As the Toronto Raptors continue to turn doubters into believers early in this 2019-20 season, lofty expectations have put a different vibe on the consensus favourites in the Eastern Conference — the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers, after all, came within four bounces of the Eastern Conference Final last season — shut down by a Kawhi Leonard shot that will age like fine wine for Raptors fans and overall NBA history. They are a team full of super large humans, with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons still presumably with room to get better, and were a superior defensive team before adding shutdown wing Josh Richardson and the venerable Al Horford.