What better way to open the 2007-08 campaign than by traveling to Toronto to face the reigning Atlantic Division Champion Raptors?

The Philadelphia 76ers will have a decent test tonight, as well as a way to expose to the NBA what they are capable of. Few know what to expect from this young team. Are they the same group that seems to struggle early each year, or the squad that killed their lottery winning hopes by finishing 17-9 down the stretch last season? One thing is for certain, a huge component of the Sixers from years past is gone. They won’t have the dynamic scoring or floor leadership from a man who has been the face of this franchise for so long. They will no longer be able to lean on the shoulders of Steven Hunter.

Paying attention yet? All kidding aside, the dominant figure they will be without at this season’s commencement is, of course, Allen Iverson.

After Iverson was granted his exile midway through last season, the Sixers appeared to be rejuvenated. Finally able to have the ball in his hands more often, Andre Iguodala was able to become the player many thought he could be. Iguodala, who had shown flashes of brilliance along with tons of excitement in his short career, never showed the ability to be a consistent offensive threat while Iverson was in a Sixers uniform. Last season served as his coming-of-age, however, as he drastically improved his per-game averages in points, assists, steals, and minutes.

A very important key to the Sixers success late last season was Andre Miller. Miller, who was one of the players involved in the Iverson trade to the Denver Nuggets, immediately established himself as the Sixers floor general. He is the prototypical NBA point guard. He makes everyone around him much better, never steps out of his element, and always seems to sink the clutch shot. It will be fun to see what Miller can do with this team for a full season.

This off-season was quiet, as usual, for the Sixers. The only player of importance the team was able to acquire was hard-working 6’8 Power Forward Reggie Evans. Evans, who was traded by the Denver Nuggets for Steven Hunter and Bobby Jones, gives the Sixers a dimension they have sorely lacked in recent memory. He is a rebounder, period. He has very little offensive game, as evidenced by his career 4.3 points-per-game and 53% free-throw shooting, but he will make his presence felt by being physical and pulling down rebounds on both sides of the floor.

Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith will hopefully add something to this team. Both were first round picks and both appear to have huge upside. Young is a 6’8 forward from Georgia Tech with amazing athletic ability and a high basketball IQ. Smith is a very quick 7’0 center out of Colorado State who runs the floor much better than most centers.

Other than the two Andres and the aforementioned newcomers, the Sixers have a familiar supporting cast. Kyle Korver will most likely come off the bench in his three-point shooting role and Samuel Dalembert will still be patrolling the paint, racking up as many goaltending calls as blocks. Third year point guard Louis Williams appears to be improving, averaging 11.2 points-per-game in the pre-season. Their roster is rounded up with guards Kevin Ollie and Willie Green as well as forwards Rodney Carney and Shavlik Randolph.

Tonight’s game should be fun to watch. The Toronto Raptors owned the series last season, going 3-1, with the one loss coming in the season finale of what was a meaningless game for the Raptors. Forward Chris Bosh is their leader and most dangerous offensive threat. Dalembert, Evans, and the rest of the Sixers frontcourt will have to contain him if they want to leave Toronto with a win.

Matchup of the Game: Andre Miller should have a good game offensively against his smaller counterpart T.J. Ford. Ford is a pesky defender, but Miller’s effective low-post game should be too much for the miniscule Tiger Woods lookalike.