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firstrounder · 05-04-2007, 10:45 AM

LOL @ the chicken nugget.

I agree by the way!

HB · 05-04-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor Page

I'd like to be the first one to say that this is a must-win game.

I hate to admit it - but I think the outcome of this game is in Carter's hands. Does he come out and attack the rim, creating space for Nachbar, Kidd and Jefferson? Or does he candy-*** around, whine to the officials and pat every Raptor on the rear when he gets close enough?

The Nets are 7.5 point favourites so for Raptors fans, it's a long shot. But you know what, it's not like we're playing the 1997 Chicago Bulls here. The Nets' home crowd is comatose. I wouldn't be TOO suprised if the Raptors pull it out, just mildly surprised.

They had 20000 fans last game. Of course when you blowout the opposition it puts a damper on things

**ballocks** · 05-04-2007, 10:50 AM

the absolute latest (from the radio- and from CJ) is that tj's got a "thumb injury." both he and jose are "game-time decisions" which means, in my world, that they'll give it a shot- as they should.

i think the sporting world has gone a little bit insane with these fake injury reports. do we really need to have a strategy for everything? apparently the blue jays lied about bj ryan's arm, saying it was his back; hockey notoriously blankets all issues as either "lower body" or "upper body", even during the season; and now tj's got thumb problems. they're all different, too: the blue jays are keeping the info from their fans; hockey teams are doing it to prevent targets from being drawn on their players' backs; and the raptors just don't want the nets to know what lineup they're going to put on the floor.

imo, the blue jays are paranoid, it helps nobody to lie to the fans. you can't/shouldn't (imo) treat the fans like four year-old children. hockey teams are also paranoid, but justify their actions by the one play that occurs once in a blue moon, that sees the opponent go out of his way to further injure the injured. the raptors are maybe the least guilty because they claim that the same was being done by new jersey at their expense earlier in the series, but i think that's absurdly childish.

i hate having to read injury reports like a critic these days, that's the truth. i know the verdict's been announced at least on tj, he's not a game-time decision, either he's playing or he ain't, and that's a bit frustrating.

but i'll forget all about it as soon as we tip it off tonight. at least we have that.

peace

**CrookedJ** · 05-04-2007, 11:00 AM

^^ Whatever, I saw a lot of empty seats, and a lot of Raps fans in other seats. You could hear them booing VC during foul shots, hardly impressive compared to other playoff locales - IE Golden State, Utah or Toronto.

Form Doug Smith's mailbag

Calderon Should Start:

Quote:

Right now, I'd say there's an 80 per cent chance Jose Calderon plays and a 15 per cent chance T.J. Ford does.

Calderon has to start for two reasons: He's the best they've got and they are not going to let him warmup and get loose and then sit down. That'd be ridiculous.
So, after riding Calderon for as long as they can (maybe he takes three, four minutes off in the first half), they go to Juan Dixon.

Then they let either Dixon or Anthony Parker bring the ball up the court, depending on who the Nets are guarding them with (bet they stay away from Jason Kidd) and the offence runs more through Chris Bosh or Andrea Bargnani.

One pass to the high post, let them either go to work or hit cutters in the lane.

Now, if Calderon can't go, I'm betting it's Dixon who starts. He gives them another scorer on the floor that the Nets have to guard (Darrick Martin doesn't pose the same threat and isn't quick enough to guard Kidd the full length of the court) and they still initiate a lot of their offence through the big men.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/210488

**ballocks** · 05-04-2007, 11:00 AM

yup, this is getting crazy:

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=206563&hubname=

Quote:

Toronto Raptors point guard T.J. Ford said he's likely to play Friday night against the New Jersey Nets in Game 6, but backcourt mate Jose Calderon wasn't as optimistic about his situation.
...
"It's a lot better day to day," he (Ford) said at Friday's shootaround at Continental Airlines Arena. "I couldn't move it a couple of days ago and now I have a lot of movement and flexibility in it. I think it's a good possibility I can play."
...
Calderon was still bothered by the right ankle he sprained in the final minute of Tuesday night's game. He attended Friday's shootaround, and still has pain when he attempts to move laterally.

nothing like watching the injury updates move along.

peace

**Turkish Delight** · 05-04-2007, 11:21 AM

Definately keep the same lineup as last game. If TJ can't make it, put in Calderon. Great move my Mitchell to replace Nesterovic with Bargnani. Nesterovic hasn't played badly by any means, but putting Bargnani at center opens up the floor, and doesn't allow the Nets to just easily clog the lane. It should also open up some space for Chris, but that remains to be seen.

Victor Page · 05-04-2007, 12:01 PM

There was not 20,000 fans at either Nets home game. I was there for game 3 and there were tons of empty seats in the lower and upper bowls.

Most fans I spoke to weren't really Nets fans, just hoops fans from the NYC area looking to check out a game. The 4 guys behind us left early to catch a bus for NYC and a house party. The guys in front of us were family members of NFL draft prospects.

Don't get me wrong - there were thousands of die-hard Nets fans there (all of whom treated us well). It's just that there is no home court advantage - very little crowd noise, and no intimidation factor for the road team.

TRON · 05-04-2007, 12:19 PM

I just want to see some energy to start the game. NJ will be amped for this game and if we don't match their intensity this game, it will be like game 3 and 4 all over again.

Bosh's chance for redemtion is now, he will make everyone forget his poor performances with a big game tonight.

BTW...is anything confirmed yet about TJ/Jose for tonight?

crimedog · 05-04-2007, 12:29 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

TJ likely to play...Jose not as optimistic

Who-C · 05-04-2007, 01:03 PM

It'll be a tough game. I dont expect the Raps to win, but it would be crazy if they win tonight and force a game 7. The ACC will be rockin if we can force another game, but we need to take care of business to stay alive tonight.

lucky777s · 05-04-2007, 01:26 PM

The great thing about watching Golden State is the incredible energy and pace they bring to the game. Defensive intensity too. The way they all scramble for rebounds and 'hand-off' their D assignments in the zone. I was a little jealous of that and thinking of how the Raps just don't bring that same juice to the game.

Baron, SJax, JRich, Barnes, and Pietrus are all big guards with good length who can shoot and attack the rim hard. They also have good strength to handle bigger guys at times. They won without Harrington doing anything and only a small role for Monta Ellis.

Raps really need those bigger wings that can attack off the dribble as well as the spot up 3. Can Luke and Joey develop into that?

Bosh needs to move around more in our offense to get him the ball in better spots and let him attack before doubles can come. Way too slow and predictable an offense the way he always gets the ball in the same spot.

**speedythief** · 05-04-2007, 03:10 PM

Raps are due for a road win.

Game seven seems like our destiny.

Victor Page · 05-04-2007, 03:27 PM

The comparison to GS got me thinking .....if the Raptors had Stephen Jackson they'd be dominant. Defend big 3s - check.
Perimeter scoring - check. Get to the rim - check. Scary SOB that petrifies opponents - check.

Anyway, hopefully Joey Grahame can give the Raps a little bit of Jax tonight.

HB · 05-04-2007, 03:29 PM

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