Saturday, April 19, 12:30 PM on ESPN, YES

Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

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Saturday afternoon, the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors will open their 1st Round Eastern Conference playoff series. The teams met 4 times during the regular season with the teams splitting the season series. Three of the four games were close, with the winner never securing a margin of victory larger than 4 points. The other game in the series was a 16 point victory for the Raptors.

For the Nets to have made the playoffs should have not been a surprise to many but at times it didn’t look like this team could win a game, let alone get to the postseason.  Despite a lineup loaded with veterans and playoff experience, the season was a struggle at times.  But they managed to get things together down the stretch.  In Game 1, Brooklyn will need to exploit the inexperience of Toronto and to make the Raptors play the game at the Nets’ pace.

The Raptors played their way into the postseason based on their all around combination of speed, athleticism, offense, and defense.  They were tough for slower teams to handle and they will look to exploit the age of the Nets.   Toronto knows how to play hard and if they take advantage of their home court, they could get past the veteran Nets. In Game 1 the Raptors will need to set the pace early.  If they run the Nets up and down the court, they could make it a long night for the veterans from Brooklyn.        

ATS Trends

Brooklyn is 22-18-1 ATS on the road this season

Brooklyn is 19-22-0 against the over/under on the road this season

Toronto is 21-19-1 ATS at home this season

Toronto is 24-16-1 against the over/under at home this season

Injuries to Watch

Brooklyn

12/22/13 C Brook Lopez Foot out for season
04/17/14 F Mirza Teletovic Personal missed last game, probable Saturday vs. Toronto
04/17/14 G Shaun Livingston Toe missed last game, probable Saturday vs. Toronto

Toronto

04/18/14 F Amir Johnson Ankle is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Brooklyn

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto

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