Raptors put Moon back in starting lineup for Game 3

4/24/2008 6:22 PM

TORONTO (AP) -Forward Jamario Moon replaced center Rasho Nesterovic in Toronto's starting lineup Thursday night as the Raptors tried to erase a 2-0 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic.

Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford and Anthony Parker all kept their places in the starting lineup for Toronto.

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell had promised to change his starting five after Toronto lost 104-103 in Game 2 at Orlando on Tuesday night.

Moon started 75 games for Toronto this season, breaking Damon Stoudamire's team rookie record of 70.

The 27-year-old Moon averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in the regular season, but has not fared well coming off the bench against Orlando. He was held scoreless in five minutes in Orlando's 114-100 victory in Game 1, then went 1-for-7 for three points in 22 minutes in Game 2.

Nesterovic went 8-for-15 from the field and scored 16 points in Game 1, but had two points in five minutes in Game 2.

Ford kept his place despite scoring a total of 11 points and going 2-for-17 from the field in the two games.

``I believe in myself,'' Ford said. ``I know I haven't been making shots but, as a point guard, you can still affect the game in some way, even if you're not making shots. I would take that, also. I don't think my overall game is that awful. It's just a matter of me making a few shots.''

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said his team was prepared to deal with Toronto's personnel changes.

``Every one of their lineups presents different challenges,'' Van Gundy said. ``None of them are easy to guard or to score against. We've got to be ready for whatever they do.''