Down, Not Out
A final thought before I leave for my vacation where I’ll (unfortunatley) be completely disconnected from what’s happening in the NBA Playoffs.
Chris Broussard, a very respected sports journalist for ESPN, had some interesting words today after the Raps suffered a blowout loss in Game 3 of their opening round series against the Nets.
“Cleveland will be a tough second-round opponent, but the Cavs aren’t scaring anyone in NJ. In that series, the Nets will have three of the four best players on the floor. One EC playoff coach tells me the Nets will beat Cleveland if they keep LeBron from driving to the hoop.”
Read that again. Chris has completely written off the Raptors in this first round series and is already looking at the “inevitable” second round match-up of the Nets vs. Cavs. I’m sorry Chris, but this team is not as inexperienced as people think. They have a gold medal winning point guard, a Euroleauge MVP and an NBA champion starting at center. These guys are leaders on and off the floor and along with Chris Bosh and T.J. Ford, this is not a team that will take a blowout loss lying down. I called the Raps in 7 and I’m sticking by that prediction. There is no doubt that Jason Kidd and co. are talented and experienced but this Raps team is younger, have a much better interior presence and learn to adjust in a hurry. Do not count them out just yet after only one standout game from Vince Carter (who was really the difference in the game, despite the amazing numbers Kidd put together).
Look for a raucous crowd come Game 7 in Toronto (yet another edge the Raptors have) as this series goes down to the wire, leaving the only sure thing come round two to be LeBron James awaiting a serious threat from the Atlantic division.
