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

Key Question No. 2: How far can Raptors’ depth carry them?

Again, this one is obvious. The Raptors have an excellent bench and the Sixers have a poor one. How much that matters in this specific series will alter how the entire NBA constructs its rosters.

Which matters more: having a bunch of guys who can simply play, or a few very talented ones? This series will answer most of that question.

Because Gasol is starting at center, Serge Ibaka is a very valuable backup. In tandem with him, the main backups are Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell, with a sprinkle of Jodie Meeks. All of those guys can shoot and defend at a competent level (well, except Meeks).

The Sixers’ bench contains…Ennis and Scott. Forcing Boban Marjanovic to defend a stretch-big is torture, and T.J. McConnell is just not playable for more than two minutes of pure energy per game. Smith may get emergency minutes, but he’s a wild card. Jonah Bolden isn’t a cerebral defender yet. If Jonathon Simmons has to be called upon, something went horribly wrong.

Brett Brown will find ways to stagger his Big 4, but there will still be minutes with weak links. The Raptors’ backups are competent enough to exploit that. For Philly, it’s really about how much blood is shed in those non-Embiid minutes.

The Sixers are an extreme case of talent consolidation, and the Raptors are the best team to push them to their limit.