Anyone worried the Raptors might not get the necessary challenge from an undermanned Nets team in this first round need no longer worry. Read More
Nets don’t make it easy but Raps off to a 2-0 start in playoffs — Toronto Sun
Even after they lost control in the fourth quarter, the Brooklyn Nets had a chance to force overtime in Game 2.
Jacque Vaughn addresses Garrett Temple’s frustration with final play of Game 2 — Nets Wire
The Brooklyn Nets had a chance to walk out of Wednesday with their first-round series against the reigning NBA champs tied at 1-1. Even after they let the Toronto Raptors take control in the fourth quarter, the Nets had the ball in their hands during what should’ve been the final possession of regulation.
But things got away and Brooklyn wound up losing 104-99.https://widgets.thescore.com/embeds/76b51e6d-83fc-40c5-801c-f21c0cd2c062/B3048BFF2122363045F286D30C5D4F30
After the loss, Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Jacque Vaughn broke down the final possession with reporters over Zoom:
We got the ball in the hands of our shoot. Good defense by Kyle Lowry. The ball was intended for Joe. it got to Joe.
Jacque Vaughn walks us through the @BrooklynNets final offensive possession: pic.twitter.com/FcMhRnEq94
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 19, 2020
The “good defense” by Lowry that Vaughn mentioned forced Harris and Garrett to lose control of the ball as the former tried to hand it off to the latter, leading to the turnover.
Garrett Temple on what could’ve been done differently on the key turnover: “The thing that was done differently is we complete the handoff. That’s all there is to it. I take blame. I’m sure Joe would say the same. It takes two.” #Nets #Raptors
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) August 19, 2020
Temple was frustrated with the way things broke down after Lowry scored. Given how the Brooklyn wing typically approaches things, Vaughn thinks there may have been something to the complaint, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Garrett is a respectable young man. If he feels he got fouled, we’ll have to take a look at it.
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is missing his team’s three-game series against the Pirates.
Indians’ Francona to have surgical procedure, miss series — MLB | NBC Sports
PITTSBURGH — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona will miss his team’s three-game series with the Pirates, which begins Tuesday night.
General manager Mike Chernoff said Francona will have a “scheduled procedure” to address a gastrointestinal issue. Francona also sat out seven games from Aug. 3-9 because of the ailment.
The Indians are hopeful Francona will be back in the dugout Friday night in Cleveland for the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers.
First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will again manage the club in Francona’s absence.
Meanwhile, Gold Glove catcher Roberto Perez has been activated from the injured list and backup catcher Sandy Leon has been placed on family emergency leave.
Perez had been out since July 29 with a strained right shoulder. He was is in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Pirates.
Perez has played in just three games during this pandemic-shortened season, going 1 for 10.
“We’re excited to have him back,” Chernoff said. “I’m sure our pitchers are happy to have him back, too.”
Perez won the AL Gold Glove last year. He led all major leaguers with 30 defensive runs saved while batting .239 with 24 home runs in 119 games.
Leon will miss the series with the Pirates.
Cleveland also recalled outfielder Greg Allen from its alternate training site. That came a day after outfielder Oscar Mercado was assigned to the camp in Eastlake, Ohio on Monday.
Mercado hit .111 in 17 games and lost his starting center fielder’s job to Delino DeShields Jr.
The Morning Wrap shares the day’s top five stories from our reporters at the Southern California Newspaper Group. … Sign up to have our top sports stories delivered to your inbox with our daily newsletters ONE: The Trail Blazers continued to be one of the hottest teams in the Orlando bubble, shocking the Lakers in…
Morning Wrap: Are the Lakers in trouble after Game 1 loss? Dodgers win seventh straight — Daily News
Fred VanVleet had one of those nights where it really didn’t matter where he was shooting from, the ball was almost assuredly going in. Read More
Extended range making VanVleet and Raptors that much tougher to handle — Toronto Sun
Fred VanVleet had one of those nights where it really didn’t matter where he was shooting from, the ball was almost assuredly going in.
He went a ridiculous 11-for-15 from the field including 8-of-10 from behind the arc on Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets.
And we aren’t just talking about about your run-of-the-mill three-pointers either.
