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TORONTO - Moments after the Raptors storybook regular season came to an end, losing a meaningless game to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Wednesday, Kyle Lowry addressed his teammates in the visitors dressing room. Turning the page, the focus immediately shifted to the challenge that lay ahead of them, their most arduous test yet and one many of them have only dreamt of, heard about or watched on television. With the battle-tested Brooklyn Nets looming - their first playoff game set to tip-off early Saturday afternoon - the Raptors are leaning on their veterans, on Lowry, his experience and leadership. What did he say to rally his troops ahead of the crucial preparation stage that precedes a postseason series? "Thats for me and my guys to know," he said, chatty as ever. "Kyle came in here, hes been in the playoffs, and told us it starts [Thursday]," DeMar DeRozan clarified, offering a little more insight. "[Thursday] morning, as soon as we come to work its going to start there - studying, understanding what they run, their tendencies." As youve probably heard by now, the Raptors are a young, inexperienced team. Theyve heard about too, its the narrative that drives this series. Lowry and Amir Johnson account for all 24 games of playoff experience in the Raptors starting lineup. Neither have been to the dance in five years, neither have ever started a postseason game. Meanwhile the Nets starters have played in 399 postseason games. They have six players who have logged more than twice as many playoff minutes as any Raptor. Theyll be reminded of it over and over again for two weeks and then, should they advance to round two, itll be revisited once again. They cant run from it, not until they prove its a non-factor, but give them credit for the effort. "I mean, it aint like its rocket science or nothing," said DeRozan, asked about making his playoff debut on Saturday. "Everybody keeps talking to me like, bringing it up like its rocket science or Ive got to know trigonometry or something. You just figure it out. You just go out there. Ive been playing this game long enough, Ive been in the league long enough, been in a lot of situations. So it shouldnt be hard." He has a point. Playoff basketball is still basketball, after all. The game is the same; its the stage that changes. The stakes that are higher and the room for error is narrowed. Some adjust to it better than others. "Everythings at stake so youve just got to be ready for everything," the all-star guard acknowledged. "I think Ive watched enough playoff basketball to see how physical it is and to see how things go. Even superstar players dont get calls out there. So Im conscious of it. Im not naive of anything. Now Im in a position to go through it myself." That heightened, more physically punishing brand of basketball has burned Raptors stars of the past. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh all shot below 40 per cent in their first playoff series, with Carter barely breaking the 30 per cent barrier and scoring six points fewer than his average that season. "Its a different level," said Dwane Casey, who will be making his playoff debut as a head coach after winning a title as an assistant in Dallas. "Its a different level in intensity, more physicality, less fouls called. Youve got to play through it and thats one thing that theyll learn. The only way you can do that, though, is to go through it." "I dont want to overhype it to scare our guys. Its still basketball but guys will see the difference, theyll feel that as soon as they walk on the court." Along with DeRozan, sophomores Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross, as well as fourth-year forward Patrick Patterson are among the teams rotation players who have yet to experience playoff basketball. How big of a role does experience play in the postseason? Given the staggering discrepancy between the two teams, this series could solve that query as much or more than any other in recent memory. Theres no telling how Torontos players might react to the adjustments theyll have to make, both in terms of their mental approach and on-court toughness, but they wont have the luxury of a grace period, not against the team theyre up against. The Raptors cant afford to ease their way in, hosting games one and two at the Air Canada Centre - where they won 22 of their final 29 contests - before the series shifts to Brooklyns Barclays Center, a building the Nets have dominated in since Jan. 1. The most promising quality the Raptors players displayed following Thursday afternoons practice was fearlessness. Theyre not the least bit shaken by the Nets, their experience or the theory that they may have been at the top of Brooklyns postseason wish list. "I mean, were all in the same league, man," DeRozan said. "Honestly, thats how I look at it, man. Credit to them, they did what they did but we play against guys who are experienced all season, honestly." As DeRozan has pointed out, their young legs may also be beneficial against an older, slower club. Although they rank towards the bottom of the league in fast break points - just marginally ahead of the Nets - the Raptors have been able to get out and run against Brooklyn this season. However, the spaced out schedule - with their first four games spanning nine days - at least appears to favour the veteran Nets, who will get a chance to recharge their batteries following each contest, a concern Patterson expressed on Thursday. Torontos true advantage my lie in their size and strength up front, if they choose to utilize it. The Nets turned around their once disastrous season in part by featuring their small lineup, with two point guards in the backcourt and Paul Pierce at the four spot. Although closing out on Brooklyns shooters and defending Pierce on the perimeter presents a challenge in and of itself, they were ranked second to last in rebounding and the Raptors bested them on the boards by 19 this year. Kevin Garnett, who played in just two of the four meetings this season, is nearing his NBA swan song but is still a difference maker defensively and on the glass when hes on the court. The Raptors could force the issue by attacking the paint, putting pressure of Garnett and the Nets frontcourt, void of a true shot blocking presence. "We know who the match-ups are," Casey said. "Weve just got to take it and dissect it and take advantage of the things we have an advantage in, which is our speed, athleticism and our energy. Weve got to keep a fast tempo in the game." Victor Wanyama Jersey . Austin Watson, Scott Ford, Filip Forsberg and Mark Van Guilder had the other goals for the Admirals (30-21-12). Scott Darling made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season. Dele Alli Jersey . Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected to lead Chicago to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Monday night. http://www.footballhotspurstore.com/Wome...pur-Jersey/.com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Davinson Sanchez Jersey . Now Arizonas new manager is hoping Yasmany Tomas can have the same effect on the Diamondbacks. Danny Rose Jersey . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on.Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez insists his side can take positives from their display despite losing 3-2 at relegation rivals Norwich on Saturday. Benitezs side fell behind twice at Carrow Road, with Aleksandar Mitrovic levelling the game on both occasions, before Martin Olsson struck a stoppage-time winner for the home team.And the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss believed that, despite their defeat, his side showed great resolve in getting back into the game twice. The first half we didnt play well but the reaction of the team in the second half was pretty good, Benitez told Sky Sports. We were pushing and with the two goals we scored I thought we could win the game.But we made a mistake and conceded another goal and its disappointing at this stage of the season and in this situation. Norwich boss Alex Neil says his side deserved to beat Newcastle But we have to think of the positives, the reaction of the team was a positive and there are seven games to play.ddddddddddddDefeat leaves Newcastle second bottom of the Premier League table, six points behind Norwich in 17th, with time running out to save their top-flight status. Norwichs Martin Olsson is congratulated after scoring the late winner But Benitez insists his side are not looking at the Premier League table and simply taking their fight for survival one game at a time.Its one game at a time so we cannot see the table, he said. We have to think about Southampton then try and improve and get ready for the next game and try to get three points in the next one.I told the players after the game the only way is to keep pushing and keep working hard and we can do it. Also See: Norwich earn dramatic late win Norwich 3-2 Newcastle recap Benitez: Fight for your future Get a £10 free bet Cheap Barcelona JerseysCheap Real Madrid Jerseys AuthenticCheap Bayern Munich JerseysCheap Dortmund JerseysCheap USA JerseysCheap USWNT JerseysFrance Soccer JerseysSoccer Mexico JerseysCheap Germany JerseysCheap Belgium Soccer JerseysBrazil Jerseys From ChinaGermany Jerseys From ChinaAuthentic Soccer Mexico JerseysCheap Portugal Soccer JerseysWholesale Spain JerseysCheap France Football JerseysCheap Germany Jerseys AuthenticCheap Mexico Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Colombia JerseysCheap Belgium Football JerseysWholesale Argentina JerseysCheap USA Soccer Jerseys Chinacheap uswnt jersey authenticAuthentic AC Milan JerseysDiscount Arsenal JerseysWholesale A.S. 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