Philadelphia 76ers: 5 keys to series vs. Nets

4. More Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris isolation

Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris weren’t All-Stars in 2018-19, but they are proven NBA superstars. And as frugal as it sounds, they need to remind folks of that quickly if the Sixers are going to have any worthwhile success this postseason.

The Sixers plan to rely heavily on the front line. That much is clear.

All five players have postseason experience of some sort.

Butler has appeared in 43 playoff games over his eight-year career – averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and three assists. No problem there. But the Sixers need top-shelf performances from him on both ends of the court.

Simply put, they need “Playoff Jimmy” to return.

As for Harris, who’s also capable of some razzling and dazzling in these games, he has made the postseason just once in his career. He nearly averaged a double-double when the Detroit Pistons were ousted in four games by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

With pure speculation and vagueness pertaining to which of the team’s bench members will see the biggest bump in action, it is incumbent upon Butler and Harris to be who they are throughout the playoffs — probe the court for as many looks as possible against a Brooklyn defense that ranks 15th in the league and allows its opponents hit 45.6 percent of its shots.

The problem: Philly’s defense has floundered at times, as well.