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  6. article_body => "<p>TORONTO \u2014&nbsp;Joel Embiid has called himself the most unstoppable player in the league.<\/p>\n<p>On most nights, against most teams and most opposing centers, that\u2019s a fair assessment. In the Sixers\u2019 108-95 loss to Marc Gasol and the Raptors in Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena Saturday night <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/raptors-108-sixers-95-kawhi-leonard-45-points-game-1-eastern-semifinals-nba-playoffs\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>(see observations)<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, that was not the case.<\/p>\n<p>You can talk about Embiid's&nbsp;achy knee or&nbsp;fitness level, but Gasol\u2019s physical post defense was the biggest reason Embiid went 5 of 18 and finished with just 16 points. Gasol forced Embiid into tough, contested shots all night.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a matchup Embiid has not fared well in during his young career. Embiid has never scored more than 20 points in a matchup against Gasol and has shot 34 percent in those games. Gasol hasn\u2019t exactly lit it up against Embiid offensively, but Toronto will surely take that trade off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to give credit to Marc Gasol, he was the Defensive Player of the Year [in 2012-13] for a reason,\u201d Brett Brown said. \u201cI thought Serge (Ibaka) came in and did a good job athletically, especially making it difficult for Joel. I have to help him more. I think getting him into the post different ways, freeing him up a little bit more than we did is something that I have to look at. But I give Toronto credit for their defensive effort tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aside from Gasol, the Raptors did an excellent job with their help defense, especially with Embiid. On the few possessions&nbsp;Embiid was able to beat Gasol on a post move, there was another defender ready to try to affect the shot at the rim.<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers knew they weren\u2019t taking on the Brooklyn Nets anymore and Saturday was a painful reminder. Toronto did an excellent job pressuring the basketball on the perimeter as well, making it more difficult for the Sixers to make simple&nbsp;entry passes to their All-Star center.<\/p>\n<p>Embiid was the most physically dominant player on the floor in the Brooklyn series. Young center Jarrett Allen was just completely overmatched in every contest.<\/p>\n<p>At 7-foot-1 and 255 pounds and with a wealth of NBA experience against some of the best bigs in the NBA, Gasol is not.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike I said this morning, he was a Defensive Player of the Year and they have two former Defensive Players of the Year [with Kawhi Leonard],\u201d Embiid said. \u201cHe just takes that whole defense to another level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When the Raptors pulled the trigger on a deal for the 34-year-old center, it was met with mixed reviews. Those who lauded Toronto for the trade&nbsp;pointed specifically to this matchup. For at least one game, it looks like a master stroke by general manager&nbsp;Masai Ujiri.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily for the Sixers, it is just one game and Embiid is way too good to be kept down for an entire series. They now have a day to work out the kinks before trying&nbsp;to even the series in Toronto Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>The other piece of good news is Embiid\u2019s physical health. He\u2019s off the injury report and looked like he was moving fine during Game 1. It\u2019s just a matter of playing at the level he\u2019s capable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m OK, I\u2019m good,\u201d Embiid said. \u201cObviously, Raptors are way better than the Nets but we're down. I\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to come back. We\u2019re down 0-1, so I\u2019m definitely going to adjust, everyone\u2019s going to adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If the Sixers want to even things up in the series, Embiid will have to overcome a historically unfavorable matchup.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&amp;creative_id=nbcsphi1356&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Sixers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/glimmer-hope-kawhi-leonard-performance-vs-sixers-game-1-nba-playoffs\">A glimmer of hope in Kawhi Leonard going off vs. the Sixers in Game 1 <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/raptors-108-sixers-95-kawhi-leonard-45-points-game-1-eastern-semifinals-nba-playoffs\">Leonard can\u2019t miss, Embiid held in check as Sixers drop dismal Game 1 <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/predictions-sixers-second-round-playoff-series-vs-raptors\">Can Sixers advance to East finals? Our predictions for Sixers-Raptors <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-talk-podcast-previewing-raptors-series-keys-containing-kawhi\">Sixers Talk Podcast: Previewing Raptors series; containing Kawhi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-very-well-represented-among-nbas-most-popular-jerseys\">Sixers very well represented among NBA's most popular jerseys<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n"
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TORONTO — Joel Embiid has called himself the most unstoppable player in the league.

On most nights, against most teams and most opposing centers, that’s a fair assessment. In the Sixers’ 108-95 loss to Marc Gasol and the Raptors in Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena Saturday night (see observations), that was not the case.

You can talk about Embiid's achy knee or fitness level, but Gasol’s physical post defense was the biggest reason Embiid went 5 of 18 and finished with just 16 points. Gasol forced Embiid into tough, contested shots all night.

It’s a matchup Embiid has not fared well in during his young career. Embiid has never scored more than 20 points in a matchup against Gasol and has shot 34 percent in those games. Gasol hasn’t exactly lit it up against Embiid offensively, but Toronto will surely take that trade off.

“You have to give credit to Marc Gasol, he was the Defensive Player of the Year [in 2012-13] for a reason,” Brett Brown said. “I thought Serge (Ibaka) came in and did a good job athletically, especially making it difficult for Joel. I have to help him more. I think getting him into the post different ways, freeing him up a little bit more than we did is something that I have to look at. But I give Toronto credit for their defensive effort tonight.”

Aside from Gasol, the Raptors did an excellent job with their help defense, especially with Embiid. On the few possessions Embiid was able to beat Gasol on a post move, there was another defender ready to try to affect the shot at the rim.

 

The Sixers knew they weren’t taking on the Brooklyn Nets anymore and Saturday was a painful reminder. Toronto did an excellent job pressuring the basketball on the perimeter as well, making it more difficult for the Sixers to make simple entry passes to their All-Star center.

Embiid was the most physically dominant player on the floor in the Brooklyn series. Young center Jarrett Allen was just completely overmatched in every contest.

At 7-foot-1 and 255 pounds and with a wealth of NBA experience against some of the best bigs in the NBA, Gasol is not.

“Like I said this morning, he was a Defensive Player of the Year and they have two former Defensive Players of the Year [with Kawhi Leonard],” Embiid said. “He just takes that whole defense to another level.”

When the Raptors pulled the trigger on a deal for the 34-year-old center, it was met with mixed reviews. Those who lauded Toronto for the trade pointed specifically to this matchup. For at least one game, it looks like a master stroke by general manager Masai Ujiri.

Luckily for the Sixers, it is just one game and Embiid is way too good to be kept down for an entire series. They now have a day to work out the kinks before trying to even the series in Toronto Monday night.

The other piece of good news is Embiid’s physical health. He’s off the injury report and looked like he was moving fine during Game 1. It’s just a matter of playing at the level he’s capable.

“I’m OK, I’m good,” Embiid said. “Obviously, Raptors are way better than the Nets but we're down. I’m sure we’re going to come back. We’re down 0-1, so I’m definitely going to adjust, everyone’s going to adjust.”

If the Sixers want to even things up in the series, Embiid will have to overcome a historically unfavorable matchup.

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