Toronto Raptors: Next Man Up

The Toronto Raptors started off the season hot with an 13-3 record but with the most recent injury from their star guard DeMar DeRozan the Raptors must look for some more help from their young talent pool. DeRozan, who was an 0-8 from the field on Friday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks, left the game early in the 3rd quarter after suffering a groin injury (torn left adductor longs tendon) and has been ruled out indefinitely. DeRozan has played in 399 out of a 410 games in his career. He hopes to return in 4 weeks or less, but with DeRozan out the Raptors will look to get help from other key players on the roster.

One person the Raptors will be looking to get a spark from is Terrence Ross. Ross is averaging 10.7 points 2.6 rebounds. He will need to step up in order for the Raptors to be successful going forward. Don't get me wrong, Ross can light it up quickly.  The last time DeRozan was out Ross went for a scorching 51 points, tying the franchise record set by Vince Carter back in 2000. The Raptors aren't expecting 30 points from him every night, but a solid 16 points would do justice. This is Ross's shot to show the league his scoring ability and that he can do something other than just dunk the basketball and shoot the long ball.

Another player the Raptors will need is Jonas Valanciunas. Jonas is averaging 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes. For the Raptors to keep their hot streak, Jonas will need to get going early. Jonas should strive at the opportunity to have the ball in the post more and a 15 and 11 stat line is pretty reasonable. Jonas should take this chance as a learning opportunity and maybe even give us all a little glimpse of the future for Jonas.

The Raptors will also need their 2nd unit to continue their stellar job thus far and continue it into the month of December. Lou Williams has come off the bench for the Raptors playing his best basketball in years.  Williams, who was traded in late June to the Raptors in exchange for John Salmons, surprised many by being named Easter Conference Player of the Week, scoring a career-high 36 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams has done it all and he's just getting started. If he can continue his amazing play with the help from Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez, and James Johnson; the Raptors won't have to worry about the best bench in the league keeping up with the starters.

The Raptors lineup going into their contest against the Los Angles Lakers Sunday will most likely consist of Kyle Lowry, Terrence Ross, James Johnson, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas. Landry Fields who has proved himself valuable when given playing time could see himself inserted into the starting lineup if coach Dwane Casey decides he would like to keep the 2nd unit intact. The Raptors' depth will be tested heavily and this is the chance for us all to see if the Raptors will rise or sink to the challenge. Lowry stated the following in an interview after the loss to the Mavericks:

"We've got to play. Next man up. It's a team, not about one guy. If anybody goes down the next man has to step up."

If its from Ross, Jonas, the 2nd unit, even if it's Bruno Cabcolo for crying out loud, the Raptors will be looking for anybody on the roster that could provide a spark and with this 15 men deep roster. It can be anyone...


Raptors next 5 games: A: Lakers A: Kings A: Jazz H: Cavs H: Nuggets
A = Away H= Home

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Can the Raptors repeat the road success of last season?

After a 109-102 win on Opening Night win against the Atlanta Hawks, the Toronto Raptors head out on the road to face the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat. With all five starters scoring in double figures, the Raptors were just too much to handle for the Hawks. Jonas Valanciunas led the team in scoring with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Amir Johnson poured in 16 points and 10 rebounds while DeMar DeRozan, who is known for his offensive game, surprised many and grabbed 11 rebounds along with 6 steals.

The Raptors face the Magic Saturday night which shouldn't be much of a challenge after sweeping the season series last year. Sunday the franchise will face the Heat which should be a interesting contest. The Raptors haven't had any success facing "The Big 3" in previous years but with LeBron James back in Cleveland, it gives Toronto a great chance to finally beat the Heat.

Tonight the Raptors look to continue their success on the road and build from last season's franchise-record 22 games won on the road.  This season's success on the road should be very interesting for the Raptors, if they can repeat the road success of the 2013-14 NBA season, Toronto would have earned the right to become the Atlantic Division Champions consecutively for the first time in franchise history.

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Nets Narrowly Defeat Raptors in Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 4^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors Game 7 Recap

Final Score: Nets 104 Raptors 103

In a win or go home Game 7 in a hostile arena in Toronto, the Brooklyn Nets were able to survive the young Raptors for a thrilling Game 7 victory on Sunday. A few missed free throws at the end of the game for the Nets nearly cost them, but a block by Paul Pierce on Kyle Lowry sealed the deal for the Nets, as the advanced to the next round.

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Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Easily the best player for the Nets throughout the entire series was Joe Johnson, and Game 7 was no different. Johnson finished with a team-high 26 points on 11 for 25 shooting, with four rebounds, and four assists. The Raptors threw the kitchen sink at Johnson with multiple defenders guarding him and frequent double-teams, but Johnson made the right pass out almost every time, as he could have a lot of hockey assists.

Positives:

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were in different roles in this Game 7 than previous seasons. They both only played 25 minutes, but it was an effective one from both of them. Pierce finished with 10 points on four for 10 shooting, but made the play of the game for the Nets blocking Lowry's shot in the final seconds. Garnett had a very good game, as he was able to notch a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, as it was his first double-double since February 1^st.

Brooklyn's bench showed up for Game 7 after a mostly disappointing series against the Raptors, as Andray Blatche, Shaun Livingston, and Marcus Thornton all had good games. Blatche, who was in a bit of foul trouble still played well with nine points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. Livingston in his second straight game coming off the bench was a much bigger factor in the game than he was on Friday night, as Livingston scored 10 points on four for five shooting, and hit two extremely clutch free throws down the stretch. For the first time in the series, Thornton was able to get hot from the field, as he finished with 17 points on four for eight shooting, and went five for six from the free throw line in his best game of the series.

Negatives:

Toronto really pushed the Nets in this series, and could have easily won it in large part due to their back court of Lowry and DeRozan, who played well in Game 7. Lowry finished with a game-high 28 points on seven for 19 shooting, and went an outstanding 12 for 14 from the line in addition to grabbing seven boards. DeRozan didn’t have a monster Game 7, but still played very well scoring 18 points on five for 12 shooting with six assists, and seven free throws, as DeRozan and Lowry lived at the free throw line in the series.

The Power Forwards for the Raptors also stepped up in Game 7, as Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson both put together nice games. Johnson was a beast despite looking a bit hobbled, as he scored 20 points on nine for 12 shooting with 10 rebounds before he fouled out. Patterson was great off the bench most of the series, and in Game 7 he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds on a perfect day shooting from the field.

