2014 NBA playoffs preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets
No. 3 Toronto Raptors (48-34) vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets (44-38)
- Game 1 in Toronto: Nets 94, Raptors 87
- Game 2 in Toronto: Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
- Game 3 in New York: Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
- Game 4 in New York: Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5 in Toronto (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30
- Game 6 in New York (if necessary): Friday, May 2
- Game 7 in Toronto (if necessary): Sunday, May 4
Season series: Split 2-2.
Points per game (per 100 possessions): Raptors 101.3, Nets 98.5 (Raptors 108.8, Nets 106.7).
Points allowed per game (per 100 possessions): Raptors 98.0, Nets 99.5 (Raptors 105.3, Nets 107.7).
Matchups worth watching: Raptors PG Kyle Lowry vs. Nets PG Deron Williams, Raptors PF Amir Johnson vs. Nets F Paul Pierce.
Scoring leaders: Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan (22.7 points a game), Nets SG Joe Johnson (15.8).
Why Toronto will win: The Raptors won the Atlantic Division because they were the best-performing team in it, without a doubt. Lowry and DeRozan provide athleticism the Nets will struggle to keep up with, and they have a stable of big men willing and able to bang down low.
Why Brooklyn will win: The old guys still can play. Pierce, Williams, Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Andrei Kirilenko and Shaun Livingston have tons of playoff experience and have been effective in the second half. These guys joined forces with the clear goal of postseason success, and new coach Jason Kidd has shown the potential to put it all together.
Did you know? The Raptors only have one playoff series victory in franchise history, but that came against a New York-based team, as they beat the New York Knicks 3-2 in the 2001 first round.
Prediction: Nets in 6.
