The Raptors had great hopes for Jarrett Jack when they signed him as a free agent this summer, and he may yet pan out to be the kind of contributor they envisioned at two backcourt positions. But it's been a slow start for the veteran, who is shooting 35 percent from the floor and 29 percent from 3-point range so far this season. "I envisioned being a little bit more productive, so to speak," he said. "But things I thought would go a certain way haven't gone that way so far. It's tough, but I'm a firm believer that everything will turn around and hard work will pay off."
The Raptors need Jack to become a solid contributor off the bench if they want to move up in the Eastern Conference pecking order. Backup point guard was a black hole a year ago, and while Jack at half his usual self is an improvement, if he's playing well it makes Toronto far more dangerous.
"Jarrett's the quarterback of that second unit, and it's tough coming into a new team when you're the guy who's supposed to distribute the basketball and you're the guy who has to learn everybody's nuances, where they can get it, what they can do when they get it, where to deliver it," said coach Jay Triano.
NUGGETS 130, RAPTORS 112: Denver scored 68 points in the paint and neutralized Chris Bosh as it pulled away in the second half for the win. Bosh was held to 13 points as Denver got 32 from Carmelo Anthony -- 16 in the first quarter alone -- and 29 from Earl Smith.
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