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams had a tough Game 7, and nearly cost his team the victory down the stretch, as he struggled from the foul line. Williams finished just 13 points and four assists, as yet again it was a disappointing game from him.

Next up for the Nets will be a series against the two-time defending champs in the Miami Heat, who will be well rested before Tuesday's Game 1 in Miami.  

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Nets Defeat Raptors to Force Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 2nd, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 6 Recap

Final Score: Raptors 83 Nets 97

The Brooklyn Nets were able to bounce back from their Game 5 loss in Toronto with a Game 6 victory in the Barclays Center to keep their season alive, and force another Game 7 in what has been a great First Round in the Playoffs this season.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

For the Nets their recipe is to win is pretty simple, when Deron Williams’ plays well they win, and luckily in Game 6 for the Nets, he played well. The Nets Point Guard was under a lot of pressure heading into the elimination game, as he responded well with a team-high 23 points on eight for 16 shooting, including four three-pointers. The aggressive Williams also had five rebounds, four assists, and one steal to help lead the Nets to the victory.

Positives:

The very solid performance from Williams also came at the expense of Lowry, who had by far his worst game of the series, which was a great sight for Brooklyn. Lowry, who was coming off a 36-point game in Game 5, was held in check in Game 6. He was only able to score 11 points on a poor four for 16 shooting night from the field, and also turned the ball over four times. If Williams can outplay Lowry like this or even keep it close stats wise in Game 7 the Nets will be in great shape to advance.

In what it a rare thing to see in the playoffs, Jason Kidd went with a gutsy moved and switched up the starting lineup, as Shaun Livingston was benched for Alan Anderson. The move worked for Kidd, as Anderson led the team in rebounding with nine, and scored nine points on four for 10 shooting.

usatoday.com

Brooklyn’s starting lineup as a whole played well, as with their backs against the wall, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all played well. Johnson was second on the Nets in scoring, as he finished with 17 points on five for 12 shooting with seven made free throws. Pierce and Garnett combined to score 25 points, and Garnett even was able to play 27 minutes, which raises the question how much will he have in the tank for Game 7?

In Game 6 the Nets also did a good job against the Raptors two main guns of the bench in Patrick Paterson and Greivis Vasquez. Patterson was held to just eight points on three for nine shooting, and Vasquez also struggled, scoring just nine points with only three assists.

Negatives:

The only negative for the Nets in Game 6 was that the Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan was able to have a very good game despite the rest of his team struggling. DeRozan finished with a game-high 28 points on eight for 18 shooting, while going 10 for 11 from the free-throw line, with six rebounds and four assists.

Next up will be a do or die Game 7 on Sunday in Toronto for the Nets and the Raptors with the seasons on the line.

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Go Big Or Go Home.......GAME 7

At least we didn't lose by 26 points. The Toronto Raptors just didn't want this win. They settled early and that was  all she wrote. The Raptors played like the Brooklyn Nets in game 5 as they were down by 19 at halftime with DeMar DeRozan doing it all by himself, the Raptors needed more. The Raptors came out in the 3rd quarter playing defense, letting the Nets do whatever and whenever they wanted. Fans who have not watched the Raptors all season thought this game was over when the Nets went up 26 in the 3rd. Toronto needed a spark and disappointingly that wouldn't come until the 4th quarter. The Raptors went into the 4th down 20, and DeMar DeRozan had enough. DeRozan began the 4th aggressively; helping cut the lead down to 15 with a huge slam that breathed life into the franchise. DeRozan would finish the game with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Raptors finally realized they were in the playoffs. They started moving the ball and Jonas who started off poorly did what he does best, finish at the rim with authority. Toronto looked as if they were going to stage an amazing comeback, but the Nets had different plans. The Nets came into tonight's game with a purpose. Paul Pierce had earlier guaranteed a win and he was spot on. Every time the Raptors made a little run, the Nets were able to respond and they eventually won the game by 14, 97-83. The Raptors must start game 7 out strong and not let the Nets take control early or they will be in for a long night. A Toronto vs Brooklyn game 7 will be this Sunday and the time will be TBD. This game is do or die for both teams hoping to move on to the 2nd round to face the 2x defending champs, the Miami Heat.

NOTE: Nets head coach Jason Kidd was fined early today $25,000 for public criticism of the officials. 

“If flopping is the way to go, we maybe have to play that game,” Kidd said, according to Newsday. “But Joe is a strong individual and unfortunately he doesn't flop. He plays, he doesn't complain. That's why we have officials.” - Jason Kidd 

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Nets Game 5 Comeback Falls Just Short Against Raptors

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 30th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 5 Recap

Final Score: Nets 113 Raptors 115



In a crucial Game 5 on the road after losing Game 4 at home due to a late game scoring drought, the Nets found themselves down by 26 points at one point on Wednesday night, but fought back. Their miraculous attempt of a comeback however came up a little short, as after a offensive rebound on a missed free throw on purpose by Andray Blatche, he threw a wild pass over Deron Williams head, leading to a backcourt violation and a loss.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

As it has been for most of the series, Joe Johnson has been the Nets go to guy, and in an important Game 5 it was no different. Johnson took over the game for the Nets in the second half, as he finished with a team-high 30 points on 13 for 23 shooting, and was the major catalyst in the Nets attempted comeback. Johnson was a ridiculous +22 when on the court in the loss, but his early foul trouble in the first half certainly put the Nets behind the eight-ball.

Positives:

When the Nets went down by 26, Jason Kidd would strike gold with a few bench players, as Mirza Teletovic, Alan Anderson, and Blatche were big parts of the comeback. Teletovic was the Nets best player off the bench, as he finished with 17 points on six for 10 shooting, which included four three-pointers, and seven rebounds. Anderson also played well down the stretch, as he scored 13 points on four for seven shooting, and had two four-point plays in the fourth quarter.

Negatives:

In the Raptors Game 5 victory, Kyle Lowry had a fantastic performance, as he led his team to their first lead of the series. Lowry finished with a game-high 36 points on 11 for 19 shooting, with six three-pointers. Lowry also dished out six assists, as he outplayed Deron Williams, who finished with only 13 points, as the aggressive Williams that we have seen throughout the series wasn’t anywhere to be found in Game 5.

Lowry wasn’t alone in playing well for the Raptors, as his backcourt partner DeMar DeRozan played good yet again, as the highest scoring backcourt in the NBA Playoffs combined for 59 in Game 5. DeRozan finished with 23 points on five for 12 shooting, but went an outstanding 12 for 13 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Greivis Vasquez also had a solid Game 5, as he scored 15 points on six for 12 shooting with six rebounds, and two assists.