Only one of VanVleet’s eight makes from behind the arc came with his toes approaching the actual three-point line. At its furthest the three-point line is 23.75 feet from the basket. VanVleet’s final three of the night came from 23 feet. The other seven ranged from 25 feet all the way out to 31 feet, his second make of the night from deep.
VanVleet has always had the three-ball as part of his arsenal but extending it well behind that line has taken his game to another level.
The move came at the suggestion of head coach Nick Nurse who had seen just what Kyle Lowry’s expanded range had done for his game and was noticing that VanVleet was having some issues getting his three-ball off.
“It probably came a little bit out of necessity,” Nurse admitted. “He was not getting shots off, he was getting a few blocked and we needed him. We needed his spacing and his three point shooting so we just decided, well, if he backed up maybe five feet, maybe they wouldn’t be able to get to him as quick and he went to work on it.”
The bulk of that work took place last season during VanVleet’s recovery from a thumb injury but he’s been working at it ever since.
“Give him credit, he really started working on it, working on it and I think it just continues to grow from there,” Nurse said. “His range just keeps getting farther and farther out which is good. Again it’s just again more spacing and it’s hard to guard if a guy can shoot it at a really high clip eight feet behind the line. It’s really hard to guard.”
VanVleet is at the point where he no longer looks for the line. He’s comfortable anywhere from 24 to 27 feet and after that his success rate might not be as high (he doesn’t know the actual numbers) but he’s still comfortable taking just about any open shot that presents itself.
“If I feel like I’m open, I’m not really worried about the line and where I’m at, I’m just trying to get one up,” he said.
Having that tandem of Lowry and VanVleet out there ready to bomb from just about anywhere opens up all kinds of space for driving lanes for themselves and the likes of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby and his improved handle.
Throw in the fact that all three frontcourt players are also capable fo stepping outside and hitting from deep and you have the perfect Nick Nurse team.
“Really, it’s all about spacing,” Nurse said. “That’s the other thing I always say, offence is about creating space and that sure helps when you’ve got everyone out there who can shoot in space (and) from three.”
The Nets meanwhile are content to let the Raptors bomb away as they retreat and protect the paint with numbers.
VanVleet was asked if his intent when he starts bombing away from distance is to lure those Nets defenders further out and open up some of that space. On paper that makes a ton of sense, but VanVleet laughed the question off.
“I want them to stay like that the whole time,” he said of the Nets dropped defence. “I’m the one getting the open shots. When they come up I’m going to have to probably start creating and passing it out. You just try to be ready for anything. I work on every coverage and I got an answer for everything offensively I feel like.”
It certainly looked that way in Game 1.
LEAVE PASCAL ALONE
Norm Powell took his turn fielding the question about Pascal Siakam and whether he was pressing or not. Like VanVleet a night earlier, Powell leapt to his teammates defence. “I see Pascal playing his game,” Powell said. “You know, I see he’s still taking the shots that he was accustomed to taking in the regular season before the hiatus. I see he’s playing his game. He knows he’s going to get his opportunities, his shots, his chances, and he’s making the most of them. Sometimes, some of the other shots he’s taking are the same shots he has made, and a bad bounce, whatever it is, but we need him to stay aggressive, stay confident, and continue taking those shots because he’s our go-to player, and he’s the No. 1 option. I don’t think he’s going to stop or deter from trying to make an impact, trying to make a play, and take those shots he’s been taking.”
DOWN ANOTHER BODY
The league expanded rosters to 17 for the re-start to off-set the conditioning lost over a 41/2-month hiatus. It won’t be of any benefit to the Raptors, who are down to 15 bodies with first Pat McCaw leaving the bubble for treatment and now Mississauga native Oshae Brissett having to leave for surgery on his right knee to clean up some loose bodies. Brissett will return to Toronto and have the surgery at Sunnybrook Hospital.
PLAYOFF KYLE VS REG. SEASON KYLE
Kyle Lowry may have been a little overshadowed by his backcourt mate VanVleet in Game 1 but make no mistake Lowry remains the driving force behind this team. Norm Powell who is in his fifth year with Lowry said the face of the franchise takes on a little more serious look once the playoffs arrive. “I think leading in practices and things like that,” Powell said where he really notices a difference with Lowry. “He’s very focused and locked in, he’s a lot more vocal in what we’re doing and talking to the guys, making sure they know what the coverages are and what the schemes are what we’re trying to go out there and do during the games. He’s very vocal in that sense, being locked in and he’s talking to us to make sure that we know everything and that we’re locked in and we’re together in this playoff run. I mean off the court away from that he’s still relaxed and having fun and enjoying the process, but once it’s time to lock in and lace ‘em up, he’s focused.”
