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February 25, 2002
GARY SAYS ‘RELAX’
The return of Vince Carter buoyed the spirits and the confidence of the Raptors team on Sunday against Seattle. When the all-star began the game by hitting shots and creating plays the formerly hard working but offensively dormant team came alive and followed Vince’s speed and energy. The first half was encouraging as the team played to the level it had been at before the spate of injuries hit and they took a comfortable lead into the locker room. The second half, though, was a completely different story. Vince was gasping for air and the entire team was choking behind him. The negative thoughts returned, so did the losing attitude, and finally the panic. Post players were dislodged from the block, entry passes went wild, and the team started putting up hurried shots long before the shot clock expired. For a team that is sputtering and falling apart in critical situations it was a recipe for disaster, especially when added to the fact that Seattle is playing smooth and confident basketball. With about three minutes left it was apparent that loss number eight was at hand. Coach Lenny says that the players are pissed. Shouldn’t they have felt that way after losing to Cleveland, the loss that started this entire mess?
It seems that when a team is in the midst of a losing streak if something bad is going to happen it’s going to happen to them. Take Friday night’s home encounter versus the Pistons. The Raptors come out in the first quarter with cement in their shoes and baseball gloves on their hands and have the worst scoring quarter of the season. Instead of giving up though this collection of role players continues to fight and pulls within two points early in the fourth quarter. Then comes the turning point. A solid defensive stand forces the Pistons into a desperation shot as the shot clock expires. Three Raptors surround the ball and are ready to break up the court when the whistle blows. The officials huddle and for the fourth time in the game they call for a jump ball. First they say that no official can be sure that the ball didn’t hit the rim, even though the ball barely made it to the backboard. Then they say that the ball was loose and possession was in question when the closest Piston to the ball was Coach Carlisle. A poor toss for the jump ball ensues, the Pistons score an easy two and that was the end of the comeback. The question remains—who are these people in officials uniforms and how did they ever get past the training for high school basketball?
Of the eight consecutive losing efforts put in by the Raptors at least five could have been won by simply playing smart, controlled basketball and hitting free throws. These errors show a team that has lost its confidence. Suddenly they are no longer a threat to be the number one seed in the east, now they are bordering on the edge of the second division. They look around and instead of Milwaukee and New Jersey they see Washington and Charlotte and Orlando. They have to pick up their play to just make the playoffs and with about twenty games left there isn’t any time to waste. The team has to first stop the freefall and then start the climb back up. This shouldn’t be too hard for a team that, when healthy, can beat any team in the league. There is talk that the schedule gets tougher in March, that they missed a golden opportunity to put some distance between them and the lower ranked playoff teams in February when they played the bottom feeders such as Cleveland and New York. Injuries have a way of making simple tasks difficult though, and if the team returns to full strength March will not be nearly as difficult as February. Gary Payton says that the Raptors will be fine. It will take a couple of games for Vince to get back into his rhythm—to, as the glove says, “get back into the flow of the team”. Orlando will be a good test. The rivalry usually brings out the best in the Raptors and with a couple of days to get back in shape Vince should be stronger. The focus of the crowd will be on unnerving the traitor T-Mac and should help the home team. The losing has to end now, and the winning must begin. After the excitement of last season’s playoffs anything less will be a major disappointment. |