The Nets veterans, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were both non-factors in the crucial Game 5, as when the Nets went on their run, Pierce and Garnett were both on the bench, and never returned. Garnett only played 12 minutes with four points and two rebounds, while Pierce scored 10 points with five turnovers in 24 minutes.

Next up for the Nets will be possibly their last game of the season at home, where they have been so great all season, and will need to win one more to keep their season alive.

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Can the Raptors control their destiny and win Game 5?

The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets headed into the 4th quarter all tied up in game 4 of their first round playoff series. With about 6 minutes left in the game, Brooklyn was up by 4 (77-73) and looked like they had the game under control but then the Raptors roared back as they forced the Nets to 6 turnovers in the 4th. DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson, who played tremendous defense, forced two charges late in the game.

Kyle Lowry, the man who has done it all year long, finished the game with 1:13 remaining by hitting a huge shot over Kevin Garnett which catapulted the Raptors to a  (87-79) win giving them their first road playoff win since 2001. DeRozan finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, while Lowry "Mr.Clutch" added 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Brooklyn fans starting to leave the arena before the game was over, but in Toronto outside of the Air Canada Center (ACC) everyone was celebrating and DeMar shushing the crowd in Brooklyn was priceless.

Amir Johnson spoke to the media Tuesday and stated the following:

 "When people doubt us? That's what we want."

That's exactly what we want! Raptors are probably the biggest underdogs in this season's playoffs and people are doubting Toronto which gives them a huge reason to succeed and beat this veteran Nets team. The Raptors need to come out strong in game 5 and not feel comfortable like the Nets did early in game 4. Big games from both DeMar & Lowry will be expected if the Raptors are to become victorious.

The Miami Heat have just sweeped the Charlotte Bobcats and will be watching on their future 2nd round match-up.....the winner of the Raptors and Nets.  The Raptors will come out with all they have in game 5 but will it be enough to stop this Nets team? We will all need to watch, Wednesday at 7:30, to see if this Raptors team can pull off a win in game 5 to take a commanding 3-2 lead in the series. 

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Nets Offense Disappears in Game 4 Loss

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 27th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 4 Recap

Final Score: Raptors 87 Nets 79

In a must win Game 4 for the young Toronto Raptors on the road, they were able to rise to the challenge and win their first playoff game on the road since 2001. The loss for the Nets evens the series up at two games a piece, and the home-court advantage switches back into the Raptors favor.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

In the Game 4 loss for Brooklyn they did receive a strong performance from Paul Pierce, who led the team in scoring. In the low scoring game on Sunday night, Pierce was able to drop 22 points on a great nine of 14 shooting from the field. Pierce added five rebounds and two assists to his final line, but was one of the few Nets to have a good game in the disappointing home loss.

Positives:

Besides Pierce the only other Nets player to turn in a good game was Mirza Teletovic, who had a strong game off the bench. Teletovic was second on the team in scoring with 12 points on five for nine shooting, shockingly none of which came from beyond the arc. Teletovic also added five rebounds, three of which were on the offensive end in a good 17 minutes of play.

Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas has been a double-double machine in this season, but in Game 4, he was held to his worst game of the series, but noticeably only played 23 minutes. Valanciunas only had six points and six rebounds, far below what he has been doing to the Nets for the series in the first three games.

Negatives:

It was a tough night for most Nets on the offensive end starting with Deron Williams, who had a bad game in the loss. Williams finished with just 10 points on four for 12 shooting, as he went zero for five from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over five times. In his match-up against Kyle Lowry, Williams lost in Game 4 badly, as Lowry scored 22 points.

Joe Johnson also had a tough time getting going on Sunday, as the Raptors threw lots of double-teams at Johnson, which forced the ball out of his hands. Johnson finished with just seven points on two for seven shooting, in what was easily his worst game of the series thus far.

Amir Johnson had his second good game in the series, as he is emerging as an x-factor for the Raptors, as in both games he has scored in double-digits they have won. Johnson finished with 17 points on seven for 11 shooting with five rebounds. Johnson did hurt his knee which will certainly be something to keep an eye on before Game 5. DeMar DeRozan started off hot like the Raptors in Game 4, although he did struggle in the second half after starting the game seven of 10 from the field, but he still finished with a game-high 24 points

Excluding Teletovic, Brooklyn’s bench had a poor night scoring the basketball, as Andray Blatche and Alan Anderson combined to go a dreadful two for 11 from the field. Off the bench for the Raptors it was yet again another good game from Patrick Patterson, who early had a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

The experienced Nets missed a golden opportunity to take a 3-1 lead at home on Sunday, as the turnovers really piled up for Brooklyn. The turnover battle has been an advantage for the Nets in the first three games, but in Game 4 the Raptors only turned it over 10 times compared to the Nets 16, which was certainly a difference in Game 4.

Next up will be a few days of rest before a huge Game 5 with the series tied on Wednesday night in Toronto.

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Raptors Defeat Nets to Even Series

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 22nd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 2 Recap

Final Score: Nets 95 Raptors 100

The Brooklyn Nets after a big Game 1 win in Toronto fell a little short in Game 2 against the Toronto Raptors. In what was really a must win game for the young Raptors, not wanting to head to Brooklyn down two games in the series, but they avoided that and tied the series at a game a piece with the victory.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Once again for the Nets their best player against the Raptors was Joe Johnson, who led the Nets in scoring in the Game 2 loss. Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points on seven for 13 shooting to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Most of Johnson’s damage came in the third quarter, as he scored 12 points in the Nets best quarter of the game. In the fourth quarter however Johnson did struggle against Landry Fields, in what was a change in the Raptors rotation that we will likely be seeing again in Game 3.

Positives:

Coming off the bench Mirza Teletovic was the first man in for Brooklyn, as Paul Pierce picked up two fouls very quickly in the first, but in extended minutes Teletovic played well. Teletovic was the only Net in double-figures off the bench, scoring 14 points on five for 11 shooting, which included him going three for six from beyond the arc.

After a difficult Game 1, Center Kevin Garnett bounced back with a much better performance on the offensive end in Game 2. Garnett finished with 13 points on five for six shooting with four rebounds in 19 minutes. Shaun Livingston also came through with a strong Game 2, as he finished with 12 points on four for eight shooting to go with five assists and three rebounds.

For the second straight game, Terrance Ross was completely shutdown, as the young Ross is having a difficult start to his playoff career. Ross scored just two points on one for eight shooting, and for the series now is just two for 12 with five points.