FINALLY MEANINGFUL GAMES
If you felt like the Raptors were a little more zeroed in Monday night from the opening tip, give yourself a pat on the back for solid analysis. VanVleet felt it too, and he explains why he thought it was that way. “I think our intensity was up a little bit,” he said. “ think everybody felt like they had something to play for, and that’s tough. It’s been tough for us all year after winning a championship. We know what the ultimate goal is, so getting up for regular season games that we know really don’t matter long-term, I think that was a challenge this year. Having something to really lock in and laser in on, this being the playoffs and Game 1, and you know the history of all the Game 1s, just trying to go out there with a good performance. That was something I think we were focused on, and I liked our intensity and our approach last night from pretty much everybody that stepped on the floor.”
A YEAR WISER
VanVleet said the feeling this year from last starting the playoffs is significantly different and his feeling of the situation had nothing to do with being in a bubble this time around. “I think we are a little more comfortable this time around because we know what it takes and we know what the journey is going to be,” he said. “Last year I feel like we were still pretty new with each other so we were still trying to figure it out. I think the chemistry is probably a little bit up this year and we feel a little bit more comfortable. And we lost against Orlando last year in Game 1 so I think that was all in our minds going in. Like we don’t want to start that way again.”
mganter@postmedia.com
For a pitcher known for his sizzle, the hype surrounding Nate Pearson is beginning to fizzle. Read More
Flame-throwing Pearson gets doused, but Jays hang on for win — Toronto Sun
For a pitcher known for his sizzle, the hype surrounding Nate Pearson is beginning to fizzle.
No one is about to throw in the towel on Pearson, but some disconcerting signs are emerging.
Mind you, he has only made four starts with plenty more to follow, but Pearson has yet to pitch with any semblance of consistency or command in any of his appearances.
He couldn’t get out of the fifth inning Tuesday night as Pearson left after surrendering three homers and five runs.
A five-run inning in Toronto’s top half allowed the Jays to fashion a 7-3 lead.
There was an opportunity presented to close the door.
Instead, Pearson allowed it to swing wide open as Baltimore kept fighting by exposing the kid.
Pearson was long gone as the O’s used an intentional walk followed by an infield single when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. couldn’t pick a short hop at first to even the score at 7-7.
The night required extra innings, which haven’t been friendly to the Jays.
It would end, though, with the Jays surviving the baseball marathon by eking out an 8-7 win aided by a Baltimore error and some dubious base running in 10 innings.
A leadoff walk followed by a two run blast and Pearson was suddenly looking like the MLB greenhorn that he is, unable to locate pitches, falling behind hitters and yielding a 2-0 lead to the Orioles in their first at-bat.
Pearson didn’t look comfortable on the mound, an issue that has plagued him the past the two starts following a decent debut.
Once again, Pearson’s much-vaunted fast ball was lit up as Anthony Santander went yard at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Pearson turns 24 Thursday.https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
He turned aside the home side in the second despite a single to right by Cedric Mullins, who was left stranded at second after he stole the base.
The Jays picked up their starter in the third when the red hot Randal Grichuk belted a two-run homer off Wade LeBlanc after the O’s starter walked Cavan Biggio with two out.
Pearson gave it back when Santander went back to back against Big Nate, this time connecting on a line drive to centre field for his team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Toronto’s bottom of the order was responsible for having runners at the corner with none out in the fifth.
A Biggio walk would load the bases as LeBlanc was given the hook.
Grichuk, who drove in four runs in the series opener, drove in his third and fourth on the night when his double to right scored Anthony Alford and Santiago Espinal as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.
It would increase when Travis Shaw hit a no doubter off Travis Lakins Sr. for a three-run blast.
In his first three starts, the Jays provided Pearson with one run.
When he took to the mound in Baltimore’s bottom half of the fifth inning, Pearson had a 7-3 advantage.
He promptly walked the No. 9 hitter.
On one swing of the bat, the Orioles cut the Jays’ lead in half when Chance Sisco unloaded on a Pearson slider for a two-run moon shot.
