Inland Waterways » Here are five thoughts on the Eastern Conference

Here are five thoughts on the Eastern Conference first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets following Game 5, including the play of Kyle Lowry, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnet and Paul Pierce, as well as head coaches Jason Kidd and Dwane Casey. 1. KYLE LOWRY: Brilliant in Game 5. Watching him Wednesday night brought me back to watching Allen Iverson torch the Raptors in the 2001 playoffs. Considering Lowry is a Philly guy and one of the guys he looked up to as a young player was Iverson, I couldnt help myself but to draw comparisons. A totally different players but one quality that truly makes them alike is that they are both incredible competitors. Not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog. In the last five quarters of play (Game 4, 4th quarter and Game 5), other than the magic of Vince Carter, I cant recall a better stretch of play ever from a Raptor on so many fronts. Enjoy it - Im mesmerized by it. 2. JOE JOHNSON: Give him credit. Major bounce-back in the second half of Game 5. He was close to unstoppable. Raptors did everything they could to contain/control him and he was that much better. Im sure a significant focus of game planning for Game 6 will centre on tightening the screws on both the individual coverages associated with him and the collective scheme based upon the help you have to give his defender. He is an absolute load. Im so impressed by his talent. 3. RAPTORS FIRST THREE QUARTERS VS. 4TH QUARTER: It looked like five guys stole Raptors shirts early in the 4th and tried to imitate the real guys. In the first three quarters we saw the Raptors at their truly best - ball movement, defensive energy, effort, discipline and most importantly, a collective will and confidence that the crowd fed off of. In the fourth, we saw a team that cruised and thought it would be easy and let up with its focus. Very fortunate that they hung on, yet when I reflect on it for the majority of the game they were far better, which is good. Now its about learning from that lesson and growing. Remember back in early December at Golden State? It was the Raptors biggest collapse in franchise history and lost to the Warriors. This time, a huge collapse as well - the difference - they won and won on a much more meaningful stage than the stage back in Oakland. Speaking of Oakland, the late Al Davis (Oakland Raiders) would say just win, baby! They did. One to go but it wont be easy. Their competition has lots to play for; it should be a major challenge and lots of fun to watch. 4. KG AND PAUL PIERCE: They were spectators Wednesday night in the 4th quarter and Im sure both men will be ready to go Friday night in response to that. I dont think there have been many times in either guys career that they sat and watched at crunch time. Im sure well see two angry/ornery guys in Brooklyn talking smack and challenging their teammates and the crowd to be at optimal level. Lots of folks piling on KG these days. I respect what hes done in his career. Is he the player he once was? No, but his effort and will to win are still there all the time. Pierce - Hes still got a lot left and his matchup at the four spot is still a tough cover for the Raptors, yet I do like that the Raps are now making him guard his guy and attacking him. Fully expect both guys to come out firing guns blazing. Be prepared. 5. JASON KIDD AND DWANE CASEY: Both coaches, Im sure, are working on their teams collective psyche as we enter Game 6. Kidd challenged his team before Game 5 to be much better in the 4th quarter after being outplayed by the Raps in Games 3 and 4 in the defining stanza. They were awesome in the 4th Wednesday night… the other three quarters, not so impressive. Im sure hes pushing momentum and carryover. Coach Casey will hammer the fact that you must sustain and play every possession at the max and learn/build on the fact that you won, yet have to respect the little details of the game. You also sell that momentum in a series that lasts only as long as you allow it to or make it happen. As much as the Nets want to sell that theyre now going to pick up where they left off, youve got to sell that the score always takes care of itself if you do the right things. You concentrate on doing the right things" each possession and youll find a way in Game 6, or if necessary, Game 7. Wont be easy to put Brooklyn away Friday but it can be done. Dictate the tone and personality of Game 6 right at the start. Winning/losing - thats too much sometimes to focus on. Dive into the details of what it takes to succeed and youll handle the pressure of a road game better. Jimmie Foxx Jersey .ca. In addition to the game being aired in its entirety on CTV Two Vancouver Island and TSN.ca, TSN2 will also have coverage of Whitecaps FC immediately following NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400. Ted Williams Jersey . Starting from pole, the 26-year-old Vettel turned in a trademark clinical performance to win the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday and join F1 greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as just the third driver to win four consecutive championships. