Philadelphia 76ers: 3 takeaways from Game 7 heartbreaker vs. Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 12: Jimmy Butler #23 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk at center court against the Toronto Raptors during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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2. Lack of rebounding killed the 76ers

As a team with size at just about every position, the 76ers were one of the best rebounding teams over the course of the regular season. Led by Joel Embiid’s career-high 13.6 boards a night, Philly ranked second in defensive rebounds per game, a key advantage for playoff teams looking to advance closer to the championship round.

As cliche as it sounds, it was clear Toronto simply wanted Game 7 more than its opponent. Look no further than the offensive glass, where the Raptors managed to hold a 16-5 edge. This was probably the biggest factor in their +24 advantage in shot attempts, where they also hit six more field goals than Philly over the course of the game.

Most of these crucial rebounds were not unlucky 3-point shots that happened to bounce back out to the perimeter. More often than not, it was a simple case of a Toronto player crashing the glass while a member of the Sixers stood hopefully waiting for the basketball gods to place the ball softly into their hands.

Again, this is not a small team. The 76ers do not traditionally struggle in maintaining an edge on the boards. They simply lacked the discipline required in a game of this magnitude that includes securing the basketball off every single missed shot.