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.



May 1, 2007

(TORONTO) -- The Toronto Raptors are looking at the possibility of entering Friday’s elimination playoff game down their top two point guards.

Neither Jose Calderon or T.J. Ford practised with the team Wednesday morning in the wake of the club’s narrow 98-96 win over the New Jersey Nets. The decision left the Raptors still down 3-2 in games with Game 6 set for New Jersey on Friday.

Ford was run over by Vince Carter and suffered an upper body stinger down both arms. Ford lost the 2004-2005 season to a neck injury and surgery so the club is treating his injury carefully. He did not speak to the media.

Calderon rolled over on his right ankle after in the final few instants of his most prolific scoring night as an NBA pro. He scored 25 points and defended New Jersey star guard, Jason Kidd, well.

The injury did not necessitate a crutch but Calderon was unable to put any weight on his leg. Calderon was putting a very bright sheen on his injury for a guy who can’t walk without a noticeable limp.

“For sure, I can play today if I have to,” he said. “Right now, its just pain. With a little pain I can go for sure but we’ll see how it’s going Friday. If I have to have treatment five times a day I’m going to do it because I want to play.”

Now for the good news.

Darrick Martin could be called into action Friday. (NBAE/Getty Images)

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said everyone should relax.

“We don’t play until Friday,” he said. “We’ll see how they feel then.”

That leaves the Raptors with a few options. Juan Dixon can play the point. Darrick Martin has been playing since the balls had stitches in them.

Problem is, Dixon’s shooting touch is on indefinite sabbatical and Martin has only played in 31 games and averaged seven minutes a game in those contests. Then again, he has appeared in the post-season with four different teams, the Lakers, Sacramento, Milwaukee and Toronto. He has started six post-season games and who else would you put on the point if Calderon or Ford can’t go? That’s a rhetorical question by the way.

“Darrick is a proven NBA player,” said Mitchell. “He’s played in conference finals before. He’s started. He’s played in playoff games.”

He is also a constant consort of the guards and advisors to the forwards. Martin is so well liked, when he stood up in Game 1 to cheer on Jose Calderon, Calderon fired the ball to Martin on the bench.

“Every day we get a chance to practice with each other and you gain more trust,” said Martin. “You gain a chance to play with each other. Now I kind of know my guys and they know me.”

Chris Bosh insists that if called upon, Martin will command the respect of the ball club.

“He has a lot of stripes right now. He’s been around the league for a while. He’s a pro. He’s going to be ready.”

Bosh, meanwhile, is suffering through a poor series. Foul trouble limited him to only 24:31 as he recorded 11 points and was a shadow of his usual self in Games 3 and 4 in New Jersey.

“It’s been hard. I’m kind of earning my stripes right now,” Bosh said. “I’m sure guys have had harder experiences but it’s been tough. I have to go through it. This is a part of my career I have to learn from it and make sure I remember it next time I come down this road.”

It’s not like the Raptors are without weapons. Andrea Bargnani is coming off an 18 - point night and his only limitations seem to be his own fatigue. Morris Peterson, restored to the starting lineup, was good for 17 and Anthony Parker, the most consistent Raptor of the series, had 18.

So what have we got? Well, potentially catastrophic injuries, a 36-year-old reserve guard running the team and covering Jason Kidd, Vince Carter flushed with confidence, Joey Graham and Bosh, the face of the franchise, trying to find theirs. Bosh, who has accepted Mitchell’s challenge to get better, said he is going to do just that.

“I always issue myself a challenge. If he does, it doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m going to step up to it, try my best and try to answer it.”

So will his teammates. Problem is, they won’t fully know the challenge until it is nearly upon them.