And just like that, the Philadelphia 76ers are one loss away from seeing their 2018-19 season come to an end. Whether it all comes to an end on Thursday night or not, though, Jimmy Butler will be there until the end. At least, that was the unmistakable message Butler sent when he accompanied Joel Embiid to the podium after a rough Game 5 on Tuesday night. Philadelphia had no answers for the Toronto Raptors, and a thorough dismantling was the result. To the tune of a 125-89 beating, the Raptors took a 3-2 series lead in rather dominant fashion. For most of the season, the masses have grown accustomed to seeing Embiid being the dominator. Limited by an upper respiratory infection, that was far from the case on Tuesday night. The young superstar managed just 13 points and six rebounds, and turned the ball over eight times. With a bevy of health issues impacting him this postseason, it’s been a difficult time for Embiid, who has struggled as his team moved to within one loss of their season ending. On Tuesday night, though, what appears to have been a simple gesture by Butler sent a message: he has Embiid’s back. After NBA Playoff games, the competing teams send each of their head coaches and a few players to the podium to be addressed by the attending media in a formal press conference. Each team is responsible for selecting which of their players will address the media from the podium and which will address the media from the locker room, as is typically done during the regular season. According to Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com, Butler fulfilled his media obligations in the locker room, while Embiid was nominated to address reporters from the podium. While it is normal for superstar players to be sent to the podium, given his play and the repeated questions about his health, it was obviously not seeming to be a fun chore for Embiid. For whatever reason, Butler opted to attend Embiid’s press conference and sat beside his teammate, seemingly publicly offering him support the aftermath of Game 5. Jimmy fulfilled his postgame media obligation before this in the locker room and wasn’t scheduled to appear at the podium with Joel — going to go out on a limb and say this is a purposeful show of support for a teammate who is trying to battle through a tough stretch. pic.twitter.com/Kh94jtSSnu — brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) May 8, 2019 During the Sixers’ first round series against the Brooklyn Nets, Butler did something similar. After the much-discussed dust-up between Butler and Jared Dudley, the two were ejected from the contest. Typically, players who are ejected from games don’t address reporters afterward, so it was surprising for the attending media to see Butler attend the post game address with Embiid. When asked why he opted to attend the press conference, Butler joked that it was to prevent Embiid from saying anything dumb. Embiid then proceeded to troll the Golden State Warriors for squandering their 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals, so Butler’s reported mission was a failure… That is, of course, unless you realize that Butler’s true intent here is simply to support the team’s franchise player. Jimmy Butler joining Joel Embiid at the podium, even though he already spoke in the locker room. — Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) May 8, 2019 Even in a tough moment, after suffering an embarrassing loss to the Raptors, Butler stood proudly beside Embiid. If nothing else, it’s an admirable show of camaraderie that the Sixers will take into Game 6 as they fight for their playoff lives.<doc-sep>The Philadelphia 76ers are feeling lucky to have veteran forward Jimmy Butler this year. Despite the negative rumors of behind-the-scenes spats between Butler and his head coach, Brett Brown - the Sixers haven't quite had a veteran leader like this since they have started making the playoffs with their young core. Sure, JJ Redick was around for last year's run, but this time around is different with Butler being the frontrunning veteran on the court. Looking at it from a statistical standpoint, Butler has been a force for the Toronto Raptors. Since the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals had begun, Butler has been averaging 23 points-per-game, which is a significant upgrade from his regular season average of 18.7 points-per-game. You could easily say that without Butler, the Sixers could realistically be at home watching the remainder of the playoffs due to being eliminated. However, that's not the case. Butler has helped turn the Sixers into a scrappy team that won't go down easy. Last year, the Sixers were a team who struggled to get past a Game 5 as the underdogs in the second round. This year, they are forcing a Game 7 against a team they have historically struggled to defeat - especially on the road. And thanks to Butler, the Sixers' most signficant young star is taking in