'You can't be experimenting' now, Mitchell says

LARRY MILLSON

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

April 1, 2008 at 9:11 PM EST

ATLANTA — After they play the Atlanta Hawks tonight at the Philips Arena, the Toronto Raptors will have seven games left in their NBA schedule and then the playoffs will begin.

It is the time of the season when the playing time goes to those who are producing. The time for trying different things is over, unless it is out of necessity, and that wouldn't be a good thing.

It is time to go with what is working.

"That's the only thing you can do at this time of year," head coach Sam Mitchell said. "You give guys the opportunity early, but if they're not producing, you've got to go back to the guys who are. At this time of year, you can't be experimenting."

The Raptors go into tonight's game against the Hawks having won three of their past four games, including Monday's 104-100 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina.

The Raptors worked out yesterday afternoon at the Hawks practice court at the Philips Arena. The big-minute players, such as Chris Bosh, just did some shooting.

There is no magic preparation for the final two-week push of the season, Mitchell said. "You've just got to try to be ready to play, to play well," he said. "If we're experimenting now, we're in trouble."

A while back, Andrea Bargnani was starting at centre, but not lately, as Rasho Nesterovic has been strong at the position. Bargnani watched most of the game against the Bobcats, playing 7 minutes 32 seconds and going 0-for-2, with two rebounds.

Against the Bobcats, Nesterovic logged 27:35 and scored 14 points, with 11 rebounds. Last week in the 89-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons, he played 46:27 and scored 15 points, with nine rebounds.

After the game against the Bobcats, Mitchell talked about how important Nesterovic has been to the Raptors for the past month. He said more on the subject yesterday. "He's playing with a lot of confidence and he is playing well," Mitchell said.

Nesterovic will turn 32 next month and began his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Mitchell played for them, and played for the San Antonio Spurs before joining the Raptors last season.

He's had playoff experience and has played on an NBA championship team with San Antonio.

Early this season, he didn't play much, but still kept himself ready.

"He takes care of himself," Mitchell said. "He works out, and you know when he wasn't playing much early in the season, Rasho was working out after the games and he'd come here early in the morning. It would be tough right now without him."

The Raptors are 38-36 going into tonight's game and rank sixth in the Eastern Conference. The remaining games might have an effect on where they are positioned in the playoff matchups.

"Right now, every game is really important," point guard Jose Calderon said, "and we've got to keep our focus and not make mistakes. Now when the playoffs arrive, you've got no time for mistakes."

As for the playoff seedings, he said, "You've got to fight for as high as you can go."

Recommend this article? 7 votes

View the most recommended