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Raps are gonna win it all.
Raps are gonna win it all.
Nesterovic says Raptors weren't quite ready for Nets
Nesterovic saysTORONTO — With 58 games of post-season experience and a championship ring, Rasho Nesterovic is one of the only playoff-tested players on a young Raptors team.
And after two lopsided losses in New Jersey in which Toronto looked nervous and overwhelmed, Nesterovic said his team might not have been mentally prepared for the challenge of playoff basketball.
"We just didn't play like we should," Nesterovic said at practice Monday. "If you're not ready, teams are going to jump on you early. That's what they did from the beginning.
"We were kind of thinking that we were ready, but we probably weren't."
As a result, the Raptors trail the Nets 3-1 and face elimination at home in Game 5 Tuesday. It would be a disappointing result for a team that tied a franchise record for wins (47) and made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.
Nesterovic said the Raptors can avoid that elimination by playing the way they did in the regular season, where their smooth passing, team defence and ability to create — and make — open shots propelled them to a 47-35 record.
"We should do what we've been doing all year," he said. "You're not going to change a complete game in two days. You should do it based on what you've got in the regular season. Just (make) small changes and go from there."
That kind of veteran leadership led the Raptors to part with fan favourite Matt Bonner and forward Eric Williams to acquire the 30-year-old from San Antonio last summer.
The seven-foot, 270-pounder started 73 games at centre for Toronto this season. Though he averaged just 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds, he freed up all-star Chris Bosh to start at forward and was a steady defensive presence, averaging 1.1 blocks.
He has had less of an influence in this first-round series. After hauling in 18 rebounds in the first two games of the series, Nesterovic seldom saw the court in Games 3 and 4 in New Jersey. In an ugly 102-81 loss Sunday, he played just over 10 minutes and picked up two points and one rebound.
But he didn't blame head coach Sam Mitc 's division of playing time for the losses.
"It's everybody's fault, coach's and (players'), together," he said. "We're in this together. We are here together for almost 100 games, including the pre-season. It's not my fault, his fault, it's the team's fault. It's a team sport, it's not tennis or golf."
And Toronto hasn't looked much like a team, failing to execute its offence or match New Jersey's defensive intensity.
Still, Nesterovic thinks the Raptors have a chance at doing what only eight NBA teams have done in the past — come back from a 3-1 series deficit. He thinks so partly because he's almost done it before.
He was with the San Antonio Spurs last year when they fought back from a 3-1 deficit against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference final.
The Spurs brought the series back to San Antonio for Game 7, which they lost in overtime.
So, Nesterovic says, the Raptors are far from out.
"I was in this situation last year. We came back," Nesterovic said. "So anything's possible. . . .
"You have teams that are down 2-1 and come back or 3-1 and come back to tie it, so it's not over yet. There's definitely a chance, but we have to work on our mental approach to the game."
LMAOThey weren't ready
Raps search for magic elixir
Magic ElixirThe predicament the Raptors find themselves in can largely be attributed to a stagnant, unproductive offence. They are making one last, desperate move to create some change.
Facing elimination tonight in Game 5 of their NBA playoff series with the New Jersey Nets, the Raptors will once again present a different look as they try to jump-start their struggling scorers, with alterations to a starting five that was abysmal in both incarnations during consecutive road losses on the weekend.
"We're just trying to work on our offence, figure out how we can score better, get better quality shots," coach Sam Mitc said yesterday. "Open the court up a little bit more."
While Mitc wouldn't give away the state secret ("I'm not going to tell you guys," he repeated at least twice under the usual probing) there is but one logical assumption: In order to space the floor and create more room for shooters and the struggling Chris Bosh to operate, taking 7-foot Rasho Nesterovic out of the lineup and replacing him with a smaller swingman like Morris Peterson makes sense.
That would presumably force the Nets to guard 7-foot Andrea Bargnani with one of their big men where the rookie operates 20 feet from the basket, leaving Bosh more room. Putting Peterson on the wing with Anthony Parker would, in theory, give Toronto another shooter on the floor and finding someone to score has been the Raptors' downfall.
The Nets held Bosh to 11 and 13 points, respectively, in the last two games with a consistent and aggressive double-team and he found it difficult to get the ball to open teammates. Having another shooter out there – even one who is more a threat than a reality – can't hurt.
"Andrea got some looks, but they're taking some things away from us," Mitc said. "We have to figure out a way to open the court up and then when we get shots, we have to make them.
"Guys have to understand. If you're Anthony Parker and guys are running at your jump shot, being very aggressive ... he knows what he's supposed to do (pump fake and attack the basket).
"Now he has to do it."
The troubling aspect of another change to the starting lineup – Bargnani replaced Joey Graham on Sunday in the first tweak Mitc gave his starters – is not only unfamiliarity with each other but the possibility that a new point guard will be getting the bulk of the minutes.
T.J. Ford, laid low by a flu bug Sunday, was absent from yesterday's practice because he was still sick and no one can say how he'll feel when game time arrives.
"He's sick, he hadn't eaten in three days, he came in and I sent him home," Mitc said.
A concern?
"It's my starting point guard," deadpanned Mitc . "I would think so, if I've got to send him home the day before the elimination game."
The whole "elimination game" situation has put the Raptors in a rather loose frame of mind.
"I've learned you have to improvise in the game sometimes," Bosh said. "You have to make smart plays. I think at certain times we weren't doing the best thing for the team.
