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TORONTO — There's a new gangsta in town for the Toronto Raptors.
He's an unlikely one, in that's he's 7 foot 1 and Slovenian, but Primoz Brezec, acquired Thursday, took advantage of his first opportunity in a Raptors uniform with a high-dose of energy during the game and his own brand of hip-hop-inflected, European-accented English afterward as he helped his new club to an easy 115-92 win over the visiting New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre.
"He did well," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "He was talking on defence, he was active. For Primoz, he was running the court. He battled. I just think someone with that kind of enthusiasm can pick you up a little bit 50-plus games into the season.
And of Brezec's swagger and rap video elocution?
New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford goes up for a shot against Toronto Raptors Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Andrea Bargnani during the first half of their game in Toronto on Sunday. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)
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- Toronto Raptors
- Andrea Bargnani
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- Primoz Brezec
- Jamal Crawford
- Juan Dixon
- T.J. Ford
- Anthony Parker
- Quentin Richardson
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"Rasho [Nesterovic] told me when he first came to the United States he learned his English in Indiana," Mitchell said. "Everything starts with gangsta and ends with pimp. I don't know who he was around or what movies he was watching [but] I don't think my name is coach any more or Sam. It's gangsta."
Which Brezec confirmed after the game.
"Sam's gangsta too, man," said Brezec, who played with Nesterovic on the Slovenian national team. "He's not scared, he trusts his players ... he doesn't take [anything] from anybody. If you do something wrong, I don't have problem if you cuss me out ... that's how it should be."
Brezec's contribution wasn't pivotal as the Raptors improved to 30-24 on the season while dropping the Knicks to 17-39, but it was riveting.
The Raptors determined the outcome of the game in the third quarter when Toronto enjoyed a 16-3 run to start the second half sparked by a pair of three-pointers by Jose Calderon and one each by Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker.
That allowed Toronto to start the fourth quarter up 17 points and New York never got closer than 11 the rest of the night. It avenged a disappointing loss to the Knicks in New York on Friday that was sparked by Jamal Crawford's 43 points.
The Raptors held Crawford to 26 points Sunday night, but just 10 after halftime as New York shot just 38.3 per cent overall to 48.9 per cent by Toronto, and the Raptors out-rebounded the Knicks 51-36.
Brezec played 13 minutes, his most in two months during a season in which his role diminished in Charlotte, only to be traded to Detroit where he played even less, much to his frustration.
Brezec joined the fray midway through the first quarter and got his first Raptors basket by tipping in a missed Carlos Delfino lay-up, which he celebrated by raising his right index finger to the rafters. A moment later he chased down a long pass from Calderon before making a nifty shovel pass to a cutting Delfino for a lay-up and a foul. Brezec celebrated his assist with a fist pump at centre court. There were raised fists for blocked shots and more gestures for more baskets.
In all, Brezec finished with a perfect line, scoring 11 points by making all five field goals and hitting his only free throw, but, more importantly, seized his small moment.
"Every time I step on the court I give my best, 100 per cent, no matter if I play one minute, two minutes, I don't care. That's just me, that's the way I play; you can expect the same thing here," he said.
Bargnani had one of his better all-around games of the season as he mixed some lethal three-point shooting with his dribble-drive game to score a team-high 25 points while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.
And T.J. Ford appeared closer to returning to form as he added 15 points and five assists in 19 minutes, which helped Calderon get some rest in advance of a heavy schedule over the next month.
Ford got a couple of those helpers by forwarding the ball to a hustling Brezec. Ford appreciated the easy stats and the newcomer's style.
"He fits right in with us," Ford said. "He's got a swagger, he's got an attitude, he's a confident guy. He fits right in this locker room."
