Give the Sixers credit for winning Game 6 of their second round playoff series with Toronto. They force a deciding Game Seven on Sunday night.
Getting off to a fast start was key for the 76ers last night. They kept their own wild crowd in the game. Their lead was high as 19 points,as they cruised to a 112-101 victory.
A quick start would also be advised in Toronto. The pressure is on the Raptors, the favorites in Game Seven. Before their home crowd the Raptors need to finally break out of the second round of the playoffs and advance. Philly can easily turn the home crowd against the Raptors by pulling ahead and staying ahead.
Credit to all last night, including Ben Simmons, who played aggressively, scoring 21 points. The defense hounded Toronto's Kahwi Leonard from baseline to baseline, making him work for his points. Leonard got 29, but they weren't easy.
Jimmy Butler led the charge with 25 points., including a flurry which gave the Sixers a 15 point lead at the half. Butler has become the true leader on the squad and he needs to be resigned this summer. Butler gives them the experience and energy they need.
Game Seven will be a war. Toronto is favored by 6 1/2 points. I would take the Sixers with the points. I'm not sure you can take the Sixers straight up to win, not on the road to a good Raptor team. All-time Philadelphia is 1-8 in road playoff Game Seven games. The past is the past and I don't think you can judge a franchise today by what they did in the 80s.
Whatever, it will be interesting on Sunday night. Some nights there is nothing on TV. Other evenings, like this Sunday, there is the Sixer game, American Idol and Game of Thrones.
- The Phillies start a weekend series with last-place Kansas City tonight. Jake Arrieta goes tonight. The Phils are in first place by a season-high four games over struggling Atlanta.
With the playoff Sixers grabbing most of the highlights, one story this week didn't get nearly enough attention. Vince Valasquez got rocked last Monday night in St. Louis and it was later discovered that Valasquez kept shaking off catcher J.T. Realmuto for most of the night. Realmuto studies the opposing hitters and works up a game plan, as any good catcher would do before a game. Who the hell is Valasquez to question it? As Realmuto later said, Vince needs to perform and let Realmuto do the thinking.
I have always said that Valasquez belongs in the bullpen where he could air it out with fastballs and not have to pace himself . He's got a great arm so the Phillies' idea was to use him as a starter, a guy who can be part of the rotation for a long time. To me he's got back of the bullpen stuff, reminding me of another ex-Phil, Brett Myers, who began as a starter and eventually was a closer.
Valaquez starts on Sunday afternoon vs the Royals. If he continues to struggle I wouldn't be surprised to see him go to the bullpen or even be sent to triple A Lehigh Valley. Nick Pivetta is there now and is pitching well. I agree not to bring him back so soon.
Hopefully both Valasquez and Pivetta look at Zach Eflin and Jared Eichoff, two other young pitchers with potential, who are actually doing well the Phillies' rotation and have earned their spots.
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