In a previous column, I compared T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon to Veronica and Betty from the Archie Comics. After the Toronto Raptors' 108-94 win over Orlando in Game Three of the first round playoff series, Ford and Calderon were Batman and Robin like Dwight Howard was Superman in the first two games. Ford led the Raps in scoring with 21 points while Calderon contributed 18 points and 13 assists as they split their time at the point evenly. Combined, they had 39 points, 16 assists and 13 rebounds. As Chuck Swirsky is fond of saying, that stat line is sick, wicked and nasty.

(Quick aside about Game Three – Can somebody please explain to me how Violet Palmer is allowed to set back the feminist cause by keeping her job when everyone knows she's the worst referee in professional sports? With the possible exception of UFC ref Steve Mazzagatti, I don't think there's another high-profile sports official out there who fans almost universally acknowledge as being horrible at their job. I'm all in favour of female officials in sports, but doesn't the fact that the only female ref in the NBA happens to be the clear-cut worst in the league actually hurt the cause?)

The first two games of this series were just plain nasty for Ford - and not in the good way. He went two-for-17 from the field and got destroyed by Orlando's compact point guard, Jameer Nelson. There were those of us who were worried what kind of reception he would receive from Toronto's "Sea of Red" fans at the Air Canada Centre - but T.J. quickly won them over by leading the Raptors to a 26-18 advantage before he was subbed for Calderon late in the first quarter. Seven of those first quarter points were scored by Ford, who looked confident and in control, showing no after-effects of his mystery affliction from the previous two games.

Continued...