Hot News: Toronto Raptors pick wrong time to have an off night as Brooklyn Nets force ...

TORONTO - Before they would play for a chance to record one of their biggest wins in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors were giving off a feathery light vibe. As usual, the chatty Greivis Vasquez was filling a reporter's notebook. The perpetually grinning Ray Chow, the Raptors' assistant trainer and masseuse, was working on Tyler Hansbrough's legs.

'We're ready,' said Chow, a virtual day-one employee, knowing his words were without real meaning, given his peripheral job.

Still, nobody could have predicted just how hollow those words would be.

The Raptors were explicitly not ready, virtually absent for the first three quarters. The Brooklyn Nets forced a seventh game of their first-round series with a 97-83 win over the Raptors. It was worse than the score indicated: The Nets moved the ball around the court from side to side gracefully, while the Raptors had trouble getting the ball inside the arc at times, never mind the paint. Proof: Jonas Valanciunas did not manage a single point or rebound in the first half. The Raptors made a noble fourth-quarter run, but never seriously challenged.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey, ever the skeptic, was not exactly filled with confidence before the game.

'I don't know if it's possible at this stage of their careers for us [not to be nervous], where guys are. I think you're going to see some areas of uptightness or not being able to handle the moment,' Casey said. 'I hope not. I think we've gotten better. But I don't think you can totally eradicate that whole thought process. It's a guy's first playoff series, first Game 6 in their careers. I don't know if you can do that. I hope they can. I don't know if it's possible the first time through.'

This did not even look like nerves, though. There were no obvious signs of anxiety. Just flatness.

In the second half of Game 5 and the first half on Friday, the Nets combined to score 129 points. Joe Johnson was the catalyst, as he has been all series when the Nets have struggled. He bullied DeMar DeRozan in the post, with the Raptors not helping out as effectively as they did in Game 4. Deron Williams, whose face was pasted on a few 'Missing' signs around Barclays Center before the game, also won the point-guard battle with Kyle Lowry, after Lowry so thoroughly wrecked him in Game 5. Williams had 23 points. Lowry shot just 4-for-15.

Overall, the Raptors defence has fallen apart. It was so sharp in Sunday's Game 4, but it has not really seemed on point since. The problems are numerous, and would seem to indicate that the Nets should be favoured in Sunday's Game 7. Of course, momentum has not meant much of anything this series.

It is clear that the Raptors had the Nets concerned coming into the game - that tends to happen when your US$190-million team is at risk of going home after just six playoff games. On Thursday, Brooklyn coach Jason Kidd expressed discontent with the officials, implying the Raptors have been flopping in the series. That earned him a US$25,000 fine on Friday, which was surely a calculated risk in order to get the attention of the referees.

'It's a beautiful day outside, isn't it?' Kidd said when asked about the fine. 'Is it raining?'

Kidd also made the first starting lineup change of the series, subbing in former Raptor Alan Anderson for Shaun Livingston. He promoted Andray Blatche to first big man off of the bench, and sidelined Mason Plumlee. This was after he said that he was planning to 'stay the course.'

It was the Raptors who were adrift, though. Although Kidd's moves will receive widespread approval, the Raptors were completely incapable of handling any lineup the Nets threw out there. They have one more chance to get it right. At least they will be at the Air Canada Centre. At this moment, it is the only thing the Raptors have going for them.

Post By http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/05/02/toronto-raptors-pick-wrong-time-to-have-an-off-night-as-brooklyn-nets-force-game-7/