<div align="center"> <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""2"">#6 </font></font><font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""3"">New Jersey Nets</font></font> (41-41) @ <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""2"">#3</font> </font><font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""3"">Toronto Raptors</font></font> (47-35) Venue: Air Canada Center Date: Tuesday May 1st, 2007 Time: 7:00 PM EST Coverage: The Score <font size=""3""><font face=""Tahoma"">Nets lead series 3-1</font></font> _________________________________________________ <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TORONTO (AP) -- Two blowout losses in New Jersey that have the Toronto Raptors on the brink of elimination mean coach Sam Mitchell is likely to make some changes to his lineup. Just don't expect him to reveal what he has in store when Toronto plays the Nets in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at home Tuesday. "None of your business," Mitchell said when asked what he was plotting after Monday's practice. "When they introduce that starting lineup, then you'll know." No matter who starts, the Raptors aren't likely to stay alive without better production from All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who scored just 24 points combined in Games 3 and 4, both double-digit losses. "Hopefully the changes we make will give us a little more space," Mitchell said. "We've got to open the court up, spread the court and attack the gaps. "We don't have one-on-one basketball players," Mitchell explained. "That's why it's so important that we've got to move the basketball. We have to rely on picks, ball movement, hard cuts and spreading the floor." Bosh said Toronto's confidence hasn't waned after a woeful weekend in New Jersey. "We're at a point now where we just have to go play, and whatever happens, happens," Bosh said. "We have a winning mind-frame, we have to stay alive and we know that the only way we're going to do that is stay relaxed and play the basketball that we know how to play. "Nobody is ready to go home," Bosh said. "We have to come out, win a game, gain some confidence and try to get 6 and 7." </div> Source: Yahoo!Sports _________________________________________________ <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Projected Starters</font></font> TJ Ford - Anthony Parker - Andrea Bargnani - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Reserves</font></font> Jose Calderon - Darrick Martin - Juan Dixon - Morris Peterson - Luke Jackson - Joey Graham - Uros Slokar - Pape Sow - Kris Humphries <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Sam Mitchell <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Injuries</font></font> Jorge Garbajosa (left ankle) <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Projected Starters</font></font> Jason Kidd - Vince Carter - Richard Jefferson - Jason Collins - Mikki Moore <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Reserves</font></font> Marcus Williams - Hassan Adams - Antoine Wright - Bernard Robinson - Bostjan Nachbar - Clifford Robinson - Josh Boone - Mile Ilic <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Lawrence Frank <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Injuries</font></font> Nenad Krstic (torn left ACL); Eddie House (hip) <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""4""> Season Series</font></font> Tied 2-2 Nov. 1, 2006 @ NJ 102, TOR 92 Dec. 15, 2006 @ TOR 90, NJ 78 Jan. 9, 2007 @ NJ 101, TOR 86 Feb. 14, 2007 @ TOR 120, NJ 109 <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""4""> Team Statistics (Regular Season)</font></font> [DIV=50%] NEW JERSEY 97.6 ppg 40.8 rpg 23.9 apg 45.7 FG % 72.7 FT % 36.3 3PT % [/DIV] TORONTO 99.5 ppg 39.5 rpg 22.2 apg 46.3 FG % 78.8 FT % 36.3 3PT % <font size=""4""><font face=""Tahoma"">Something to look at while you wait for the game</font></font> </div>
Mitchell said he'd make some adjustments with the starting lineup, but wouldn't say what they'd be. I'm guessing Peterson goes in for Bargnani and maybe Calderon starts in place of a sick TJ Ford.
We'll see what changes he makes, obviously we all know this is a do or die game. Let's see if Vince is "rattled" again by the crowd, or if he comes out killing, if the latter happens, I find it hard to see us winning this.
It's accutally gunna be peterson instead of rasho. Bargs at centre, and bosh at PF. ford and parker in the back. I think TJ will play, he'll take so gravol or something, and suck it up. But lucky for us we have jose, i expect him to log some mad minutes, if ford cant do it. I just hope everyone gets going, parker, bargs, BOSH, and jose. even the becnh like dixon and rasho, who will come in can add too. I just want a win, and to see what happens. I think this is not what raptor fans expected. It's not lack of playoff experience, its just who comes out to play. NJ was a more ready tema at home, and found ways to score. There tendency of coming back for a tough loss, needs to happen tonight, and if the big guns dunt come out to play, well there is no one to blam but them, cause i know its not all NJ D thats stoping the raps, no one on the Nets can gaurd bosh, moore can for some of the time, but bosh can blow past him. But lets hope the rpas are ready and fired up. becuase Im sure NJ wants to end it infront of the toronto fans, and get right to the cavs.
The key is to play good defence, not turn the ball over and put them into foul trouble. The crowd can handle the rest.
As a Euro ball fanatic it really makes me happy to see guys like Calderon fitting in to this league and that he has fans that appreciate his work ethic.
Man, does anybody think that a Calderon-Parker-Peterson-Bosh-Bargnani starting lineup would be perfect? We upgrade defensively, because Calderon gives up less height to Kidd, Peterson and Parker are good perimeter defenders, and Bargnani can guard Collins, who isn't much of a threat. On the offensive side, every one of our players is capable of hitting the 3 and I really think this forces Kidd to step up on the PG and stop sliding over to help on Bosh. Also, we get Collins off the boards, because he'll be trying to get a hand on Bargnani. I'm surprised no one really thought about this before, because it seems like the perfect starting lineup against the Nets.
I like this starting line-up, Mitchell should have gone with this one awhile ago. NJ has no post presence so Rasho is obsolete against this team.
The pre-playoff Toronto Raptors! Where have you been all this time? Props to Sam Mitchell. The Calderon substitution came on at just the right time and we actually made a defensive adjustment! I love the trap that we're throwing at Jason Kidd right now. Its stopped him from penetrating and had him flustered for most of the first quarter. And Bargnani's his old self again. Awesome!
Yea, Dixon really shouldn't be getting minutes in this series. I'd put in Jackson over him at this point.
