The Philadelphia 76ers were in the best spot a team could be just a few days ago. Up 3-0 in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, and looking to close out with a dominant display before advancing to the next round. However, it hasn’t quite panned out like that. A niggling injury to Joel Embiid, the Raptors stepping up their game, and some lackluster performances from the team have seen the situation tense up for the Sixers.
The Raptors won Game 5 of the series on Monday night in Philadelphia, staving off elimination again, and setting up a Game 6 on their home court, which will be tricky for the Sixers. If the Raptors can get another win and get to Game 7, anything can happen, and considering that the Sixers lost a 3-1 lead in the playoffs last season, it will be a difficult situation for them in terms of morale.
Their fans seem to already be feeling the heat too, and an example of that was evident during Game 5 on Monday night. With Sixers down by 14 with just over 2 minutes remaining and a win looking all but impossible, fans started streaming out of the arena, seemingly having lost faith in their team.
Fans of other teams are always quick to pounce when things like this happen, and this was no different, with several people online trolling the Philadelphia faithful for leaving the arena before the game had officially ended.
“Lol worst fans in NBA. Keep booing your team at home! Give them that support!”
“I don’t blame them. Doc is doing it again.”
“Even they know it’s Raptors in 7.”
“Safe to say the Philly faithful were fed up with their squad’s performance.”
“Philly fans were like, ‘oooh you know it is a weekday & all that’.”
“Theres somethings money can’t buy, for everything else there is 76ers fans who booed their team up 3-1 in series & left game early.”
“Fans left early to avoid starting Eagles chants.”
“76ers fans being put through an unreasonable amount of suffering.”
“No one hates the Philadelphia 76ers more than Sixers fans.”
“Sixers fans just remembered who their head coach is.”
“They are really loyal fans who believe in their team.”
The team still has two chances to win just one game, but the pressure will be unimaginable if they have to play a Game 7. No team has ever blown a 3-0 lead in the playoffs, so that will be some comfort, but they still have to go out there and get the job done. Toronto is not the sort of team to simply give up or take it easy, and the likes of James Harden need to step up, something Joel Embiid also believes.