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-Sox-Wade-Boggs-Kids-Jersey/ . Make the extra pass, take care of the ball, play defence and get more out of his bench. Carlton Fisk Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Bobby Doerr Jersey . Carcillo was a little of both for New York in Game 3. Derek Stepan, Martin St. Louis, Dan Girardi and Carcillo scored goals, leading the Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to get several instant starters in the NFL draft. They could be at just about any position — except quarterback. Although owner Shad Khan said the team would draft as many as two signal callers, general manager Dave Caldwell made it clear that none of the quarterbacks in this years draft is ready to step in and play right away. Not even for Jacksonville, which already has made Chad Henne the starter for 2014. "I think the majority of this (quarterback) class has a ways to go," Caldwell said. The Jaguars have the third overall pick in Thursday nights first round — selecting in the top 10 for the seventh consecutive year — and 10 choices thereafter. With a roster still being overhauled after winning just six games over the last two seasons, Jacksonville would prefer to trade down from No. 3 and garner even more picks. If not, the team likely will address an area of need, possibly selecting versatile Buffalo linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack or dynamic Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. Jacksonville signed Seattle defensive ends Chris Clemons and Red Bryant in free agency, and re-signed defensive end Jason Babin, but all of them are at least 30 years old. Mack would fit perfectly in Jacksonvilles hybrid Leo position and give second-year head coach Gus Bradley a young pass rusher to potentially become the centerpiece of his defence. Watkins would provide one of the leagues worst offences a big-time playmaker and help offset the loss of suspended receiver Justin Blackmon. Caldwell said last week he would be surprised if Blackmon, suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the leagues substance-abuse policy, played next season. The Jaguars are likely to address the quarterback position in later rounds, possibly 39th overall. Caldwell, Bradley and offensive co-ordinator Jedd Fisch had a private workout with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, opting to take a second look at Louisvilles star after his oft-criticized pro day. "We just wanted to make sure on what we were seeing and compare that to tape," Caldwell said. "His (pro day) was a very strict workout and wasnt tailored to what our offence would be, so we did a workout similar to our offence. "I dont know manny years where theres a lot that come out and are definitely ready," Caldwell said of the QBs.dddddddddddd "Andrew Luck came out and he was ready. Matt Ryan, when Matt came up, he was truly ready and he proved he was. But to say were going to get this guy in and hes going to be ready to go doesnt happen that often." Aside from the quarterback quandary, here are five things to know about Jacksonvilles draft: TRADE TALK: Caldwell said two teams have called to talk about potentially trading for the No. 3 pick. He declined to identify the teams, but said hes more likely to find a trade partner if Houston and St. Louis pick from the top two spots. He didnt rule out Jacksonville moving up, even in the first round. "If somebody we really want is there, we will go after him," Caldwell said. DRAFTING NEEDS: If any team could preach drafting "best player available" in every round, it would be Jacksonville, which has numerous holes. But Bradley acknowledges the draft is more about filling needs. "Is it really best available?" he said. "We say best available, but is it? No, need obviously plays into it. I think its best available if someones there and its like, Are you kidding me? Hes here? Then you have those conversations of, Weve got to take this guy." OBVIOUS HOLES: There are at least two offensive positions the Jaguars are sure to draft, aside from quarterback: centre and receiver. Veteran centre Brad Meester retired after 14 years in Jacksonville, and the team doesnt anticipate having Blackmon next season. Jacksonville signed Pro Bowl centre Alex Mack to an offer sheet, but Cleveland matched the five-year, $42 million deal. ANOTHER OT? After drafting Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel with the No. 2 overall pick last year, could Jacksonville go in the same direction? With Auburns Greg Robinson, Michigans Taylor Lewan and Texas A&Ms Jake Matthews all projected as top 10 picks, the Jaguars are at least trying to make it appear they are interested in adding another offensive tackle at No. 3. "That would be a big step for us in getting better on the offensive line," Bradley said. 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