NBA Playoffs: Storylines, predictions for Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets

NBA Playoffs: Storylines and a prediction for Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets

After a successful bubble schedule for the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, both teams are set to face-off in the first round of the NBA playoffs. While there might not be much dialogue (or interest) surrounding this matchup, there are certainly plenty of storylines that will play out over the course of the next week, or so (depending on how long the series extends).

The Raptors are the defending champions, but this is a much different team from last season. Kawhi Leonard is no longer with the team and Pascal Siakam has emerged as the team’s leader, along with Kyle Lowry. Toronto is one of the deepest teams in the NBA and has one of the best defenses.

The Nets are nursing key injuries and have been gutted since entering the NBA’s restart. Brooklyn is a shell of their former selves and will likely be a championship contender next season. Anything they accomplish this season is icing on the cake, sort to say.

How will this first-round playoff series play out? Will the Raptors regain their dominant force from the regular season? Will the Nets pick up where they left off in the bubble and make life difficult for the Raptors?

We explore these questions with three storylines and a prediction from the first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.