4:27, first quarter, Nets up 17-16: Too free, too easy -- the Nets are getting a lot of open looks, but you-know-who hasn't been able to shake loose much from Joey Graham. The Raps' T.J. Ford has had a couple nice takes for layups -- just hope that he doesn't get carried away and morph into his Me-Jay character.
End of first, Nets up 23-22: Talk about charity shots -- the Nets lost count of the team fouls in the final seconds of the quarter, so T.J. Ford ended up getting to shoot a couple freebies after he was fouled intentionally. The gut feeling is uneasy here, but the Raptors kept it close with Chris Bosh cooling his heels for the last 6:01 of the quarter and no rhythm on offence. Then again, they're down one with the other team's best scorer (Vince Carter) 1-for-7 from the floor. They're fortunate. And man, is it loud.
Nets up 37-31, 7:21 left second: New Jersey's stretched the lead, but just took a timeout after Kris Humphries got a follow-up tip-in for a basket after a missed layup by Jose Calderon. Toronto is colder than Santa's wang from outside (0-for-6), and that points up a Raptors problem: Trying to win games without the 3-ball. Granted, any team has trouble winning when it's that cold from outside.
6:18: Chris Bosh, who's been on the bench for almost 12 minutes, checks in after the Nets take their largest lead, 42-31, getting consecutive baskets moments after Mo Peterson misses an open look to cut the lead to three.
5:44: Nachbar, who'd hit a three on New Jersey's previous touch, throws up an airball with Anthony Parker in his face. Maybe the momentum is shifting. New Jersey leads 42-34.
3:12: Parker gets his first basket, a long two from the wing, and Juan Dixon ends the three drought on the next possession, cutting the lead to 44-41.
3:00: Funny game, this basketball. Bosh draws the charge on a Vince Carter drive to the hoop -- a gutsy play considering the foul situation. The refs owed Chris one, because a couple minutes earlier, there was no-call when he tried to draw the charge on Richard Jefferson.
2:22: The Raptors are getting more hustle plays, especially recoveries after missed shots. If they start making those shots, they'll win. New Jersey leads 44-41.
1:03: Andrea Bargnani's totally ill at ease -- back-to-back turnovers by Il Mago necessitate a quick timeout. The Nets have just reeled off six straight points (Bosh is on the bench to avoid taking a third personal), and the Raptors look lost without him.
HALFTIME, Nets lead 51-41: Tip of the cap to Jason Kidd -- it was barely noticeable that Richard Jefferson has a game-high 17 points, which testifies to the Nets ball movement. The other star attractions, uh, not so much: Carter has seven points, while on Toronto's side of ledger Bosh has six (in just 11 minutes) and Parker has two after bricking a pair of gift free throws at the end of the half.
Incidentally Thanks again to Deadspin editor Will Leitch for extending an invitation to vent our "irrational hatred" (Torontoist's phrase, not ours) toward Vin Weasel (and we're holding on to that until it makes it into the papers or on to TV).
Oh, and apparently there are FUVC t-shirts, ready for ordering at fuvctshirts@gmail.com.
Related:
A Raptors Fan Lets Out His Rage (Deadspin)
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