BROOKLYN - If you subscribe to the concept of momentum, theres reason to be concerned about the Raptors chances going into Sundays series deciding Game 7. Eric Davis Jersey . The shift began amid Wednesdays fourth-quarter meltdown, a 44-point browbeating, and carried over to Fridays Game 6. Facing elimination on their home court, a desperate Nets team jumped out to a 34-19 lead after 12 minutes and the Raptors - dazed and confused - never recovered, trailing for the duration. So how crucial is momentum at this time of year? "If you look at the series, the way its gone, its been like a roller coaster the whole time," Dwane Casey said following his teams 97-83 loss in Brooklyn, forcing a Game 7 on Sunday afternoon, tipping off at 1:00 PM from the Air Canada Centre. "Every game has been different." And that was the extent of Caseys post-game assembly. Questions about momentum, clearly favouring their surging opponents. Questions regarding experience, also favouring the veteran Nets. The Raptors were being written off before departing Brooklyn. "To listen to some of this, we may as well not play Game 7," said an agitated Casey. "Every game is different and I know our team will bounce back." For a brief, fleeting moment, Caseys team played the unfamiliar role of favourites, up 3-2 in the series, and it wasnt a good look for them. From the moment Rudy Gay was traded theyve fancied themselves underdogs. Its what brought them together, its what motivates them. Without that built-in adversity, they were unrecognizable. The Nets opened the game with the fight you would expect from a team on the ropes and for whatever reason, Toronto was unable to match it. The Raptors were flat offensively and showed little-to-no resistance on defence. Brooklyn outscored the Raptors 22-4 in the paint, out-rebounded them 14-4 and shot an impressive 68 per cent from the field. They moved the ball, got in the lane at will and controlled the tempo of the game from the jump, while the Raptors could barely get into their offensive sets. "It just comes down to who wants it more," DeMar DeRozan had said the day prior. On Friday it was all Brooklyn. "We didnt really realize we had Brooklyn against the wall and we didnt take advantage of it like we should," said DeRozan after leading the team with 28 points, no one else scored more than Kyle Lowrys 11. "We should have known they were going to come out throwing haymakers and we werent ready for it until the second half." "We just didnt come out with the competitive nature that we needed tonight," Lowry added. "They did an unbelievable job of forcing their will on the game tonight, but we have to find a way to match that intensity." In taking control of the series, Toronto had finally dodged the dreaded inexperience narrative that theyve been trying to shake since they drew the Nets but here it is, rearing its head once again. This was a scenario Casey had considered, one he feared. "I was concerned about what would happen tonight," the Raptors coach admitted. "[In] any Game 6, a team is going to come out with a desperate mindset. With this team, they built to win a championship this year, and theyre going to come out and give you their best shot. [I] knew that coming in and tried to warn our team. Guys who havent been in Game 6 before, its one of the toughest things to do." "Again, experience is the best teacher. Now were going into Game 7, its our first time at that. Luckily we have it at home." Yes, they will play Sundays elimination game in the friendly confines of their home gym, in front of a fan base that has been exceptionally supportive throughout their playoff run. That may be the only tangible reason to like their odds. As a franchise, the Raptors have only participated in one Game 7, the infamous day of Vince Carters graduation and missed fadeaway back in 2001. They have never hosted a deciding playoff game at the Air Canada Centre. With Portlands win over Houston, the Raptors now have the NBAs longest active streak without a playoff series victory. None of Torontos starters have played in a Game 7 while Paul Pierce alone has appeared in eight, Kevin Garnett in six and Joe Johnson in four. And then theres the momentum, if you believe in such things. The Raptors say they dont buy into momentum. The Nets, however, are counting on it. "I think we just need to take this momentum from this game into the next," said Nets forward Andray Blatche, who guaranteed a victory on Wednesday and did the same for Game 7. "I think our momentum will carry over. I think we found a recipe in getting a win on defence and offence and controlling the paint." So here they are. After all this time - two weeks, six games, broken shot clocks, a lint-free global ambassador and an F-bomb dropping general manager - the division-winning Toronto Raptors are right back where they started. Theyre a young, inexperienced team in over their heads, right? Maybe. But if nothing else, theyre back in their comfort zone. Theyre going to be overlooked, theyre going to be the underdogs. So, count them out at your own risk. "We believe in ourselves," Patrick Patterson insisted. "Everyone in this locker room believes in ourselves. Weve believed in ourselves all year long. For us to have any doubt in our minds right now is unacceptable. Its not like we cant beat them. Weve beat them before. Weve done it in the regular season [and] weve done it in the playoffs." "Now we know its win or go home," DeRozan said. "Everything is on the line now. Either we step up and we play with a force from the jump ball to the end of the game, or well be going home the next day." Reds Jerseys 2020 . Peko, a fourth-round pick in 2006, started all 16 games and a playoff loss to San Diego last season. He was second on the line with 72 tackles and had a career-high three sacks. Deion Sanders Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. https://www.cheapredsjerseys.us/1325s-ken-griffey-jr-jersey-reds.html . It certainly isnt a coincidence that Dwight Howard has scored at least 20 points in each game of the winning streak.LONDON -- Arsenal prevented Manchester City from going top while keeping up its own pursuit of the title with a spirited fightback to draw 1-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. Mathieu Flaminis second-half equalizer for Arsenal ensured Chelsea remains at the summit despite a shock 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace before the clash of the title challengers at the Emirates Stadium. With Arsenal still reeling from a demoralizing 6-0 loss at Chelsea and a late collapse to draw with Swansea in midweek, another setback beckoned when David Silva completed a counter-attack to put third-place City in front in the 18th minute. But conceding early made Arsenal more assertive and Flamini turned Lukas Podolskis cross into the net to level eight minutes into the second half. "We were a bit nervy at the start, insecure in our attitude by our last two results but when we were 1-0 down you could see the team was ready for a fight," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "We have gone through a nightmare last week and of course you could see with the 2-2 against Swansea the team was on the floor and hugely disappointed, but despite that we responded very well today." Nerves, though, seem to inflict this Arsenal squad too regularly, leaving the squad fourth but now five points behind Chelsea. "Maybe it is very difficult to explain mental insecurity," Wenger said. But it could determine which team emerges victorious in May. Although City is two points behind Chelsea in third behind Liverpool, it has two games in hand on the London club. "Its a good point because we played two games away this week against Manchester United and against Arsenal and to get four points from six against two big teaams is not bad," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. Scott Rolen Jersey. This was a result that will have restored morale at Arsenal just when it seemed the teams title prospects were evaporating after the defence was breached early on the break by Citys impressive attacking unit. Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski conceded possession all too easily in the City half, allowing Yaya Toure to set Silva off on a rampaging run from the halfway line. The Spain midfielder bamboozled Arsenals defence as he cut in from the right and released Edin Dzeko. Although Dzeko hit the post, Silva was well place to clip the rebound beyond Wojciech Szczesny from close range. But there would be no capitulation by Arsenal this weekend. If anything, Arsenal displayed more fighting spirit and control in midfield while searching for the equalizer. It didnt take Arsenal long after the break to end Citys five-game run without conceding in the league. Santi Cazorla signalled Arsenals intent by testing Joe Hart before Flamini knocked the ball past the City goalkeeper from close range. "We saw in the first half there was the opportunity to create some goals so we came out in the second half and tried our best," Flamini said. "We had the chance to score a goal and we tried to score another for the victory, but we missed the opportunity." Harts agility prevented Arsenal from claiming all three points, using his legs to block Podolski, while Cazorla saw a free kick headed wide by Olivier Giroud to leave Arsenal with just two points from three games. But, even for a side without a league title in a decade, its far too soon to write off Arsenal when the top four all remain in contention for the trophy. ' ' '