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 30, 2007

(TORONTO) -- They have tried nearly everything.

Now, the Toronto Raptors will try something else.

Down three games to one going into Tuesday’s Game 5, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell is promising a revamped lineup.

Mitchell is keeping the details of the lineup shuffle to himself.

“I just told you I’m going to make changes but I’m not going to tell you what since I don’t have to,” Mitchell said.

The Raptors will try a different approach come game 5 (NBAE/Getty Images)

Ah, the old mystery lineup. The New Jersey Nets, meanwhile, are probably not sweating who Mitchell pencils…unless it’s Ray Allen

The Nets have outscored the Raptors by 13 and 21 points over the last two games. Point guard Jason Kidd has torched the Raptors for 13.8 points per game, 13.5 assists and 11.3 rebounds. Vince Carter has averaged just a shade less than 25 points.

More or less playing time for Morris Peterson, Kris Humphreys or Juan Dixon doesn’t figure to make that much difference.

What will is a total mental remake, the kind you periodically see in sports.

Sometimes, a team will return home from a horrible performance and look like world-beaters. Hot players get cold, cold players get hot and circumstances are shaken up by the marvelous unpredictability that comes with anything connected with human beings.

“Every game has a life of its own,” said Raptor swingman Anthony Parker. “We have to leave that game (Four) behind us, come with a fresh mindset and be ready to go.”

One thing seems certain. The Nets have shown the best they can deliver which, by the way, is plenty good.

“They shot great (in Game 4),” said Parker. “Jason Kidd shot great. It seemed like we got a little down and it just snowballed from there.”

“We just have to know it’s a game of ups and downs,” said Chris Bosh, who has averaged 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in the series. “They’ve had their run. We just have to make sure we come out and put an end to it.”

The young Raptors are benefiting from every moment of playoff experience.

“I’ve learned a lot,” said Bosh, the club’s 23-year-old linchpin. “I’ve learned that you have to improvise in the game sometimes and make smart plays. You have to pay a lot of close attention to detail. We just have to focus a little bit more.”

The key to the series hasn’t changed since the series started, Bosh said.

“You need to control Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. You control Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson (20.5 points a night) doesn’t get that many baskets and Bostjan Nachbar (13.3 points) doesn’t get that many good looks.”

Mitchell said he sent T.J. Ford home from practice because the point guard had a terrible cold.

As for the explanation for the collapse in New Jersey, Mitchell said you needn’t look far

“They’ve outplayed us. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. I think the experience has a lot to do with us. That and the fact that they’ve outplayed us. Jason Kidd and Vince have just taken it to us.”