Mike Ulmer has worked for seven news organizations including the National Post and, most recently, the Toronto Sun. Mike has written about the Toronto sports scene for more than 10 years and has penned several books on sports and culture.

April 23, 2007

(TORONTO) -- Morris Peterson remembers his first playoff game, if not the numbers.

“I didn’t do too well,” said the Raptors veteran swingman. “We played New York. It was a tough, tough series.”

Part baptism, part initiation paddling, no amount of research can adequately prepare a player for his playoff debut. You just have to go through it.

Andrea Bargnani is happy to put his first playoff game behind him. (Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images)

For the record, Peterson played 22 minutes of the first game of the first-round series against the New York Knicks. It was 2001. He took six shots and finished with half a dozen points.

And yet a different player stepped off the court that night in New York.

“After the first game, you get all the nervousness out, all the jitters, especially if you lose.” Peterson said. “If you lose your first playoff game, you’re like, ‘you know what, I got a little taste of it. Now I want to go out and play the game.’”

Which brings us back to the Raptors, 96-91 losers to the New Jersey Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Final. Game 2 is Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Saturday was the maiden voyage for Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Joey Graham, Anthony Parker and Kris Humphries. Even the players who recorded significant statistical afternoons reported being a little jarred by the experience.

Bosh, who scored 22, said there was substantial room for improvement.

“I think I have to be a lot smarter and not get in foul trouble early,” Bosh said. “I think I can work on my intensity and talking on defence a little bit better. I think I can get on the glass a little better. There were a couple of things that took me by surprise and I was really, really, excited.

And now?

“Now I can just come in and play the smooth style of basketball I always play.” Bosh said.

Raptor coach Sam Mitchell’s comments the day of the opener ring just as true today. The wonder of Game 1 is that after making so many mistakes (Bosh’s early two fouls, Calderon’s pass to Darrick Martin on the bench) Toronto still could have won the game.

But they need to understand the new rules. Andrea Bargnani was stripped of the ball in what amounted to a full-court mugging and a steal by Jason Kidd. No call. You want the ball. Go get it.

“It’s just a whole other game,” said Graham, whose playoff-opening line included two-from four from the field and five points.

“Of course there is going to be some different officiating. I mean it’s the playoffs. You’re not going to really get any fouls called. That’s how it is. It’s a battle and it’s a fight. You’ve just got to go out there and earn it.”

Bargnani recorded three points on one four shooting. He said he didn’t need any videotape to prove his first NBA playoff game was substandard. Of course, it was only hi second game back after missing a month with illnesses.

“I was late on my decisions,” he said. “I played bad. “

Bargnani’s contributions will be critical. The Raptors struggled mightily against the Nets’ zone but there will always be a shot for a seven-footer at the top of the key.

Mitchell didn’t think his prize rookie was stagestruck.

“I wouldn’t use the word intimidated,” he said. “He was probably a little bit anxious.”

Anxious or not, the Raptors can naturally be forgiven for opening night jitters. But they can ill-afford the type of fumbling performance they delivered in Game 1.

“We just need a little more attention to detail,” said Bosh. “We were flat coming into Game 1. We didn’t do the things we wanted to. We’ve been working on spacing ourselves (on the floor), just making plays and playing basketball.”