The Brooklyn Nets are not playing like the team favored to sweep away the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Originally picked to make quick work of the Raptors, the Nets have looked pretty uninspired over the last game, resulting in a tied series as things shift back to Toronto. The Raptors came in underrated and they are playing like it. Now with a critical Game 5 in front of them, which team shows up on Wednesday?
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is preaching toughness to his team and the message is getting across. The Raptors are operating on all cylinders as they have used youth and athleticism to beat up on the Nets' experience. After disappointing in Game 1, DeMar DeRozan has looked like a different player, averaging 28 points a game and letting his scrappy mindset keep Toronto in the series.
The youth of the Raptors is showing. The team keeps things close until the fourth quarter where they have excelled in each of their wins. The Raptors have been outscored in the third quarter by an average of 27 points, but they turn it back on in the fourth when Brooklyn appears to be getting tired or sitting in foul trouble.
The play of Deron Williams will be crucial in Game 5. In each of the team's two wins, he has averaged 22 and 25 points. In the losses, he put up 15 and a season-low 10 points. He is getting criticism for putting up too many three-point shots as Paul Pierce noted he would prefer if the point guard was more aggressive in getting to the net rather than hanging out beyond the arc.
Turnovers will be a deciding factor as well. Brooklyn ranks fourth in league averaging 8.6 steals per game while the Raptors are giving up 59 turnovers through three games. However, they did get that number under control in Game 4, keeping Brooklyn at bay with their ball stealing abilities. The Nets only had six steals in Game 4 while Toronto only turned it over 12 times. The team who can win that battle likely wins the game.
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