Negatives:

In his playoff debut, DeMar DeRozan looked a bit shell-shocked and nervous, but in Game 2 it looked like the DeRozan that was in the top 10 in the NBA in scoring. DeRozan finished with a game-high 30 points on nine for 21 shooting, and went an impressive 12 for 14 from the free throw line. In the fourth quarter DeRozan exploded for 17 points, which included some big baskets and clutch free throws to earn the victory.

nba.com

The big men in the Raptors starting lineup were great in Game 2, as Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas both dominated the Nets on the glass, helping them win the rebounding battle 52-30. Johnson finished just shy of a double-double with 16 points on eight for 10 shooting, and nine rebounds. Valanciunas had yet another big double-double, as he finished with 15 points on five for nine shooting to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds.

Similar to Game 1 the Raptors got big performances from their bench, as the small rotation is working well for the young Raptors. Greivis Vasquez did very well again, scoring 10 points on five for 10 shooting, with eight assists, and three rebounds. Patrick Patterson continued to be a scoring threat off the bench, as he finished with 12 points on five for nine shooting, and he also helped dominate the glass with nine rebounds. Fields may not have scored, but his defense against Johnson was a major factor in the fourth quarter.

Deron Williams coming off a strong Game 1 had a tough time getting it going in Game 2. Williams struggled to score 15 points on five for 15 shooting with only five assists. Paul Pierce also struggled to get it going after a clutch fourth quarter in Game 1. Pierce finished with only seven points on two for 11 shooting, as it took him until the fourth quarter to get his first field goal.

Next up for the Nets will be a few days off as the series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on Friday night.

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5 Players With Most to Prove In Playoffs: Eastern Conference

The NBA Playoffs are finally upon us, and there are some teams and players with something to prove. Younger players making their much anticipated first appearances in the postseason and even some veterans that still have something to prove in their stored careers. There are plenty of viable picks that could be made, but here are my top five players and teams that have something to prove in the postseason in the Eastern Conference.

John Wall, Point Guard, Washington Wizards: Wall, the former first overall pick from the 2010 NBA Draft, will be making his first appearance in the postseason this year. He has been under the microscope since the moment he was drafted, and plenty of people were already labeling him a bust. Durability issues mixed with poor results on the court had people questioning the Wizards draft decisions once again.

Reuters

But, after recovering from his surgery last season, Wall led the Wizards to near-.500 basketball the rest of the way. The promise showed that season lead to the Wizards going all in this offseason, trading for Marcin Gortat from the Phoenix Suns. The results have been extremely positive this season, as Wall played in every game this season, and increased his shooting percentage immensely, making 35.1 percent of his three point attempts. He knocked down 108 this season, more than doubling his career total, as he made only 49 the previous three seasons.

With a capable three-point shot, defenses had to respect Wall’s jump shot and he took advantage, ravaging opposing defenses in the paint. With lighting fast quickness, Wall tore teams apart in the paint, shooting 55 percent from within 10 feet of the basket. His outstanding court vision also helped get his teammates involved, resulting in a career-high 8.8 assists per game.

A career season across the board has gotten people back on Wall’s bandwagon, and he will have the biggest stage of all to prove the remaining doubters wrong. This will be the first time the Wizards are on national television since 2010, so this will be the first time many people get to see Wall in action since his college days leading Kentucky.

Al Jefferson, Center, Charlotte Bobcats: Much like Wall, Jefferson has put together an outstanding season, but not to much fanfare. He has flown under the radar, but is a big reason why the Bobcats are in the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, along with his sidekick Kemba Walker.

Chuck Burton/AP Photo

Jefferson is the player being highlighted here though, because many people dismissed this signing over the offseason. They said it was a waste of money for the Bobcats, as they were still far from contending and this wouldn’t move the meter much. They were extremely wrong though, as Jefferson put together a monster season, averaging 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals per game; ask anyone if they knew and more often than not the answer is no.

Jefferson has thrived alongside Walker, much like he did alongside Deron Williams when they were teammates with the Utah Jazz. Jefferson has an arsenal in the post rivaled by very few, if any players in the NBA.

It will be a tall task knocking off the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, but Jefferson can single handedly get the Bobcats a win. If Roy Hibbert is able to pick the Heat apart, Jefferson should have a field day.

DeMar DeRozan, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors: Much like Wall, DeRozan was a highly regarded pick in 2009, as the ninth overall pick by the Raptors. Once Chris Bosh left via free agency after his rookie season, a lot of the responsibility to make up for his production fell upon DeRozan.

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty

Armed with little more than supreme athleticism, DeRozan failed to make up for the production of Bosh. It did not help that Andrea Bargnani didn’t live up to his expectations, but DeRozan received just as much blame as well. So, the Raptors decided to take on Rudy Gay last time to help take some pressure off of DeRozan.

But, like in Memphis, Gay did not produce as much as the Raptors had hoped and they moved him to the Sacramento Kings. The onus once again fell upon DeRozan, and this time he took it in stride and ran with it.

DeRozan put up career highs across the board in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, three point shooting percentage free throw makes. DeRozan has become a respectable shooter, making his elite athleticism that much more potent. The increase in production has led to DeRozan being able to get to the rim more, resulting in his franchise record free throw performance this season.

The Raptors are not expected to go anywhere in the playoffs this season, as many people expect the lower seeded Brooklyn Nets to take them down. DeRozan will have much to say about that, as he will look to lead the Raptors to their first playoff wins since the 2007-2008 season.

Paul Millsap, Power Forward, Atlanta Hawks: If there is going to be a major upset in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, there probably isn’t a team riper for the picking than the Indiana Pacers. If the Pacers are going to be picked off, Millsap is the man to be leading the charge.

USATSI

Millsap, much like his former running mate Jefferson, was a signing that was met with much criticism. The former power forward/center combo for the Jazz never carried the team in the way many people thought that they would, but as solo players both have began to pick up steam.

Millsap put up respectable stats for the Hawks this season, averaging a career high 17.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. He has also added the three point shot to his game, making 76 this season, compared to 31 the prior seven season with the Jazz. The stats are even more impressive when you factor in that his front court mate, Al Horford, played in only 29 games this season.

The Hawks are being disregarded by almost every basketball person in the world, but they have actually had success against the Pacers this season, splitting the season series. Surprisingly, Millsap was pretty quite offensively in all four games, scoring seven or less points in three of them. Where he made his mark was on the glass, where he grabbed double-digit rebounds twice.

