2019 NBA Playoffs: Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers preview

Key Question No. 1: How long can J.J. Redick hang?

This one’s pretty obvious for those who watched the Nets series. Brooklyn’s guards picked Redick apart when he was on the floor sans Joel Embiid.

This was a concern all season, which is why Redick seldom hit the court without him, but this series will be different. Embiid won’t be able to consistently camp out at the rim, because Toronto has bigs that can stretch the floor.

If Redick gets isolated on a switch, and a help defender can’t back him up without ceding points to his own man, the Sixers’ best shooter becomes unplayable.

Toronto should do everything in its power to exploit this. Without Redick, Philly’s next wing alternative is Ennis, who was inconsistent in the Nets series. Forcing Brett Brown’s hand to play rookie Zhaire Smith may be in the cards as well, which would be ideal for Toronto.

Why is Redick, “only” Philly’s fifth best player, so important to exploit? Because three of the team’s four best players are below-average shooters, one of whom doesn’t shoot at all. The front office played a dangerous game including Landry Shamet in that Harris deal, because without Redick, the team really only has one above-average sniper.

If Redick is consistently played off the floor, the Sixers are going to have to get very creative on offense.