Forums » Support
Alex Wood pitched well in the no-decision, ch
-
Here are five thoughts on the Eastern Conference first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets following Game 5, including the play of Kyle Lowry, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnet and Paul Pierce, as well as head coaches Jason Kidd and Dwane Casey. 1. KYLE LOWRY: Brilliant in Game 5. Watching him Wednesday night brought me back to watching Allen Iverson torch the Raptors in the 2001 playoffs. Considering Lowry is a Philly guy and one of the guys he looked up to as a young player was Iverson, I couldnt help myself but to draw comparisons. A totally different players but one quality that truly makes them alike is that they are both incredible competitors. Not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog. In the last five quarters of play (Game 4, 4th quarter and Game 5), other than the magic of Vince Carter, I cant recall a better stretch of play ever from a Raptor on so many fronts. Enjoy it - Im mesmerized by it. 2. JOE JOHNSON: Give him credit. Major bounce-back in the second half of Game 5. He was close to unstoppable. Raptors did everything they could to contain/control him and he was that much better. Im sure a significant focus of game planning for Game 6 will centre on tightening the screws on both the individual coverages associated with him and the collective scheme based upon the help you have to give his defender. He is an absolute load. Im so impressed by his talent. 3. RAPTORS FIRST THREE QUARTERS VS. 4TH QUARTER: It looked like five guys stole Raptors shirts early in the 4th and tried to imitate the real guys. In the first three quarters we saw the Raptors at their truly best - ball movement, defensive energy, effort, discipline and most importantly, a collective will and confidence that the crowd fed off of. In the fourth, we saw a team that cruised and thought it would be easy and let up with its focus. Very fortunate that they hung on, yet when I reflect on it for the majority of the game they were far better, which is good. Now its about learning from that lesson and growing. Remember back in early December at Golden State? It was the Raptors biggest collapse in franchise history and lost to the Warriors. This time, a huge collapse as well - the difference - they won and won on a much more meaningful stage than the stage back in Oakland. Speaking of Oakland, the late Al Davis (Oakland Raiders) would say just win, baby! They did. One to go but it wont be easy. Their competition has lots to play for; it should be a major challenge and lots of fun to watch. 4. KG AND PAUL PIERCE: They were spectators Wednesday night in the 4th quarter and Im sure both men will be ready to go Friday night in response to that. I dont think there have been many times in either guys career that they sat and watched at crunch time. Im sure well see two angry/ornery guys in Brooklyn talking smack and challenging their teammates and the crowd to be at optimal level. Lots of folks piling on KG these days. I respect what hes done in his career. Is he the player he once was? No, but his effort and will to win are still there all the time. Pierce - Hes still got a lot left and his matchup at the four spot is still a tough cover for the Raptors, yet I do like that the Raps are now making him guard his guy and attacking him. Fully expect both guys to come out firing guns blazing. Be prepared. 5. JASON KIDD AND DWANE CASEY: Both coaches, Im sure, are working on their teams collective psyche as we enter Game 6. Kidd challenged his team before Game 5 to be much better in the 4th quarter after being outplayed by the Raps in Games 3 and 4 in the defining stanza. They were awesome in the 4th Wednesday night… the other three quarters, not so impressive. Im sure hes pushing momentum and carryover. Coach Casey will hammer the fact that you must sustain and play every possession at the max and learn/build on the fact that you won, yet have to respect the little details of the game. You also sell that momentum in a series that lasts only as long as you allow it to or make it happen. As much as the Nets want to sell that theyre now going to pick up where they left off, youve got to sell that the score always takes care of itself if you do the right things. You concentrate on doing the right things" each possession and youll find a way in Game 6, or if necessary, Game 7. Wont be easy to put Brooklyn away Friday but it can be done. Dictate the tone and personality of Game 6 right at the start. Winning/losing - thats too much sometimes to focus on. Dive into the details of what it takes to succeed and youll handle the pressure of a road game better. Bobby Okereke Youth Jersey . Its the second time this season that Milan has been sanctioned by the league judge, after fans also subjected Napoli supporters to discriminatory chants. The ban will come into effect for Milans next match, against Udinese on Oct. Darius Leonard Youth Jersey . The Argentine midfielder made the announcement himself on Twitter on Tuesday and posted a picture of his swollen left foot. His message said he would be out "at least three weeks. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authentic-bobby-okereke-colts-jersey/ . The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. Andrew Luck Jersey . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento. Johnny Unitas Youth Jersey . Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period.Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has taken baseball by storm every five days since the end of May. After a May 28 start against Cincinnati in which he allowed three runs in seven innings of a 3-2 loss, Kershaw has been on Cy Young watch with a 9-0 record and a minuscule 0.94 earned run average in his last 10 starts. The Dodgers have won all 10 of those appearances and will send the seemingly impenetrable left-hander to the mound Thursday in the finale of a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves at Chavez Ravine. Kershaw has three complete games and five scoreless performances during his fantastic run and tossed a three-hitter in Saturdays 5-0 win at San Francisco. Kershaw struck out seven Giants and walked just one. He has issued one free pass in each of his previous four appearances and struck out at least seven batters in the past 12 trips to the mound. Kershaw, unbeaten in past five starts at Dodger Stadium, is 5-1 in seven home starts overall and 10-2 in 13 night games. He has pitched seven innings or more 12 times this season. Kershaw has no record and a 2.45 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta. Los Angeles has a good chance of keeping its winning streak intact with Kershaw on the hill Thursday and posted a 3-2 win in 10 innings last night. Matt Kemps RBI single plated Justin Turner for the game-winning run and the outfielder also homered for the second straight game. "Im getting pitches to hit, Im being more selective," Kemp said. "To help the team win a game is a great feeling." Kemp has three home runs and six RBI in the past two games for the NL West- leading Dodgers, who have won five in a row and seven of nine games. Juan Uribe drove in a run and J.P. Howell picked up the win with a scooreless 10th inning.dddddddddddd Dodgers starter Zack Greinke fanned 13 batters and allowed one run in eight innings. Los Angeles, which is three games ahead of San Francisco for the division lead, has gone 14-5 in its last 19 home games and is unbeaten in the past four games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers will host the Chicago Cubs next for three games on this homestand. Atlanta will try to avoid the sweep Thursday and has lost six of its last 10 games. In last nights tough loss in extra innings, David Hale allowed Kemps game-winning hit and starter Alex Wood pitched well in the no-decision, charged with only one run in seven innings with eight Ks. Justin Upton went 3-for-4 with a home run for the Braves, who now sit 1 1/2 games behind Washington for the NL East lead. "Alex made great pitches against a tough lineup," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Justin got us back in the game. We had opportunities. Matt Kemp is still a great player and hes dangerous at the plate." The Braves will head to San Diego next for three games. Julio Teheran will start for the Braves Thursday and is 10-6 with a 2.71 earned run average this season. Teheran is 4-1 in his past five decisions and squeezed past San Diego in Saturdays 5-3 win, allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings. Teheran did not walk a batter and fanned five -- one start after striking out 11 and yielding one run in seven innings of a no-decision versus Miami on July 21. The All-Star right-hander has a 6-5 record in 11 road assignments and will face Los Angeles for the first time. Much like Kershaw, Teheran is dominant at night as evidenced by a 9-4 ledger in 18 chances. Atlanta won five of seven meetings with Los Angeles last season. ' ' '