The odds are long that the Hawks will pull the upset, but they will be giving the Pacers everything they have. They are the ultimate underdog and have proven they are not afraid of the Pacers. If they are to put a scare into the Pacers, Millsap will be the man leading the way.

Paul George, Small Forward, Indiana Pacers: George came into this season with massive expectations. After showing out against the eventual champion Miami Heat and the best player in the world in LeBron James, George was on the path to stardom. It may have been a little early do so, as George’s production cratered once the going got tough for the Pacers this season.

Mary Schwalm/AP Photo

The Pacers began losing, and George failed at being the leader he was appointed to being. Things got rocky, as locker room talk began leaking into the media, making things more awkward. The end result was the Pacers playing uneven basketball, and people beginning to not believe in them.

George himself dealt with some off-court distractions, and it seemed to affect his play on the court. His shooting percentage plummeted throughout the season, dropping every month from November through March. He ended the season shooting 42.4 percent from the field, a number far to low for a player as athletically gifted as George, as he attempted 469 shots from 10 feet-<3 point line this season and only 283 shots at the rim.

People have begun to turn on George fast, but he still has some silver linings in his stats. The shot ratio was poor, but George still managed to make and take the most free throws in a season in his young career. So while the superstar talk may have been a bit premature, the fact people are jumping off his bandwagon this quickly is a bit surprising. George still has talent, and there is no better place to showcase that than here. It would go a long way for George and the Pacers to blow the Hawks out of the water to get confidence back as they go deeper in the postseason and face better opponents.

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Nets Take Game 1 in Toronto

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 19th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 1 Recap

Final Score: Nets 94 Raptors 87

The Brooklyn Nets were able to head up north of the border to Toronto and take Game 1 against the young Raptors. The experience of the Nets was talked about a lot heading into this game, and with a loud crowd and shot clock issues, it certainly looked like that experience was the difference in the game.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Throughout the game Joe Johnson was the Nets most consistent player on offense from start to finish, and nearly played the whole game, as Jason Kidd only gave him three minutes of rest. Johnson finished with 24 points on eight for 13 shooting, including going a perfect eight for eight from the free throw line. Johnson not only scored well for the Nets, he also led the team in rebounds with eight. He had four assists, and two steals as well to round up a great overall game.

Positives:

In the first half it was a very aggressive Deron Williams, who was looking to score early and often. In the first half Williams had 18 points on seven for 17 shooting from the field. The second half was a different story for Williams, as he went one of three from the field. Williams finished going eight of 20 from the field for 24 points, which tied him with Johnson for the game-high.

Down the stretch for Brooklyn, Paul Pierce was the man to rise to the occasion like he has so many times in his career with some huge shots that gave the Nets the victory. Heading into the fourth quarter Pierce had just six points, but in the three minutes he scored nine points on a four for four shooting. Pierce finished with 15 points on six for 13 shooting with four rebounds, and four assists, as it was a good playoff debut for Pierce in a Nets uniform.

Raptor’s All-Star DeMar DeRozan was nowhere to be found in the loss, as he forced a lot of shots, and looked very uncomfortable in his playoff debut. DeRozan finished with just 14 points, well below his season average, as he shot it very poorly from the field going just three for 13, and zero for four from beyond the arc.

Negatives:

Center Jonas Valanciunas got off to a big start early for the Raptors on his way to a monster game, as the Nets inability to stop opposing team’s big men was on full display Saturday. Valanciunas finished with a big double-double, scoring 17 points on seven for 13 shooting to go along with a game-high 18 rebounds. The young Center did have six turnovers, but had a positive impact for the Raptors in his playoff debut.

Kyle Lowry did not disappoint in his first playoff start, as after a great regular season from Lowry he did all he could in Game 1 to get his team the win. Lowry finished with a team-high 22 points on seven for eight shooting to go along with eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. The Point Guard battle was pretty even between Williams and Lowry, this time resulting in a win for Brooklyn.

In the Nets resurgence this season, a lot of that had to do with them being able to hit the three-point shot with their smaller lineup, but on Saturday they were awful from deep. As a team the Nets shot four for 24 from behind the arc. The bench was the major problem shooting it from there, as Mirza Teletovic went zero from five, Alan Anderson went zero for three, and Marcus Thornton went zero for three.

The Raptors bench on the other hand played had two good performances Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson. Vasquez went five of 11 from the field for 18 points to go along with eight assists and four rebounds, and Patterson went four for eight from the field with nine points and five rebounds. Vasquez and Patterson’s good play helped the Raptors, as they outplayed Brooklyn’s bench.

Next up for the will be a few days off for both teams before Game 2 on Tuesday night in Toronto.

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Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading into the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as after a strong inaugural season in Brooklyn, the Nets loss a tough series to the Chicago Bulls. This postseason they will be looking for their first playoff series win as the Brooklyn Nets against the team they were chasing the whole season in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Raptors.

Match-Up of the Series: Deron Williams vs. Kyle Lowry

In what has been a great season for the Toronto Raptors, one of the major contributors to that has been Kyle Lowry, who has had an All-Star worthy season. Lowry is one of the more complete all-around Point Guards in the NBA, as this season he is averaging 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Against the Nets this season Lowry has been very efficient and effective scoring in four games this season, as he is averaging 22 points on 50% shooting from the field. Deron Williams has certainly had a disappointing season for the Nets, as he is averaging just 14.3 points and 6.1 assists per game, but if the Nets are going to do anything in the playoffs they need Williams to step it up and that has to start against Lowry.

nba.com

- Debut for DeMar

Raptors Shooting Guard DeMar DeRozan is having a season of firsts, as in February he made his first All-Star team, and now after a bunch of losing season will be making his playoff debut after playing the best basketball of his career so far. Nationally, DeRozan may not be a household name like some players, but this season DeRozan is averaging 22.7 points per game, which puts him in the Top 10 in scoring for the NBA this season. DeRozan will be given the chance to shine on the National stage in the postseason, and something big to watch and that could go a long way to deciding the series is whether he rises or falls to the biggest challenge of his NBA career.

- Youth vs. Experience

The experience differential is eye-pooping in the series between these two teams, as in total the Raptors roster has 156 games of playoff experience. In comparison Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have played in a combined 267 career playoff games. A major concern for the Raptors has to be that their playoff inexperience comes mostly from their starting lineup that has three starters that have never played in a playoff game. TThe two starters that have, Lowry and Amir Johnson have combined to play in 24 playoff games, but neither has started a playoff game.

