Tip-In: Nightmares

It was painful to watch. Let's hope that we can take the next one at home. Having said that, I think the Nets will take it in six! We've had a great year, too bad it had to end like this.

I say, NO CHANGES from game 4. Lets stick with the same lineup and play the same way clogging the paint. Raps stopped the parade to the basket by blocking lanes and hard fouls. The Nets instead, killed us from beyond the arc last night. I say, fine. I will rather take that at home on Tues than Vince and RJ cutting to the basket at will as in game 3. They are not going to shoot lights out all the time, especially on the road. If the Raps can make it to game 6, anything can happen. Hey, have you guys been watching the other series? Stranger things have happened. In the spirit of the Warriors, I STILL BELIEVE.

Devastating loss... It was like game 3 all over again, except than way worst this time. We can argue coaching adjustments, new lineups and other changes all we want, but the simple fact is that they're just being absolutely superior... Is there a single player who is winning his particular matchup? Not TJ against Kidd, definetely not AP against Vince, neither Joey/Mo Pete over Jefferson, Bosh over Collins, Rasho over Moore or Bargs over Nachbar... So far they're just killing us, there's not a lot more to be said.

This series demonstrates three things:

Sam still needs to learn about tactics, rotations and adjustments. Bargnani needs minutes but he can't guard the Net's swingmen on the perimeter and what did he do to deserve a start? Why isn't TJ attacking Kidd off the dribble? Why is CB4 hesitating in taking it to the hoop and alllowing the double team to come every time?

How much the team still needs to learn about playoff intensity and physical play. Hard fouls are not playing dirt. You CANNOT allow uncontested layups in the playoffs! VC needs some bumps and bruises if he's going to be dissuaded from dunking.

How strongly the Raps need someone who can take his man off the dribble and slash to the hoop. Dixon is too small on defence and has a bum wrist. Joey is too inconsistent and doesn't have the b-ball IQ. Mo Pete parks himself at the 3 pt line and doesn't slash to the hoop like the old Mo Pete used to. Help!

The Raps are my team but I hate to say it. New Jersey with too much experience. Nets in 6.

Watch for the Raps to keep it close and then fade in the 4th quarter, losing 102-93 in game 5.

I actually want the Raps to lose in five because that gives Toronto fans a chance to show their class and send the team into the off-season with a LLLOOOONNNGGGG standing ovation to thank them for a great season. I wish I could be there.

Oh well, 48-39 is still a very good record for a team that looked about as bad as possible last year. Too bad we have no picks in the upcoming phenomenal draft--maybe Colangelo can work some more magic and get us a pick in the 12-17 range.

Dixon should not be playing. He made like 6 plays in a row where he either missed his shot or turned the ball over. It was soul crushing. I'd rather see bad joey than bad juan.

I still don't understand why we can't go into rasho and bargs on the low post. Maybe it wouldn't work, but it's something we haven't tried yet. Seemed like rasho got a couple buckets early, got a stop on vince and then sat for a couple quarters so that dixon could get schooled.

Anyways, we've kinda sucked on the road all year, so in hindsight it's all adding up.

Hey, we didn't get swept like the first raptors playoff team...

You guys are alot more positive than I am, that's for sure.

This team essentially quit in the 3rd quarter last night. Did you see Bosh's body language? He was done. Had New Jersey left their starters in, I'm quite sure we would have lost by 50.

It's hard to determine what needs to be fixed for the next game. I mean, EVERYTHING went wrong! There are no positives to be taken from that beating.

The problem the Raptors have now, is that because of their pourous defense, all of New Jersey's perimeter guys are going.

So who do you stop? My suggestion is to take away Nachbar (because he'll be the easiest to negate), hope Carter disappears again, and live with whatever Jefferson and Kidd get. You have to take away something to have a chance. If Jefferson and Kidd are having a bad night from the perimeter, you have a shot.

On offense, we need to get to the foul line, simple as that. They are weak inside, but we don't haven't been able to expose it. If we get to the line, their guys will be in foul trouble, and their perimeter defenders will have to collapse and double...opening up shots for Peterson and Parker.

Oh yeah, and STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER!!!

If they do that, maybe we'll have a shot at sending this back to Jersey.

