Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets - Playoffs Preview

So, since following the Raptors in 2007 this is my first post season experience with my adopted team.  I'm pretty excited, but have low expectations.  But then again, I've had low expectations all season and this team just keeps beating them.

The Nets - New Jersey as they were back then - were the first NBA team I saw along with a pre-big-three era Miami Heat in London in 2008.  I also caught a New Jersey Nets vs Raptors game in London, which I need to revisit at some point on this blog.  They're a tough team to like, even with the re-branding exercise and the Jay-Z fuss.  They've made a bid to buy a championship and for a team of underdogs like the Raptors it would be great to deny them that.

So for what it's worth, my keys to the series are:

Hungry Kyle
The Kyle Lowry that returned from injury looks incredible.  He looks quicker and is in good rhythm shooting.  He has a tough match up in D-Will, but if I wanted to fire up "Captain Kyle" I'd slip a few photos of Joe Johnson in All Star uniform into his locker.

DeMar Derozan won't need the popcorn this year
DeMar the Star
5 years into his Raptors career and finally DeRozan gets to play some meaningful basketball past mid-April.  His growth this year has been great to see.  He has started to influence clutch time, has added to his offensive game and even started showing more passion on the court, becoming a true leader.  But stopping DeMar will be Coach Kidd's first plan and his new-found ability to pass out of double-teams and read defensive schemes will be put to the test.

JV vs KG
Jonas will be getting his first play off experience at an earlier stage than DeMar but his experience pales compared with Kevin Garnett.  The Nets front court has bullied the Raptors this season and they need to be smart and tough on the inside.  Jonas has had a storming month and comes into the post-season in good form, it'll be really interesting to see if he can give the slower veteran some breathless nights.

Casey vs Kidd
All the talk of Brooklyn's experience tends to leave out that there's a rookie coach behind the wheels, and Casey can claim to be involved in several post-season coaching campaigns, not least of which the Mavs win in 2011.  Given the chance to plan and prepare and adjust for one opponent it will be interesting to see how Casey can organise his team, especially on the defensive end.  Equally, we all wait with baited breath for the series' equivalent of the coke spillage incident from Kidd.