Sixers vs. Celtics: 3 things to watch for in pivotal Game 2

3. Depth

The Celtics will hurt from the loss of Gordon Hayward. He played 34 minutes on Monday and is one of very few proven rotation pieces on the roster. While Marcus Smart is more than apt as a replacement in the starting five, Boston’s bench is starting to look mighty thin.

On the other hand, you have the Sixers. The same Sixers who essentially went seven-deep on Monday and have never, at any point in recent history, had a particularly deep bench. Furkan Korkmaz and Mike Scott played seven and two minutes, respectively, and were two of the four bench pieces to receive playing time.

Neither the Sixers nor the Celtics will win this game based on strength of play from the bench. But Philadelphia can, ideally, exploit Boston’s lack of capable reserves. Both Alec Burks and Matisse Thybulle will continue to provide essential services. If a third player can come off the bench and make noise — if not Korkmaz or Scott, perhaps it’s Raul Neto — the Sixers may just find themselves with an edge.

The main recipient of minutes that once belonged to Hayward — beyond increased playing time for Tatum/Smart/Brown — is probably Brad Wanamaker. The Celtics may also have to dip into the Grant Williams or Romeo Langford pool, if only sparingly. Boston is dangerously short on capable reserves, and while Philadelphia is in a similar boat, they have more firepower outside the starting five.