Raptors @ Suns Game Thread

[Amare32]

Toronto Raptors (10-14 ) @ Phoenix Suns (17-6)
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When Tuesday 19th December
Time: 7.00 PT
Location: US Airways Center, Phoenix
TV: TSN, FSAZ

Probable Starting Lineups:

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PG-TJ Ford
SG-Anthony Parker
SF-Jory Graham
PF-Jorge Garbajosa
C- Rasho Nesterovic

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PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-Shawn Marion
PF-Boris Diaw
C-Amare Stoudemire


Key Bench Players

Raptors

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Morris Peterson - 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 43% FG

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Andrea Bargnani- 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds

Suns

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Leandro Barbosa- 16.6 points, 4.3 assists on 45% FG

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Kurt Thomas- 6.4 points, 6.5 rebounds on 56% FG


Team Stat Leaders

Raptors

PPG- C. Bosh 20.5
RPG- C. Bosh 12.2
APG-T. Ford 8.1

Suns

PPG- S. Nash 19.8
RPG- S. Marion 9.4
APG- S. Nash 11.4

Win Streaks

Raptors- won 3
Suns- won 14


Amare32's Key Match-up

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Boris Diaw- 10.6 PPG. 5.5 RPG, 4.9 APG ​

Vs
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Jorge Garbajosa-9.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG



Game Preview


It's been more than a month since the Phoenix Suns lost a game. They'll try to break the franchise record for consecutive wins when they host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.


Phoenix has won 14 in a row since a 120-117 overtime loss to Utah on Nov. 18, matching the franchise record set from Dec. 1-30, 1992, before Toronto even became an NBA franchise.


The Suns (17-6), who had 11-game winning streaks in each of the past two seasons, have won six home games and eight on the road during this current run. With a victory over the Raptors, Phoenix will have the longest winning streak in the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers won 19 straight from Feb. 4-March 13, 2000.

The Suns defeated Sacramento 105-98 on Saturday for their seventh victory in 10 days, with six of those wins coming on the road. Phoenix, which has six players with double-figure scoring averages, had seven players score at least 10 points Saturday and overcame an early 10-point deficit to beat the Kings.



Phoenix's run-and-gun offense has seemed to tire a bit lately, failing to score more than 105 points in four consecutive games after scoring no fewer than 114 in five straight.


The Suns have won 16 of 17 following a 1-5 start to the season. They've won eight in a row at home and are 9-2 at the U.S. Airways Center.
Toronto is trying to build its franchise along the model of the Suns. It would be fitting, considering Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo spent 17 years with Phoenix -- the last 11 as GM -- before coming to Toronto on Feb. 28.


The results have been mixed for the Raptors (10-14) in Colangelo's first full season. Toronto has had losing streaks of four and six games, but enter Phoenix on a season-high three-game winning streak.
The Raptors scored a season high in points to beat Golden State 120-115 on Sunday, shooting 10-for-20 from 3-point range.


While all three victories have come without Chris Bosh, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, Sunday's celebration was muted a bit after a scary injury to Jose Calderon.


The second-year point guard lay motionless on the court for several minutes, left the game on a stretcher and was placed in a neck brace. Though tests showed he only had a bruise to his left lower back, Calderon did not accompany the team to Phoenix for the start of a four-game road trip.


Calderon, averaging 6.4 points and 3.1 assists, is listed as day-to-day.


The Raptors are 3-11 on the road this season, and 3-7 all-time at Phoenix. The Suns have won the last four meetings overall.




Player Quotes

Raptors

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- ""I think all the players are a little shook after what happened to Pape Sow this summer," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said, referring to a fractured vertebrae that the Toronto forward suffered last summer. "Jose means a lot to us. Right now, basketball is secondary to Jose. We just hope he's OK." (Raptors coach Sam Mitchell on Jose Calderon injury on the Raptors 120-115 win over Golden State on sunday)

Suns

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- We were stuck in the mud for the beginning of the game," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Guys are unselfish, move the ball and we just find different guys at different times to step up. That's kind of been our trademark and hopefully we'll continue to do that." (coach Mike D'Antoni on the Suns win @ Sacramento)

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- To accomplish that feat is definitely awesome for the group of guys in this locker room," Suns forward Kurt Thomas said. "Now we have to focus on the next game and try to keep winning." (Kurt Thomas on the Suns needing one more win to break the franchise record for most wins in a row)

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Go Suns!

