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What the Golden State Warriors can learn from the Magic, 76ers and Bucks

By Nathan Beighle

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors on November 29, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors on November 29, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers presented a much more legitimate threat to the Raptors than the Magic did. To end the 2017-2018 season, the Sixers went on a 17-0 run to become a top seed in the playoffs.

While they didn’t do that this season, it did showcase their dynamic offense and dominance that mostly returned for another chance at the East. They even added star power to keep each position stacked.

Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and JJ Redick graced their starting lineup along with one of the league’s best second units. For Toronto, this gave them a taste of what it was like to trail an elite guard that solely comes off screens with little on-ball action in Redick.

They’ll need that type of energy while guarding Thompson and Curry.

For Philly, Simmons was a -16 on the series. While +/- is a tricky stat, at the end of the game, it does help show that the Sixers were a worse team with Simmons on the court, especially given that for the series they were a -15.

The Sixers taught Golden State that having non-shooters isn’t ideal.

The Warriors can lace the court with shooters. It’s Draymond Green ability to play down low and collect rebounds that allows that. Both the Bucks and Sixers offense was hampered by players that weren’t elite from deep.

Line the court with Curry, Green, Cousins, Thompson and Durant/Iguodala, and this team is a much more lethal offense than Toronto has faced this postseason. That said, the stingy Toronto defense allowed Embiid over 20 points just twice and over 30 just once.

This has to be a team effort for Golden State. Play with shooters and spread the court are what can be taken away from the Raptors-Sixers series.

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