TORONTO - The Raptors and Nets dont like each other, even after one playoff game that has been made abundantly clear. If youre looking to trace back that animosity, start with Torontos one-point victory at Barclays Center in late January. There was a playoff-type buzz in the building that night. DeMar DeRozan sat out with an ankle injury, Kyle Lowry and Paul Pierce both turned in playoff-type performances. There were 18 lead changes, nine ties and three technical fouls - on Lowry, Piece and Kevin Garnett - later, the Raptors stole the game, literally, as Patrick Patterson picked off a Deron Williams pass and hit the winner. "This is a team we could see in the playoffs," uttered multiple voices in both locker rooms and at that point we knew, somehow, some way it was bound to become a reality. Terrence Ross continued to foreshadow a couple days later, listing the Nets as a preferred playoff opponent. Andray Blatche was not amused. Meanwhile, the Nets also had Toronto on their wish list as they rested players and lost games to maximize the odds of this matchup coming to fruition. The Raptors were not amused, at least they shouldnt have been. Then the war of words started. "[Expletive] Brooklyn," yelled Raptors president, general manager and hype man Masai Ujiri as he addressed thousands of fans outside the Air Canada Centre prior to Saturdays Game 1. Reluctantly, he delivered a halftime apology, more for the choice of phrasing than the message itself. Hes not alone in that sentiment. "That should represent how we all feel," Dwane Casey said after his team fell victim to the veteran savvy of Brooklyn in the series opener. "I feel the same way and Ive got his back," added Greivis Vasquez. "We dont like any of them either. Thats how we all feel. All of us." Nets coach Jason Kidd said he didnt know who the Raptors GM was and on Sunday the barbs continued to fly. "Im shocked that Bryan Colangelo would say that," Pierce said to the New York Post, informed of what the opposing GM had to say the day before. Reminded that Ujiri replaced Colangelo in the Raptors front office last summer, as if he were somehow unaware, Pierce responded, "I dont know what youre talking about." Theres genuine hostility here. Its not manufactured, though the media has helped fan the flames. "Raptors vs. Dinosaurs," read the Toronto Sun cover on game day, poking fun at the age of Pierce and Garnett. "Dont F*** With Bklyn," the New York Daily News shot back 24 hours later. This has the makings of a competitive, heated series, but rivalry? "I dont think its a rivalry at all," Kyle Lowry said following a Sunday afternoon practice session outside of the Raptors gym on the third level of the ACC. Hes right. Neither team will call this a rivalry and neither should. Territorially, the Nets and the Knicks are natural adversaries, while the Nets - especially with former Celtics Pierce and Garnett on board - have their sites set on throwing down with the Heat, who they defeated four times this season. The Raptors? They dont have a rival. Thats the unfortunate reality of qualifying for the playoffs six times in 19 seasons. For the bulk of their existence, and especially during a recent five-year postseason layoff, theyve been their own worst enemy. "I dont know," said Casey, "rivalry?" "I think the whole Atlantic Divisions a rivalry, the Eastern Conference. We havent got to the spot yet where we can say, Hey, theyre a rival. New Jerseys been to the Finals before, we havent. A lot of teams in our division have been there, where were trying to get to. Weve got to earn that." Thats their focus right now, as it should be. Earning it. The Raptors lost Game 1, not because of Ujiri, not because of anything that was said or done off the floor. They lost because they were outplayed by a team that was not fazed by the moment, by their surroundings. The ACC was electric on Saturday and the sellout crowd did their part, and then some. The building looked and sounded like the "living hell" that Ujiri has called for over and over again. Chants of "Nets suck" and "KG sucks" rang down from the stands throughout the afternoon. Is Toronto a basketball town? It sure seemed like it for three hours but one thing is for certain, its a sports city and as such, it craves that rivalry. It still boos Vince Carter, it still shows up to jeer the Knicks, a former playoff foe from the Raptors "glory days". It would like nothing more than to believe that Brooklyn is the enemy, and for at least three more games they will be. Then what? It depends on what happens here. Rivalries are made in the playoffs and a long, emotional, drawn-out series, almost regardless of the result, would go a long way in prolonging the underlying hatred between these two clubs. For now its being put to the side, at least in the Raptors locker room, where bouncing back and evening the series is now a top priority. Aside from a brief quip to lead off his media scrum - "I promise you I wont have any profanity" - Casey wanted no part in discussing Ujiris controversial speech from the day before. Neither did his players. A war of words may not lose them this series, but it wont win it either. On Sunday the message was clear; a little less conversation, a little more action, please. "This is about basketball," said the Raptors coach. "All that stuff has happened." "All the other stuff, what was said, its about basketball. Its about screening. Its about finishing plays. Its about executing defensively. I dont want to get off on another tangent."