 

[Louis]

Raptors' Calderon leaves game on stretcher December 17, 2006
TORONTO (AP) -- Raptors point guard Jose Calderon was removed from the court on a stretcher and placed in a neck brace Sunday after injuring his lower back on a rebound.
Tests revealed he sustained just a bruise to his left lower back. He's listed as day-to-day, and did not accompany the team on its flight to Phoenix after the game.

 

[Louis]

From azcentral.com

That may be especially true when Phoenix sees Toronto without star Chris Bosh (knee).

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Nash said they had a horrible practice on Monday...hopefully they aren't getting complacent.

Let's kick some butt tonight!

 

[Louis]

Nash said they had a horrible practice on Monday...hopefully they aren't getting complacent.

Let's kick some butt tonight!

7 games in 10 days can do that to you. Especially when your bench is as reliable as driving a golf cart on I-17.

 

[Amare32]

This could be a tricky game, Raptors aren't a contender or anything but I think they are a decent team and whe nBosh gets back are at least a playoff team. This is easy to be a letdown game. Raptors have good talent.

 

[jbeecham]

I'm going to the game tonight so hopefully the Suns will win and have the longest winning streak in Suns history.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

7 games in 10 days can do that to you. Especially when your bench is as reliable as driving a golf cart on I-17.

James Jones has been playing better, just when Barbosa's shooting has been irregular. KT has been as consistent as can be. The Suns bench is not that bad. They just cannot expect 10 guys to contribute on a regular basis.

 

[Cheesebeef]

James Jones has been playing better

uh, how? during the winning streak James Jones is shooting 22% - TWENTY-TWO PERCENT from the field. He always plays the same level of defense (scrappy, but nothing special) so it's not like he's playing any better there. Twenty-Two percent - that's really an abomination of an offensive player, no matter what team you're on, but especially on this tema where the open looks are abundant.

 

[SO91]

When you just look at Jones' numbers it is a cause for concern, but he's not hurting this team at the moment

 

[CaptainInsano]

Game will be on sopcast CCTV5 for all you less fortunates out there (like me).

 

[Mulli]

Mo pete not a starter!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

When you just look at Jones' numbers it is a cause for concern, but he's not hurting this team at the moment

that's because we're playing the dregs of the league for the last 14 games - and while he's not hurting (although that's a dubious statement at best), he sure as hell ain't helping.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Amare hit a couple of those 15-17 ft jumpshots that we haven't seen much of lately, and diaws same J seems to have returned.

 

[slinslin]

Jones sucks again, Bell misses everything..

 

[Chaplin]

Gameplan is pretty apparent. Just give it to Amare every time down the floor. Period.

 

[slinslin]

I wish D'antoni would play Nash like 45 minutes in a game when he racks up 10 assists in the first quarter. Nash should beat Skiles record of 30 in a game, he deserves it.

 

[Ciani]

We dont shoot the ball well, but Amare is huge again, he is just unstoppable.

Bargnani is a talented young guy, he can shoot.

 

[Cheesebeef]

every time I look at the stat tracker, it says Amare dunks ball... put back dunk... dunk... dunk. Is he posterizing anyone tonight? Any old school thunder dunks?

 

[slinslin]

Posterized Bargnani and some other Raptors I guess from listening to the Toronto play by play guys.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

every time I look at the stat tracker, it says Amare dunks ball... put back dunk... dunk... dunk. Is he posterizing anyone tonight? Any old school thunder dunks?

Amare didn't strike me tonight as dunking that much, more layins around the hoop, mixed in a few jumpers and 1 or 2 one handed dunks.

He is dominating though, they are rolling 3 players at him now on the pick and roll.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Yeah most of his are the power-layups but I think he has had about 4-5 dunks 3 of them being thunderous, nash missed a 3 I think and amare double-handed slammed it right back down.

We are shooting absolutely abysmal for 3, and barely shooting it that much in the first place and yet we are up 9 because it is the amare show. Last year this would have been going down as one of those ugly games that we made sure to forget as soon as possible.

 

[CaptainInsano]

lol the box score is hilarious, going down the suns points section:

4
1
8
6
22

Makes me laugh everytime I have looked at it. Amare is coming along GREAT.

*edit: Man where the hell is everyone in Arizona tonight? Christmas shopping or something? The chat is empty and not too many posts in this topic.

*edit #2: Hmm maybe you guys are all at the game so you can see the possible 15 win streak...

 

[hawaiiansun]

Suns now up by 21 with around 6 minutes left in the third. Amare with 24 points and 8 boards and Nash with 8 assists. Lets put these guys away, I wanna see Pat Burke!!