With the NBA restart quickly approaching, it’s time to dive into one of the Nets’ possible playoff opponents.
Barring an extremely disappointing showing in Orlando, the Nets should find themselves in this year’s NBA playoffs. With only eight regular season games left, Brooklyn is the No. 7 seed in Eastern Conference, but only a 1/2 game up on the 8-seeded Orlando Magic. And with the 6 seed mathematically out of reach (8-1/2 games back), the Nets can hope to make it as a bottom two team when the playoffs begin.
If the postseason started right now, the Nets would play the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors in the first round. While Brooklyn prepares to possibly see their division rival, it’s time we the fans do our homework as well. With that, it’s time to analyze the Raptors and see how the Nets can be successful.
The Coach
After he became one of only five head coaches to win a title in his first year at the helm, Nick Nurse has done an even better job this time around. Many doubters of Nurse’s ability cast off the Raptors’ championship because of three reasons: LeBron James leaving the Eastern Conference, facing an injury-riddled Golden State Warriors team in the Finals, and the fact that Kawhi Leonard went thermonuclear and carried Toronto to its first Larry O’Brien trophy.
While all those are substantial points, Toronto would not have won the Finals with a substandard coach. People forget that the Raptors were down 2-0 in the Conference Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, only to reel off 4 straight wins. A big part of the turnaround was the difference in adjustments between the two coaches: Nurse changed up the defensive scheme to stop Giannis, while coach Mike Budenholzer stood pat as his team crumbled.
If the Nets see the Raptors in the first round, they’ll need to be cognizant of Nurse’s constant adjustments. Nurse likes to neutralize the stars and make the role players win the games. Players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert may have to see two or three defenders at a time, forcing guys like Joe Harris or Taurean Prince to make open shots.
The Starters
A lot of people expected the Raptors to take a substantial step back this season following the departure of Leonard. However, the remaining starters showed just how much talent is still on this roster. Let’s start with the reigning Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakam, who has exceeded expectations once again.
Siakam is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. He’s seamlessly become the franchise star, and even with all the defensive attention set on him, his shooting efficiency has hardly dipped from last season. Throughout the year, Taurean Prince was assigned to guard him, but he’ll miss the restart so the Nets will have to adjust.
The younger member of the backcourt, Fred VanVleet was a playoff hero for the Raptors last season and has blossomed even further this season. In his first full year as a starter, the Wichita State product is averaging nearly 18 points and 7 assists, well up from any previous year.
It’s worth noting, though, he’s playing 8 more minutes per game so naturally the stats will rise. VanVleet is a combo guard, meaning he can play the point or be off the ball. He’s more of a scorer than a passer, and can be absolutely lethal from deep if he gets hot. The Nets would be wise not to forget about him, as both the Warriors and Bucks learned the hard way.
Of course, the offense is led by veteran point guard and six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry. The Villanova product is scoring more this season, and shooting much better from downtown. While he’s more equipped to drive and kick, Lowry is more than capable of hitting outside shots off the ball or dribble.
The point guard position will be the X-factor in a potential playoff series, now with Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving officially done for the year. Siakam is too talented for the Nets to completely shut down, but Lowry must be neutralized. Caris LeVert really needs to bring his A-game on defense.
The other two starters will most likely Gasol and lengthy defender OG Anunoby. Before being dealt to Toronto last year, Gasol was a former Defensive Player of the Year in Memphis, and was the anchor of the “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies. He’s no slouch offensively either, and has expanded his game to beyond the 3-point line.
However, he’s in the twilight of his career, and at times his age shows on both sides of the ball, something Jarrett Allen may be able to exploit. Anunoby is arguably the Raptors’ best perimeter defender, and in the matchups with Brooklyn this year he was assigned to LeVert. These two will never be the top options on offense, but are crucial to what Toronto does defensively.
Bench Players
The biggest name off the Raptors bench is Serge Ibaka, who started the last three meetings with the Nets while Gasol was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Even at this stage in his career, Ibaka is an elite shot blocker.
Another name to keep an eye on is the former Net Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who is a solid two-way finisher. There are some decent shooters here too, like 25-year-old rookie Matt Thomas, UCLA product Norman Powell, and three-time NBA champ Patrick McCaw.
This bench is one of the best in the league, trailing only the Bucks and Clippers in points. They can shoot the lights out, and always love to push in transition. With certain Nets’ role players opting to sit the rest of the season out, it’s going to be a tall task slowing down this potent secondary unit.
This Season’s Matchups
This season, the Nets are 1-3 against Toronto, with Brooklyn winning the most recent matchup in mid-February. Excluding one blowout Raptors win in early January, all the games have been relatively close, being decided by 10 points or fewer.
In those matchups, the Raptor who seemed to hurt the Nets the most consistently was point guard VanVleet, who played in three of the four matchups, scoring 29 points twice and 22 points, respectively.
On the Brooklyn side, LeVert was the one who led the offensive charge, scoring 37 in the third meeting. He’ll have to be an All-Star all series long for the Nets to advance.
Keys to Success
Diving into the Raptors, it’s easy to point out their strengths, but make no mistake, this team has its so-called “chinks in the armor.” They have the tendency to fall in love with the 3-pointer and possess a lot of aging players.
In a restart as abrupt as this, no one will be in peak physical form. Younger teams like the Nets should have an advantage when it comes to stamina, and while the Raptors love to get out in transition, this restart will certainly test their endurance and mental fortitude. In terms of what the Nets can control, here are four more ways they can win a potential series against Toronto:
- Limit the Raptors’ bench points
- Don’t let guys like VanVleet or Powell go off for 25 points or more
- Get production outside of LeVert and Harris
- Allen must outplay Gasol and be an effective rim protector against Siakam and Lowry