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Raptors, Cavaliers using shorter bench during NBA playoffs

Norm Powell barely plays after stellar series against Indiana, while both Terrence Ross and Luis Scola both playing less in post-season than their usual regular season minutes.

Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (right) has barely played this series against Cleveland while forward Terrence Ross has seen his minutes cut back.

CLEVELAND—This is not a time for basketball sentimentality, nor is it a time to guess or look to the future.

It’s why the best players play the greatest number of minutes, why coaches go with what they know and what is working.

“This time of year, no matter who you are, you’re going to put your best players out there on the floor, the guys that are producing no matter what,” Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey said as his team prepared for Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.