Toronto Raptors: 3 keys to W over Brooklyn Nets

After a pair of home games against top-rank teams, the Toronto Raptors visit the Brooklyn Nets. While the Nets started the season well enough, they have struggled mightily in recent days.

The Brooklyn Nets, whom the Toronto Raptors face tonight, have been a sad-sack outfit for too long. The legacy of the infamous old guys for draft picks trade of 2013 was a team bereft of lottery selections for years. They have won a total of 69 games in their last 3 seasons, which of course means they haven’t been within shouting distance of a playoff spot.

Despite all that, GM Sean Marks has managed to find useful players recently. At one point early last month the Nets were 6-6, but a dreadful injury to swingman Caris LeVert has so far proven impossible to overcome. As you can see, the Nets have been in a freefall:

And yet, the picture isn’t entirely bleak. Yes, they are enduring an 8-game losing streak, but 3 of those defeats were by a bucket, and another was in double OT. That said, to enter Q4 with an 18-point lead at home and lose is grim. That’s what happened against OKC on Wednesday night.

Their top scorer is point guard D’Angelo Russell, who bombs away to the tune of 7 3-balls per game. The Nets rely on the long ball, ranking fifth in attempts, and with a respectable 34.8% success rate.

Russell isn’t their most important player, or the one with the highest ceiling. In my view, that’s center Jarrett Allen, a second-year man whose numbers have dramatically improved from those he chalked up as a rookie. Joe Harris is a hard-working swingman with a quick trigger. I’d rather have him than overpriced, one-dimensional Allen Crabbe. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been a disappointment. A swingman who’s made 15.8% of his 3-balls doesn’t have much of a future.

Spencer Dinwiddie comes off the bench to provide backcourt help, and gets more minutes than many starters. He’s gritty and smart; the Brooklyn version of Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon. DeMarre Carroll is still a Net, though his name has been floated in trade rumors. Another former Raptor, Ed Davis, provides valuable rebounding and D when needed (I never understood why we dumped Ed).

I’ll know the Nets have turned a corner when Jared Dudley‘s minutes are reduced. Why would a team filled with kids need this veteran to average 22+ minutes? You aren’t making the playoffs, folks – Jared needs to be a cheerleader and mentor to the kids, no more. And move Kenneth Faried to a contender which needs a jolt of energy.

3 keys to Toronto Raptors victory

1. Play small, and defend tough. The Nets can only keep this game close by hitting from the perimeter. Their half-court game is a work in progress, at best.
2. On offense, get the ball inside. We saw how dominant Jonas Valanciunas can be, even against a nasty defender like Joel Embiid. The Nets have no one close to him. Allen is their leading shot blocker, which isn’t saying much. They rank 28th, ahead of only Detroit and Cleveland. Let’s get into the bonus early by taking the ball to the hoop and drawing some fouls.
3. Speed it up. I’m not a believer in pace for its own sake, as I question its correlation to winning. The fastest team so far is Atlanta, which has helped the Hawks produce a 5-20 record. However, Brooklyn ranks 24th and the Raptors 13th in pace. I haven’t seen Brooklyn comfortable in upbeat games, whereas our guys thrive on them. Let’s go-go.

Prediction

In the hope that our team can shoot its way out of its current slump, I’m going for a big number.

Toronto Raptors 128 – Brooklyn Nets 106