Tip-In: Let the Suicide Watch Begin

Whoa how do you guys update this stuff so quick! Good on ya mate.

I wouldn't have check this site at all normally at this time... but I'm at the stage of an all nighter where I'm desperate to read anything that won't be on my exam in the morning.

Whoa how do you guys update this stuff so quick! Good on ya mate.

I wouldn't have check this site at all normally at this time... but I'm at the stage of an all nighter where I'm desperate to read anything that won't be on my exam in the morning.

Well hopefully Luke Jackson is another BC steal, however we may have been to early to praise him as a supergenius on the Jones-Dixon deal. Dixon last few games have been terrible, he still looks a way better player than Fred Jones (so the deal is obviously good), but it's probably not as ridicously good as we thought after watching his first few games.

Also, have you noticed about Dixon's shooting patterns? You just have to look at his first 6 shots: if he goes 6/6, he will keep on shooting, and if he goes 0/6.... he will keep on shooting too :-)

Is Luke Jackson the new Mo Pete? Seriously, send Peterson on his way, skywalker can play.

sleep is going to be hard to come by the next few nights thinking about noon saturday.

I don't care what anybody says: a first round match up against the wiz would have been easier, no doubt, but now facing vince, I mean the nets, this is what it's all about!!

time to lock up a sports bar for noon saturday.

Forty-eight shmorty-shmate.

I'm just glad I didn't see chris bosh laying under the basket with his foot turned 90 degrees the wrong way, screaming in pain. If I was smitch I would have sat him and AP after the first. Much less would I have recommended charging into the paint or even taking the charge he took. No, playing defense gets people hurt and we definitely need all our people. Besides that, bargnani and jackson were by far the worst defensive liabilities on the floor last night. I can't believe I'm writing this, but I was wishing we had joey g because he's finally got the defensive footwork that bargs and tarantino (as I like to call LJ) won't have for a couple of years. We're starting into the playoffs (!!!) saturday and I'd rather the raps go in on a reality check than on overconfidence.

I'm pissed about playing the nets though, although washington seems to be figuring things out and really the pressures' on vince. If we lose, we've still annihilated expecations, vince loses and he's the goat to end all goats.

I think the key for the Nets series will be for our point guards to box out Kidd. He's the Nets' leading rebounder and Smitch needs to hammer it home for TJ and Jose to put a body on him!

TJ I hope U read this NJ team D in the paint against the dribble was awsume
LJ play some D if U play
should be a fun series

Maybe a dumb question, but what's with the 2nd column of times on ESPN's playoff schedule?

Well, we have a tougher matchup in the first round with the Nets win last night but the consolation prize is that we got an easier matchup in the second round in Cleveland.

So while on the surface it looks like a tougher road for the Raps, in reality it may have just gotten a lot easier with us not having to fact the Bulls/Heat/Pistons until the east finals.

The Nets are playing their best basketball of the season. The key will be to set the tone early on. If we lose a couple of games in the first 3, that may boost the Nets confidence. We need to lock down on Vince, keep him in the perimeter and for god sakes CB4, take it hard to the rim. They have no one that can stop you! No perimeter shots for CB4 allowed.

As for the networks, eventually, there will be no other teams left and they will have to put the Raptors on ABC.

I’m in NY for a couple of days and watched the Nets broadcast on two different networks last night, ESPN and some other local network that I can’t remember. There seems to be a general disrespect for the Raptors and their actual talent level. This is probably because these broadcasters haven’t covered any Raptor games this year and probably never saw them play. I think this plays in our advantage.

Anyone see the Vegas odds on this series? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nets were favoured.

PS how would you like to be a Bulls fan right now? You have the 3rd best record in the east, have the best home record in the east have been playing terrific basketball down the stretch yet you have to be disappointed. You now face the Heat followed by the Pistons. Last nights game sealed their early demise. Their hopes of competing for the East Championships has been evaporated. They will be lucky to get out of the first round.

If you know a bulls fan, they could use a hug today.

"As for the networks, eventually, there will be no other teams left and they will have to put the Raptors on ABC."

lol that's funny

This is an opportunity for the team to exorcise it's ugliest of personal demons.

Beat the Nets and the Raptors will never fear anything ever again.

I don't think the Raptor players have any "demons" to exorcise vis a vis the Nets (assuming Chris Bosh's head doesn't do a Linda Blair/Garbo's ankle during the series). It's the fans who have the issue.

I like how when Sam in the PG was asked about Luke's performance, and he immediately started talking about how bad our defence was. Zing! I think he'll have these guys back to where they were against the Bulls two weeks ago.

