Ford Shines Thanks To Jose
 
The Toronto Raptors made a bold move heading into the game tonight vs.Pistons. T.J Ford and Rasho Nesterovic were inserted back into the starting line-up and Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani were placed on the bench. The fact that Toronto Raptor fans were going nuts over this issue all day would lead to an interesting atmosphere in the building. T.J Ford did not exactly play his way into the starting line-up and Rasho Nesterovic clearly did. How would all 4 players do in the new roles the answers were to come. Not exactly the easiest team to do it against in Detroitanticipation.
The crowd almost seemed to be in of a nervous anticpation mode to start this ball game. The Pistons started on a 7-2 run the piston starting five is always the same and has years of chemistry so not a surprise. Even down Richard Hamilton the masked man still doesn't change that. Raptors would battle back to get the game to within a point and at least it was a case of so far so good. Sam Mitchell was in many people eyes taking a huge risk with 12 games left to play. That being said this team was in need of something as it's star player had called out his team to perform better. Bosh himself has always had a hard time matching with Rasheed Wallace. Bosh was coming off a near triple double performance and would look to carry over that performance. The Raps had taken a lead on the strength of an 8-0 to lead by 4. It would be short lived as Pistons responded with an 8-0 run of their own. Calderon would come off the bench and got a warm welcome from the fans. He would take a jump shot and make it on the first offensive opportunity when he entered the game. So your early returns on the new look/old look Raptors are not to bad after a quarter. They trailed the Detriot just 20-19.
Raptors despite trailing were shooting 47% after one. Andrea Bargnani would enter the game and he would be playing at the 4 spot alongside Nesterovic. He would not be a factor at least early on but Raptors were hanging tough tied 22-22. Carlos Delfino would eventual find a way to get a bucket. After getting swatted by Theo Ratliff and missing a dunk he would nail a 3 point shot to draw the Raptors level. He would make another later in the quarter and Raptors had a five point advantage. Jose Calderon unlike Bargnani showed zero difference in his new role. You get the same Jose no matter what and he will be widely praised if this line-up shuffle works and he should. Sam Mitchell could not have made this move without the knowledge that Jose could and would accept it. Something that Ford was unable to do which made this move happen. Bargnani may have same issue as a bench player he went scoreless in 9 minutes on the floor. Ford in his second tour of duty on the floor was off to a rough start missing a 3 badly and hearing boos from the crowd. That was the beginning of a number of miscues by the team as a whole. But the game was still close and the Raptors had done a reasonable job making the adjustments. They trailed by just 2 points 35-33 at the half in a slugfest with the Pistons.
It would be key to get off to a good start for the reunited first unit. Ford would most of all as he needed to win back some people in the stands. Dropping a dime to the other returning starter Rasho Nesterovic couldn't have hurt. Some help from above on a jump shot was nice as well. After the season Ford has had he will take any good vibes he can find. A dime to Jamario Moon and cheers for Moon's finish on a dunk. Raptors had a slim 45-41 lead on the the Pistons. Ford had kicked his game into another gear and being T.J it was at high speed. The T.J Ford show was in full effect but it had co-stars and the most exciting would be Jamario Moon getting another for dime and taking flight to throw it down. To finish the 3rd quarter even Jose would get a cameo appearance. Raps were rolling and extended to an 8 point advantage. But the problem of the fourth quarter still lied ahead. The last 2 games had been less then kind to Toronto. To be more to the point Lebron James and The Denver Duo killed them. Ford had 7 assists and Raptors had a 10 point lead. More good news is that Pistons were playing 3 game in 4 nights which would make a 4th quarter comeback a bit harder to pull off.
The Raptors would enter the fourth and look the more energized team. They extended the lead to 17 capped off by a Bargnani 3 pointer who had been silent to that point. Get out the Salami and....Wait a second Detroit would put a hold on that order as they climbed back to within 9 prompting a Sam Mitchell time-out. There was bout 7 minutes left to go. The Piston push would get to within 5. But Ford would return and Calderon would remain. Ford to Calderon for 3 and Raps were back up by 10. Ford would make another shot and Now GET OUT THE SALAMI AND CHESSE THIS BALL GAME WAS OVER. I think T.J Ford would enjoy this quote from the legendary wrestler Ric Flair to sum up the night. Whether you like it or don't like it, you better learn to love it. Cause Ford was back as starter and Forderon was running on all cylinders. T.J answered the call and Jose gave him the chance to make it happen. Another Piston push would not be enough. Tonight you saw why people both love and hate T.J Ford. But on this night there was much more to love!!! Raptors were in the winners circle with an 89-82. Bosh quietly lead the team with 21 points but was no doubt happy to do so if it meant a win for his team.
Boxscore: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280326028
Podcast: http://dinoblogger.podbean.com/2008/03/26/raps-shock-pistons/ |