.
Rivers adapted by sending double and triple teams at Siakam who easily dissected the plays and got his teammate’s wide-open shots tying his career-best 13 assists.
Opponents are learning Siakam’s media day spoken desires of being a top-five player wasn’t just hyperbole. He’s averaging 25.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 36% from deep on five attempts and is equally disruptive on the defensive end of the court.
It’s a very short list of players averaging 25 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists … Siakam, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic! That’s it.
If I alter the parameters to allow 7.8 assists add LeBron and lower rebounds to include 8.2 then add Harden. An interesting dynamic given these two individuals specifically are shining in spite of their team losing and their production is clearly not making their teammates better.
Siakam is currently hot (36%) from deep but he’ll likely fluctuate in his efficiency all season. That said, none of Doncic (26.3%), Jokic (30%), or LeBron (25.7%) are lighting up the perimeter either.
And it would be fair to say Siakam is by far the best defender of this group of five.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Philadelphia is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games.
- Toronto is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto’s last 10 games.
Free Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
The contrast of the teams’ outward demeanors was palpable as the Raptors exuded joy constantly interacting with each other while the 76ers stood around watching Harden dribble the air out of the ball waiting to see if they would get a touch with seconds left on the shot clock.
Philly sure doesn’t look like they’re having any fun and I can’t help but wonder if Daryl Morey would’ve been better served to build this team around Maxey (and Embiid) instead of Harden.
Aside from Nurse’s defensive game plan geared toward Embiid, the other key was the bench. These clubs rank 30th and 29th in bench production, however, the return of Chris Boucher provided an immediate positive impact as will Porter Jr. when he returns.
Typically I’d call for a split on these consecutive games in one market but the 76ers are struggling and it sure feels like Harden is more focused on his personal stats (and that contract opt-out at season end) than he is on ensuring the 76ers gel and collect victories.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Raptors ATS
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