Well...ESPN.com already has the Nets in six (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=2007PlayoffPreview) and somehow the Toronto Star turned an article on Chris Bosh into a Mats Sundin comparison (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/204881)...nice to see that everything's status quo in medialand.

Scrubzero - Good question concerning the other times on the schedule - maybe when they will be televised out West? Even that doesn't really make sense though and none of the other playoff schedules indicate anything of the sort so not sure.

Any word on Mo Pete's knee?

Franchise. Thanks for the article. I'm afraid we're in trouble. As a Knicks fan growing up (old enough to remember their last Championship back in the day with Willis Reed, and Bill Bradley); and a Raptors fan since inception, I really hope that we can snap out of this funk and beat the Nets. Go Raptors go!

tfan, what funk? Do you mean the last couple of games? If that's what people are looking at, then is anyone worried about Dallas', Phoenix's or San Antonio's funk? The last few games no one really cared about.

Foxsports is calling the Raptors in 6 (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6692700)

I think we need to be a little more cautious while jumping on the Luke Jackson bandwagon. He was TERRIBLE on defense yesterday. Philly's strategy was to give the ball to whoever he was gaurding. I bet, they guys he was gaurding scored more than thirty he got. He's a nice player, but Mo-Pete he is not, at least not yet.

AP however made Hollinger's all Defensive (2nd) team, http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=All-Defense
and garbajosa got an honorable mention.

Meanwhile he picked Calderon as the MIP.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2842067&name=hollinger_john

Erezona:

I am picking the Raps in 7 in an epic series. I don't think we should give credence to anything on Fox Sports as they feature arguably the worst slate of reporters and columnists out there (with the obvious exception of the Sun).

To: scrubzero says:
April 19th, 2007
Maybe a dumb question, but what's with the 2nd column of times on ESPN's playoff schedule? I live in the US and the schedule came out at midnight, Saturday @ 3:30pm Rap and Nets,and Cav and Wiz on ESPN... Raps has to lock down Carter, they have to triple team him, in the US one of the analysis said the Nets depend on Carter to lead their team, if Carter lock down they Nets will fall, and I know only 2 analysis thinks Raps will win in 6. On NBA TV Fred Carter (who is normally right) thinks the Raps will win because of the way they play, they are very close to Phenix East, and he also said the Nets have to be careful not fall in our trap. This is one of the Raps biggest test, and if they take this round it will make them stronger in the 2nd round. GO RAPS...

Peace,

If raps just turn it up a notch, stick to what got them here, limit mistakes, I think they have the chemistry to pull it together.

To be honest, now that it is solidified, this is BALL. I look forward to good BALL, Vince will bring it along with kid, but for some reason I think our pg's are gonna be the engine....beware for a MEGA GAME from TJ and Calderone...the team effort is gonna be very apparent.

I'll be first to claim a SWEEP!!!!!

I said it first! bUT if I'm wrong, Franchise said it. lol.

One Love to all who make this forum the Best on the Block...straight goods. I find all comments are very thoughtful and unemotional and highly knowledgeable...it's light years better than reading anything else on the raps.

And big shouts to those who run tings on this forum, the insight is top notch...keep up the EXCELLENT work, it will pay off.

Peace

raps -165 favorites to win according to vegas

the series that is

Raps -151 for the series at Pinnacle.

Raps backer Marc Stein from ESPN.com picks the Nets in 6.

The HQ should have a clock counting down the minutes until game time...

I'm gonna show my age but Luke Jackson can't be given the moniker "Skywalker" because that was already bestowed on Kenny Walker - a former slam dunk champion.

And is Chuck trying to name him "Cool Hand Luke" or is that his real handle?

Hen - Yeah, don't think the Skywalker thing should stick, we'll have to find something else. While I'm a big Paul Newman fan, not sure Cool Hand Luke really fits the bill either, but we know how Chuck loves the nicknames. I still think he looks like Stifler crossed with Jim Carrey...he's got that sneering grin...

