rounded, but I think the system gives teams a lot m

TORONTO - In NBA playoff history only 16 teams, of a total 255, have comeback from an 0-2 hole to win a seven-game series. Teams that have taken the first two games go on to claim the series 94 per cent of the time. Just as damning, only 27 lower-seeded teams have ever won the first two contests on the road in a seven-game series. 24 of them moved on. The Raptors know whats at stake going into Tuesdays Game 2, having dropped the opener to Brooklyn three days prior. "Its a lot better to be 1-1 than 0-2," said Kentucky grad Patrick Patterson, crunching the numbers following a second straight afternoon of practice Monday. "I like to think it is (a must-win). Listen to Josh Lewenberg and Duane Watson weigh the importance of Game 2 and discuss the keys to evening the series in a playoff edition of TSN 1050s Raptors Report podcast. If Game 2 is not a must-win, its pretty close. Of course, Toronto is not dead in the water should Tuesdays rematch go the way of Saturdays disappointing loss. The Raptors have proven to be resilient all season long, at their best with their back up against the wall, but Dwane Casey knows this is not the time to be tempting fate. "Its important we win," the Raptors coach said. "Going down 0-2 is very difficult to come out of. Must win? I dont think that means were done (if we lose). We want to win (Tuesday) but we still have games to be played. It would make it very difficult. I wouldnt say its dire. Its tough, but its not over with if (we lose)." A second straight defeat on Tuesday would require the Raptors to win at least two games in Brooklyn to advance, a difficult proposition despite their success on the road this season. The Nets have won 22 of their last 26 games at Barclays Center, good for the leagues best home record in 2014. With one postseason game under their belt, Casey and his team are hopeful that any playoff jitters they may have experienced on the weekend have subsided. The obstacles havent changed. Theyre still fighting a battle-tested group - and by extension, the officials - but they should know what to expect, and be better prepared as a result. "We dont feel pressure, man, at all," said Greivis Vasquez, who was the first to refer to Game 2 as a must-win, shortly after Saturdays loss. "We feel like the first game, we were anxious. I havent been in the playoffs in two years. A couple of guys have been in the playoffs, too, but havent been out there in a couple years." "We got it out of our system. Now were going to play Raptors basketball. Were going to defend, were going to rebound, were going to pass, were going to share the ball, were going to get the fans involved (and) were going to have fun. No pressure. This is basketball. This is fun." The Raptors have had a couple days to regroup, to watch film, to study and make adjustments. At this juncture it would be counterproductive to reinvent themselves, the tweaks that theyve made are minor. Ultimately it will come down to execution, on both ends of the floor. "Were disappointed but were anxious to get a second chance at it," Casey said. "I think the second time around well get the first game jitters away, out of us. We know were fighting a veteran, crusty team thats been there before. We worked on some things, made some adjustments in certain situations that we know we can do better." One such adjustment could include Landry Fields, who has fallen out of Caseys rotation - for the most part - since the team acquired four serviceable reserves from Sacramento in early December. In an attempt to neutralize Joe Johnson or Paul Pierce, Casey could turn to Fields off the bench Tuesday. "Weve thought about it," he admitted. "Thats one of the match-ups well look at, one of the personnel adjustments well have to look at. Not only on Joe Johnson, could be on Paul Pierce, could be (Shaun) Livingston. Thats what they try to do, get the weak link matchup-wise and go at him, so we might have to use (Fields) on one of those guys." Fields has played sparingly and is still limited offensively, often hesitant to shoot following mid-season wrist surgery. When called upon hes been ready and reliable, an active body on offence and a versatile defender off Torontos bench. Pierce and Johnson were responsible for 15 of the Nets 27 fourth-quarter points Saturday, as Brooklyn went the entire frame without being whistled for a single defensive foul. The Raptors, on the other hand, were called for six. "Im not going to comment on officiating," Casey maintained, "except to say I went back to watch the calls in the fourth quarter and we didnt get any and thats unusual." "If youre too physical, the refs are going to call fouls and youll get in foul trouble," Patterson said. "If youre not physical enough, then (the Nets will) take advantage of you on the offensive and defensive end. We have to find the right amount of physicality to have out there as far as defensive pressure and our intensity offensively. The first game is under our belt and were just concentrating on the second game." Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . Webb birdied the 18th hole to take the outright lead, then watched as Choi, who shot a course-record 62 on Saturday to take a share of the third-round lead, pushed a 10-foot putt wide of the hole at 18 to miss the chance for a playoff. Cheap Jerseys From China . - Hitting was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Pirates weakness coming into the season yet they lead the major leagues in home runs through the first 16 games of the season. https://www.chinajerseysfreeshipping.com/ . - Houston defensive end J. Stitched Authentic Jerseys .C. -- Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolinas improved performance than about his lastest career milestone. Cheap Jerseys Paypal . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively.Despite being the biggest players on the field, they live in relative anonymity. When other players hear their names called during a game its because theyve done something right, but members of this group only hear their name when they do something wrong. They are offensive linemen. The Toronto Argonauts are preparing to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Eastern Final this Sunday. As they do, theres less worry about this group than there was as they entered the 2012 playoffs, a season that culminated with a Grey Cup Championship. To be kind, the Argos o-line wasnt great last year. There was a great deal of worry about how well the group was playing as the post-season run began. That level of concern has been greatly reduced heading into this years playoffs. "Similar guys at this point, with the exception of Tyler (Holmes)," said head coach Scott Milanovich. "I just think theyve played together in the system a little bit longer. I dont think its a whole lot different other than were a year and a half into it now." Holmes is the newcomer, essentially replacing Marc Parenteau as a starter. The Argos first-round pick in the 2011 draft joined the club in September after being released by the Minnesota Vikings. He made his CFL debut against the Ticats in October and hasnt looked back, playing admirably at left guard while starting the final three games of the regular season. He has a lot of respect for the guys across the line in black and gold. "Theyre a talented bunch up front" said Holmes, whose father Richard played for three CFL teams, including the Argos. "We just need to execute our game plan and handle what we can handle." Holmes says theres one area that really improved in the time hes been up here. "Getting in there and seeing the different looks, everything really slows down for you," the Ottawa native told TSN.ca "When you first get in there your head is spinning a little bit, so its been really nice to just get in there and settle in." Joe Eppele has moved from left guard to right guard. He played the best football of his career in the playoffs a year ago and hasnt looked back. "I think I played some of my best football then, but I think Ive improved a lot this season." said the second-overall pick in the 2010 CFL draft. "I think the biggest part has been my field recognition. Ive noticed that for me, mentally, the game has slowed down quite a lot. I can read the defences a lot better than I used to be able to." For the layman, the move from one side of the center to the other may not seem like that big of a deal, but everything changes, especially the footwork. Hes handling it well though. "It just creates a little bit of lag in the decision making" explained the 68" BC native. "You have to flip everything around in your head before you make the decisions, and just the small changes in your footwork. When youve beenn working on one side of the ball for so long youre just so used to having your feet in a certain stance, and when you make that switch it slows down your game a little bit at first.dddddddddddd" As the left tackle, Tony Washington protects Ricky Rays blind side. Its been an unusual season for the second-year Argo, as hes been in and out of the lineup due to injury. He even found himself playing some defensive tackle at times. He feels hes playing his best football at the perfect time of the year. "I dealt with a lot of injuries at the beginning of the season," said the New Orleans native. "I was trying to come back from that and keep my conditioning up." Washington feels as a group the line has been playing more aggressively this season. Hes also been impressed with Holmes, who starts to his immediate right. "For him to have come in as a rookie, hes picked it up really well" said the 67", 320 pound veteran. "He looks good, hes been playing really well." Like both Washington and Eppele, right tackle Chris Van Zeyl has found himself moved around. He was the right tackle last season, moved to right guard for the most part this year, but has been moved back to tackle lately. He doesnt care which position he plays. "Ill play wherever the coaches play me," said the McMaster grad. "I dont have a preference. I like playing tackle, I like playing guard. Guard allows me to be more physical, tackle allows me to be more athletic." Hes ready to go against a tough Hamilton front seven. What concerns him the most about that group? "I think more the system than the actual players themselves," said the native of Font Hill, Ontario. "I think the players are all pretty well-rounded, but I think the system gives teams a lot more trouble than the players themselves do." The leader of the group is center Jeff Keeping. Over the course of his nine seasons in the CFL, eight of which have been spent in Toronto, hes played defensive line, fullback, tight end and all along the offensive line. Hes been a very low profile member of the team,but this year was recognized for his tremendous play by being voted the East nominee for the CFLs Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He admits he sees an improvement in his game. "I think I played better" Keeping told TSN.ca before immediately giving accolades to his fellow linemen. "With any award like that you know its the result of the unit. I cant speak for each of the guys, but I think I played more consistent and I know I played at a higher level more consistently. I feel the same way about everybody across the line, so I think that as a whole really made us successful as a line." If the group keeps Ricky Ray on his feet and opens holes for running backs Jerious Norwood and Curtis Steele, it will go a long way toward sending the Argos to Regina for an opportunity to defend their Grey Cup title. ' ' '