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Ray Allen Jersey . Instead, Nonis and Kessel were sorting through the fallout of a wild melee with the Buffalo Sabres, one that saw Kessel suspended for the duration of the pre-season.ST. LOUIS – The series shifts to the Gateway City, where friendly Cardinals fans are ready to pour into Busch Stadium for a live look at their beloved teams fourth World Series appearance since 2004. The switch to National League rules will have a significant effect on the Red Sox lineup. Mistakes, on Wednesday night by the Cardinals and on Thursday by the Red Sox, have cost each team a game in this series. Were down to a best-of-five and St. Louis has home field advantage, although it must win three in a row to clinch here. Game 3 Preview: Pitching Matchup: Red Sox RHP Jake Peavy (Regular season: 12-5, 4.17, 1.147 WHIP in 144.2IP; Playoffs: 2GS: 0-1, 8.31, 1.5 WHIP in 8.2IP) How the Cardinals match up: Peavy spent the first eight years of his career with the San Diego Padres and there are three Cardinals whove played long enough that they remember Peavys days in the National League. Carlos Beltran: 8-20, .400/.480/.800, 1 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 4 BB.Matt Holliday: 8-28, .286/.474/.393, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10 BB, 7 K.Yadier Molina: 4-22, .182/.182/.182, 1 RBI, 5 K. Lineup Considerations: The Red Sox are well aware that Mike Napoli will be relegated to a bench role in Game 3, as David Ortiz takes over first base in order to keep his bat in the lineup. There is no designated hitter under National League rules. "I think that we certainly have a little bit of a disadvantage, just simply because of the way our roster is constructed as opposed to theirs," said Peavy. "Theyre a National League ballclub, and theyre going to play with their normal lineup, with the way they were built. Being an Americaan League team, were going to miss a huge middle of the lineup bat.dddddddddddd" Also, manager John Farrell has confirmed left-handed hitting Daniel Nava will start in left field over Jonny Gomes, who played in the first two games at Fenway Park. "With the amount of ground to cover in left field, the left-right matchups against Kelly," said Farrell. "Hell continue to factor in here." Pitching Matchup: Cardinals RHP Joe Kelly (Regular season: 10-5, 2.69, 1.355 WHIP in 124IP; Playoffs: 3GS, 0-1, 4.41, 1.531 WHIP in 16.1IP) How the Red Sox match up: Only Shane Victorino and Stephen Drew, playing in the National League in 2012, have faced Kelly. Each has three plate appearances. Drew has a triple against Kelly and Victorino drew a walk. Lineup Considerations: With the right-hander Peavy pitching for Boston, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny will continue to play Matt Adams at first base. Allen Craig, who has two hits in the World Series serving as the designated hitter, has taken ground balls and is closer to being able to play the field. Craig was activated in time for the Fall Classic, having been out since September 4 with a sprained foot. Game 3 Prediction: With so many unknown factors, including the big mistakes weve seen so far, this predicting has become a challenge. If you look at Kellys season and playoff WHIP, it would suggest were going to see the Red Sox with runners on base. Can they cash them? Sure, but the Cardinals scratch and claw at Peavy and the bullpens will sort this game out. St. Louis is better and so the Cardinals will win, 6-5.
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gửi bởi lw789 » Thứ 3 13/03/18 13:21 
