Game Three Preview - Raptors vs. Nets

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT in Media Watch

So far this series has been a bit of a chess match.

Lawrence Frank struck the first blow by setting the tone for the series using a slow-down, trapping zone defense which made the Raptors look more like Pilons than NBA players.

Toronto had some success finally in Game 2 at beating the zone but has still struggled to make shots. The team has shot 40 per cent in its first two games, a good chunk below its 46.3 per cent season average, and really needs some bench help.

It's bench help that should be key for the next two games.

It brought a smile to Franchise's face to hear the ACC faithful chanting "Mo Pete," "Mo Pete," "Mo Pete" in Game 2 after taking a charge and playing some solid defense on Richard Jefferson. I’m expecting to see much more of Peterson in tonight’s match and one has to wonder if Joey Graham’s role will fall behind Juan Dixon as the fourth man off the bench. If Graham does get minutes he absolutely has to make the best of them. Graham was a key contributor for this team down the stretch and getting quality minutes from him will play a role in determining how far this team goes this post-season. As we said before he is an x-factor.

Dixon has had a minimal impact thus far. Hopefully as the series goes on his wrist will heal up and he can provide some clutch baskets ala his days at Maryland.

In any event, New Jersey’s bench is currently outplaying that of the Raptors, something that seemed unthinkable before the start of the series. In fact, Frank hasn’t been afraid to go quite deep in his rotation playing Hassan Adams and even Antoine Wright (if you think Graham is a disappointment try Wright!)

Toronto hasn’t pulled Uros Slokar off the pine yet, but the way they’ve been shooting it's within the realm of possibilities that Luke Jackson get a look. Doubtful because of his terrible D (so key against the NJ wingmen) but possible.

You can’t say enough about Bostjan Nachbar. He has been a solid addition and is very athletic. Already guarding against the offensive threat of Carter and Jefferson, adding Nachbar to the lineup has become a match-up nightmare for the Raptors. Playing Chris Bosh on him forces Bosh out on the perimeter defensively leaving the rim unprotected and taking Toronto’s best rebounder out of the action in the paint.

Unfortunately, the match-up nightmare role in this series was supposed to be filled by Andrea Bargnani however Il Mago through two games has looked lost (maybe just rusty) at sea. Mitchell claims he is looking better in practice as of late but he needs to bring something to the table during the games. Beside Peterson’s play on defense, I think Bargs’ offense is going to be huge in determining the outcome of this series. Can the rookie get up to speed enough to make an impact? His long-range stroke and ability to stretch-out defenses would be huge in dismantling the Nets’ zone but to do that, he needs to start getting quality touches. In the series’ first two games, he was catching the ball in corners and as a result forcing the action. Hopefully in practice since Tuesday Sam Mitchell and co. have been working on this. Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker got the day off on Wednesday so Andrea should have gotten some more reps as the offensive focal point. I’m crossing my fingers that we see some positive results from that tonight. Even if he can't find his stroke he can still impact the game. Let's not forget his passing ability and the fact that he can rebound. All of this has been missing.

Incidentally, Franchise is currently in New York for a friend’s bachelor party. The crew is doing their rain dance hoping the Yanks game they bought tickets to a few months back gets rained in order to cause mayhem at AAA. Trust us when we say these boys will show-up and overpower the 20 Nets fans. As Chris Bosh said on Wednesday "well, after hearing
our fans, we’ll just see how things are in Jersey..."

The HQ

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Prediction:

Raps take game 3, loose game 4 (then win games 5 and 6)...

I think Joey will bounce back, but if he doesn't it is nice to know MoPete is ready, at least with the D.

The real X-Factor in this series has to be Big Rook. If he gets going with the scoring and the passing, watch out...

by Sep on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

As high as my hopes are for this game, it would fit the pattern to drop this one and win the next. Although I think a breakout game from bargnani or the appearance of joey garbajosa (haha - the joey that hits threes and defends with his feet) could give the raps the momentum to take things to the next level and leave NJ behind.

by axl on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

The bench has got to step up. Before Bargs went down, he was making significant contributions. When Bargs and Garbs went down, Joey and Hump stepped up. Right now, no one off the bench (or Joey) has elevated their play for the playoffs. They're actually playing worse!

In fact, only Parker, Bosh and sometimes TJ, have actually stepped up their game for the playoffs. The Nets have 3 players, the Raps are 12 deep! We should be blowing them out of the water with our reserves.

www.vincecartersucks.com

by DownWithVince on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

in a few articles today it was mentioned that graham has been quite sick since the end of the season...which made me extremely happy!! of course, it's not that I want him to be sick, it just hopefully justifies his recent play as of late.

all joking aside though, I would have to agree with the general sentiment that the team needs bargs to step up, and step up quickly. whether it's reasonable to expect or not doesn't even seem to matter anymore. the pressure is on.

he's been able to respond to most that's been thrown at him over the course of the season, and anybody who says they wouldn't be a little bit dissapointed if he didn't do the same now, would be lying.

nothing would make me happier for the rest of the weekend than a good, demoralizing nets thrashing tonight in front of a weak, weak jersey crowd!

by papa on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Hey Howland, I hope Franchise ends up at the CAA instead of AAA unless he would rather cheer for Miami to extend the series. Somehow, I doubt that's where he'd rather be. ;-)

by jjdynomite on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

JJ:

Good point, although I bet they would rather be in Miami post-game!

by HOWLAND on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

One thing I like what Vince did at the ACC... wait, hear me out. Is that he tried, and he tried to shut the raptors boos up. I know that "Vince Carter" and "tried" very rarely make the same sentence, but this
he did, and failed. Not only did he fail, but that is also hurting his team, instead of passing and giving others shots, he is forcing his own. Long may it continue. Until he starts scoring of course.
Tonight, I hope Joey and Chris are over their sickness, throw down a few on some Nets heads, Carter and Jefferson
would be preferable, and Andrea, Parker, and Mo knock down a load threes.
Can't wait.

by mcfly on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Kidd's in for sure...darn, him injured was a nice daydream while it lasted!

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=205719&hubname=

by Jdbar on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I am embarassed and devastated by that performance!
They should make sure to watch the entire tape of this game not just the abbreviated version so they know what the fans had to sit through.

Also what is it with the media, coaches, callers, everyone here? They talk about how good Carter, Kidd, Jefferson, whoever was rather than the simple truth this is: We were brutal! Just Brutal!!

by Raptor99 on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

more rasho, less dixon

seriously lacking defense

at least bargs got comfortable

by axl on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Whoa, yikes. Greatest fear of VC kickin it came true. Ummm.. the Raps fought and made mini runs a couple of times to get within 8? (struggling here)

I just wished the raps fouled VC hard like the Nets did to Bosh.

by Ustation on Apr 27, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Not about to get down on these guys after the year we've had. Expect a better performance Sunday.
Credit Jersey - you know there was a reason most had Jersey the favourites(only team w/o home court adv to be so).Kidd, Carter, Jefferson are a tough threesome each night and as I watch more of this series I see that Jersey has several role players capable of stepping up on any given night. And lets be honest, Jersey is an older, more experienced team.
That said- I'm not giving up on the Raps. This team has shown the ability to bounce back after abad game(and last night was a stinker).
Barghani is not near 100%, Graham and Bosh have been sick all week. The breaks in between games can only help.

by Tinman on Apr 28, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions