to the playoffs.

BROOKLYN - As the Raptors opening round series shifts back into quasi must-win territory on Sunday, their playoff lives could rest on the shoulders of a 23-year-old sophomore, who is already having a tough time adjusting to the pressure of his first postseason. wholesale jerseys . Through three games with the Nets, Toronto has yet to play its best basketball, the easiest explanation for their 2-1 series deficit. Its under-performing starting small forward, Terrence Ross, has been a primary factor. Stepping in for the traded Rudy Gay early in the season, Ross played an under-appreciated role in the Raptors turnaround and push to the playoffs. From Dec. 8 onwards, the second-year guard-turned-forward averaged 12.2 points, nearly doubling his pre-trade scoring mark while logging an addition 10 minutes a night. He shot the three-ball at an impressive 40 per cent clip and became Torontos most relied upon perimeter defender. Since making his playoff debut a week ago, Ross has looked like a fish out of water. Despite starting all three games and playing an average of 21 minutes, hes hit just three of his 16 jumpers while looking overwhelmed on defence against Brooklyns bigger, more physical wing players. Overall, the Raptors have gotten just 4.7 points per game from the small forward position, good for last among the NBAs 16 playoff teams by a wide margin. With Fridays 102-98 loss in the back of his mind, Dwane Casey wouldnt rule out the possibility of a lineup change for Sundays crucial Game 4. "Were still going to look at that," Casey said following a Saturday afternoon practice on the campus of a nearby university in New York City. "The decision hasnt been made but we will look at it. Right now we dont want to do anything drastic." "Its not panic time, but we do have to look at that position and get more productivity out of that spot." Its been the most problematic conundrum Casey has had to wrestle with in this series. The Raptors do not have an easy answer for Joe Johnsons unique combination of size, strength and finesse. The Nets crafty veteran - listed at 6-foot-7, 240 lbs - has had Torontos number in nearly every facet of the game. He can beat you from midrange, post-up smaller players and hes deadly from beyond the arc. "We have been double teaming him and blitzing him and hes been getting a lot of his [points] in those one-on-one situations," Casey pointed out. Defensively, Landry Fields has had the most individual success against Johnson. Casey turned to the sparingly used forward in Game 2, a well-received lineup adjustment that helped neutralize Johnson in the fourth quarter and spark Torontos comeback victory. Johnson would go on to lead the Nets with 29 points in Fridays Game 3 but was held scoreless, missing both of his shots, in seven first-half minutes with Fields guarding him. However, Fields was limited to just eight minutes in the loss. This time the Nets had prepared for him. Anticipating his reluctance to shoot, Brooklyn used Fields defender to apply even more pressure to DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. With Jonas Valanciunas in foul trouble, Fields shared the floor with Tyler Hansbrough - another player the defence can afford to overlook - and the Raptors offence took an immediate hit. "Its give and take," Casey said in regards to utilizing Fields in this series. "You sacrifice some offence for defence. I thought he did a heck of a job [defensively] but you do suffer in your spacing." John Salmons returned to the rotation, scoring four points in 12 minutes on Friday after sitting out in Game 2. The 35-year-old has battled lingering back pain while struggling with his jumper. He too has been exposed by Johnson. "Weve got to find ways to get them the ball," Casey said of Fields and Salmons. "Whether its cutting, screening, running the floor, so that we get something from that spot [and] they cant just load up and go 5-on-4 at the defensive end. We want to make sure we do get something offensively out of that position." Their best chance is to get Ross going. Fields moves well without the ball and gives you consistent effort on defence, Salmons brings a certain veteran savvy that has been useful in the past but Ross - when right - is the two-way contributor Toronto desperately needs to gain the upper hand in this series. For the young Ross, boosting his confidence could be the key to unleashing the natural ability he has displayed throughout his second season. It could be something as simple as seeing an early shot fall, getting a big first-quarter stop or throwing down one of his trademark slam dunks. "Hes still the same Terrence," DeRozan said Saturday. "We all understand everybodys not going to have their best night [all the time]. We all understand that. Our job is to keep everybodys confidence high." Through three playoff games, Ross and fellow sophomore Jonas