Eyes On Playoff Race
The Toronto Raptors were coming off a big win over Detroit but no room for a letdown vs the New York Knicks. They would start on a 7-2 run and look to take control and have the 20 win Knicks roll over and play dead.If you believe the New York media that would be an easy task as the Knicks have been accused of tanking it down the stretch. If you think back to the first Raptor season and the dispute that took place between Brenden Malone and Isiah Thomas over Damon Stoudamire's minutes down the end of the season you could make a case they are right. Thomas wanted Malone to lower the minutes for the eventual rookie of the year and Malone would disagree wanting to win and it would cost him his job.
Ex-Raptor now Derrick Martin was on the bench in a suit and looking every bit the coach he may likely become. Linton Johnson the newest Raptor was in uniform and hoping for a chance as he looks to cash in on his 10 day contract into a more solid position with the Raptors. The Knicks were able to beat this Raptor squad and it was a lot to do with Jamal Crawford. He and his team were hanging around. Crawford was not exactly tearing it up and the Raptors would hope it would stay that way. Crawford once as a Bull dropped 50 on the Raptors and is one of those players that seems to have good nights when matched up against them. He averages 32 points a game in his career vs. Toronto. Raptors good but not great and doing enough to be in front. But they were starting to build a bit of momentum late in the quarter. The Knicks to this point were not going away though and staying close. Andrea Barganani would hit a 3 pointer and give the Raptors there largest lead of the night which was 7 points. He would add a couple free throws next time down the floor and the Raptors end the quarter up by 9 points 32-23.
Jose Calderon got Chris Bosh rolling in the second with a lovely feed for an easy bucket and easy assist for Jose. Raptors were shooting the ball very well and getting great ball movement. They had an 11 point advantage and were looking to build on it. Andrea Bargnani was having one of those night that tell you all that bust talk may just be that talk. These flashes of greatness are what ultimately lead to the frustration about him throughout the organization and Fan base. The plan in the Off-season is to have Bargnani head to Texas with John Lucas as he will not have to compete for Italy as they failed to qualify for games in China this summer. Raptors were hitting the long ball and pounding the disinterested Knicks who had no Curry and No Randolph and no chance it would seem. Raptors had extended their advantage to 17. Knicks would go on a 14-0 run and get back to within 3 points. So the thoughts of a blow out easy win were gone for now. Chris Bosh would end the run with a jump shot to close out the half. Raptors were up 5 points but could not have been happy despite the 49-44 lead.
Sam Mitchell would have had a strong message given the way his team closed out the half. How would they answer the challenge that the coach no doubt laid out at the half? Raptor would respond as they built off Bosh's last shot of the half to go on a run of their own taking advantage of the Knicks lack of size to go on a 8-0 run. But again the Knick would not go away clawing back into it again. Raptors were not playing great but they were doing what it took to stay ahead of the Knicks and did just enough to keep a level of comfort. Sam Mitchell got fired up about a missed call by the officials and he would win a rare battle with officials as they reversed the call. Raps would not cash in on the extra offensive chance. Isiah Thomas meanwhile looked emotionless and ever bit the dead man walking that people feel he is. Despite that his Knicks were putting in a quality effort as they were playing short handed with Randolph being a late scratch with the flu. But like that cream that rises to the top the Raptors were starting to build on it's lead again behind the their All Star Chris Bosh. Bosh coming off his injury was starting to show that jump shot that is a big part to his game that makes him a nightmare to guard. It was really a sleepy kind of affair though as there was little to get excited about. Bargnani was showing some of that aggression that people have wanted to see. He had a 5 of 6 night from the free throw line a place the Raptors would like to see him get to more. There would be a delay late in the third as a referee would end up get slammed into on of the advertisement display walls. He would be ok and remain in the game and called a foul against the home side. Which would end the quarter with a 76-68 lead.
The Raptors would like to start the 4th quarter and put the Knicks to bed. They had been able to close against Detroit something they had struggled with the two games prior to that. New York was far less talented then any of the Raptors recent competition. Jose Calderon would start the quarter out right with a 3 point shot his first points of the night to extend the lead to 11. After that he would make a few mistakes and Sam Mitchell would call for time. He would remain in the ball game and run a play for Bosh and get the basket out of the time out. Bosh despite a pretty ugly game was playing like the best player on the floor which he was on this night. You had the sense that he would not allow the Raptors to let this game slip away. He would get the support of his team with Parker and Delfino making key shots to maintain the advantage. Bargnani would exit with foul trouble picking up his 5th foul but he had 12 points and played decent on this night should he not return. A better team could have challenged the Raptors but the Knicks were not that team. Raps were doing enough to beat the level of resistance that was being provided which was far less then earlier points on this night. Bosh was on the floor for almost all of this one and was showing what the Raptors had missed when he was out. This was the type of game the Raptors would have to win down the stretch run. Only 2 teams above .500 remain in New Orleans on Sunday and one more date with Detroit who the Raptors just beat. Both point guards would be on the floor for the closing minutes as it seems this is what Sam Mitchell has chosen to do when teams give him the option by not having great height. Raptors by the end of night should be back in the magical 6th spot. The Suns were pounding the Sixers back to a little sense of reality. Raptor fans had Pizza and Raps looked to have a win barring a major self destruction on behalf of the Raptors. there was no sense of that happening. T.J Ford schooled his friend and Ex Rap Fred Jones and it was all but over. Raptors were seconds away from a win 103-95 win to take the season series 3 games to 1 over the Knicks. Up Next the return of Old Raptor Favorite Morris Peterson and his very good New Orleans Basketball team lead by Chris Paul. A team the Raptors beat to close out 2007.
Bosh had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the rest of the stats check out the boxscore below.
Boxscore:http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=28032802
Podcast:http://dinoblogger.podbean.com/2008/03/28/knicks-raps-post/ |