BROOKLYN - As the Raptors opening round series shifts back into quasi must-win territory on Sunday, their playoff lives could rest on the shoulders of a 23-year-old sophomore, who is already having a tough time adjusting to the pressure of his first postseason.
Cameron Maybin White Jersey . Through three games with the Nets, Toronto has yet to play its best basketball, the easiest explanation for their 2-1 series deficit. Its under-performing starting small forward, Terrence Ross, has been a primary factor. Stepping in for the traded Rudy Gay early in the season, Ross played an under-appreciated role in the Raptors turnaround and push to the playoffs. From Dec. 8 onwards, the second-year guard-turned-forward averaged 12.2 points, nearly doubling his pre-trade scoring mark while logging an addition 10 minutes a night. He shot the three-ball at an impressive 40 per cent clip and became Torontos most relied upon perimeter defender. Since making his playoff debut a week ago, Ross has looked like a fish out of water. Despite starting all three games and playing an average of 21 minutes, hes hit just three of his 16 jumpers while looking overwhelmed on defence against Brooklyns bigger, more physical wing players. Overall, the Raptors have gotten just 4.7 points per game from the small forward position, good for last among the NBAs 16 playoff teams by a wide margin. With Fridays 102-98 loss in the back of his mind, Dwane Casey wouldnt rule out the possibility of a lineup change for Sundays crucial Game 4. "Were still going to look at that," Casey said following a Saturday afternoon practice on the campus of a nearby university in New York City. "The decision hasnt been made but we will look at it. Right now we dont want to do anything drastic." "Its not panic time, but we do have to look at that position and get more productivity out of that spot." Its been the most problematic conundrum Casey has had to wrestle with in this series. The Raptors do not have an easy answer for Joe Johnsons unique combination of size, strength and finesse. The Nets crafty veteran - listed at 6-foot-7, 240 lbs - has had Torontos number in nearly every facet of the game. He can beat you from midrange, post-up smaller players and hes deadly from beyond the arc. "We have been double teaming him and blitzing him and hes been getting a lot of his [points] in those one-on-one situations," Casey pointed out. Defensively, Landry Fields has had the most individual success against Johnson. Casey turned to the sparingly used forward in Game 2, a well-received lineup adjustment that helped neutralize Johnson in the fourth quarter and spark Torontos comeback victory. Johnson would go on to lead the Nets with 29 points in Fridays Game 3 but was held scoreless, missing both of his shots, in seven first-half minutes with Fields guarding him. However, Fields was limited to just eight minutes in the loss. This time the Nets had prepared for him. Anticipating his reluctance to shoot, Brooklyn used Fields defender to apply even more pressure to DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. With Jonas Valanciunas in foul trouble, Fields shared the floor with Tyler Hansbrough - another player the defence can afford to overlook - and the Raptors offence took an immediate hit. "Its give and take," Casey said in regards to utilizing Fields in this series. "You sacrifice some offence for defence. I thought he did a heck of a job [defensively] but you do suffer in your spacing." John Salmons returned to the rotation, scoring four points in 12 minutes on Friday after sitting out in Game 2. The 35-year-old has battled lingering back pain while struggling with his jumper. He too has been exposed by Johnson. "Weve got to find ways to get them the ball," Casey said of Fields and Salmons. "Whether its cutting, screening, running the floor, so that we get something from that spot [and] they cant just load up and go 5-on-4 at the defensive end. We want to make sure we do get something offensively out of that position." Their best chance is to get Ross going. Fields moves well without the ball and gives you consistent effort on defence, Salmons brings a certain veteran savvy that has been useful in the past but Ross - when right - is the two-way contributor Toronto desperately needs to gain the upper hand in this series. For the young Ross, boosting his confidence could be the key to unleashing the natural ability he has displayed throughout his second season. It could be something as simple as seeing an early shot fall, getting a big first-quarter stop or throwing down one of his trademark slam dunks. "Hes still the same Terrence," DeRozan said Saturday. "We all understand everybodys not going to have their best night [all the time]. We all understand that. Our job is to keep everybodys confidence high." Through three playoff games, Ross and fellow sophomore Jonas Valanciunas - who leads the Raptors in turnovers - have the worst +/- on the team. Toronto has allowed 24 more points than its scored with Ross on the floor, outscored by 21 with Valanciunas on the floor. The Raptors are the only playoff team to feature two second-year players in their starting lineup. Their inexperience and overall importance to the future of this franchise is largely responsible for the leash theyve been given. "If they werent young guys, if that wasnt our future, our direction, they probably wouldnt be in there with some of the mistakes theyre making," Casey admitted. "But, theyre our guys. Theyve got to learn, its their first playoffs. I expect most of their mistakes. Were going to ride with them in those situations." "Its tougher, but a big part of the reason were here is because of their play. Im not blind to the fact they are our future and the only way were going to learn is to go through it. The amount of time might be a little shorter, but theyve got to get out there." Regardless of his role, Ross will continue to play. Yes, win or lose this is a valuable learning experience for the 23-year-old but more than anything else, Casey knows how quickly the complexion of this series could change if Ross shots begin to fall. For Ross, the player, that would mean more confidence and likely a more engaged defensive effort, even if he cant guard Johnson one-on-one. For the team it could aid their spacing, take the pressure off Lowry and DeRozan and breathe life into their suffocating offence.
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Lance Parrish Tigers Jersey . "When things get switched up," he said, "its usually because youre losing so you never want to see those line changes made.Hes back. Kobe Bryant will make his season debut Sunday night, eight months after he underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. Bryant announced he would return at home against the Toronto Raptors Sunday on his Facebook account. He was practicing harder and concedes there are things that need to improve, but Black Mamba is back. Catch the game on TSN2 starting at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. "Getting a rhythm under my legs, as far as stopping on a dime, raising up and shooting," Bryant said. "And getting your game legs underneath you where you can shoot a jump shot comfortably." Head coach Mike DAntoni will ease Bryant, 35, back into the lineup. "We wont know until we see him. But he can play any way," DAntoni told NBA.com. "He can play below the rim, above the rim, beside the rim. Hell figure out how he will be effective, and then hell come at you with everything hes got. Thats been his M.O. and I think thats what hell do." Bryant was hurt in the fourth quarter of an April 12 game against Golden State when he tried to drive to the basket and collapsed to the floor in pain. He had surgery the following morning and was given a 6-to-9 month recovery window. Bryant averaged 27.3 points, 6.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game in 78 tilts a year ago. The Lakers have managed pretty well without one of the best in the history of the game. They improved to 10-9 with a 106-100 victory Friday night in Sacramento. L.A. closed with 13 straight points for its sixth win in the last eight. Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks, who buried a pair of late 3s to squash the Kings chances, led the way with 19 points apiece.
Justin Verlander Green Jersey. Nick Young had 14 off the bench, while Wesley Johnson and Steve Blake scored 13 points each. Blake also handed out 10 assists. Robert Sacre, the Lakers new starting center, had 11 points. Also on the injury front for the Lakers, Steve Nash, another future Hall of Famer, could return next week from a nerve root irritation issue in his back. The Raptors, who have taken footnote status for Sundays game, have dropped five straight, including the first two on this three-game western trip. They blew a 27-point second-half lead against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, then lost 106-97 Friday in Phoenix. It was a two-point game at the half, but the Suns took the third by five to lead by seven, then held on in the fourth quarter. "Its been tough all year. I dont know what else to say. Its kind of sounding like a broken record," said Rudy Gay. "It starts with the third quarter." Amir Johnson led the way with 22 points off the bench, followed by 21 from Kyle Lowry. Gay had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Jonas Valanciunas also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. DeMar DeRozan only managed 13 points. Tyler Hansbrough left the game with a sprained left shoulder in the first quarter. He is listed as day-to-day. The teams split last seasons two meetings, but the Lakers have won five of the last six and nine of the last 11. The Lakers have taken 10 straight at home against the Raptors and Torontos last road victory in this series came on Dec. 28, 2001. The Raptors are 2-14 all-time as the visitors against the Lakers.
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