- Center Dilemma

For most of the season size has bothered the Nets in large part due to the absence of Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd using a small lineup with Paul Pierce at the Power Forward position, and although the Nets avoided Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls, they will have to deal with Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is playing very well in April, as he is averaging a double-double in eight games with 16.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. Against the Nets this season he has been solid averaging 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A major question going into the playoff is what is the realistic expectation of what Garnett will be able to give the Nets? The amount of minutes Garnett will be playing is unknown and even if it is more than he has been since returning from the back spasms, there hasn’t been a whole of court time to see how effective he will be. If Garnett is ineffective or can’t play much, Kidd does have the luxury of going with Mason Plumlee and Andray Blatche off the bench.

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Nets Get Huge Victory Against Raptors

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 10th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Raptors 97 Nets 101

The Brooklyn Nets despite being banged up were able to maybe what will end up being one of their most important wins of the season on Monday night against the Toronto Raptors. The win ties the season series at (2-2), and moves the Nets to (32-30) on the season, which is now just three games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams helped lead them to a victory with a solid game. Williams finished with 18 points on six for 13 shooting, while going a nice four for seven from three-point range, and he dished out five assists. In the second half Williams really got it going scoring 12 of his 18 points, as he led the Nets in second half scoring. In March so far Williams has been very efficient shooting the ball, as he is shooting 47% from the field, and 40% from behind the arc.

Positives:

Shaun Livingston was right there with Williams in scoring for the Nets, also scoring 18 points on seven for 10 shooting, with three rebounds and three assists. Livingston had one steal in that game that came at a perfect time with under 30 seconds left to help the Nets hold on to the win. Joe Johnson also did a very good job scoring in the starting lineup, as he pitched in with 14 points on six for 13 shooting, with four assists and four rebounds.

Not too many people expected Paul Pierce to be playing on Monday after he left Sunday’s game early with a shoulder injury, but for the Nets it was a huge boost having him in the lineup with Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko both out. Pierce finished with 15 points on three for eight shooting, as all three baskets were three-pointers, one of which was a huge shot breaking a 94 all tie with a 1:14 left in the game.

nydailynews.com

The Nets defense did a very good job holding the Raptors to under 100 points without two of their better defensive players in Garnett and Kirilenko, and did an especially good job against DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. DeRozan was held to just 14 points on a tough shooting night going three for nine from the field, and Valanciunas played even worse scoring just six points in 22 minutes.

Filling in yet again in the starting lineup for the injured Garnett was Mason Plumlee, but unlike most of the other games he has started, Head Coach Jason Kidd actually gave Plumlee some extended minutes, and he did well. Plumlee finished with a team-high eight rebounds and chipped in with six points on three for seven shooting.

Next up will be yet another tough game for the Nets as they head to South Beach to play the defending champs and LeBron James on Wednesday night.

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Raptors Continue to Own Nets in 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 27th, 2013

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Raptors 104 Nets 103

For the second time in 2014 the Toronto Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets on the second half of a back to back for Brooklyn. The loss is only the second of the New Year for Brooklyn, as it moves them to (20-23) on the season, which is 2.5 games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Positives:

Paul Pierce one game after a tough emotional return to Boston, where he didn’t play very well bounced back with his best game of the season on Monday night. Pierce in just 31 minutes scored a game-high and season-high 33 points on 10 for 16 shooting, which included him going seven for 10 from three-point range, also a season-high for three-pointers made. Besides a great scoring game, Pierce also did a good job helping out on the boards, as he grabbed six rebounds.

The main beneficiary to the move to keep Deron Williams coming off the bench continues to be Andray Blatche, who since London has been playing great. Blatche played 21 minutes off the bench, and scored at a great rate, as he had 20 points on eight for 11 from the field to go along with six rebounds. In five of his past six games, Blatche has scored 17 or more points.

Deron Williams has seemed to embraced his role on the Nets off the bench, as he isn’t looking to score as much as he use to, and instead is making it a priority to set up teammates. Williams scored just nine points on four for 11 shooting, but had 11 assists and was +18 on the court. Williams did however have a bad turnover towards the end of the game on a pass intended for Joe Johnson that was stolen by Patrick Paterson.

sportspyder.com

Negatives:

Joe Johnson has officially cooled off for the Nets, as after a hot start to the month; Johnson has really struggled in the last three games for Brooklyn. On Monday night, Johnson scored only 12 points on three for 10 shooting. In the past three games Johnson is shooting just six for 22, with two games of scoring less than 10 points.

The best player for Toronto on Monday night was Kyle Lowry, who the Nets had no answer for all night. Lowry had a complete game, scoring 31 points on 10 for 18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals. He also had quite the shot to end the half, as time expired; he hit a shot from a little beyond half court to finish up his 20-point first half. Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas also had a very nice game, as the big man made work of the Nets small lineups. Valanciunas finished with 20 points on nine for 14 shooting to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds for a nice double-double for the young Center.

A big disappoint for the Nets in the loss on Monday was the lack of defense, which has been so good in 2014,  as they allowed the Raptors to score 104 points without DeMar DeRozan. In 12 games in January the Nets have only allowed over 100 points three times now, which is very good, but against the Raptors without their best scorer at home is something shouldn’t happen in a big game.

Next up for the Nets will be a nice break before they host Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in the last game of January for the Nets.

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Nets Five-Game Winning Streak Ends in Toronto

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 11th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 80 Raptors 96

The Brooklyn Nets had their five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night against the Atlantic Division leading Toronto Raptors. The loss moves the Nets to (15-22) on the season and are now four games behind the Raptors in the Division.

Positives-

In what was a long night on Friday in the double-overtime win against the Miami Heat, and tough travels to Toronto the Nets were behind the eight-ball to begin with, which led to few positives in an ugly game. The best player for the Nets in their 80-point performance was Paul Pierce, who led the way with a team-high 15 points on five for nine shooting. When Pierce was taking out of the game towards the end of the third quarter the Nets actually had a 10-point lead, but by the time he returned they were down by eight points in about a seven minute span.

The starting frontline for the Raptors was a non-factor in their win, as Center Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson both had poor games against the Nets small lineup. Valanciunas was held to eight points on two for nine shooting with nine rebounds, and Johnson scored only three points on one for six shooting.

Negatives-

DeMar DeRozan was fantastic in the Raptors win, as he had a game-high 26 points on nine for 18 shooting. Besides his great scoring game DeRozan did a nice job on the glass with seven rebounds, and he also dished out five assists.