BIGGIO WADES INTO TATIS JR. TATOR
The son of former big leaguer Craig Biggio, Cavan Biggio grew up around baseball and was introduced to the game’s culture at a pretty young age.
Like any sport, baseball has its unwritten rules.
Some argue San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. broke the rule by swinging on a 3-0 pitch late in a one-sided game against the Texas Rangers Monday night.
The 21-year-old would club his second homer of the game, a grand slam no less.
Post game, Texas manager Chris Woodward brought up the unwritten rules in voicing his disapproval. “There’s a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today’s game,” said Woodward.
“I didn’t like it, personally. You’re up by seven in the eighth inning; it’s typically not a good time to swing 3-0. It’s kind of the way we were all raised in the game.
“But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis. So just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not right. I don’t think we liked it as a group.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/bDLYH34sct4?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
Biggio understands the game’s unwritten rules, but he also understands the aggressive approach shown by Tatis Jr.
“As a hitter you never want to give the pitcher anything,’’ said Biggio.
The rule of thumb for any athlete plying his trade in whatever sport is to never show up an opponent.
Biggio doesn’t feel Tatis Jr. was showing up the Rangers.
ROUNDING THE BASES
Manager Charlie Montoyo said the team’s original diagnosis of Bo Bichette (Grade 1 knee sprain) was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews. The skipper added how there’s no timeline for Bo’s return … Rowdy Tellez is feeling better, according to Montoyo, but the 1B/DH remains in concussion protocol after he took an elbow to the head late in Monday night’s win. Depending on how Tellez is feeling Wednesday, there’s the possibility he’ll enter MLB’s seven-day protocol … Injured closer Ken Giles (elbow) engaged in some light catch, while injured RHP Trent Thornton (elbow) has a chance to start Thursday when the Jays play host to a double dip in Buffalo against the Phillies…RHP Jacob Waguespack was added to the taxi squad, paving the way for the team to recall RHP Julian Merryweather.
Nick Nurse loves to experiment, so why should he act any differently in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs? From going big early with Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, to changing his coverage of Nets star Caris LeVert on the fly, to trying Matt Thomas in the first half and then going to fellow rookie […]
Nurse makes the right moves again as Raptors begin playoff push — Toronto Sun
The crafty, controlled arm of Hyun Jin Ryu and the big bat of Randal Grichuk, the one-two punch would propel the Blue Jays on this night in Baltimore. Read More
Ryu’s pitching, Grichuk’s hitting spark Jays — Toronto Sun
The crafty, controlled arm of Hyun Jin Ryu and the big bat of Randal Grichuk, the one-two punch would propel the Blue Jays on this night in Baltimore.
Toronto wasn’t exactly known for its efficiency of late, more blunder than thunder in how the Blue Jays went about their weekend business back in Buffalo. But it all changed, at least it did Monday, because Ryu came up big by going six strong innings, surrendering one run on four hits while walking zero Baltimore batters.
Grichuk’s three-run blast and single accounted for four runs as the Jays beat Baltimore, 7-2.
Cavan Biggio’s two-run blast in the ninth capped the night off in style.
Anthony Bass (back), who wasn’t available Sunday, was back on the mound in the eighth to retire the side in order, an encouraging sign as the Blue Jays move forward.https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
Hard to describe the evening as a must-win for the Jays, but the urgency was there following a disappointing and disjointed Sunday when the team lost twice to Tampa and the services of their best player.
Clean hasn’t been the operative word when assessing this team, but to its credit Toronto played good baseball against a pretty good Orioles side.
The Jays entered the night with a 7-11 record, the kind of numbers you want to roll when playing craps. But it’s baseball that is being played and unable to play cleanly has proven costly, especially in late innings. Mental errors have also conspired to deny the team wins.
Rowdy Telez, who was at first against the O’s, didn’t know how many outs there were in Baltimore’s first at-bats. It didn’t cost the Jays anything, but it highlighted the lack of focus and attention to details that has characterized this group.
The Orioles, in contrast, have been among baseball’s surprise stories.
Baltimore’s bats have been hot, but it was apparent early that Ryu would be a tough nut to crack, hitting his spots and showing a strong command of his pitches.
