Quote Originally Posted by MartDawg:
Wait wait wait. I have followed the raptors all year. In a pressure situation like this, sorry to say the nerves will get the best of them. You are talking deron Williams, Paul pierce, Kevin Garnett and Shawn Livingston vs Lowry,derozan and who? This is a total mismatch because the nets are not going to be embarrassed by a Toronto squad that had some confidence before being tossed around in jersey. I am a raptors fan but I am not playing with my heart here. This game will come down to call unfortunately and pp and kg are notorious for getting them. Let's be real. Kg and pp final year to give it all they got, will they be a force next year? I really don't think so they are aged veterans that can still play. Yes raptors are young and fast but also stupid with the pressure on. +3 is a dream today and I am gonna unload like a madman. I believe the x factor for nets will be Shawn Livingston and d will will do his thing. Lowry will get upset and dr. Rozan will do his thing like usual. They just don't have the intestinal fortitude to push Brooklyn around. The home crowd will be silent when Brooklyn shuts em down early. Take out the crowd will be a strategy for sure. These teams may match up fairly well but the veteran play will be their ultimate fate.
Good article scalabrine but my heart says raps but my betting gut says Brooklyn +3
Best of luck to everybody
Mart dawg. Roof roof
Wait Wait Wait (is there an echo in here?)
I've got to pick this post apart because several things are inaccurate.
First up:
1) Shaun Livingston - Wouldn't you want an X-factor to be a guy who gets minutes? Livingston will play. The problem is that he just lost his starting job to Allen Anderson and Anderson contributed 9pts and 9Rebs and I'd be floored if Kidd starts Livingston over Anderson today.
So you are trying to sell an "X-Factor" who was essentially just jettisoned to the bench. While he can and will score, the "X-factor" label is too much given he just fell out of favor with Kidd in a must win Game 6.
2) Nerves -
Where were the nerves in Game 5 when they took an 18 point lead at the half in the game I believe will determine the winner of this series. All on their home court like they are here.
YES, they gave up a 24 point lead but what people don't realize is Lowry was incredibly clutch at the end of the game and the Raptors WON the game (and in some ways, some here treat it as a half-loss of sorts because of the comeback).
And the final score was not indicative of how the Raptors stifled that comeback.
If not for an Allen Anderson heave and 4 point play, that game could have ended up at a 7 or 8 pt margin of victory instead of 2 points and would be held is less favor than it is now (much like Game 3 where the Raptors cut a 15 point lead to 1 only to lose by 4.
I didn't see a nervous team in a MUST WIN in Game 2 either so they are young, but this serious has made them wear their big boy pants.
3) "This is a total mismatch"
No it's not. As a matter of fact it's precisely the opposite. On paper, these teams are very close in terms of points scored, three pointers made, FT attempts, fouls and on and on and on.
4)You are talking deron Williams, Paul pierce, Kevin Garnett and Shawn Livingston vs Lowry,derozan and who?
How can you call them "Who?"
You follow this team and you call them "Who?"
You do know the "Who" is mad up of a backcourt in Demar and Kyle that anyone would take over Deron and Shaun or Deron and Allen Anderson every single day of the week right?
And that "Who" is also made up of Valancinas. He outplayed KG/Plumlee AND Blatche in the first two games of this series COMBINED (go look it up and verify for yourself!).
Greivis Vasquez has been a godsend making crucial contributions in late game minutes.
So that Who is quite laudable.
5) The myth of KG and PP
Look at benhogan's post above and his first two sentences. He knows "The Truth" (Pun intended).
The guys can chip in in big spots but I want to remind you of something.
The Celtics were given NO CHANCE of beating the Knicks last year in a team lead by these two. Why? They were well past their prime. They will have big buckets and rebounds but to think you are getting 35/40 from this pair like the days of of is ridiculous.
6) The home crowd will be silent when BKN shuts them down
This is the best home crowd in the NBA maybe next to Golden State.
First, BKN needs to 'shut them down' and second if that doesn't happen they will be a force for the Raptors if they have the lead.
ALL the pressure is on the Nets here. ALL of it. The Raps are playing with HOUSE MONEY in, and this is the key, THEIR HOUSE.
I hope response put this post in perspective.
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