Well now it’s officially set. The Brooklyn Nets will be facing a familiar opponent in the first round of this year’s NBA playoffs. The Toronto Raptors.
The Nets have faced the defending NBA champions four times this season already. Unfortunately for them, they’re 1-3 in those matchups.
Thus far in the bubble, the Nets are 5-2 and have one more matchup against the Portland Trailblazers tonight. Meanwhile the Raptors are 6-1, with one more matchup tomorrow against the Denver Nuggets.
Much to the surprise of many the Raptors have done exceptionally well this season despite the departure of reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Toronto is currently 52-19 and finished as the 2nd seed in the East this year (just like last year when they won it all). They’re only four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks who have the league’s best record.
Obviously, we’re in unprecedented times having games in a bubble, with no fans nor home court advantage, but fortunately for both teams there has not been a drop off in production.
For that reason alone, it’s fair to say that this series can go either way. Obviously, Brooklyn is the underdog, but that doesn’t mean that the Nets can’t get it done.
Actually, the Nets are currently 2-0 against the Raptors in the playoffs in terms of NBA history. The last time these two faced each other, in the first round in 2014, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were on the Nets. The series was won with a clutch late game block by “the Truth.”
Needless to say, things are a bit different now as Toronto is fresh off of a championship and playing arguably their best basketball of the season at the moment. That’s got to be scary for the Nets, who struggled against them in their previous four matchups this year.
In those meetings the Nets averaged 105.7 PPG (-6 than their season average), 25.5 APG, 59.7 RPG (+12 than their season average), 42.9% FG and 31.3% 3FG (-3 than their season average). The Raptors on the other hand averaged 110.2 PPG, 21.2 APG, 56.2 RPG, 42.3 FG% and 36.4% 3FG.
In the bubble the numbers look slightly different for both squads. The Nets are averaging 118 PPG, 27.7 APG, 42.9 RPG, 46.5% FG and 35.5% 3FG. The Raptors are averaging 110 PPG, 23.6 APG, 46.3 RPG, 44.4% FG and 37.5% 3FG. Besides both teams rebounding less they’re both averaging similar stats.
With that being said, Brooklyn is going to have to step their game up to pull off a first round upset against the Champs.
