Replace Vučević from 2018-19 with vast majority of other NBA centers and there is no playoffs to talk about. That's just factual.
Joel Emiiid suffered from same faith facing Raptors.
He shot 36% FG and only was able to score 10 ppg from game, but he is simply better at drawing the fouls ( and gets star calls from refs, unlike most other Cs) so he menaged to have somwhat respecful 17 ppg on 13 FGA.
Even fact that best center in basketball couldn't even get more shots paints perfect picture of Raptors defense.
Demarcus Cousins in nba finals averaged 8,3 ppg on 36,7% FG on 11% for 3 against same defense.
Also they decreased PPGs of league's MVP by 6 points and field goal percentage by 6% . They were so damn physical that Giannis shoot whooping 27% FTs worst than he did in regular season and in same time he fouled and turned a ball over more than he was doing for whole season.
Three factors are keys:
1) overall team defense of Raptors was ridiculous through whole playoffs. They were so damn prepared for every player and every play
2) individual talent for defense. 3 out of 5 starters were once or more all nba defensive team members. 2 of starters have 3 DPOY award combined.
3). Marc Gasol. If he moved his a** from Memphis earlier he could have had career like Pau who is first ballot hall of famer who literally won everything but olympic gold in basketball. Despite being older, Marc is huge body and well established player that brings physicality that bothered all Cs , even ones who like to bang like Cousins. 7 footer standing at 260 pounds and 7'4 wingspan with that BBIQ will always borther defenders, especially if he is as crafty as Marc is.
this is 1,38 min long video from game one and shows how much stronger Gasol is than Embiid. Embiid simply could not get deeper post up situations because Gasol was able to just push him away.
I don't mind entertaining talks about trades of every player. But Magic really don't have problem with C position as it is right now. Bamba and Birch are off bench as they should be , Bamba is yet to prove he is NBA player, Birch does not have skillset for starter, he is best suited as bench spark like Holmes ,Biyombo, undersized yet energetic C.
Real issue is guard situation in contrast of PF situation where you have Evan , Ross and DJ on one side , where Ross plays SF anyway to finish games, and on other you have Okeke, Gordon, Aminu, Isaac, Iwundu all fighting for 48 mpg at PF and whatever is left to play at SF when Ross and Evan are not on the floor together.
Given that normal rotation in basketball is 9 men , Magic rotation will look something like this
DJ- Evan-- Gordon- Isaac- Vuc
Fultz/ MCW/ ---Ross--- Aminu - Bamba or Birch
No matter how you turn, Fultz // MCw and Bamba/Birch will find themselfs out of rotation soon. Ofc somebody will get hurt and things always change, but even if Okeke is healthy, he would not be in playing rotation no matter what. Simply not enough time to play them all.
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon
