From www.thebarrieexaminer.com
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Andrea Bargnani was playing perhaps the best basketball of his career just over a month ago, routinely sinking three-pointers on slow-footed big men and gaining momentum as a favourite for rookie of the year.

But an emergency appendectomy on March 21, coupled with a sinus infection that struck during his recovery, kept him off the court for almost a month, and in his two playoff appearances the Toronto Raptors rookie has looked more like the flustered NBA newcomer from early in the season.

Heading into tonight's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series against the Nets in New Jersey (The Score, 7 p.m. ET), the Raptors want the old Bargnani back.

"We need him," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said yesterday morning. "Whether it's realistic or not, we need him.
He's trying, to his credit he's trying. He's putting in a lot of extra work, he's trying to get there, but it takes time."

With the series tied at one game apiece, and with the next two games in the Nets' home arena, time is a luxury the Raptors don't have.

And Bargnani isn't the only one struggling - Joey Graham, who's rebounding from a bout of the flu, had a shaky Game 2, won 89-83 by Toronto.

Raptors all-star forward Chris Bosh, who along with Anthony Parker and T.J. Ford has shouldered the scoring load, said it's vital to have Bargnani and Graham back playing like they can.

"Especially on the road," said Bosh. "I think this could be a good instance were they could have a good game, and it could really help us out for the series. We're going to need everybody on this road trip. You can make up the slack a little bit when you're at home, but on the road you're going to need everybody."

When he's at his best, Bargnani's accuracy from three-point range spreads the floor and causes headaches for any opposing big man trying to guard him.

The Italian averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds this season, and was improving almost every game out, scoring 13.5 points on 50 per cent shooting during the Raptors' rise to the top of the Atlantic Division in February.

But his numbers in Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs weren't so flattering - 1-for-8 from the floor, 0-for-8 from three-point range, plus five rebounds.

"I'm practising hard and trying every day to go hard and improve," Bargnani said.

Mitchell said it's tough to recover from such a long layoff.

"You lose conditioning, you lose timing, you lose confidence, you lose everything basically - especially when you're a young guy," Mitchell said of the 21-year-old who he calls "Big Rook."

"For him, it's almost like he's had to start over."

The Raptors went through a vigorous practice in Toronto yesterday morning before departing for New Jersey. Mitchell was in a feisty mood, sparring with reporters afterwards.

When asked what the team had worked on, he replied: "None of your business! Basketball stuff. . . use your imagination."

Mitchell added they obviously worked on shooting, after their 41 per cent shooting performance in Game 2.