Nets vs Raptors Preview: Game 3

Photo Credit: @BrooklynNets On Twitter

NETS VS RAPTORS GAME 3

The stage is set for game three in this best of 7 series between the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors. The setting has changed to Brooklyn for the next two games where the Nets will have home court in hopes of going up 3-1 before heading back to Toronto for a game 5. The lights will be shining bright at the Barclays center tonight as the Toronto Raptors look to walk into a very angry Nets fan base. The rally towels are ready to go and both teams are planning on it to be a sight to see come Friday night.

During the week players and coaches on both teams made comment regarding the environment they plan to see come game time.

Raptor’s coach Dwayne Casey is expecting a hostile environment. “That’s one thing that concerns me about our young team is going into a hostile environment,” Casey said.

DeMar DeRozan doesn’t think being on the road changes their quality of play, “We understand, you want to call the underdog, whatever you want to call it, we go in there with that mindset. We feel like everybody’s against us and we’re out there to go against everybody,” he said. “That’s our mindset, honestly, every time we step on the road.”

Although Toronto was 22-19 away from home this season, a franchise record for victories and tied for the most among East teams, they lost 12 straight in the playoffs since beating Philadelphia in Game 1 of the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals. The Raptors are tied with the Nets at the Barclays Center this year with one game a piece. They have been doing a good job of matching Brooklyn’s intensity up to this point so a road win is not out of the question for the Raptors. In fact many teams have been losing at home in the NBA in Round 1.

“You just look around throughout the playoffs, a lot of teams have been losing at home.” said Joe Johnson

But the Nets have been some story at home during 2014. They are 28-13 at home this season and were 16-2 in their last 18 home games to end the season. Brooklyn won one on the road. Now they need to capitalize at home.

Keys For Brooklyn:

• Continue to be aggressive
• Be better on the boards
• Make free throws

Tonight the Nets will face off with the Raptors starting at 7:00 live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

PuresportsNY: Bobby O’Hara