After three great games, and a 32-point game on Friday against the Heat, Joe Johnson struggled to ever get going in the loss on Saturday. Johnson scored just 11 points on four for 13 shooting, but did do well on the glass with six rebounds, and did dish out six assists. The rebounds and assists aren’t a bad thing for Johnson and then Nets, but they need him to be scoring in the 20-point area every night especially without Deron Williams.

The bench play was a huge disadvantage for Brooklyn in this game, and with a lack of production and lack of stopping Toronto’s bench, it got an ugly. The Raptors saw great play from Patrick Patterson, who had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Patterson also had a ridiculous +40 +/-. John Salmons was also great for Toronto, as he scored 13 points on a perfect five for five shooting, and like Patterson had a great +/- at +32.

The Nets will be heading to London before they are set to play against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

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Knicks Fall in Deep Hole, Drop Home-and-Home to Raptors

Saturday, December 28^th, 2013

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

Post Game Recap

The Knicks once again dug themselves a deep hole they were unable to climb out of, losing in Toronto to the Raptors 115-100. The Knicks were down by more than 20 points in the second half but were able to cut it to six in the later stages of the fourth quarter. They were unable to get all the way back after a flagrant-1 was called on Tour’e Murry. Kyle Lowry knocked down both free throws and then hit a three-pointer to put the game away for the Raptors. It was too little too late for the Knicks as it once again took them getting down by a large margin before they were able to get up and compete. With the loss the Knicks drop the home-and-home with the Raptors and fall five games behind in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks will have a long time off to stew on this loss as the Knicks do not play until Thursday night in San Antonio against the Spurs as the Knicks embark on the Texas Threesome road trip.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

Without Carmelo Anthony playing the Knicks needed someone to step up offensively and Stoudemire answered the bell. Stoudemire gave the Knicks some good minutes off the bench, getting 30 of them on the second half of the back-to-back. STAT shot 9-12 from the field (5-6 FT) for 23 points. Stoudemire battled in the paint as well, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking two shots. With consistent minutes Stoudemire has looked good because he is back in rhythm. When he sits certain games it throws him out of sync. At this point with the Knicks shorthanded they might as well run Stoudemire out there as much as he can says he can handle and hope he continues giving efforts like he did tonight.

-Positives

Tour’e Murry had the one miscue late in the fourth quarter but he was a big reason the Knicks were even within striking distance. Murry had his best game as a pro in his 14^th career game. He shot 5-11 from the field and scored 11 points. He also handed out six assists and garnered three steals. He gave the Knicks some energy and effort that does not always come from some players, finishing the game with the highest +/- ratio on the team with +4. He earned himself some extra run in the coming games as a guy that will jumpstart the Knicks when he is on the court alongside fellow rookie Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports

Without Anthony the Knicks obviously struggle a little more to score but tonight they did well putting the ball in the basket. Other players stepped up some as Stoudemire led the way with 23 and five other Knicks scored in double-figures as well; Tyson Chandler scored a season-high 16, JR Smith scored 13, Andrea Bargnani and Hardaway Jr. scored 12 each and Murry added his 11. Overall the Knicks shot 39-80 from the field, 7-21 from three point land and 15-20 from the foul line.

Iman Shumpert has played poorly in recent games but tonight he gave one of the stat stuffing games Knicks fans had been accustomed to seeing. He went only 2-5 from the field but he added a team high eight rebounds and two assists. He also added a steal and block and was only one of three players to finish the game with a positive +/- ratio in a Knicks uniform along with Stoudemire and Murry.

Mike Woodson is a favorite of mine in the negatives section but tonight he found some players who will give him energy on the court in Kenyon Martin, Murry, Stoudemire and Hardaway Jr. He still gave JR Smith a little more freedom than you would like but he did stick to the players who were giving the Knicks a chance tonight and it was a refreshing thing to see from a team that has lacked passion seemingly all season.

-Negatives

It is like beating a dead horse but as long as it keeps happening it will continue ending up in this section. The Knicks perimeter defense is horrendous and there are no signs of it ever getting stronger. Tonight Kyle Lowry stepped up the aggressiveness offensively. He iced the game with the five-point swing mentioned in the lead but was torching the Knicks before then as well. Tonight Lowry shot 10-17 from the field (4-7 3pt, 8-10 FT) for a game high 32 points. He also added 11 assists, just showing off at that point what could have been for the Knicks had James Dolan not stepped in and vetoed the trade.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young

Lowry was not the only perimeter player to hurt the Knicks tonight as he had help from his fellow starting perimeter players. DeMar DeRozan did not score as efficiently as last night but he did end the night with 20 points again. Who really hurt the Knicks was Terrence Ross, who found his spot in the corner and knocked down three pointer after three pointer. On the night Ross knocked down 7-11 from deep en route to 23 points. He added four rebounds, one assist and two steals as well. For the night the Raptors, who average only seven three point makes per game, knocked down 15-32 three point attempts.

The Knicks were out rebounded once again and there was no bigger omission from the Knicks rebounding stats than Chandler. Chandler managed to grab only two defensive rebounds in the game, a sign of how much a mess the Knicks defense really is. Having to help out defenders as often as he does and the annoyance of the Knicks to switch every pick Chandler is out of position to rebound and closer to the three-point line than the basket. This enables the other teams bigs to grab easy offensive rebounds as the Raptors did tonight, grabbing 13 for the night. Bargnani only grabbed four as the Knicks “big lineup” plays smaller than their small lineup.

Bargnani was seen holding an ice pack late in the game but once again he was a no-show down the stretch. Bargnani shows aggressiveness and asserts himself early in the game but as the game goes on he starts being seen less and less. The Knicks need him to stay aggressive, especially with Anthony sidelined. With Bargnani not being aggressive players further and further down the pecking order are expected to score, which makes for the Knicks struggling more than they should be. Bargnani wasn’t the only starter to essentially get benched in crunch time as Beno Udrih was all of his minutes in the fourth quarter to Murry.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors, December 28th, 2013

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Saturday, December 28^th, 2013

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks will look to salvage the home-and-home with the Toronto Raptors tonight after losing 95-83 Friday night. This game is of the utmost importance for the Knicks as they need to start mounting some division wins if they plan to take advantage of what is the worst division in sports. Here are some things to keep an eye on in the game tonight.

AP Photo

-Injury News and Updates

The Knicks will have to find a way to score once again without Carmelo Anthony. Anthony will miss his third straight game, as he did not even make the trip to Toronto with the team. Anthony’s ankle injury has proved too much for him to take the court for the better part of the last week. Anthony will be sorely missed as they have been outscored by an average of 20.5 points per game without their leading scorer.