"We weren't moving the ball, we weren't doing certain things that got us a lot of wins in the season.
"You have to pay a lot of close attention to detail and we have to focus a little more."
Mitc doesn't think there are any energy-inducing speeches he can give. The players have to find their own motivation.
"I can't repair (shattered confidence). That's something they have to do," he said. "All we can do is make technical changes to what we're doing, but that's something each individual player has to do.
"You have to go sit down and find it within yourself."
Rasho will surprise everyone and score 40 points.
Yeah, Rasho was known for his leadership in SA.
No one is claiming that-- he is the veteran leader on the Raptors team-not only helping players adjust to the NBA but serving as a conduit between the players and Sam. The need to come in and bash him when you have no clue about what has happened in Toronto this season is unfortunately not surprising.
Word!He was with the San Antonio Spurs last year when they fought back from a 3-1 deficit against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference final.
So, Nesterovic says, the Raptors are far from out.
"I was in this situation last year. We came back," Nesterovic said. "So anything's possible. . . .
"You have teams that are down 2-1 and come back or 3-1 and come back to tie it, so it's not over yet. There's definitely a chance, but we have to work on our mental approach to the game."I believe.
No fishing for us- I know for a fact Sho doesn't like it, in the play offs or otherwise.
Sho's and my mind are on the same track. I was telling someone yesterday that the Raptors, I mentioned Chris Bosh in particular but all of them, need to forget that they are in the play offs and just go out there and play the Nets.
The Raptors can beat the Nets. And they will!
Unfortunately, the Raptors are NOT doing what they have done all year and what brought them their success. And unfortunately for Rasho, this means that he will end another play-offs watching from the bench."We should do what we've been doing all year," he said. "You're not going to change a complete game in two days. You should do it based on what you've got in the regular season."
Not necessarily.
( Darn it- cute Airman in uniform just walked by and I totally lost my train of thuoght.
Oh I remember, hehe.
I know it is late in the series but tonight is a new game and anything can happen.
Tonight I want the Raptors to play their game and to play it great- winning is secondary, though I certainly hope we do.
Also, I have been sending subliminal messages to Coach Mitc all week- willing him to play Sho. Fingers crossed that it worked.
Bad news Angel, Sho's out of the starting lineup.
Tonight's starting lineups will be:
C - Bargnani
F - Bosh
F - Peterson
G - Parker
G - Ford
Seriously?
I wish all our guys well, but I want to see Sho play!
Coach should send Sho in like Pop sends in Gino.
I'm trying so hard to be good and supportive- but why on earth would you bench Sho? He needs to play more not less.
What the...why ... just ugh!
Wow coach Mitc is an idiot. Switching lineups again in an elimination game? He really wants to leave T.O. after this season.
They aren't losing because of their lineups, they're losing because their stagnant offense and their inability to figure out NJ's zone, and their defense has been just laughable. At least every other NJ possession has been an open look.
I guess Rasho doesn't start because Nets haven't a decent big man on the offensive end and Rasho man to man defense is quite useless in this serie.
ding ding ding. who exactly is he supposed to guard?
That is understandable, but the alternative leaves no rebounding, especially on the offensive end, and when the Nets get a defensive rebound, it is off to the races. The best line-up for the Raptors has been: TJ, AP, Mo, CB, and Rasho. I think that would have been a better starting choice, but Sam has been in love with spreading the defense all-season. It has been part of the problem this series that he has not used Rasho the way he has all year- setting screens and rolling to the basket. They have relegated Rasho to being another jump shooter in this focus on spreading the defense. I think it has alot to do with getting experience for Bargnani for the future.
I also have said that I would not be surprised if Rasho is traded this off-season because he has fuflilled his purpose for the Raptors- and quite well, which unfortunately renders him less valuable to the team. He knew all along that the more Andrea progressed, the less the team would have a role for him. Rasho did all he could to help Andrea and ultimately prepare Andrea to take his starting job.
He guards Collins but that doesn't really require much- quite frankly.
I don't think it's in Rasho best interest is to be traded.
Next year he will likely have less playtime with Raptors but he should be able to play 15-20 mpg because he is the only true center on Raps roster.
Honestly, Rasho isn't a very good player and I have a hard time to find an average nba team where he will be able to play 20-25mpg. So what will be the best for him :
Playing 15-20 mpg with Toronto ?
Playing 15-20mpg with another good/average nba team ?
Playing 20-25mpg with a crappy nba team ?
I go with the Raptors choice because Rasho seems happy in Toronto and because playing with a team that isn't in the playoff race isn't a funny thing at all.
When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the Storm there's a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone.
We're not going down tonight.
I am not saying it is in HIS best interests- I am saying that I think it could happen. Toronto needs a SF big time and may not want to use that salary for a back-up big man.
Personally, I believe if the Raptors hold onto Rasho through next season, he will opt out next summer and sign a longer term- much cheaper up front deal to stay in Toronto- if they want him.
Preach it brother.
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost...postcount=1354
I don't think Rasho will be traded this summer. He is quite useful to Raptors and his 2 years contract is less atractive for other teams than an expiring one (especially if the team that has the SF don't need a center).
Dixon, Humphries and Graham have all expiring contracts and could be used in a trade for a SF to match salaries. Calderon could too be traded if Raptors get a great deal for him.
Let's go Raptors!
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