Nets at Raptors, 7pm, on The Score (Free MoPete!)
Judging from all the shits and giggles at Raptors practice yesterday, I’d say that the team isn’t too worried about their game one loss. While I appreciate that they are loose and relaxed, I hope they aren’t taking the playoffs too lightly. They have to come out focused and intense tonight because, as they say, this is a “must-win” game for them.
As I’ve said before, the Raps have an amazing record in big games this year. Anytime they needed a bounecback game, had to get a win to accomplish something (division, homecourt) or felt their backs were to the wall, they’ve come through. This is not a mentally weak team which is why I fully expect most of the errors from Monday to be corrected and the Raptors to play a much better game.
I’ve read a couple articles over the last couple days, including Scott Carefoot’s latest (and as usual, fantastic) blog entry, suggesting that MoPete needs more playing time in this series, perhaps even as a starter.
Well, I couldn’t agree more. MoPete’s frequent benchings and inconsistent minutes are the great mystery of this Raptors season, especially recently, given the injuries to Jorge Garbajosa and Andrea Bargnani. Most people, myself included, thought the injuries would be a chance for Mo to get back into the lineup.
It didn’t work out that way; Juan Dixon got most of the bench minutes, Joey Graham became a starter and played well, and Kris Humphries became the energy guy. MoPete was still the odd man out.
Bargnani is back, but Garbo’s still gone, and with the advent of the playoffs, and Dixon’s recent struggles and his size problems against Jersey, I thought MoPete would get another chance here in the postseason.
But for whatever reason, Dixon played ahead of Mo (and was subsequently abused by Richard Jefferson and Bostjan Nachbar, while shooting 2-5, in 15 minutes) and Graham played 35 minutes in which he looked OK on defense, but was utterly lost on offense.
MoPete - who has more playoff experience than those two combined - got a mere six minutes.
Now, I know MoPete hasn’t played his best basketball this year. But how much of that is his fault? His minutes have been jerked around like crazy. He went from having a major role on the team the last two years to not having an identity this year.
It’s been proven time and again, that NBA players need some sort of consistent routine to consistently succeed.
Imagine if you showed up for work every day, but had no idea what you were going to be working on that day. On Monday your boss only had an hour’s worth of work for you. The next day he had a full 8 hours. Then 3. Then 1. Then 5. then 2. How do you mentally prepare for something when you have no idea what it will entail? Yeah, I know, you should “always be ready.” Well, easier said than done.
Anyway. To me it seems like a no-brainer, he’s a good matchup against Vince or RJ, he’s a good defender, he’s been in the playoffs, he’s a smart player who’s proven he can hit big shots. Maybe his shooting hasn’t been great all year long but it’s surely been better than Dixon’s the last couple weeks (10 for his last 40, for those keeping track at home). Mo would definitely be my first two-guard substitution off the bench.
As for Graham, I know he played well before that game one stinkbomb, but if he’s doesn’t bring it for game two, I’d have him on a much shorter leash, with MoPete coming out of the bullpen for the save.
Other than that, my keys to game two are what I said before: Better defense, better ball movement and keeping J-Kidd off the glass. Oh, and getting Chris Bosh going early (and keeping him out of foul trouble) wouldn’t hurt either.
I’m confident the Raps have made their adjustments and will take this one, and we’ll be coming back here for game five. I’ll be at the game tonight, a little hoarse as I’m fighting a cold, but cheering as loud as I possibly can! Let’s make it even louder than Saturday, folks! Keep those “defense” and “let’s go Raptors” chants going!
Oh - and wear red!! Don’t let that jackass Jefferson tell us what to do - I want to see you in head-to-toe red, waving those red flags and going crazy! Let’s go Red, Let’s go RAPTORS!!!!!!
[/swirsky]
As I’ve said before, the Raps have an amazing record in big games this year. Anytime they needed a bounecback game, had to get a win to accomplish something (division, homecourt) or felt their backs were to the wall, they’ve come through. This is not a mentally weak team which is why I fully expect most of the errors from Monday to be corrected and the Raptors to play a much better game.
I’ve read a couple articles over the last couple days, including Scott Carefoot’s latest (and as usual, fantastic) blog entry, suggesting that MoPete needs more playing time in this series, perhaps even as a starter.
Well, I couldn’t agree more. MoPete’s frequent benchings and inconsistent minutes are the great mystery of this Raptors season, especially recently, given the injuries to Jorge Garbajosa and Andrea Bargnani. Most people, myself included, thought the injuries would be a chance for Mo to get back into the lineup.
It didn’t work out that way; Juan Dixon got most of the bench minutes, Joey Graham became a starter and played well, and Kris Humphries became the energy guy. MoPete was still the odd man out.
Bargnani is back, but Garbo’s still gone, and with the advent of the playoffs, and Dixon’s recent struggles and his size problems against Jersey, I thought MoPete would get another chance here in the postseason.
But for whatever reason, Dixon played ahead of Mo (and was subsequently abused by Richard Jefferson and Bostjan Nachbar, while shooting 2-5, in 15 minutes) and Graham played 35 minutes in which he looked OK on defense, but was utterly lost on offense.
MoPete - who has more playoff experience than those two combined - got a mere six minutes.
Now, I know MoPete hasn’t played his best basketball this year. But how much of that is his fault? His minutes have been jerked around like crazy. He went from having a major role on the team the last two years to not having an identity this year.
It’s been proven time and again, that NBA players need some sort of consistent routine to consistently succeed.
Imagine if you showed up for work every day, but had no idea what you were going to be working on that day. On Monday your boss only had an hour’s worth of work for you. The next day he had a full 8 hours. Then 3. Then 1. Then 5. then 2. How do you mentally prepare for something when you have no idea what it will entail? Yeah, I know, you should “always be ready.” Well, easier said than done.
Anyway. To me it seems like a no-brainer, he’s a good matchup against Vince or RJ, he’s a good defender, he’s been in the playoffs, he’s a smart player who’s proven he can hit big shots. Maybe his shooting hasn’t been great all year long but it’s surely been better than Dixon’s the last couple weeks (10 for his last 40, for those keeping track at home). Mo would definitely be my first two-guard substitution off the bench.
As for Graham, I know he played well before that game one stinkbomb, but if he’s doesn’t bring it for game two, I’d have him on a much shorter leash, with MoPete coming out of the bullpen for the save.
Other than that, my keys to game two are what I said before: Better defense, better ball movement and keeping J-Kidd off the glass. Oh, and getting Chris Bosh going early (and keeping him out of foul trouble) wouldn’t hurt either.
I’m confident the Raps have made their adjustments and will take this one, and we’ll be coming back here for game five. I’ll be at the game tonight, a little hoarse as I’m fighting a cold, but cheering as loud as I possibly can! Let’s make it even louder than Saturday, folks! Keep those “defense” and “let’s go Raptors” chants going!
Oh - and wear red!! Don’t let that jackass Jefferson tell us what to do - I want to see you in head-to-toe red, waving those red flags and going crazy! Let’s go Red, Let’s go RAPTORS!!!!!!
[/swirsky]