THE SUPPORTING CAST IS READY

With the signing of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the new-look Brooklyn Nets are bound to get a ton of spotlight moving forward, even if the latter is more than likely to miss the rest of the season.

It’s also encouraging to see that the supporting cast are playing like a crop of solid role players, ready to be the guys in the background.

Taurean Prince, also an off-season acquisition, has a pair of good performances in the preseason. He had 18 points against the Brazillian team, Franca, and a team-high 22 points in their first of two consecutive games against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and another major free agent signing, DeAndre Jordan, will complete the Nets’ main rotation for the season. The talented crew, along with Irving, appears to be help guide the team to the next level. Even with Durant still sitting out, we should see the Nets be a major contender in the Eastern Conference.

PASCAL SIAKAM IS PRIMED TO BE AN ALL-STAR

The Toronto Raptors split its two preseason meetings with the Houston Rockets last week, with both getting decided in seven points or less. It was a strange stretch, though, as the Raptors won on the heels of a 34-point effort from James Harden but then followed it up with a loss despite the Rockets shooting 38.8%.

One constant thing for the defending champs is their versatile forward, Pascal Siakam. The 2019 Most Improved Player of the Year is poised to be the new number one man in Toronto and he’s slowly proving it in the preseason. In the pair of match-ups versus the Rockets, Siakam netted 20 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game.

The Raptors won the season series against the Nets this past season, 3-1, and averaged 117.3 points per game. Keep in mind, though, that both rosters have made some big changes since.

PREDICTION:

We should see an entertaining clash. Siakam’s match-ups with the forwards, as well as the battle of the two teams’ big men, will result in a close game. Fred VanVleet, who’s getting 13 points and 7.5 dimes a game in the preseason, may also continue his good run.

The Raptors win after a fun, back-and-forth affair.