When the Toronto Raptors played the Game 6 of their playoff series against the New Jersey Nets, Jose Calderon will start at point guard and the Raptors regular starter T J Ford was also available.
Calderon sprained his right ankle while Ford had neck, shoulder and arm injuries in Game 5 which the Raptors won and they have managed to cut the Nets lead to 3-2. Calderon scored 25 points in the game.
After Game 5, both Calderon and Ford were not seen at practice for the next two days but coach Sam Mitchell said that Calderon had proven at the shootout on the third day that he was fit enough to start in Game 6.
Mitchell further said that Calderon had informed him that he was fit enough to play and he did everything that was asked of at the practice to show that he was alright to play.
Mitchell was going to use Calderon in Game 6 since Ford had not done any practice between Game 5 and Game 6. However, Ford warmed up before Calderon and surprised Mitchell by telling him that he would be starting.
Mitchell was quite surprised by Ford since the previous day he was in quite a lot of pain. But, he obviously felt better otherwise he would not have wanted to start the game.
In Game 5, Ford had collided with Vince Carter but the injury that was troubling him was a sprained thumb in his non-shooting left hand.
At the shootaround, Ford said that he could not move the thumb a couple of days ago but now it was better and he would be able to play.
In the first five games, Ford has an average of 15.4 points while Calderon has an average of 12.8 points.
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