Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from big Game 4 win vs. 76ers

2. Next guy steps up

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam was a game-time decision Sunday afternoon because of his calf contusion suffered in Game 3. Siakam has been fantastic this postseason, as the leading Most Improved Player candidate is posting a 21.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game after his Game 4 output. Due to his injury and after Game 3’s embarrassing loss, Kyle Lowry said it best, “Next man needs to step up.”

Siakam was cleared to play, but throughout the game it was clear he was hobbled. It was especially visible when he tried to use his athleticism and relentless motor as his main advantage over his opposition. He just looked slower and more awkward with his lateral movements than normal.

Siakam was held to under 30 minutes of playing time for the first time this postseason, posting nine points, three rebounds and two assists on 2-of-10 shooting. The team relied on Serge Ibaka to fill in the minutes.

Ibaka had his best game of the postseason, despite a terrible-looking outside shot, posting a near double-double off the bench with12 points and nine rebounds. His biggest impact on the game was his size, using it to get three big blocks and help box out the opposition to collect missed shots.

https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1125154767167053824

The lack of Siakam’s production wasn’t replaced by one player, but as a collective. Lowry and Marc Gasol both stepped up after lackluster Game 3 performances. Gasol simply is the best answer to Embiid on both ends of the floor. Head coach Nick Nurse did a really good job matching his minutes against Embiid in Game 4.

Gasol easily had his most productive postseason output in a Raptors uniform. Lowry’s biggest impact was his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. He and Gasol are always the anchors of the team defensively, and were contributors on both ends of the floor with a +11 and +13, respectively.

Aside from Ibaka, the rest of the bench produced goose-eggs offensively, but the players were locked in defensively. Patrick McCaw got himself some meaningful minutes and produced a rebound, an assist and a steal in less than five minutes of play. Toronto has its players playing an elite level defensively. The next game will be at home, and the comfort of playing with in front of a friendly, rowdy hometown crowd will only help boost their confidence offensively.