Sorry for the negativity, but the last 2 games left me with a very sour taste in my mouth.

unfortunately, more than anything, I think coach mitchell is getting ex.pose.d.

it seems everytime he makes a move, (which there haven't been that many of,) frank sees them coming a mile away.

also, for me, tj has been exposed as well as a liability of epic proportions this series. he gets posted up by kid on defense, and is mocked on offense by being left open on the screens, with kid helping the double on bosh. his lay up skills are on par with mine. it seems the closer he gets to the rim, the more he screws up. I've heard of guys putting up countless shots during the off season, but never not layups. the kid has to get better at finishing. it's embarrassing.

an article I read this morning said it best about mitch, and how he's come out saying that nobody expected them to be in the position they are in right now, in the playoffs, bla bla bla, and that they should be happy - and what the article said was, basically: but you are here. the atlantic division champs. 3rd seed in the east. COY.

so act like it.

and at least make the games more competitive.

and I agree. at this point, I think all any of us are looking for is just a competitive game or two. I'm pretty sure colangelo is.

jeff - I don't think it's positivity, it's reality. Experience counts, momentum counts, confidence counts. We're low on all of these things. Smitch can't just say, "make this change" when most of the players are still mastering the basics. And even when he does, frank can make other adjustments on the fly and his guys can execute them because they've done it before.

As I've said all year, i'm not for or against smitch, but he's still a work on progress, like this whole team. I've been cheering for this team through so many losing seasons, I still can't help but feel overall we're on the way up.

This sucks! Sorry to be that guy, but the Nets are a better team and as shown towards the end of the season and in the playoffs, the underachieved this season. Now, with the Big 3 healthy and Nachbar filling it every night, they are playing good basketball. I think they can even make a run to win the East.

However, I still want the Raps to win and let's hope they win game 5. I think if they can come back to beat NJ, they can beat Cleveland in a 7 game series.

I'm pretty sure Sam Mitchell is not playing defense or offense on the floor for Raptors. Maybe he should be. Im pretty sure Carter would be on his rear more often than at the basket if he was.

The players have played as poor in these 2 games as at any time all year. Can't hold the ball, shoot the ball,close the lane & close out on jump shots at all. No passing to open shooters. Bosh, Parker, Ford all outplayed by a country mile by Kidd, Carter, & Jefferson.
No help from the bench which has been key to success all year.
The only thing worse I can think of is being a fan of Miami 0-4(Dwayne Wade) or Dallas 1-3 (Dirk Nowitzki/MVP)or LA 1-3 (Kobe Bryant)all coached by hall of fame coaches. It's not the coaches who win or lose it's the players every time.
Hopefully the Raptors will be better equipped to go further in the playoffs next year with the required changes by Colangelo.

I agree coaches don't win games, but they can sure lose them. I still think that if we had faced Washington, we'd have taken them in 5 games and build up enough confidence to really compete in round two. Well, cest la vie!

Axl, I was speaking more to the article than the comments, but I agree with your points. We are low on all of the things that are necessary to be a good playoff team, however, my concern is more that our play seems to be getting worse, not better. My hope was that our play would improve as the series progressed...which obviously isn't happening.

Am I positive about the way this frachise is headed?...yes. Am I positive about the way that this series is headed....absolutely not. What I want to see, more than anything else at this point, is some growth from the players in Game 5. I want guys to stop making the same mistakes over and over again, and I want guys who have looked hesitant to step up and compete. Win or Lose, I'll be happy if I see that.

What this series has done is exposed our weaknesses in all aspects. We lack a good post player on offense (Bosh is a face up player who is very average in the post), and a shooting guard that can create his own shot on the perimeter (Parker and Peterson are more of the spot up type shooters). While I think that Mitchell leaves something to be desired from an X's and O's standpoint, I don't think one can blame him for the last 2 games.....game 1, maybe, but not the last 2. We've been so thoroughly outplayed at every position, that there's no way to truly combat that.

I suppose the positive that can be taken from this is that it is now crystal clear to Bryan Colangelo, if it wasn't before, what our weaknesses are, which should make it easier to address in the offseason.

First off: I could not agree more and appreciate the above analysis. It seems to me, that unfortunately the Nets are a superiour Playoff team.

TJ is trying to do too much on his own. CB4 is too tentative against the defense. I'd rather he picks a few charges than settle for the jumper/passing the ball out. Getting too predicatable. The two times he did go to the rim last night he got fouls called against his defenders. I think MoPete would have been a more logical starter than Il Mago. Even if the Raps win game 5, game 6 will likely be the end.

Having said all that, lets all keep in mind that the Raps have OVER ACHIEVED this year, and we should be proud of them. The BULLS lost in the first round for TWO YEARS straight and now are finally in the second round. RAP FANS, KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. I am already reading about fire Mitchell on Yahoo sports etc. What if the BULLS had fired their coach?

johnn19,

actually, to me, the dallas series is pretty much on par with the raps. don nelson is just flat out out-coaching avery.

the guy isn't afraid to come out of left field and try something new. it's not just about substituting one your starters. I don't think coach mitchell has that creativity in him.

the players play, but the coaches put them in a position to win or lose.

right now, I would be thinking about moving the offense away from bosh to start the game. get rasho involved early under the basket. or start calderon, mo pete, and bargs and tell them to run run run. I don't know.

but something has to change. and it's the coaches job to make sure that it does.