Here's hoping that Joey and Mo are ready to go. With Garbo out, we need some swingman defenders to be energetic and physical with Jefferson and Wince.
They are going to post up Kidd on Ford all the time. We'll have to play a zone much of the time. If we are doubling up on Kidd like Chicago did, Carter will go for 40.
I'm a little disappointed witht he media and blogs acting like Big Bad Bince is gonna come back and destroy us. Chill people. This is the time to enjoy this. Take on the comers as they come. We are a better team than the Nets. Kidd can't defend either PG off the dribble. Jefferson isn't back yet - Graham or Mo can guard him one on one. Most importantly, Parker is the best defender we've had in this town in a long time. He'll make it tough on Wince to really penetrate. After those 3, the Nets have a couple of gritty guys in Nachbar and Moore, but little else. Our depth, even with injuries, is much better. No one on their team can guard Bosh. We actually have an advantage on this team in the front court at the center position. Nesto may be a key. Bargs may be huge later on. This is looking good as long as we don't go into our usual Torontonian self-depractation mode. We're good and, gosh darn it, we're gonna kick ass.

I was looking at Dixon's stats - don't get to see too many Raps games - and am wondering about his streakiness. Is it mechanics, shot selection or ????. perhaps some of you who watch the games regularly can enlighten me - thanks.

how about Cool Hand Luke?

Hey Guys, out of all the panel the only person that believe we will win are 2 1 of them is Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woods, so we are the under dog but the Raps will go against the odd just like at the begining of the season only 1 person on the panel thought we would make it to the playoff, be division champs, and his name is Jackson on ESPN, so we will all see, I never underestimate the next person they do.

Doug Smith said it best in his mailbag on friday. There's just SOMETHING about this team. Something special. The guys play a better team game than most others in the league.

I'll preface my prediction by saying if we go out in the first round it's not a great big deal. They earned a trip to the playoffs, but this is their first year together, and honestly, I think Garbo is a piece of the crunchtime that the Raps will still be missing hugely in the playoffs.

That all said, with so many guys with so much to prove on this team, I find it hard to conceive that they won't go off on NJ, especially with the crowd at the ACC behind 'em. I'm going to say they steal one in New Jersey, and take it in 5.

I know everyone is focusing on who's defending Carter, but who would he have to defend? It seems lately any number of guys can pick up their game and go off for 20+ (which from bench guys is handy).

What I really wanna see:
- Bargnani goes for like 40 some night. Off the bench.
- Carter gets caught on a poster underneath a SICK, WICKED, and NASTY(TM) dunk by Kilo-Graham!
- Bosh averages 35 points/20 rebounds a game against New Jersey's second stringer front court.

(TM) = Yeah, Chuck used to say it all the time.

I've thought about it a zillion times, and I've decided... I'm happy they got the Nets instead of the Wizards.

Win or Lose this series, I think this will be good experience for the Team. having to deal with the stupid Vince questions during the scrums, added heat from the fans, and general pandimonium. If we picked up the Wiz, it may have been a cake walk, then go on to face the Cavs, and if they go on to have a quick exit, they might not really get to feel play off basketball. This series should contribute significantly to the development of Bosh & Bargs. A taste of the madhouse that is ACC.

Bring the RED!

okay, I'm starting to settle down a bit now and have been able to think about the match-up more closely.

here's what I'm thinking:

1) humps vs moore. this is one guy, (humps,) that I think could be a critical (and overlooked) key to winning this series. humps, the way he's been playing recently, could have a field day with the soft nets on the inside. offensive rebounds galore could be a fast ticket to a fast series. I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to get more minutes than rasho during this series.

2) joey g. (obviously.) we love to hate him, but if he decides to show up and get physical with carter, and make him work on defence, maybe get him in foul trouble early, some good joey action will go a long way to containing whince on the other end. we'll see.

I'm going to keep my eye on those two and see what happens.

Lots of good stuff to look forward to!

- I say we get Parker help guarding Carter whenever Carter goes for the lane, and otherwise back off and let him bomb away from the land beyond. Sure he can put up 35+ on a night when he gets hot, but denying him easy access to the rim will take all his fun away. And a miserable Vince Carter is a thing to behold ('ow my back' touch the spine and make Vince Carter face - when he does that, you know he's done and so is the series)

- They have nothing that can stop the speed of CalForderone.

- Bosh and Nesterovich have to be awesome vs Moore and Balkman. If those two guys are eating our lunch on the inside it will be a short series with NJ moving on.

- Its been commented on, but the Raps are simply better coached. Team play will go a long way towards neutralizing the individual star power of the Nets.

- One exceptional bench player a game is all that is necessary for the Raps to be victorious. Joey G going off for 19-9-5 and playing solid D. Hump pulling in even a low dub-dub in pts and rebs, or Nesterovich throwing a block party and getting one for each finger on his left hand. Even a Calderone seizing the 3rd qtr while Kidd rests. Watch for a new hero each game as the bench for TO gets worked out.

- Watch for a spike in both Prozac prescriptions and public drunkenness if the Raps lose to Wince.

-