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Nets at Raptors: Preview & 3 keys to victory

By Brian Boake

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 08: Kyle Lowry
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 08: Kyle Lowry /
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The Brooklyn Nets visit the Air Canada Centre for their fourth and final crack at defeating the Toronto Raptors in 2017-18.

The Raptors have won 11 straight against the rebuilding Nets, though several games have been uncomfortably close. Toronto needed a 3-point play from DeMar DeRozan in overtime to seize a win in early January.

Brooklyn remains years away from a return to the playoffs. This is the third straight season of futility, and they have little recourse other than trying to find multiple Fred VanVleets, i.e., second-round or unselected draft gems. That’s a tough way to make a living. Their first-round draft choice in June is owned by Cleveland.

Better than the Knicks

Meantime, the Nets’ situation isn’t entirely bleak. They have some developing swingmen, including D’Angelo Russell. He’s the unlikely fellow who drained 7 of 8 long balls in Q1 on March 13. Allen Crabbe will hit from deep if left unguarded, and Caris LeVert gets better by the game. Brooklyn hoists up the second highest number of threes in the NBA, while the Raptors are third.

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Up front, the Nets have problems, as evidenced by the fact DeMarre Carroll is tied with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the team lead in rebounds. Brooklyn allows more opponent rebounds than any team. The situation isn’t entirely bleak. Rookie center Jarrett Allen is long and athletic, and will be an impact player in time.

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 13: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket in an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2018 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Toronto won 116-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 13: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket in an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2018 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Toronto won 116-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

Their bench bunch is headed up by Spencer Dinwiddie, a versatile and once lightly regarded point guard. Joe Harris runs around screens to get open for pick-&-pops. He connects at a 40% rate, so bears watching. I’ve haven’t seen him do much else, though. Nik Stauskas may get some run. His career is hanging by a thread.

3 keys to Raptors victory

  1. Pressure the ball carrier. Brooklyn wants to play fast, in order to hoist up a long ball before the defense is set. Allow OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and VanVleet to bother them in the backcourt, and that tactic will fail. Brooklyn surrenders 2.4 more turnovers than it creates.
  2. Crash the glass. I’ve already mentioned this. While Brooklyn deserves credit for doing a decent job of team rebounding, they have a serious lack of capability in the front court.
  3. Attack the basket. This is 2(b). The Nets have little defensive paint presence. This game might be the one to get Serge Ibaka out of his current funk. Jonas Valanciunas should be able to operate with minimal difficulty.

Prediction

The Raptors have lost two of their last three games, and won’t be in a mood to be trifled with. Assuming their scoring continues at its recent torrid pace, the Nets won’t be able to keep up.

Toronto 118 – Brooklyn 99

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