Canadians in the NBA – 2014 Playoff Preview

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The 2014 NBA Playoffs began this past weekend with exciting matchups and key storylines emerging. While it is still early in the postseason, the games have been gripping and featured close scores.

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<table class="MsoTableGrid" border="0" cellspacing="0">    <tbody>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Date<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Visitor<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Home<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Time (ET)<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Canadians in Play<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Tuesday April 22^nd <o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Brooklyn Nets<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Toronto Raptors<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">7:30pm<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">N/A<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday April 23^rd <o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Dallas Mavericks<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">San Antonio Spurs<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">8:00pm<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Cory Joseph<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Friday April 25^th <o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Toronto Raptors<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Brooklyn Nets<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">7:30pm<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">N/A<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Saturday April 26^th <o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Dallas Mavericks<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">San Antonio Spurs<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">4:30pm<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Cory Joseph<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Sunday April 27^th <o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Toronto Raptors<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">Brooklyn Nets<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">7:00pm<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>            <td width="89" valign="top">            <p class="MsoNormal">N/A<o:p></o:p></p>            </td>        </tr>    </tbody></table>

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Top 3 Games

Tuesday April 22

Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors

Toronto is coming off its first playoff game in six years – a 94-87 loss to Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon. Toronto’s younger players had a chance to see what post-season basketball is like for the first time, so they should be able to play their game and not be as tentative with the basketball. It is vital for Toronto to come away from the first two games in this series with a split. DeMar DeRozan (3-13 from the floor, 14 points) was the key to the Raptors’ success all season and needs to be better tonight. One win can be a major confidence boost for a young team and allow them to think they can keep up with the veteran Nets.

Wednesday April 23

Mavericks at Spurs

San Antonio is coming off a 90-85 win over Dallas in the first game of their series. Although the Spurs finished at the top of the Western Conference, the veteran Mavericks cannot be counted out at any time. Dirk Nowitzki (4-14 from the floor, 11 points) had a forgettable game and should play much better for Dallas in Game 2. If Nowitzki plays the way he has all season, a 5-point lead will not be enough to hold off the experienced Mavericks. Cory Joseph did not play in the first game, but averaged 13.8 minutes per game in the regular season. In 2013, Joseph played 9.6 minutes per game and with Gregg Popovich’s use of a deep bench, the Pickering, Ont. native could hit the court in Game 2.

Friday April 25

Raptors at Nets

Depending on what happens Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors will have a series split or be down 0-2. No matter the result, Game 3 will be the most important road game of the season for the Raptors, who were one of the best road teams in the NBA this season while also setting a franchise record for wins on the road. Their experience of success away from the ACC will be of utmost importance to their success in Game 3.

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