The Brooklyn Nets are back in the postseason and gearing up for a playoff series for initially since 2007. The fourth-seeded Nets will host the shorthanded Chicago Bulls in Round 1 this spring, winning Contests 1 and 2 in the brand-new Barclays Center, which will host its first NBA playoff game on Saturday night in primetime on ESPN. Light emitting diode by the good trio of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, Brooklyn will have the edge, but its hands full against Chicago in the opening round. The Bulls took three of four matchups from the Nets this play lights-out team security and past regular time that's certain to offer the Nets plenty of problems. Brooklyn should avoid looking ahead to a possible second-round conflict with the Miami Heat this postseason, and alternatively concentrate on the task available, winning four games against one of many league's scrappiest teams in Chicago. Circular 1 Playoff Schedule (due to NBA.com) *if necessary Standard Period Review Record: 49-33, Second in Atlantic Division Factors Leader: Creek Lopez, 19.4 Rebounds Leader: Reggie Evans, 11.1 Assists Leader: Deron Williams, 7.7 Greatest Strength: Place Guard Streeter Lecka/Getty Photographs With Deron Williams working the show for the Nets this postseason, they will have a substantial advantage on the Bulls, who are without former group MVP position guard Derrick Rose. Williams is a genuine superstar, and ranked fifth among NBA point guards in both assists and scoring this season, averaging 18.9 details and 7.7 assists per night. Fifth among all point guards were also ranked by him in three-pointers made, banging in 169 this year. In four starts against Chicago this season, Williams connected on 42 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, and with Rose missing from Chicago's lineup all season long, it is not difficult to see why. Williams, having were only available in 44 job playoff activities, will be the Nets' biggest power in this collection, especially with it looking more and more likely that Rose will not return. Largest Weakness: Baseball Motion Rob Carr/Getty Photographs While Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are both massive resources for Brooklyn, the disadvantage of these models is that the ball will get stuck inside their hands from time to time. The Nets rated 27th in the NBA in assists per game this season, and wore among the worst assist-turnover rates in the category at 1.46. If Brooklyn's offense gets flat too frequently in this collection it could spell doom. Chicago's defensive ability is amazing, and the last thing the Nets should do is assist the Bulls on that end of a floor. Stable, regular ball activity will push Tom Thibodeau's security to open up and produce exemplary scoring odds for the Nets. Most readily useful Matchup: Guard Perform If Rose doesn't return this postseason for Chicago, the Brooklyn Nets could have an advantage on the perimeter with stars Deron Williams and Joe Johnson leading the way in which. When Johnson is in rhythm, slamming down images and remembering how to get to the edge, this can be a group and will soon be awfully difficult to stop on the offensive end. Johnson and Williams are combining to score over 35 points per game this year, and if they could continue to reach that mark in this collection, they must certanly be set to move onto the conference semifinals. With Brook Lopez demanding attention in leading court, the two backcourt stars needs to have plenty of opportunities to hurt the Bulls from outside, on the drive and even in pick-and-roll circumstances. Worst Matchup: On the Glass Al Bello/Getty Images The Nets certainly are a strong rebounding basketball staff, standing inside the top in the group. But Chicago is really a somewhat better rebounding group, which gives it a genuine possibility in this collection. Even though Brooklyn won the battle on the panels in the first two games against Chicago in 2013, the Bulls focused because region in the most recent conference, finishing plus-13 on the glass and thus winding up with 12 more picture efforts compared to the Nets. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer are both tremendous rebounders and will need to be used under wraps in this series. After all, it is no solution, so as to get in the postseason you have got to find a way to jump the ball consistently. Second-chance options result in second-chance points and in this line points is likely to be hard in the future by, putting an additional increased exposure of rebounding. The Nets are strong enough on the interior to gain this game, however. Key Player: Joe Brown Bruce Bennett/Getty Photos Keep a detailed eye on Joe Johnson in this collection since the former Atlanta Hawk contains the key to Brooklyn's success. In four starts against Chicago this season, the veteran shooting guard has struggled to find his photo, striking just 43 percent from the 31 percent and field from downtown. He also averaged just 13 points per game contrary to the Bulls this season, while turning the ball over four times per game as well. If Johnson can make and take intelligent photographs in this line and take excellent care of the baseball, the Nets may have top of the hand. Otherwise, the Bulls could display the disappointed and grow this line out. Prediction: Brooklyn Wins 4-3 Based on how limited these clubs were during the regular season and the fact that the Nets may have home-court advantage, you've surely got to like the odds of this collection going the exact distance. No regular time conference was decided by over 11 points and three of the four activities were decided by four or less points. Nevertheless, I search for this collection to be one of many more even-fought first-round matchups. Both groups are outstanding at keeping one other off the scoreboard, and that may make for many exciting results. Both these groups finished with successful records on the road this season as well, and on the road in this series for each to win one I look. Consequently, I like the Nets to fit out a in Game 7 at home to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Follow Bleacher Report Included Writer Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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