Sixers Bell Ringer: Philadelphia plays foul and fouls often in loss to Toronto

The Sixers dropped to 0-2 on the young season after a poor effort against the underdog Raptors.

Sixers Bell Ringer regular season standings:
Guerschon Yabusele – 1

Friday night’s game in Toronto was objectively a rough viewing experience, with the Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers combining for 66 fouls on what became a three-hour-long game. It was even a harder watch as a Sixers fan. Joel Embiid and Paul George are undoubtedly huge absences, but Philadelphia should have put forth a much better effort against a Raptors team expected to be lottery-bound and missing four key regulars themselves on the evening. It has taken two games for all the good vibes and optimism surrounding this team to circle the drain. Here are the few bright spots from Philadelphia’s 115-107 loss to the Raptors.

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Kelly Oubre Jr. – 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers

Oubre’s 28 points were a game-high, coming on an efficient 9-of-17 line from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. You especially love the 3-of-6 mark from behind the arc, given the requisite floor spacing concerns bound to be brought about from a low-30s career shooter. Tonight, as disjointed as the Sixers offense was, I’d hate to think where it would have been without Oubre’s ability to both create something from nothing and find the seams as an off-ball cutter. We saw the full arsenal, with Kelly hitting spot-up shots, stepbacks and driving floaters. So many times, it was Oubre jackhammering the left-handed dribble into the painted area and rising up for the bucket. He even had one beautiful lob find to teammate Andre Drummond.

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Kyle Lowry – 14 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers

The fact that Lowry is still this effective at 38 years old is remarkable, and it was sure cool to see him do it in his old stomping grounds north of the border. (The GROAT — a.k.a. greatest Raptor of all time — nickname is hilarious.) The outside shot is still pure, and he nailed a couple very tough threes tonight coming off a pump fake and side-stepping to the left. Not easy to do at all. He can also still dart those hands in for a steal from behind as well as anyone in the league. The Sixers are so fortunate to be getting this level of production from a veteran’s minimum contract. Score one for the loyalty North Philly engenders.

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Guerschon Yabusele – 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 turnovers

First, let me say I don’t think Yabusele should be the Sixers’ backup center in most matchups. The team is giving up too much size and a lack of rim protection in these lineups. (Yes, I understand rookie Adem Bona is the only real center option behind Andre Drummond. Get well soon, Joel Embiid, is I guess what I’m saying.) Still, that’s not Guerschon’s fault, because the man is a hooper. He sets some brick wall screens, and goes hard to the basket, either with the ball in his hands or as a roller. Yabusele is medieval blacksmith strong. He had an and-one finish where he drove baseline and the defender grabbed his left arm to twist him into a foul, but it didn’t alter Guerschon’s trajectory at all and he converted the bucket. I love the energy. Need to see how he looks at the four.