It’s not just that Durant, a natural problem solver on the court, is missing, it’s that Irving isn’t in the Nets’ home games either. At the moment, although everything is heading towards an upcoming release in that regard. But they can’t wait. The season goes to Brooklyn in games like this. The Raptors are not only a direct rival, but they had the opportunity to leave the reputation of one of the favorites for the title in the ground hours after they won at the champion’s court. Kyrie’s loss increases its importance because they have no margin for error. In the transfer market they traded Harden for Simmons and the second is still not playing games, Curry, Drummond and Dragic lack adaptation, time passes and the Canadians already outperform this super team in victories. At the Barclays Center they suffer the unspeakable: a victory in the last seven dates they have had there. It may be temporary, but it’s not a coincidence.
The Raptors came out with the sharp knife and dealt severe blows to the rival from the very beginning. 42 points in the first heat boosted them to gain advantage and win in the following three stages. No option for some Nets who fell for 36: 97-133.
Nurse’s men were much more aggressive, forcing Nash’s team absent due to illness to have ten more losses than them. They were more successful in the shots, scoring more than half of those from the field and approaching it also in those that were only worth three points. A considerable review in which no one was spared in the New York team. A period of reflection is opened for these games within the Nets if they cannot count, for the moment, on any other player. They are eighth in the conference standings, the Raptors open a little more gap with them, and they are out of direct access positions in an East that has become very expensive this year.
In the return of the All-Star we must remember that reality is this, not that. Rookie Scottie Barnes was showered with sticks for failing a newly created test on the Friday night of that event. And what else does he give? Breaking season for this player and a meeting of value in Brooklyn. 28 points, 16 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists and a sweet 12/14 shooting to show that he knows how to shoot. His grit was noted in a first quarter that was the perfect boost for the Torontonians. Siakam, who is going through a slump in the game and stayed here at a poor 2/14, conducted operations well in that stretch to win the battle against some poor Nets.
The not so usual were the Raptors’ master key. This also serves to show their strength as a whole. Another inside, Precious Achiuwa (20), was the best substitute and Malachi Flynn (18) acted as a perfect substitute at point guard for VanVleet, who was absent on Monday. And the Nets let themselves go! The lack of ability they had to change the rhythm of the match and how time passed until the end of the night without anything having another color was surprising. The warning is already very clear in Brooklyn.
