Raptors @ Suns Game Thread

[Cheesebeef]

ho-hum - 15 in a row... another star-less team - I'm almost praying that Iverson plays tomorrow - all these layups are great for the win column, but I can't believe we're getting sharper without being tested by someone... anyone. That being said, the Wiz and the Nugz (if they have Iverson) should be a good test and then there's the big showdowns with the Pistons and Mavs at the end of the month.

 

[Ciani]

Franchise record here we come

 

[slinslin]

Banks just broke the ankles of Bargnani.

 

[Cheesebeef]

A win is a win, why can't you just enjoy it? Even a little bit?

I agree that most of the wins are cupcakes, but come on--it's not like when the Mavs or Spurs go on a 14-game win streak they play 14 playoff-caliber teams.

good lord Chap - just because I say ho-hum doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the hell out of this. I just want to see us tested because we haven't played anyone since the beginning of the season. You act like I'm upset from the above when in reality I'm stoked, but I want to see a good game for once against a good team rather than just mopping the floor with the dregs of the Earth - we KNOW we can do that - we don't know what we can do against the best teams in the league (or more to the point, we've seen what we can do and now we want another chance at them now that we're rolling).

I just look forward to seeing us tested rather than just being up on the NBA equivalent of Phoenix Day School For Deaf. But that's just me. No need to intimate that I'm not enjoying this. I just want more - call me greedy, but don't tell me I'm not enjoying this.

 

[Card Trader]

Can our bench hold on to a 20+ point lead with 5 minutes to go?

 

[sly fly]

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 intimidated Toronto. They had no answer. It was men among boys out there. Bargnani looked white as a ghost.

Amare is the best finisher in the league... again. No longer are the days in which Amare tries to dunk everything. His vertical is still not where it used to be, but his angles are much improved.

I just love the way Diaw and KT are playing. Both are playing better than last year.

How many teams can throw out 3 big men like that every game? Answer: None.

 

[sly fly]

good lord Chap - just because I say ho-hum doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the hell out of this. I just want to see us tested because we haven't played anyone since the beginning of the season. You act like I'm upset from the above when in reality I'm stoked, but I want to see a good game for once against a good team rather than just mopping the floor with the dregs of the Earth - we KNOW we can do that - we don't know what we can do against the best teams in the league (or more to the point, we've seen what we can do and now we want another chance at them now that we're rolling).

I just look forward to seeing us tested rather than just being up on the NBA equivalent of Phoenix Day School For Deaf. But that's just me. No need to intimate that I'm not enjoying this. I just want more - call me greedy, but don't tell me I'm not enjoying this.

Cheese... enjoy this as much as possible. Save your game face for the playoffs, or you'll go crazy.

 

[hawaiiansun]

Banks just broke the ankles of Bargnani.

Describe, please?

 

[Card Trader]

I think Burke has made more 3s than James Jones this year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm glad you are enjoying this, but this is the first time you've actually made it sound like you are.

uh, hyperbole much? Why don't you go back to any number of threads like the Nets game or the Celtics game followed up after ward or the showing against Orlando or beating the Rockets or after the road trip was done or comign back against the King or hell, any other number of threads where I've praised this team since the slow start?

seriously Chap - are you just bored and TRYING to start a fight because you're not gonna get one from me tonight.

 

[krispydude]

do they know how to use the clock late in games? geeze. stop chucking up 3's

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Is this not exibit A as to why D'Antoni doesn't go deep into his bench or what. What a bunch of clowns.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Cheese... enjoy this as much as possible. Save your game face for the playoffs, or you'll go crazy.

I do think this team will likely put me in the grave by the end of the playoffs but this is pretty damn sweet... hell, I even got mad at Steve Kerr for lisiting us at #3 on his power rankings today. #2 I can understand - the Spurs are the Spurs and they have a better record than us, but the freaking Jazz? Come on - they've gone 6-6 since starting out 12-1 - there's no way they should be ranked ahead of us in the midst of an 14 game winning streak (at the time of print).

 

[gdiddy]

In other great news, Lakers lose again!

 

[mribnik]

Holy crap. I got the exact score correct and Amare as the high scorer for the Suns tonight! w000!

 

[hawaiiansun]

I am really hoping James Jones finds his shot. I love the kid and am one of his biggest supporters but even I am beggining to think its about time to pull him out already. I really hope the change back to the old leather ball will help him regain his shot.

 

[Chaplin]

James Jones has no business being on the floor when we have Jalen Rose sitting on the bench.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Mike takes another gamble and basically emptys the bench with 8 mins left.. Made me cringe.. Well our starters will be fresher for tommarrows basher against the denver iversons...er..I mean nuggets.

Besides the bench great game, pure amare dominance.

Much thanks to those wonderful little chinese people for creating things like sopcast and CCTV5 which allowed me to watch the entire game.

 

[mribnik]

I was watching the game tonight on CCTV5 on the TVUplayer which was a Chinese broadcast and it was hilarious hearing the Chinese broadcasters bust out laughing when Burke hit that 3.

 

[HooverDam]

Why no Jumaine Jones at the end of the game? Why not sit LB and put Jumaine in? I find it hard to believe he is worse than Pat Burke...can his injury possibly still be nagging him?

 

[sly fly]

James Jones has no business being on the floor when we have Jalen Rose sitting on the bench.

Why?

James Jones is in a horrendous shooting slump... we all know that. James Jones knows that. Mike D knows that.

However, he adds just enough intangibles to warrant time on the floor. From boxing out or playing help D, JJ has been important. If he wasn't... he wouldn't be in the rotation.

That being said, JJ needs to get his offense going. Is it me or are his arms noticeably larger/cut-up? His shooting motion is drastically different from the beginning of last year. I dunno, maybe that has something to do with his missing J.

Jalen Rose will never fit into this system. Never. His game is not tailored for this offense. (I would love to be proven wrong, though.)

 

[Chaplin]

Why?

James Jones is in a horrendous shooting slump... we all know that. James Jones knows that. Mike D knows that.

However, he adds just enough intangibles to warrant time on the floor. From boxing out or playing help D, JJ has been important. If he wasn't... he wouldn't be in the rotation.

That being said, JJ needs to get his offense going. Is it me or are his arms noticeably larger/cut-up? His shooting motion is drastically different from the beginning of last year. I dunno, maybe that has something to do with his missing J.

Jalen Rose will never fit into this system. Never. His game is not tailored for this offense. (I would love to be proven wrong, though.)

James Jones has had a month to "get his game going". Luckily we're winning, but that win streak has nothing to do with him. Sure, he has shown some signs of being a decent defensive presence, but come on, we're not talking about Bruce Bowen here.

As for your Jalen Rose comment, there is virtually no proof that is accurate. Rose hasn't got the playing time to even see if he can play with us.

You say "never", but then why did he sign here in the first place? To win a ring, sure, but he could have signed on with the Spurs or Mavs, whose games I would guess in your opinion more match his style. So why did he sign with us instead? Either Rose or the Suns (or both) thought he WOULD fit with us. Instead, he just languishes on the bench.

The only thing I would say is that they are going to use him a lot more during the playoffs and not during the regular season.

Strangely enough, this seems to be the only issue I disagree with you on from the last couple months.

 

[Ryanwb]

Amare only played 28 minutes and put up 28 points.....

 

[sly fly]

James Jones has had a month to "get his game going". Luckily we're winning, but that win streak has nothing to do with him. