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Brooklyn Nets 2018-19 Primer: Toronto Raptors make big changes

By Phil Watson

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 08: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on January 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 08: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on January 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 23: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Dante Cunningham #44 of the Brooklyn Nets defends during the first half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 23, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Against the Brooklyn Nets

It was no surprise that Toronto — the Eastern Conference’s best team — handled the Brooklyn Nets, who were 28-54, in all four meetings.

Likewise, it wasn’t a surprise that it was DeMar DeRozan who was their top offensive threat, torching the Nets for 25.5 points per game in the four meetings.

But often-maligned big man Jonas Valanciunas also feasted on Brooklyn (like most big men last season), putting up a double-double in four meetings by averaging 21 points and 10 boards and shooting 60 percent from the floor.

Kyle Lowry sliced and diced the Nets’ defense as well, averaging 16 points and 11.5 assists in four meetings while bombing away at an 11-for-25 clip (44 percent) from deep.

Toronto put up an average of 116.5 points per game in the four wins, holding Brooklyn to 103.5. So, no, it wasn’t close.

Last season (home team in CAPS)
Dec. 15: RAPTORS 120, Nets 87
Jan. 8: Raptors 114, NETS 113, OT
March 13: Raptors 116, NETS 102
March 23: RAPTORS 116, Nets 112

This season
Dec. 7: at Brooklyn
Jan. 11: at Toronto
Feb. 11: at Toronto
April 3: at Brooklyn

D’Angelo Russell averaged 25 points and nine rebounds against Toronto, but the Nets point guard only played in two of the meetings. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson did what he could, putting up 15.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in four meetings on 57.1 percent shooting.

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    • Spencer Dinwiddie had 22 assists in four games and Caris LeVert nabbed eight steals, but was otherwise neutralized by the Raptors, averaging only 6.8 points while going 11-for-43 from the floor (25.6 percent).

    Overall, Brooklyn shot 42.5 percent against the Raptors, including 37.8 percent from long range, while turning the ball over 14.5 times a game and getting hammered on the glass to the tune of a minus-5.5 rebounds per game differential.

    Toronto’s offense clicked, hitting 48.5 percent from the floor, and Serge Ibaka had 10 of the Raptors’ 30 blocked shots in those games.

    How Leonard changes the dynamic in Toronto remains to be seen, but in his career against the Nets, he has averaged 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game in 10 meetings, shooting .462/.433/.889.

    While with the Spurs, Leonard only saw the Nets twice a year. He did play one of his nine games last season against Brooklyn, on Dec. 26, finishing with a game-high 21 points in 26 minutes in a 109-97 win at San Antonio.