ducks
04-24-2007, 08:51 AM
Preview - Box Score - Recap - Series Breakdown
Game Info: 7:00 pm EDT Tue Apr 24, 2007
TV: NBA Add to Calendar
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TORONTO (AP)-- The Raptors understand adversity all too well.
They started the season 2-8 and survived. They lost forward Chris Bosh to a knee injury and survived.
So they see no cause for alarm after losing Game 1 of their playoff series with the New Jersey Nets.
"When we take a step back we always take two or three steps forward," Bosh said Monday, leading to Game 2 Tuesday night. "We pick up our intensity in the next game, we don't make the same mistakes we did before. We're a fast-learning team, and in Game 2 we're going to need that."
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The players credit their resolve to Sam Mitchell, who will learn Tuesday whether he's been honored as NBA coach of the year. Utah's Jerry Sloan and Dallas' Avery Johnson also are in the running.
"He's done a great job with the ball club," forward Morris Peterson said. "He's really grown a lot over his first couple of years coaching. If anybody in the NBA deserves it, it's him. He's proved a lot of people wrong."
Like Bosh, Peterson said Mitchell's leadership has helped Toronto become a team that can bounce back.
"Our coaching staff has done a great job this year in making adjustments after we've had tough losses," Peterson said. "One of the biggest things is that we've been ready to play after a loss."
Guard T.J. Ford said Mitchell puts his faith in the players.
"He's going to give us the structure offensively and defensively, but it's up to us to go out there execute," he said. "He puts it in our hands and lets us control it. He's been great in that aspect."
Bosh said Mitchell is "constantly teaching the game."
"He always pulls guys to the side to tell them what they have to do or where they need to be and he gets on guys when they don't take open shots or don't play their game," Bosh said.
Mitchell, who is reluctant to talk about possible coaching honors, knows how to keep basketball in perspective.
"I don't have an aunt or an uncle," he said. "I never met my grandparents. My brother died at 24. So I've been through a lot tougher things in life. I've learned I can't go home and worry, cry and complain."
With the nervous energy of the 96-91 loss in Game 1 behind, Mitchell wants his Raptors to attack more.
"We need to be aggressive within our offense with ball movement," he said. "We need to run the break and run the lanes better, be more aggressive that way."
New Jersey will try to counter by changing its defense.
"Toronto is one of the best offensive teams in the league and a great jump shooting team," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We have to continue to give them different looks defensively during the course of the game. A team like that can get in a great rhythm and they've put up some great numbers against us in the past."
New Jersey will hope for another big night from Richard Jefferson, who scored 28 points in Game 1.
"He brings out the best in all of us," Vince Carter said. "He was aggressive and a step quicker than he has been. He's a great player and when he gets out in the open, he gets everyone going. His confidence is really soaring right now."
Frank called Jefferson "instrumental to our success."
"We're a better team with Richard," Frank said. "His game is attacking the rim and finishing and he's improved his perimeter jumper. But his strength and power is getting to the rim."
A big edge in fast-break points helped the Nets withstand a fourth-quarter rally. Ford said the Raptors won't let that happen again.
"We've really got to stop the transition baskets," he said. "If we prevent those little bitty things that we didn't do in the first game, I think we're going to be fine."
Updated on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 2:14 am EDT
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Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
New Jersey 41-41 2nd Atlantic / 6th East 97.6 98.3 Road 17-24 Won 4 8-2
Toronto 47-35 1st Atlantic / 3rd East 99.5 98.5 Home 30-11 Lost 2 7-3
New Jersey Notes
Apr 21 G Jason Kidd had 15 assists and 10 rebounds in the series-opening win at Toronto. His career playoff high is 16 assists. ... F Bostjan Nachbar had a playoff career high of 16 points in the win at Toronto. ... Richard Jefferson admitted to not being 100 percent after undergoing ankle surgery on January 22. However, he averaged 18.3 points in April and scored 28 points in the series opener at Toronto. ... Vince Carter helped the Raptors win their first playoff series in 2001. The next year he was not on the postseason roster due to injuries. In December 2004, Carter was traded to New Jersey. In 10 regular-season games with the Nets against the Raptors, Carter averaged 25.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. In the playoff opener at Air Canada Centre, Carter scored 16 points on 5-of-19 shooting.
Toronto Notes
Apr 21 F Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, was a non-factor in his first playoff game, scoring three points on 1-of-4 shooting in nearly 16 minutes of action in a 96-91 loss to New Jersey. ... G-F Morris Peterson is the only Raptor left from the last Toronto team to make the playoffs in 2002. ... F Chris Bosh scored 22 points, but grabbed just five rebounds in his first playoff game. He was one of only four players this season to average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds. ... G T.J. Ford scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting in just 27 minutes in the series-opening loss to the Nets. Jose Calderon played down the stretc instead of Ford and finished with 13 points and eight assists.
Game Info: 7:00 pm EDT Tue Apr 24, 2007
TV: NBA Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
TORONTO (AP)-- The Raptors understand adversity all too well.
They started the season 2-8 and survived. They lost forward Chris Bosh to a knee injury and survived.
So they see no cause for alarm after losing Game 1 of their playoff series with the New Jersey Nets.
"When we take a step back we always take two or three steps forward," Bosh said Monday, leading to Game 2 Tuesday night. "We pick up our intensity in the next game, we don't make the same mistakes we did before. We're a fast-learning team, and in Game 2 we're going to need that."
ADVERTISEMENT
The players credit their resolve to Sam Mitchell, who will learn Tuesday whether he's been honored as NBA coach of the year. Utah's Jerry Sloan and Dallas' Avery Johnson also are in the running.
"He's done a great job with the ball club," forward Morris Peterson said. "He's really grown a lot over his first couple of years coaching. If anybody in the NBA deserves it, it's him. He's proved a lot of people wrong."
Like Bosh, Peterson said Mitchell's leadership has helped Toronto become a team that can bounce back.
"Our coaching staff has done a great job this year in making adjustments after we've had tough losses," Peterson said. "One of the biggest things is that we've been ready to play after a loss."
Guard T.J. Ford said Mitchell puts his faith in the players.
"He's going to give us the structure offensively and defensively, but it's up to us to go out there execute," he said. "He puts it in our hands and lets us control it. He's been great in that aspect."
Bosh said Mitchell is "constantly teaching the game."
"He always pulls guys to the side to tell them what they have to do or where they need to be and he gets on guys when they don't take open shots or don't play their game," Bosh said.
Mitchell, who is reluctant to talk about possible coaching honors, knows how to keep basketball in perspective.
"I don't have an aunt or an uncle," he said. "I never met my grandparents. My brother died at 24. So I've been through a lot tougher things in life. I've learned I can't go home and worry, cry and complain."
With the nervous energy of the 96-91 loss in Game 1 behind, Mitchell wants his Raptors to attack more.
"We need to be aggressive within our offense with ball movement," he said. "We need to run the break and run the lanes better, be more aggressive that way."
New Jersey will try to counter by changing its defense.
"Toronto is one of the best offensive teams in the league and a great jump shooting team," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We have to continue to give them different looks defensively during the course of the game. A team like that can get in a great rhythm and they've put up some great numbers against us in the past."
New Jersey will hope for another big night from Richard Jefferson, who scored 28 points in Game 1.
"He brings out the best in all of us," Vince Carter said. "He was aggressive and a step quicker than he has been. He's a great player and when he gets out in the open, he gets everyone going. His confidence is really soaring right now."
Frank called Jefferson "instrumental to our success."
"We're a better team with Richard," Frank said. "His game is attacking the rim and finishing and he's improved his perimeter jumper. But his strength and power is getting to the rim."
A big edge in fast-break points helped the Nets withstand a fourth-quarter rally. Ford said the Raptors won't let that happen again.
"We've really got to stop the transition baskets," he said. "If we prevent those little bitty things that we didn't do in the first game, I think we're going to be fine."
Updated on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 2:14 am EDT
Email to a Friend | View Popular
Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
New Jersey 41-41 2nd Atlantic / 6th East 97.6 98.3 Road 17-24 Won 4 8-2
Toronto 47-35 1st Atlantic / 3rd East 99.5 98.5 Home 30-11 Lost 2 7-3
New Jersey Notes
Apr 21 G Jason Kidd had 15 assists and 10 rebounds in the series-opening win at Toronto. His career playoff high is 16 assists. ... F Bostjan Nachbar had a playoff career high of 16 points in the win at Toronto. ... Richard Jefferson admitted to not being 100 percent after undergoing ankle surgery on January 22. However, he averaged 18.3 points in April and scored 28 points in the series opener at Toronto. ... Vince Carter helped the Raptors win their first playoff series in 2001. The next year he was not on the postseason roster due to injuries. In December 2004, Carter was traded to New Jersey. In 10 regular-season games with the Nets against the Raptors, Carter averaged 25.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. In the playoff opener at Air Canada Centre, Carter scored 16 points on 5-of-19 shooting.
Toronto Notes
Apr 21 F Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, was a non-factor in his first playoff game, scoring three points on 1-of-4 shooting in nearly 16 minutes of action in a 96-91 loss to New Jersey. ... G-F Morris Peterson is the only Raptor left from the last Toronto team to make the playoffs in 2002. ... F Chris Bosh scored 22 points, but grabbed just five rebounds in his first playoff game. He was one of only four players this season to average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds. ... G T.J. Ford scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting in just 27 minutes in the series-opening loss to the Nets. Jose Calderon played down the stretc instead of Ford and finished with 13 points and eight assists.