Raptors' Ford may return tonight against Heat

Dr. J. Naismith · 02-04-2008, 02:23 PM

Looks like TJ's dressing tonight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Feschuk

T.J. Ford, the Raptors point guard who hasn't played in nearly eight weeks, is expected to dress for tonight's game against the Heat.

And by the way he was talking after this morning's shootaround, there's a chance he'll get into the game.

"I think I'm going to give it a shot tonight," said Ford. "I feel like I'm 100 per cent coming in to playing. I think I can come out and help the team. I think I'm ready to play, so I'll come in early, break a sweat."

Sam Mitchell, the Raptors coach, wouldn't confirm that Ford will even wear a uniform tonight. But the coach reiterated that the timing of Ford's return to the court will be largely up to Ford.

"It depends how he feels," said Mitchell today.

Though it was forecast by the coach that Ford might need a series of practices to rediscover his form, Ford, who participated in yesterday's team practice in Miami, said he's in "game shape."

He hasn't played in an NBA game, of course, since he was taken off the floor on a stretcher on Dec. 11 after he took the brunt of an Al Horford flagrant foul in Atlanta. But after spending most of the last three weeks working out in Houston under the tutelage of John Lucas, the former NBA point guard and coach, Ford said he's ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation.

"(Playing tonight) is something I didn't anticipate, but after yesterday's practice and just feeling good about the way my body felt, and just being able to get up and down (the court), I didn't feel that I lost anything as far as timing, as far as decisions," said Ford.

"I felt it was all there ... If it presents itself and I get in, great. If I don't, I'll just look forward to the next one."

Link - Click here

**'trane** · 02-04-2008, 02:24 PM

good opportunity to test him out. no pg's on miami that are truly scary. here's hoping...

Dr. J. Naismith · 02-04-2008, 02:26 PM

Yup, I can see him getting about 10 minutes of playing time tonight. This is awesome news.

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 02-04-2008, 02:28 PM

Sweet! Not that it sounds like he needs to regain any confidence but this would be about the best team to come back against

**fancylad** · 02-04-2008, 02:29 PM

it is awesome news.

Here's hoping we go back to having the best tandem of point guards in the NBA (rolls reversed, perhaps).

This makes me happy.

**Acie** · 02-04-2008, 02:32 PM

Damn Him For Being So Eager To Return To Doing The Thing He Loves And Help The Team He Plays For!!!!!

**'trane** · 02-04-2008, 02:34 PM

T H I S B L O C K C A P S T H I N G I S W I E R D

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 02-04-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACIEEARL40

Damn Him For Being So Eager To Return To Doing The Thing He Loves And Help The Team He Plays For!!!!!

Damn indeed!

So here's a question... TJ returns and backs up Jose... then Jose gets hurt for a month and TJ starts and the team wins more than they lose... when Jose comes back...does he get the starting job back?

:baby:

Dr. J. Naismith · 02-04-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

T H I S B L O C K C A P S T H I N G I S W I E R D

Must be something with your cpu 'trane.

**'trane** · 02-04-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. J. Naismith

Must be something with your cpu 'trane.

I don't know man. Happens to me at work and at home. Looks like it happens to Acie too.

**fancylad** · 02-04-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sick, Wicked and Nasty!

Damn indeed!

So here's a question... TJ returns and backs up Jose... then Jose gets hurt for a month and TJ starts and the team wins more than they lose... when Jose comes back...does he get the starting job back?

:baby:

actually, no. Common sence would indicate that things in the NBA are in a constant state of change. Basically, the coach is in a place of responsibility to determine which player starts based on the "Current" performance of the team. not how the team played before said player went down with injury.

put that in your pipe and smoke it.

**Acie** · 02-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

I don't know man. Happens to me at work and at home. Looks like it happens to Acie too.

Yup, same thing here.

Sick, Wicked and Nasty! · 02-04-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fancylad

actually, no. Common sence would indicate that things in the NBA are in a constant state of change. Basically, the coach is in a place of responsibility to determine which player starts based on the "Current" performance of the team. not how the team played before said player went down with injury.

put that in your pipe and smoke it.

I wasn't really asking what Sam should do... I was more interested in what people on RF would say

Methinks there would be an uproar to make Jose a starter again based on what he had done prior to his injury(i.e. not current). But...i could be totally wrong.

LX · 02-04-2008, 04:12 PM

I'm very happy that I get to see him in my sweet seats come FEb 13.

They could do some real damage with the schedule they have this month. I just think this will be a huge boost, and it just doesn't matter who starts since neither one can be thought of as the lowly backup.

To me the real comparison will be how well the team does with both in the lineup and with Bosh in top form, as opposed to just one in the lineup. They are going to be that much harder to prepare for. No more gameplans like LA running Jose ragged with Farmar and Fisher handing off the ball and tearing through the lane and cutting back to the top of the key, and then sending him through more screens if need be. That kind of stuff does not work against Ford, and neither one of them will tire out so easily now.

raptor123 · 02-04-2008, 04:31 PM

Good to see Tj coming back. Finally we have someone that can take over Dixons minutes.Thats about it folks Jose will continue to get the bulk of the work. Hes our guy so lets get over this, Tj fords days are numbered in TO.

raptor123 · 02-04-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by •LX•

I'm very happy that I get to see him in my sweet seats come FEb 13.

That kind of stuff does not work against Ford, and neither one of them will tire out so easily now.

Get serious guys TJ is 5' nothing surely not a defencive strength on our team. Hes a little guy playing a big mans game.Can't rebound and guys just post him up for dinner. However TJ must get some minutes he must prove that he can still play so we can unload him and package him for a rebounder.

Dr. J. Naismith · 02-04-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor123

Get serious guys TJ is 5' nothing surely not a defencive strength on our team. Hes a little guy playing a big mans game.Can't rebound and guys just post him up for dinner. However TJ must get some minutes he must prove that he can still play so we can unload him and package him for a rebounder.

Kay, now your just plain hatin' raptor123. I love Jose too and think he's better for this team, but this is getting just ridiculous.

If we're being serious regarding who's the better defensively, he may only be "5' nothing", but defensively he has the lateral quickness that Jose doesn't have. Bigger PG's post up Jose too and Jose has trouble stopping them as well. So, if I had to put my money on who would be more effective on the defensive side of the ball, I'd be betting on Ford before I would Calderon.

moremilk · 02-04-2008, 05:12 PM

sometimes it seems that on this board there are jose fans, tj fans plus a few lost raptor fans ...

Rory C · 02-04-2008, 06:46 PM

I'm just happy we're getting close to healthy. Regardless of what might happen in the future, right now we have two kick ass PGs - and a lot of teams envy us in that regard.

ClingRap · 02-04-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coltrane

good opportunity to test him out. no pg's on miami that are truly scary. here's hoping...

although chris quinn looks scary...there's something about his alien eyes....

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02-04-2008, 02:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
'trane is on a monk trip. giant steps Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15,249 Representing:	good opportunity to test him out. no pg's on miami that are truly scary. here's hoping...

02-04-2008, 02:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dr. J. Naismith is convinced that Raptors fans are only happy when they're unhappy. Retired Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Almonte Posts: 10,251 Representing:	Yup, I can see him getting about 10 minutes of playing time tonight. This is awesome news.

02-04-2008, 02:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sick, Wicked and Nasty! is adoring his baby girl. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada eh? Posts: 3,288 Representing:	Sweet! Not that it sounds like he needs to regain any confidence but this would be about the best team to come back against

02-04-2008, 02:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
fancylad is travis pickin' nosce te ipsum Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: east side. Posts: 13,806 Representing:	it is awesome news. Here's hoping we go back to having the best tandem of point guards in the NBA (rolls reversed, perhaps). This makes me happy.

02-04-2008, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Acie is landry fields forever Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 20,412 Representing:	Damn Him For Being So Eager To Return To Doing The Thing He Loves And Help The Team He Plays For!!!!!

02-04-2008, 02:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
'trane is on a monk trip. giant steps Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15,249 Representing:	T H I S B L O C K C A P S T H I N G I S W I E R D

02-04-2008, 04:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
LX is boycotting boy cots In the Paint Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 23,274 Representing:	I'm very happy that I get to see him in my sweet seats come FEb 13. They could do some real damage with the schedule they have this month. I just think this will be a huge boost, and it just doesn't matter who starts since neither one can be thought of as the lowly backup. To me the real comparison will be how well the team does with both in the lineup and with Bosh in top form, as opposed to just one in the lineup. They are going to be that much harder to prepare for. No more gameplans like LA running Jose ragged with Farmar and Fisher handing off the ball and tearing through the lane and cutting back to the top of the key, and then sending him through more screens if need be. That kind of stuff does not work against Ford, and neither one of them will tire out so easily now.

02-04-2008, 04:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
raptor123 is a Piston Fan ! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,258 Representing:	Good to see Tj coming back. Finally we have someone that can take over Dixons minutes.Thats about it folks Jose will continue to get the bulk of the work. Hes our guy so lets get over this, Tj fords days are numbered in TO.

02-04-2008, 05:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
moremilk is whatever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: toronto Posts: 7,081 Representing:	sometimes it seems that on this board there are jose fans, tj fans plus a few lost raptor fans ...

02-04-2008, 06:46 PM	#19 (permalink)
Rory C is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 102 Representing:	I'm just happy we're getting close to healthy. Regardless of what might happen in the future, right now we have two kick ass PGs - and a lot of teams envy us in that regard.