GAME 5 RAPTORS VS. NETS: A DIFFERENT APPROACH

After a wild 4th quarter comeback, the Toronto Raptors were able to pull out a 115-113 Game 5 win to take a 3-2 series lead over the Brooklyn Nets. While most will focus on the Raptors blown lead, let me offer a different perspective. Several coaching mistakes were made, by both coaches, which were pivotal in the outcome of tonight's game.

While fingers will point at every player in that Raptors locker room, the person most at fault for the Brooklyn comeback is Head Coach Dwane Casey. Casey failed to adapt and make the necessary changes to maintain control of the game. After a small run by Brooklyn, Dwane Casey called a timeout, and appeared to have everything under control. But, when the timeout had ended, the same Raptor players that had struggled re-entered the court. At this point the Raptors had a 17 point lead. By sticking with John Salmons and Chuck Hayes, 2 players with the offensive punch of a newborn baby, Coach Casey allowed the lead to continue to dwindle. This tipped the momentum even further in Brooklyn's favour, and by the time he sent his starters in, it was too late. Momentum had taken Brooklyn's side. This culminated in a Joe Johnson three, tying the game at 101-101.

Now, let me focus the blame on Jason Kidd. At 101-101, Jason Kidd decided to full court press the Raptors, even with their starting PG, Kyle Lowry, on the floor. With 4 fouls as a team in the quarter, Mirza Teletovic fouled Kyle Lowry before he reached halfcourt. This gave the Raptors an easy 2 points at the free throw line, and the permanent lead. Kidd should have known this scheme would not work against an NBA team. He had the momentum on his side and had no reason to force the action or make changes to what was working.

Now that I've put the blame squarely on the coaches' shoulders, allow me to explain some general basketball principles that we can take away from this game. For the uneducated basketball fans, basketball is a game of runs. If a team starts shooting well, they are bound to cool off. Similarly, if a team is shooting poorly, they are bound to heat up. This applies especially to playoff teams, and even more so to veteran teams that know the game is not over until the final whistle blows. Runs, like the one the Brooklyn Nets went on in the 4th quarter tonight, happen. But, fans and players alike must remain composed, as often the team wastes all their energy coming back, and still falls, as was the case tonight. 

Now, going into Game 6, the Nets wasted a spectacular 4th quarter, the likes of which cannot be maintained. Instead of saving this great shooting streak for the next game, and accepting the blowout loss, they made their run, and still fell short, which was a huge momentum break in the series for Toronto. The Nets shot an amazing 53% and still lost the game. That kind of shooting cannot be maintained.

Expect a closely contested effort in Game 6 as the Raptors look to close out the veteran Nets, while Brooklyn looks to take the series back to Toronto for a Game 7.

-Wes