Ironically, not that it was his fault, Mo Pete’s desperation 3pt against Washington doomed us. If he missed that shot, we play Washington now.

Losing game 1 hurts. It means we have to win one in Jersey. One out of 3. Well, maybe we are just saving it for the third try? We have a chance to win in Toronto, but we need more than win. If we squeak by with a game 2 type win, we are toast in game 6. If we manage to figure it out and get on track, that will be a huge confidence booster. This team is more than capable. New Jersey has already had their fair share of good games and the momentum will swing back.

Here is what we need.
1) The players body language on Sunday suggested they have already been defeated. They need to get over it and try to win one more.
2) They need to just relax. They are trying too hard. Every player to a man need to just play his game and not try to do too much.
3) They need to stop thinking. Every possession, they are thinking too much. They just need to let it go, be loose and play their game.

I don’t think you need drastic changes. The team knows what it has to do. You don’t want to add confusion to the fear. We just need to stop being scared. We need to loosen up and play our game which we have yet to do. Because of our hesitancy and fear, we are taking bad shots and causing turnovers which is why NJ is looking so good. If we play our game, the defence will look amazing!

Bigger Picture:

There is no doubt that while the Raps are on the rise, the nets are on the decline. Maybe this is their last hurrah. I think that for years to come, the Raptors will be at the top of the Atlantic standings with the Nets not making the playoffs.

Let’s not forget that good players and good teams need playoff experience to develop and become better. This is really our first playoff experience for the team. For a quick history lesson, if you’ll allow me, let’s examine Jordan’s and the Bulls development:
1985 – Lost 3-1 to Milwaukee
1986 – Lost 3-0 to Boston
1987 – Lost 3-0 to Boston again
1988 – Lost to Detroit 4-1 in the conference semi-finals
1989 – Lost to Detroit 4-2 in the conference finals
1990 – Lost to Detroit 4-3 in the conference finals
1991 – Beat the Lakers in the NBA finals

As disappointing as these playoffs have been, I think they will serve as the foundation on which a great team will emerge. We need some bad losses like these to define and improve us.

I have to say, jersey is simply a better team...its time to look forward to next season...hopefully garbo can breathe some life back into the small forward position. Should Bargy start as center
?

The raps are done! New Jersey is playing amazing and they have everyone working together. Anthony Parker Cannot stop VC, he's too good! Wake up and see reality, this series is over! Go Nets Go!!

Frankly, I don’t think that we would have easily beaten Washington these playoffs. Even with the Wiz out two of their best players, they still have playoff experience and are refusing to go down without a fight against the Cavs (except for game 1).

Also, this team knows the basics; they would not have won 47 games if they didn’t. Unfortunately, Sam’s strategies are too basic and his coaching tactics are too simple and quite transparent. I am not here to blame Sam for being in over his head. Altering the line-up by changing one player is not an adjustment. Allowing TJ Ford to believe that he can call his own number over and over again without getting benched is on the coach. TJ Ford has struggled dropping in easy lay-ups since the preseason (which quite frankly stifles me). I play pick up basketball and cannot remember the last time I missed an open lay-up. Instead of getting his teammates involved and opening the game up, TJ would much rather inflate his own stats (regardless of how detrimental that is to the outcome of the game).

On the second drive of the game, the Raps created a pick for AP while he cycled around and got an open jumper (in true Richard Hamilton fashion) and it almost dropped. I got excited at the look and thought that the Raps would continue to play that type of aggressive game. That type of play was not to be seen again.

CB4 is soft. He is afraid to drive the lane and get fouled. I would rather have 6 other guys taking long jumpers other than CB4. I know he is young, but I expected him to be more of a competitor and less of a spectator this series. I guess that is asking too much.

I think that this team should spend the off-season figuring out how to counter a zone, and come up with a few more offensive strategies in the process. BC needs to bring in a great X’s and O’s assistant to aid Sam in his own development.

In the playoffs, you cannot just play your game; most teams won’t allow you to. You have to find ways to expose your opponent’s weaknesses on a game-to-game basis. On that note, we were the only team being exposed this series.

I get the impression that TSN really doesn't know how to "sell" basketball to the fans. Watching the Score or RSN and than TSN and you can see the quality drop like a stone.