Anthony is not the only player who is dealing with injuries as Iman Shumpert is battling a thigh injury. He fought through it last night but he is questionable tonight as he did not perform well Friday. Amar’e Stoudemire also is struggling with some swelling in his right wrist the past two games but is supposed to be ready to go Saturday.

For the Raptors we will see if former Knicks Steve Novak and Landry Fields will take the court against them tonight. Neither player received any minutes Friday night, and have not for the last seven games; since the trade with the Sacramento Kings that sent out Rudy Gay the Raptors have been using their new, higher ceiling players in Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez and John Salmons.

-Bargnani Returns to Toronto

Andrea Bargnani will be making his first return to Toronto since the trade this offseason that landed him with the Knicks. Bargnani had a tumultuous tenure with the Raptors after being the first overall pick in 2006; a combination of injuries and poor player caused the fans to turn on him and Bargnani crumble under the pressure of being a top pick.

AP Photo

Bargnani can expect a rude welcoming when he takes the court Saturday night as the fans grew tired of Bargnani the longer he was there. On the other hand he may receive the greatest ovation of any player this season in Toronto as the Raptor faithful are happy that he is gone.

The biggest slap in the face Bargnani can give the Raptors is him playing well and leading the Knicks to a victory. With Anthony out the Knicks need someone to carry the scoring load and Bargnani should be the man; he will be as motivated as ever to show the crowd in Toronto he was worth the first overall draft pick they used on him.

-Matchup of the Game: JR Smith vs. DeMar DeRozan

Without Anthony the Knicks need Smith to pick up some of the scoring slack left behind; he is capable of it but how he gets the points will be the thing to keep an eye on. Friday night Smith and DeRozan matched up and had similar shooting nights; Smith was 7-15 and DeRozan 7-13. But there was an eight point difference in points as DeRozan took permanent residency at the free throw line, taking 14 attempts. Smith on the other hand only had two.

Smith has been better recently facilitating the offense but needs to stay aggressive when he is looking to score the basketball. Smith was at his best last season when he was attacking the basket and getting to the foul line. Smith and the rest of the wing players also have to step up the effort on the defensive end as DeRozan and John Salmons hurt the Knicks Friday night from the perimeter.

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Knicks Fall to Raptors as Offense Falters Late

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, December 27^th, 2013-12-28

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks have no one to blame but themselves after losing to the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors tonight at Madison Square Garden 95-83. The Knicks let a 12-point third quarter lead slip through their hands as the offense crumbled without Carmelo Anthony leading the way. James Dolan told the players and coaching staff that no moves were going to be made; a move that should have calmed some people with trade rumors swirling; all it did was make them as complacent as ever on the court. Mike Woodson said yesterday he still expects this team to repeat as Atlantic Division champs and did nothing to back him up. The struggles the Knicks went through in the fourth quarter is where they can point for the poor ending. With or without Anthony this was a game there for the taking and the Knicks could not take advantage, something that has become commonplace this season. The Knicks will look to bounce back tomorrow night against this same Raptors team in Toronto. They will have to do it without Anthony again, who is not making the trip to Toronto with the team.

Player of the Game – Beno Udrih

Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

With the Knicks so short-handed in the backcourt Udrih was forced to play big minutes and he responded in a positive way again. Udrih was not happy that Woodson picked him out for poor performance. After calling out Woodson for his comments made after the Christmas Day debacle against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Udrih came out and played a good game tonight. Udrih was a scoring threat, stepping up without leading scorer Anthony on the court by pouring in 15 points. He also added 10 assists, giving him his first double-double as a Knick and highest assist total of the season. He was also aggressive and a pest on the defensive end, tallying four steals. Udrih has run this team to the best of his ability and the lack of offensive fire power cannot and should not be placed on his shoulders.

-Positives

The Knicks, for all their short comings on the offensive end, were able to get it going from beyond the three-point line. The Knicks knocked down 10-19 from long range, good for 52.6 percent. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way for the Knicks, knocking down 4-5 and ending the game with 15 points. JR Smith added 3 of his own and Andrea Bargnani added two as well.

Speaking of Bargnani, he looked engaged and aggressive early on, seeming to be motivated by playing against his old team. He finished with 18 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. He also added two blocks to his stat line for the night. Bargnani did not play as well as he could have though given the opportunity he had with Anthony sidelined.

For at least one half the Knicks were able to keep the Raptors under control on the offensive end. The Knicks held the Raptors to only 40 points in the first half as they went into halftime with a nine point lead.

For what seems like the first time all season the Knicks were able to hold opposing point guards to less than outstanding games. Trade target Kyle Lowry did not score much, totaling only 10 points for the game but he did hand out 11 assists. His backup fared even worse, shooting 1-7 and scoring only four points while compiling four assists.

-Negatives

Tyson Chandler, in his fourth game back from injury, was dominated by Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas has been having a coming out party since Rudy Gay was traded to the Sacramento Kings and the Knicks did nothing to stop it. Valanciunas finished the game with 16 points and a career high 18 rebounds as he dominated the paint throughout the night. Valanciunas very active front court mates, Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough, gave the Knicks some problems as well as the two combined for 12 rebounds and the constant movement and activity the Knicks do not get night in and night out from their bigs.

Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

The perimeter defense for the Knicks was improved but once again not well enough. While the point guards did not fare as well, the other wing players did just fine. DeMar DeRozan led the way with a game-high 25 points on 7-13 shooting. He was a frequent visitor to the foul line, taking 14 free throws and making nine. Terrence Ross made the Knicks pay from the perimeter as well, knocking down 3-6 from deep and finishing with 11 points. Reserve wing John Salmons hit the go ahead three-pointer with 8:07 remaining to give the Raptors the lead for good. Salmons finished the night 3-7 from three point land and 11 points as well.

Whatever Iman Shumpert is doing he needs to change because it is not working for him. The starting shooting guard is in a rut like no other as he played only 12 minutes tonight because of a combination of foul trouble and unproductive minutes. Shumpert virtually goose-egged the box score, grabbing only one rebound and getting one steal. Shumpert will continue losing minutes to Hardaway Jr. (possibly not a bad thing) and Smith (probably not a good thing) if he continues to play so poorly. It is disappointing that Shumpert is not taking advantage of all of the chances presented to him as the Knicks could really use a boost from the third year shooting guard. Being the player brought up most frequently in trade rumors, being told he would not be traded was thought of as something to calm Shumpert down. Instead he looks as if he has checked out and is ready to move on from the Knicks.

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