April 20 th

What the experts think about the Raptors

Posted by Cuzzy as NBA, Sports, Toronto Raptors

Here is a list of what all the major sports sites think about the Nets-Raptors series. Not much love for Toronto out there. We will show them all.

From ESPN

As an unabashed Canada-lover, it pains me to report that the Raps are the only team that can challenge the Bulls for the most lost on the final day of the regular season.

If the Bulls had beaten the Nets in New Jersey, Toronto would get Washington in the first round. The Raps will instead get Vince Carter’s Nets, except that Vince is the least of Toronto’s problems.

The Raps, as one veteran scout described them to me, are “the closest thing we’ve got to a Phoenix of the East.”

But Toronto wins by forcing teams to play at its pace and the Nets have been functioning at the same speed lately; long outlet passes and speeding up the tempo are among the factors that sparked the 7-2 finishing kick in April that enabled Jersey to finish at 41-41 after its season of many surgeries.

Given the Nets’ considerable edge in playoff experience, proven ability to play Toronto’s game and the unavailability of Raps rookie glue guy Jorge Garbajosa, I can’t pick the Canadians to extend their return to the postseason to Round 2 no matter how much I want to.

As for Carter’s return to hostile territory, let’s hope that lives up to billing and delivers an international incident or two. Don’t forget that this season was supposed to be Vince’s greatest because he was in a contract year. We didn’t see the Vinsanity we were promised until the season’s final month.

Then again, maybe the Raps should be worried about Carter, since there’s still time for a contract drive.

Prediction: Nets in six.

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From CNNSI

In one of the juicier storylines of the playoffs, Vince Carter makes his return to Toronto as his Nets try to end the Raptors’ storybook season. Carter spent his first six-plus seasons with the Raptors before becoming disenchanted with management and forcing a trade in 2004. He later admitted he hadn’t always played hard, a comment Toronto fans have not forgotten. Carter (right) will surely be out to quiet his critics, and he will have plenty of help in Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. The Nets lost center Nenad Krstic to a season-ending knee injury, but they finished strong by winning 10 of their final 13. They also are experienced, having reached the postseason six straight seasons, including back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and ‘03. The Raptors, meanwhile, have been one of the surprise stories of the season. Led by All-Star forward Chris Bosh, they won their first division title and returned to the playoffs for the first time since ‘02. With Bosh down low and a deep, balanced roster, Toronto has more overall firepower than New Jersey does. It should be enough to avoid the upset.

Key Matchup
Jason Kidd vs. T.J. Ford/Jose Calderon Even at 34, and coming off microfracture knee surgery a few years ago, Kidd remains one of the game’s elite point guards. The eight-time All-Star not only sets up teammates for easy baskets, but he also rebounds and defends. Though not a good outside shooter, he seems to make the big ones when it counts. Kidd figures to be a handful for either Ford or Calderon, who share Toronto’s point guard duties. Ford has the quickness to do damage, but his 5-10 frame leaves him vulnerable against the 6-4 Kidd. The 6-3 Calderon has more size, but he’s not as fast and he’s in just his second NBA season after starring overseas. If Ford and Calderon can somehow manage to make this matchup a draw, Toronto will be in good shape.

X-Factor

Raptors: Inexperience
For several key Raptors, including Bosh and coach Sam Mitchell (right), this will be their first taste of the NBA postseason. While some have played in big games overseas (Calderon, Anthony Parker, Andrea Bargnani), there is no way to know how that experience will translate. Toronto can’t afford to fall behind early while it makes the adjustment to playoff intensity, or the Nets will gain momentum. Nets: Vince Carter
Carter has been on a tear of late, putting up near triple doubles seemingly every night. The 6-6 All-Star will no doubt be looking to make a statement against his former team. Matched up against solid defenders in Parker and Joey Graham, Carter must attack the rim and not settle for too many jump shots. With so few other reliable scoring options, the Nets need him to have a huge series.

The Pick
Raptors in seven

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From CBSsportsline

Four of their five writers pick the Nets to win.

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From Covers.com (that a boy Tim)

(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) New Jersey Nets

Series odds: Toronto -160, New Jersey +140

The NBA playoffs open at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon with a clash between Atlantic Division rivals. The series between the Raptors and Nets is an opportunity for Vince Carter to earn huge free agent karma in front of the Air Canada Centre patrons who openly loathe him.

Carter and Jason Kidd give New Jersey an All-Star backcourt unrivalled in the Eastern Conference and they’re the main reason why the Nets have become everyone’s fashionable pick for a first-round upset.

Keep in mind that the Minnesota Wild were everyone’s upset special in the NHL this year. How’re they doing?

The Nets ended the season on a high note but barely scraped into the playoffs. The Raptors cruised to the division title. Why? Because Toronto’s simply a better team. Watch the ball movement. Watch T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon blow by opposing point guards before dishing to wide-open men on the perimeter. Watch Chris Bosh take over in the fourth quarter.

It happened all season long, yet the Raptors’ league-best against the spread record says bettors and books alike undervalued them. Don’t make the same mistake in this series.

Covers.com prediction: Raptors win series 4-2.

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From Foxsports

These outfits are virtually mirror images of each other. Both depend on their athleticism and their perimeter shooters. Both feature a superstar scorer. Both are powered by a quick-handed point guard. Both lack big men who can score in the low post. Both teams forswear power and rely on finesse. Both teams are defensively challenged. But the differences are crucial.

In New Jersey’s favor:

Jason Kidd (who can’t shoot his way out of a paper bag) is a much better floor general than T.J. Ford (who over-handles and takes too many lame shots).

Vince Carter is more explosive and more versatile than Chris Bosh.

Because of injuries to Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa, the Nets’ third banana (Richard Jefferson) is a much better option than the likes of Anthony Parker or Juan Dixon. The injuries also drastically shorten Toronto’s bench.

Mikki Moore doesn’t miss too many 15-footers.In Toronto’s favor:

The Nets’ outside shooting is erratic, and their offense has been disjointed for most of the season.

The Raps play with more energy.

Jose Calderon is much more advanced behind Ford than is J-Kidd’s rookie backup, Marcus Williams.

Chris Bosh’s interior offense demands double teams, which allows the Raps to play inside-out offense.Overall, the Raps are not as good as they seem to be, and the Nets are not as good as they think they’re supposed to be.Toronto’s X-factor: Anthony Parker is their best defender, and can be a surprisingly effective scorer (when, that is, Ford deigns to give him the ball in his comfort zone).New Jersey’s X-factor: The streaky 3-ball shooting of Bostjan Nachbar.