TORONTO -- Inaasahang mas magiging matindi ang intensidad sa bakbakan ng Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers sa Game Seven ng kanilang Eastern Conference semifinal showdown.
“It’s not unlike where we have been a couple of times already in this series,” sabi ni Toronto coach Nick Nurse sa pagkakatabla ng Philadelphia sa 3-3 sa kanilang best-of-seven semis series. “They are critical games. They are all critical. We’ve got to play with great physicality, great speed, connected on the defensive end. I think we have to play one of our best defensive games of the year and play with some gusto on offense.”
Kinuha ng Toronto ang Game Five bago nakabalik ang Philadelphia sa Game Six noong Huwebes para itakda ang kanilang ‘do-or-die’ game.
Ang mananalo ang haharap sa naghihintay na Milwaukee Bucks, sinibak ang Boston Celtics, 4-1, para sa Eastern Conference Finals.
Ibang laro naman ang inaasahan ni 76ers mentor Brett Brown sa Game Seven.
“They’re very unique. They’re special, they’re a life-lesson opportunity,” sabi ni Brown.
Si All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard ang muling sasandalan ng Toronto katuwang sina point guard Kyle Lowry, shot blocker Serge Ibaka at Pascal Siakam.
“We win the last game, that’s all that matters,” ani Leonard. “We lost some games playing their way, so it doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to win.”
Ibabandera naman ng Philadelphia sina star center Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons at JJ Redick.
Nagtala ang Raptors ng 40 percent shooting (16-for-40) mula sa three-point range sa kanilang 125-89 panalo sa Game Five.
Sa kanila namang pagresbak sa Game Six ay kumonekta ang 76ers ng 10-for-28 shooting sa 3-point line.