April 27, 2007

(TORONTO - CP) - Andrea Bargnani was playing perhaps the best basketball of his career just over a month ago, routinely sinking three-pointers on slow-footed big men and gaining momentum as a favourite for rookie of the year.

But an emergency appendectomy on March 21, coupled with a sinus infection that struck during his recovery, kept him off the court for almost a month, and in his two playoff appearances the Toronto Raptors rookie has looked more like the flustered NBA newcomer from early in the season.

Heading into Friday's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series against the Nets in New Jersey (The Score, 7 p.m. ET), the Raptors want the old Bargnani back.

The NBA Playoffs is a tough time to play yourself back into shape. (Dave Abel/Getty Images)

``We need him,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said Thursday morning. ``Whether it's realistic or not, we need him. He's trying, to his credit he's trying. He's putting in a lot of extra work, he's trying to get there, but it takes time.''

With the series tied at one game apiece, and with the next two games in the Nets' home arena, time is a luxury the Raptors don't have.

And Bargnani isn't the only one struggling _ Joey Graham, who's rebounding from a bout of the flu, had a shaky Game 2, won 89-83 by Toronto.

Raptors all-star forward Chris Bosh, who along with Anthony Parker and T.J. Ford has shouldered the scoring load, said it's vital to have Bargnani and Graham back playing like they can.

``Especially on the road,'' said Bosh. ``I think this could be a good instance were they could have a good game, and it could really help us out for the series. We're going to need everybody on this road trip. You can make up the slack a little bit when you're at home, but on the road you're going to need everybody.''

When he's at his best, Bargnani's accuracy from three-point range spreads the floor and causes headaches for any opposing big man trying to guard him.

The Italian averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds this season, and was improving almost every game out, scoring 13.5 points on 50 per cent shooting during the Raptors' rise to the top of the Atlantic Division in February.

But his numbers in Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs weren't so flattering _ 1-for-8 from the floor, 0-for-8 from three-point range, plus five rebounds.

``I'm practising hard and trying every day to go hard and improve,'' Bargnani said.

Mitchell said it's tough to recover from such a long layoff.

``You lose conditioning, you lose timing, you lose confidence, you lose everything basically _ especially when you're a young guy,'' Mitchell said of the 21-year-old who he calls ``Big Rook.''

``For him, it's almost like he's had to start over.''

The Raptors went through a vigorous practice in Toronto on Thursday morning before departing for New Jersey. Mitchell was in a feisty mood, sparring with reporters afterwards.

When asked what the team had worked on, he replied: ``None of your business! Basketball stuff. . . use your imagination.''

Mitchell added they obviously worked on shooting, after their 41 per cent shooting performance in Game 2.

There's also concern that former Raptor Vince Carter might light it up back in the comforts of his home court and away from the chorus of boos at the Air Canada Centre. Carter, who averaged 25 points in the regular season _ and took more than 700 more shots than anyone else on the team _ has struggled in the first two post-season games, averaging 17.5 points on 30 per cent shooting.

``We're pressuring his shots, we're not just giving him wide-open looks,'' said Mitchell. ``There's a crowd wherever he goes, and that's how it's got to be with all three of those guys, not just Vince but with Jason (Kidd) and (Richard) Jefferson.''

Kidd missed practice Thursday and will be a game-time decision. He strained his left knee early in Game 2, but remained in the game and finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

``He just bumped it and we just wanted to take precautions,'' Nets coach Lawrence Frank said.

The Raptors opted to stay in New Jersey for this trip to the swamp and skip the distractions of New York City.

``We've stayed in Manhattan a couple of times and didn't do too well,'' said Bosh. (The Raptors lost both their regular-season games at Continental Airlines Arena). ``So we had to do what we had to do and sacrifice and stay in New Jersey. (It wasn't) even the clubs, just out eating, there's a lot of noise in the city and sometimes it keeps you up. We don't need that around right now.''

Game 4 is Sunday in New Jersey. The series returns to Toronto for Game 5 on Tuesday.

NOTES: Toronto FC striker Alecko Eskandarian has agreed to wear a Raptors jersey to practice for a week if his Major League Soccer squad loses Saturday's home opener against Kansas City. Eskandarian, a New Jersey native, admitted on his blog that he's a Nets fan. INDEX: SPORTS