Following the win, the fourth for the Jays in Ryu’s fifth start, the lefty admitted how his velocity wasn’t quite there yet.
Against an aggressive lineup such as Baltimore’s, Ryu knew the goal was to coax as many weak contact as possible.
A total of 11 ground-ball outs would be recorded as Ryu kept Baltimore’s bats off balanced.
He wouldn’t take the bait as to whether Ryu should have stayed in the game following his 86-pitch outing.
The fact is the Jays produced an add-on run in the seventh, which meant Ryu had no business being back on the mound in the wake of the extended inning.
Moving forward, Ryu says he wants to get to 100 pitches.
Manager Charlie Montoyo loved his ace’s performance.
“That was vintage Ryu,’’ said Montoyo. “He’s pitching so well.”
Equally pleasing was how his team played, the approach they took and the execution they showed.
“The key is a good starter and it doesn’t matter what happened the night before,” added the skipper.
Montoyo said how Telez is in concussion protocol after he took a late-inning elbow to the head.
“That’s why we took him out (of the game),’’ said Montoyo. “He’s day to day.”
THE WORD ON BO
Sportsnet’s baseball insider Shi Davidi had the goods on Bo Bichette and his injured knee that placed the stud shortstop/hitter on the 10-game injured list.
According to Davidi, the second opinion on Bo’s knee was diagnosed as a Grade 1 strain of the lateral collateral ligament. It’s considered minor with no long-term impact.
The injury needs time to heal, but how long that involves remains to be seen.
SECOND AND LONG
Without Bichette, who was wielding a hot bat, in the lineup the Jays had to tweak their order.
Montoyo had Grichuk in the No. 2 spot.
His explanation was pretty straight forward and to the point.
“Other than Bo, he’s been my hottest hitter,’’ Montoyo said of Grichuk. “He’s been swinging the bat well.”
During the team’s five-game “home’’ stand in Buffalo, Grichuk went 8 for 19 at the plate.
He carried it over to Monday’s game.
SHORT STROKES
Not only will Bichette’s bat be missed, but also his glove at short.
Monday’s series opener in Baltimore, the Jays went with Joe Panik at shortstop.
The way Montoyo discussed the team’s plans in the absence of Bichette, a shortstop by committee will be in effect with Panik, who played short in college, Brandon Drury and Santiago Espinal in the mix.
Matchups, obviously, will play a role when Montoyo fills out his lineup.
“He’s going to get more of a chance to get regular at-bats,’’ said Montoyo of Panik.
FOUR THE RECORD
Right-hander Nate Pearson makes his fourth start Tuesday.
In his most recent mound appearance, the kid struggled mightily.
To his credit, Pearson acknowledged how his past two starts were marred by poor command, an issue he tried to address with pitching coach Pete Walker during Pearson’s side sessions.
Video showed how Pearson’s front leg was an issue in his lack of command.
Pearson referred to the placement of his front leg as the source of his troubles.
“It was flying open a little bit,’’ said Pearson. “I’m learning to be more consistent in my delivery.”
Officials separate the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers after the teams get into a scuffle during Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP) Dallas Mavericks’ Boban Marjanovic (51) defends as Los Angeles Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell (5) dunks during…
Clippers fend off Mavericks after Porzingis ejection in Game 1 — Press Telegram
The Morning Wrap shares the day’s top five stories from our reporters at the Southern California Newspaper Group. … Sign up to have our top sports stories delivered to your inbox with our daily newsletters ONE and TWO: The NBA playoffs are set to go with the Clippers on Monday and Lakers Tuesday. But are…
MORNING WRAP: All you want to know about Clippers, Lakers on eve of the NBA playoffs — Press Telegram
The Boston Bruins once again will be without David Pastrnak on Monday night. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy announced Pastrnak won’t play in Game 4 of Boston’s first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Anders Bjork will start the game on Boston’s first line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Pastrnak practiced with the…
Bruins’ David Pastrnak Ruled Out For Game 4 Vs. Hurricanes — NESN.com
The Toronto Raptors embraced the role of the underdog on their way to their first NBA championship last season and again this season after the departure of Kawhi Leonard. They will not be able to use that in their first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets that starts today near Orlando. The seventh-seeded Nets are […]
Raptors tip off title defence against Nets in Round 1 — Stabroek News
The view from left field 