the experience and using it to his own personal advantage for future playoff runs. As of right now, it's unclear as to wether Jimmy Butler is going to be a part of the 76ers beyond this playoff run or not. If he ends up finding himself elsewhere in 2020, at least he would leave a lasting impact on Sixers' center, Joel Embiid. As perhaps the most important player for the Sixers of this era, Embiid needs to do more than just dominate on the court. He needs to be able to step up into a leadership role and get other young players looking up to him to follow his lead, just like how he did with Butler. The day before the Game 7 battle against the Raptors on the road, the Sixers were present at Toronto's visiting practice facility getting a workout in before the big game. According to Sixers' reporter Brian Seltzer, the team seemed loose, in a good way. Everybody was excited to get going, but also, the confidence was high. And while the players mostly looked forward to the game they were preparing to play, Embiid took a step back and reflected on the process of learning from Butler. “I know to become a better leader you also got to watch and learn from a better example. Him [Butler] being here has taught me that just because he’s always on top of everything basketball wise he’s helped me a lot, becoming a better man. Just being on time, just showing up every game, or just having a better relationship as a leader with my teammates. He doesn’t have to say anything.” Embiid's quotes regarding leadership come in perfect timing after his own actions were questioned roughly about a week ago. Despite not being even close to one-hundred percent health-wise, Embiid disappointed former players-turned-analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley. As they described Embiid's actions as 'draining' for his surrounding teammates, it seems as though the Sixers' big man took those quotes into account and switched up his body language and attitude the following game. As Embiid entered the Wells Fargo Center during a do-or-die Game 6 with a smile on his face, the Sixers produced a convincing victory as a whole. Their entire performance was like night and day compared to the two games that Embiid was visibly sick. A bit of a coincidence. Now that Embiid knows he has to lead by example as he 'learned from a better example' the Sixers will expect the big man to have much more of an impact on the team moving forward, whether they end up retaining Butler for next year or not.<doc-sep>The Philadelphia 76ers fell ridiculously flat in the biggest game of the year falling to the Toronto Raptors 125-89 and they now face elimination heading back to the Wells Fargo Center for Game 6. The two franchise cornerstones, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, came up small with a big chance staring at them and it cost them dearly. Embiid had 13 points, six rebounds, and eight turnovers while Simmons had seven points and seven rebounds while committing five turnovers. Jimmy Butler, who has morphed into the leader in Philadelphia, still stands by them and encouraging his teammates to move forward. Butler supported Embiid especially after he played through an upper respiratory infection in Game 5. “Like I said before, we’re going to ride or die with big fella,” said Butler. “Everybody around this locker room knows that, everybody in the world should know it, the fans should know it. We’ll be just fine, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, encouraging him to keep battling through all injury, through all sickness and we’re here with him.” After checking out for good in the fourth quarter, Toronto native and rapper Drake led a mock cheer of Enbiid and knowing how he operates, one can expect a motivated big man in Game 6. Now that the season is on the line with a literal win-or-go-home situation for Game 6, the Sixers need to continue to fight and show off the resiliency they have built up this season. “We’ve just got to go in and do what we’re supposed to do on the home floor, that’s it,” the veteran leader added. “Keep competing, keep going hard, stick together, have each other’s backs, and know that not one player on our team is going to be able to do it by themselves. We win together, we lose together, and we’re going to play together again come whenever we play.” Game 6 is Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST.<doc-sep>Ron Turenne/Getty Images Philadelphia 76ers small forward Jimmy Butler lamented the team's poor performance in a Game 5 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night, but Sixers head coach Brett Brown is confident they'll bounce back in Game 6. "I think we laid an egg," Butler told reporters after the 36-point defeat to fall behind 3-2 in the series. "We're excited to go back to Philadelphia," Brown said. "Nobody's walking out of here, 'Woe is me.' I promise you that. We have a prideful team; we have a team that had a poor performance tonight. ... But nobody's walking out of here thinking anything else but we're excited to go back to Philadelphia and find a way to win." Butler made just six of his 16 shots from the field en route to a team-high 22 points for a Philly team that shot 41.8 percent from the field, including 25 percent from beyond the arc. Joel Embiid had 13 points and six rebounds before getting mocked by rapper Drake and other members of the Scotiabank Arena crowd in Toronto when he exited the contest. "I just saw them shake their bodies," Embiid told reporters. "I didn't pay attention about what the hell they were doing. Good for them. ... I don't care if it offends anybody, but what I do is all about having fun. I don't care. And I'm going to do that because I know I'm going to dominate." Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon The 76ers trailed by one after the first quarter but were outscored by a 37-17 margin in the second. They also lost the rebound battle 42-37 and were fouled 18 times to the Raptors' 26, and they turned the ball over 19 times. The 36-point loss exceeded Philadelphia's margin of defeat in its first three losses of the postseason combined (27 points). Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon Brown may attempt to use the blowout as a learning experience or simply wipe the slate clean and start fresh for Game 6. It would be hard to yield much useful information from a night in which the Sixers were thoroughly outplayed. "It just wasn't there," point guard Ben Simmons said after scoring just seven points with five turnovers and four assists. "Offensive wasn't there; defense wasn't there. We were terrible tonight." The Sixers and Raptors will reconvene for Game 6 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN as the 76ers attempt to avoid elimination.<doc-sep>
The Philadelphia 76ers knew that their Game 5 matchup in Toronto was going to be tough. After allowing the Raptors to steal a victory in South Philly, the Sixers were looking to bounce back up North - At least, so we thought. The Sixers ended up playing their worst game of not only this series - but their worst game so far in the 2019 NBA Playoffs. Since the Sixers failed to put up a fight in Game 5, they will face an elimination game at home on Thursday after back-to-back uninspiring losses. While the Sixers continue to ride on Jimmy Butler's back for this series, Philly is hoping that their big man Joel Embiid feels better by the time they take the court this Thursday. Out of the four playoff series that Embiid has appeared in over the last year, he's clearly putting on his weakest overall performance. Aside from a dominant Game 3 showing at home, Embiid is visibly playing his worst basketball. And while he tries to feel better from his sickness, which is diagnosed as an upper respiratory infection, there's not much else for the Sixers' superstar to do aside from lay around in bed until game time. There were two types of players on Tuesday night for the Sixers. One guy showed up for the afternoon shootaround at the arena and decided to put in additional time into his pregame practice. The other guy was given the afternoon off because he wasn't feeling up for practicing. The two players being described is Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid. Although Butler's extra work allowed him to put up a team-high of 22 points, his statistical performance isn't what has been standing out for Philly. Throughout the entire 2019 playoff run, Butler's leadership has been unexpectedly pleasant. Butler has established himself as somewhat of a locker room distraction over the last year or so, according to media masses. But it sure seems like Philadelphia is getting a patient, and much more mature side of Jimmy Butler as they try to remain mentally strong in this series. Over the last few games, we've found out that the Sixers need Joel Embiid more than anybody in order to win. For that, Butler refuses to allow the seven-foot center to lose his confidence. As Embiid had to face the media after the blowout loss in Game 5, Butler made it his duty to sit beside Embiid at the postgame podium, despite not being on the schedule to do so. "We're going to ride or die with the big fella," Butler told the crowd of media. "We’ll be just fine, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, encouraging him to keep battling through injury and sickness and we’re here with him." Butler's last hope of statements comes just hours after he told the media that the Sixers tend to play better when they are doubted. They were in fact, doubted on Tuesday, and that clearly didn't do them any favors. However, as they face an elimination game this week, the doubt has never been greater. The Sixers will need everybody on the same page this week as they try to force a Game 7. Their fearless leader hasn't given up on them yet, and that should be all of the motivation they need to put on in Game 6.