Valanciunas - who leads the Raptors in turnovers - have the worst +/- on the team. Toronto has allowed 24 more points than its scored with Ross on the floor, outscored by 21 with Valanciunas on the floor. The Raptors are the only playoff team to feature two second-year players in their starting lineup. Their inexperience and overall importance to the future of this franchise is largely responsible for the leash theyve been given. "If they werent young guys, if that wasnt our future, our direction, they probably wouldnt be in there with some of the mistakes theyre making," Casey admitted. "But, theyre our guys. Theyve got to learn, its their first playoffs. I expect most of their mistakes. Were going to ride with them in those situations." "Its tougher, but a big part of the reason were here is because of their play. Im not blind to the fact they are our future and the only way were going to learn is to go through it. The amount of time might be a little shorter, but theyve got to get out there." Regardless of his role, Ross will continue to play. Yes, win or lose this is a valuable learning experience for the 23-year-old but more than anything else, Casey knows how quickly the complexion of this series could change if Ross shots begin to fall. For Ross, the player, that would mean more confidence and likely a more engaged defensive effort, even if he cant guard Johnson one-on-one. For the team it could aid their spacing, take the pressure off Lowry and DeRozan and breathe life into their suffocating offence. Cheap Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . The Montreal Canadiens goaltenders dogs Motty ("short for Mozart") and Duke got loose overnight. cheap jerseys . Pro Bowl centre Maurkice Pouncey ripped up his right knee and linebacker Larry Foote ruptured his biceps during Pittsburghs 16-9 home loss to Tennessee, likely sidelining both players for the rest of the season.(Sports Network) - With a victory today over the Blue Jays, the Rays could begin their final series of the regular season on Monday tied for the American League Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay will need some help for that to happen, but also needs to take care of its own business in the finale of this three-game series with Toronto. Losses in four of five, including Fridays series opener, had dampened the Rays playoff outlook, but the Red Sox have also continued their month-long slide and Tampa Bays 6-2 win last night pulled it to within 1 1/2 games of Boston for the final playoff spot. The Red Sox are set to play a doubleheader today with the Yankees, so a win by the Rays and a pair of losses by Boston would even the teams in the standings. Tampa Bay broke out its power bats to win on Saturday, getting a tie-breaking solo homer from Ben Zobrist early in the game and a lead-padding three-run shot from Johnny Damon in the eighth inning en route to a 6-2 victory. "Its outstanding," Rays manager Joe Maddon told his clubs website. "If you would have told us at the beginning of Spring Training wed be in this position right now, I think the whole organization would take it, the players would take it and the fan base would take it." Starter Jeff Niemann lasted only one running, but Alexander Torres came out of the bullpen to throw five scoreless innings. Jose Bautista hit his MLB-leading 43rd homer of the seasson for the Blue Jays, but ace Ricky Romero lost for just the second time in 12 starts after yielding six runs over 7 2/3 frames. Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys. Only one of those runs were earned as Toronto was denied a third straight win. Looking to keep the pressure on Boston, Tampa Bay starts right-hander Wade Davis today and he has lost consecutive road starts to the Orioles and Yankees. He yielded five runs on eight hits and five walks over 4 2/3 frames on Tuesday in New York to drop a 5-0 decision. Davis is 10-10 with a 4.55 earned run average on the year and is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four games versus the Blue Jays in 2011. The 26-year-old suffered a loss when he last faced Toronto on Aug. 29, getting charged with six runs over 4 1/3 frames. Left-hander Brett Cecil draws the nod for the Blue Jays off his shortest start since June 25, 2009. Cecil lasted only three innings against the Angels on Tuesday, getting charged with four runs on six hits and two walks in a 10-6 defeat, his third in a row. The 25-year-old is 0-6 over his past nine outings since his last win on July 29. "He started to elevate the ball and didnt have a finishing type of pitch," Jays manager John Farrell said of Cecil. Cecils current winless drought began with a no-decision against the Rays on Aug. 4 and is 4-2 with a 4.66 ERA lifetime against the club. Tampa Bay is 11-6 against the Blue Jays this season, winning six of the past eight meetings. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '