Game Four Preview - Raptors vs Nets

Wow. The last game was just.... wow. I had a massive flashback to when Kobe went off for 81. Toronto looked like they were start struck.
For all the Smitch haters out there, get real. I highly doubt that Smitch's game plan was "ok, TJ come down the floor and everyone just stand around doing nothing then someone just jack up a shot". You cannot blame Smitch for the Raps terror of going into the paint. I think they have an allergy or something. As for Bosh not getting enough touches, can you blame the rest of the Toronto players. I mean any of them can take a jump shot from the top of the key so why bother giving the ball to CBjumpshot. It was the most ming bogling thing I think I have ever seen. I know they dont want to turn the ball over but I would rather they turned the ball over 50 times in that game attacking the rim then them settling for jumper after jumper. The weirdest thing was that Collins and Mikki Moore were both in early foul trouble and still they didnt take advantage of that by attacking the rim.
On defense I think the Raps thought if they could just make Carter tired they would have some success. Well Carter was so tired he had to come out of the game. It didnt help. Toronto had better be more competitive tonight or it will be over in 5.

If the Raptors don't figure out the Nets' zone defense, this series is over. Raptors have to move the ball up court a lot faster so the Nets can't set up their zone defense and the Raptors have to get back on D a lot faster -like they did in game 2. Otherwise the Nets will kill them with their transition game. I think Sam Mitchell and assistants have to figure out better strategies to attack the zone. It's possible to figure it out, but they need to do it right now.

The commentators on last night nuggets game mentioned that George Karl has a deal with carmelo anthony, no jump shots until you make 10 layups... bosh needs that same mentality.

I've taken a more pragmatic approach to this series as I take this as the Raptor's first playoff appearance in 5 years. It reminds me of their first appearance ever when they played the Knicks when they were swept. We put in a great effort in game 3 and it gave me a good sense of optimism for the future. If they show the heart and go down in this or any future series but go down fighting I'll be satisfied with the season. Next season they'll need a difference maker. If Bargnani develops as we all hope, it'll be him. Colangelo will also be looking to add more rotation depth so I look at next season as possibly our best season as a franchise. This season we learn, next season we'll earn our accolades. Go Raps go!

As an aside with all the injuries, Bad Joey having run Good Joey out of town just in time for the playoffs, and Juan Dixon not really helping much in this series due to the size mismatch, I wonder if John Salmons is still happy about signing with a fading Sacramento franchise instead of the Raptors?

Good point MattK. I wonder what God is telling him now.

Interesting speculation about the starting SF for tonight. Sounds like it will be either MoPete or Bargnani.

Well, for all you guys that wanted the Nets instead of the Wiz, tonight's the night. As I said before, the Raps needs to build confidence and momentum by beating an injury-depleted team in round one before facing an upswinging team like the Nets. This is bad news. As a recent convert to Sam, I sure hope that COY can pull something out of his hat. Go Raps!

Well, for all you guys that wanted the Nets instead of the Wiz, tonight's the night. As I said before, the Raps needs to build confidence and momentum by beating an injury-depleted team in round one before facing an upswinging team like the Nets. This is bad news. As a recent convert to Sam, I sure hope that COY can pull something out of his hat. Go Raps!

Note to all Raptors Players:

ATTACK - ATTACK - ATTACK the basket for 48 minutes.

GET BACK AND DEFEND THE LANE
and close out on jump shots.

If not get out the golf clubs and some of you start looking for a new team next year. You know who you are.

Note to all Raptors Players:

ATTACK - ATTACK - ATTACK the basket for 48 minutes.

GET BACK AND DEFEND THE LANE
and close out on jump shots.

If not get out the golf clubs and some of you start looking for a new team next year. You know who you are.

Johnny 19

I am sure double post was an error but I think it needed to said twice!

Mo Pete should start, hands down. Bargnani has shown positive signs, but he's not there. The Good-Joey/Bad-Joey debate is complete nonsense. Yes, he had a few solid games for the Raptors, yes, he seems to be athletic and muscular, and we'd all like him to be great, but the bottom line is in the results, and he hasn't produced as a Raptor to any significant degree. I hope that he improves, and breaks out, and becomes the player that we all think he can be, but its time for us (and Sam Mitchell) to get over our infatuation with his potential.

Yes, he has muscles, and oh yeah- he doesn't score points, get rebounds, play defence, and show any kind of intensity. I hope he breaks-out too, but off the bench. Go Raps.

Bargnani starting should mean we are going to play a lot of zone. Should halp TJ with Kidd and all with NJ Carter.

damn, now tj is sick. If a bad norwalk style flu has ripped through this team, it could explain a lot.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070429.wspt-raptors-gameday28/GSStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/home

Is it just me, but does it seem that any contact against or by (shoulder down) Carter is a Raptor foul while Bosh and Ford get hammered and it is good defence by the Nets.

This team is lost. I think Sam and co. need to take some of the blame on this.

Does anybody else see how badly Sam Mitchell has been exposed in the playoffs? I've been saying it would happen all season and sure enough, he's had no answer for any of Lawrence Frank's adjustments. I don't see how anybody can defend him now.

pVr says:
April 29th, 2007
Does anybody else see how badly Sam Mitchell has been exposed in the playoffs? (how so?)I've been saying it would happen all season and sure enough, he's had no answer for any of Lawrence Frank's adjustments. I don't see how anybody can defend him now.

Davl says it's easy to be critical what would U do differently? With so many new players in the league?
Nets are hot right now check their record over last few months!!!!!Has every coach been out coached by Lawerence?

Miami out in 4 has Riley been outcoached (exposed) or Bulls a better team?

Maybe just maybe Nets are a better team than the Rapators. How many times in hockey has the first place team fallen to the 8th place team.

Golden state giving Dallas all they can handle is Avery being outcoached or is it just sports and a hot team playing well?

The Nets are a better team, plain and simple. Too much experience and Nachbar is money.

Ryan

I agree and just because the Raptors are behind and getting beat badly is not Smitch fault. Raptors just not doing anything that they did this year and hopefully this get Tuesday night but it will be difficult. Still not off the wagon and always a Raptor fan Davl

Yeah, pvr, the nets are just hot. They killed the bulls last game of the season, who went on to SWEEP the heat. I never thought we'd crumble this badly, but they are good.

Davl, of course its easy to be critical, but the situation calls for us to be. And honestly, I feel like saying that their players are better is simply a cop-out. We have more depth. We have a better frontcourt. And we run better. But isn't it convenient that since the playoffs started, all our players have been shut down the same way, we've struggled to score points in the paint, and we can't move the ball in transition? I'm not just throwing that accusation out there, this is really easy to see when you watch the game closely.

The series has been one of adjustments. Lawrence Frank came into this series knowing that we had a better frontcourt so, he decided to play a soft zone defense: one that crowds the lane, but stretches defenders up to the 3 pt. line. This is the same scheme that Chicago used a couple matchups ago, when we beat them but they made a furious comeback and almost took back the game. Sam Mitchell has not been able to counter this the entire season and its been evident watching our terrible offensive possessions. We need more movement off the ball, so that NJ can't get up on our shooters so easily. And we need to move Bosh quicker and get him the ball in movement so he can see some one-on-one opportunities. Also, in the first two games, we saw some terrific perimeter D by the Raps and especially by Anthony Parker. They played off the Nets scorers (except for Game 1 with Jefferson) and forced them into off-balance, rushed shots. Frank made the adjustment in Game 3, by having Carter and Jefferson move off screens for their scoring opportunities, instead of running strict iso's. Now we see Anthony Parker get caught behind a Moore/Collins screen and Mitchell hasn't gotten the Raptors to anticipate this and step up on the ballhandler. The list goes on, but those are the most glaring.

Like I said, playoff basketball reveals coaching ability. When you face the same team over and over again, the gameplans become more redundant and its up to coaches to change it up and try to exploit the opposition's weaknesses. Have we seen that from Mitchell? No, we've actually seen him make Lawrence Frank look like a Hall of Fame coach.

pVr

Maybe the Raptors should of hired U I'll call BC

peace

Way to actually address what I brought up dude. You're logic is flawless...