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Hardwood Highlight of the Night: Raptors capitalize on Sixers' negligence

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

The Philadelphia 76ers, as currently constructed, are not a good team. That's by design, as the Sixers are on a not-so-secret campaign to rebuild through the draft. The plan calls for the team to take their lumps along with their lottery balls.

The upside of that strategy is that their roster is loaded with talent and promise. The downside, however, is that the Sixers are young, undisciplined, and inexperienced, and all three things show on the defensive end. The Raptors easily cruised to the victory on Sunday by a score of 120-88.

Take this play as an example. The Raptors go through an extremely basic set, where Amir Johnson sets a down screen for DeMar DeRozan. 

Sixers forward Luc Mbah a Moute is watching the ball, and doesn't see the screen. However, Mbah a Moute's error is compounded by JaKarr Sampson's failure to communicate. As a result, DeRozan gains an extra step on his way to the basket.

Kyle Lowry, who is bringing the ball up the court, sees the play unfold and notices that DeRozan has a free path to the hoop with Mbah a Moute on his heels. He alertly throws an alley-oop pass that leads DeRozan to the basket.

At this point, the Sixers continue to break down on defense. Their two interior defenders are caught watching the ball, and fail to make the rotation over to the basket - which they have the time to manage, given that Lowry's pass is coming from halfcourt.

However, no help comes, and DeRozan manages to complete the highlight play, which can be seen its entirety below. The defensive breakdown led Sixers head coach Brett Brown to immediately call a timeout, and Brown was then seen scolding his team.

(Courtesy: NBA.com)

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