PHILADELPHIA
VS.
INDIANA

MILWAUKEE
VS.
ORLANDO

MIAMI
VS.
CHARLOTTE

NEW YORK
VS.
TORONTO

SAN ANTONIO
VS.
MINNESOTA

L.A. LAKERS
VS.
PORTLAND

SACRAMENTO
VS.
PHOENIX

UTAH
VS.
DALLAS
Wednesday, May 30
Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Knicks-Raptors
ESPN.com

No. 3 Knicks (48-34) vs. No. 6 Raptors (47-35)

Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.

Throughout the 2001 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.

BACKCOURT EDGE
The Raptors have the edge in the point-guard battle between Alvin Williams and Mark Jackson. Williams is a solid defender who has size, can penetrate and can shoot from long distance. In a recent game Williams had 12 assists without a turnover; that performance was typical of the progress he's made since becoming the lead guard after Jackson was traded to the Knicks. Williams and Vince Carter have the upper hand on Jackson and Allan Houston. That being said, Latrell Sprewell should defend Carter instead of Houston. And Sprewell did a terrific job last year on Carter. That would leave Morris Peterson against Houston, an advantage for the Knicks.

FRONTCOURT EDGE
The Raptors have Peterson, Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis against Sprewell, Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby for the Knicks. If Larry Johnson is healthy, Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy will play him as well. Van Gundy seems to value LJ's leadership. There is no question that Thomas is playing much better basketball. He is a good defender who is tough and can rebound. He does just about everything better than Johnson, even as a face-the-basket jump shooter. I would give Camby a wash in his matchup with Davis. Sprewell has a little edge on whomever he plays and defends. Thomas and Oakley are the same kinds of players, a pair of hard-nosed hustlers. The frontcourt, overall, is a closely contested matchup, just like the series.
Even

BENCH EDGE
Toronto has the deeper bench, with Chris Childs, Keon Clark, Williams and Dell Curry. Van Gundy may only use eight players and go with LJ or Thomas, Charlie Ward and Othello Harrington off the bench. He might bring in Felton Spencer, but only for a few minutes.

INTANGIBLES EDGE
The Raptors are determined to do better than last year in the playoffs. As they did this season, the Raptors beat the Knicks in the season series last season. But the Knicks were the more playoff-savvy team and were able to eliminate the Raptors. Toronto had a 3-1 edge over New York during the season and will be a tougher opponent this time around.

PREDICTION
Knicks in five. New York's team defense, which is among the best in the league, and playoff experience will be factors, but home-court advantage sways this series in the Knicks' favor.

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