TSN, you do hockey great and we love you but seriously, stay away from the hoops.

Does anyone really believe that Mitchell is the COY? Lawrence Frank makes adjustments, throws the raps off their game, and put our players in positions to fail. The only real adjustment from Mitchell is moving Bargs to the starting line-up, which didn't make sense for the reasons you outlined.

Every game is better for the nets and worse for the raptors.

I'm sorry to say that guys but its over, Vince Carter made a statement The Toronto Raptors are "14 days in other words too weak" they got merked after all the trash talk they made on Vinsanity, i have top admit that i almost thought Carter was the reason why Toronto sukced for the past 3 years but now its obvious, stop blaming other players for your poor perfoemance, chucks skirsky and leo rautins need to shut the hell up,u can't bias when ur commentating on b-ball game,seriously the raptors need to stop booooing Carter and the nets what really matters like Jordan said Let your game speak and after the massacre yesterday i hope they lerned a lesson.

The heart and determination these guys have shown all year has been unbelievable. They never gave up and they still haven't. No shame in getting beat by a better team. Go down swinging Raptors!!!

Seemed like Ford really killed the Raps in the third. He was taking bad shots, had at least two TERRIBLE turnovers, just didn't play well. Seems like Calderon and Peterson are the only players on the team who have any will to play.

Sad to say, but the highlight for me was Bruce Willis getting some good ol' cursing in on live TV, and having Chuck apologize for it.

LoL.. I like how Assistant GM compares himself in his pickup game to TJ Ford in the NBA! I once scored 24 points at the Y too (I underline, ONCE).

"It's the end of the world as we know it"

Can I ask what Larry Frank do to adjust to the raptors? I've watched the replays over and over. Kidd posts TJ in game 1, Kidd posts TJ in game 3&4. They run some double screen and a weak side cut off for Vince in game 1 and do the same in game 3 & 4. They show 3-2 Zone once in a while. They double Chris as soon as the pass has been made. Ummm.. yeah, he's a genious!

The only differnce is, Vince decided finally he was going to attack and stop taking dumb 3 pointers. Which Larry was yelling at him in Game 1 to do so.

The Raptor Js haven't been falling, and as we talked about it all season long, if it doesn't fall in, they won't score as much. They've had difficulty vs the zone all year long, nothing new. If they connect on the 3s, they win. This has been an outside-in team since AD and Oak left. Which as this team has learned, doesn't work in the playoffs. Detroit has been the closest outside-in team to win it since Larry Bird. Even then he had Robert Parrish. OKOK, MJ was a one man wrecking crew - but he's a freak.

Da Truth,

Not sure what you're talking about. The media and the fans may have trashed talked VC but not the team or organization. Sam has made it a point to say "Let it go".

The Nets have 3 all stars including a future hall of famer. J-Kidd has probably played more playoff games than the whole Raptor squad. Experience counts.

The team doesn't suck. They are just getting outcoached and outpysched at this point. They won 47 games this year including 2 over these same Nets. The Raps have 9 new players on the team most of who have never been to the NBA playoffs. How far didja thihk they'd get?

The Raptors will challenge for the Eastern Conference title in 2 years time while the Nets have plateaued as a team. If the Raps have sucked over the last few years you should lay blame where it belongs. On management. Babcock traded VC for some magic beans. He signed crappy contracts with player on the downslide like Jalen Rose and assembled a bench highlighted by the Red Rocket. Gimme a break.

Players don't assemble teams GMs do.

ustation, it's called sarcasm! Don't get me started on when I poured in 30 in my Junior High's semi-final. I'm sorry if I am too hard on TJ and his missed layups, but I expect a lot from my team. Am I proud of these guys for bringing us back into existence...yes! I just want them to be competitive and do all the little things that made watching basketball these last few months so enjoyable. Let's not miss the obvious point. The team needs better preparation and more options on offense. Will I be screaming my brains out tomorrow night? You better believe it! I just want the Raps to play competitive basketball...regardless of the outcome. Let's also give coach Frank the credit that he is due.

Call them the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. I think their lack of experience is really hurting them, not to mention the fact that Lawrence Frank is turning Sam Mitchell into his bitch.

I don't think this would have tipped the series the way things have gone, but the Raps REALLY miss Garbajosa. He would have brought a veteran defensive presence, and I think he'd be the kind of guy who wouldn't be averse to fouling Vince hard if he dared venture into the paint.

As much as I love the guy, this series has proven that Bosh is incapable of taking over games. Something that other allstars (like Carter, Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Nowitzki, Nash, etc.) do on a regular basis.

Tough game, no doubt about it. Caught the TNT broadcast where I am and they were pointing out the Raps body language in the third quarter. Dispiriting, to say the least.
Turnovers were crazy, but I can't see that happening again this series, some of them were just dumb, not due to strong Jersey pressure.
If only someone would hit an open J. Not all the shots were tough, they just weren't falling.
And when TJ missed three layups in a row, I couldn't believe it. It's almost like he's got too much momentum going to the basket that he banks it to the right of the bucket and it bounces back straight instead of angling to the basket.
Not sure what to say about the coverage Bosh is getting. Maybe he is taking too long to decide to attack, but I don't see too many guys moving and cutting to the rim trying to get a pass from him.
Be nice too if one of the swingmen would take it to the hoop, especially since they only seem to be receiving one on one coverage and there's a free lane to teh hoop if they could just get by their man. But maybe I'm asking guys to do something they're not equipped to do.
NJ played well. But I'd be surprised if it's that bad next game, as I don't expect Kidd to hit the three ball that well again. No shame in losing to the team. But after yesterday, they gotta show some pride going into tomorrow and keep it close.

No matter what has happened in last 2 games I have my tv timer set and a few brews in fridge and can't wait for tomorrows game

Better by some for Friday as well - we'll be in Jersey.

So who else thinks that Raps lose in 5 Sammy's out and Ivarone's in??

just a question, but I'm not the only one thinking like this. Colangelo couldn't ask for a better situation to bring in his "boy" from Phoenix.

I'm out.

Although I would love to see the boys come back, they are just being run over by a freight train. Losing 2 straight going into theplayoffs and getting a team that had won what, 5 ina row.....too bad. Thanks boys the year was great!

Fresh 1

fresh 1, shame on you man for giving up like that!

bargs at centre, stretching out the d and giving bosh a little more space to operate, mo pete and parker killin' it from the office...this is it! this is the game that turns it allllllll around!

raps in 7!

Sounds like rasho's out and mopete's in starting lineup. Seems like we're playing even more into their hands.

Anyone that thinks Sam should be removed as Head Coach of the Raps as a result of this playoff series is an idiot. He was coach of the year, they won 47 games (predicted to win 33-38), he has developed Bosh into an All-NBA player, the team truely has great chemistry and genuinely gets along due in no small part to Sam's leadership.
The reason the Raps are loosing this series is they have run into a team that finally got healthy and started to play at a high level. Their key players are veterans with heavy playoff experience. Finally, this is just not a good match-up for the Raps. GS is not a good matchup for Dallas, Chicago and Miami etc. It is said that styles make fights and this fight is being won by NJ because of style or matchup.

I actually like this strategy. We've tried everything else. Maybe Mo can bring some energy to this team early in the game, which has been lacking. Plus, Bargs playing centre forces Collins to play him outside of the paint and opens up the game for Bosh. If Bosh starts driving to the basket early and is effective, it potentially forces Collins to lay off of Bargnani a bit, possibly allowing him some open three opportunities (this is all in theory of course). If Bargs isn't hit the threes, he better start beating Collins off the dribble. Anyway, I am curious to see how this plays out.

I still want the Raps to keep Smitch around because he commands the player’s respect. I hope that BC does sit him down though and explain to him that winning in the NBA requires a lot more than just letting your guys play basketball. It requires consistent and lengthy video analysis, dissection of opposing team’s strategies, and proper overall preparation. Playing different teams on a regular basis is much different from playing the same team night after night. Remember, Sam is still a rookie coach. This is his first season with a roster that is capable of competing. I am curious to see how much Sam grows from this year to the next (I’m hoping a great deal).

Sorry, I meant "If Bargs isn't hitting the threes....."

I like Sam as a person and gave him the benefit of the doubt his first two years, because the roster was crap and he showed signs of developing. But, I've yet to see him grow in the X's and O's aspect of the game. He's turned out to be a great motivator and he's built good chemistry with the players, but he's frustrated me all season with his simplistic offensive sets, inability to make in-game adjustments, and questionable rotations. I think it may have come down to a situation where the team has developed quicker than the head coach. The last thing I want to see is our roster waiting for our coach to develop.

Anyways, onto the game. I'm still excited. Our home crowd makes a big difference, because they can give the team momentum off a few good plays (contrast that to playing in NJ, where the Raps messed up their first few offensive possessions and couldn't rebound). Also, like Assistant GM said, playing a small ball lineup may spread out the floor and create some room for Bosh to maneuver. I think starting Calderon is the key though. Both him and Anthony Parker have been our best players in this series.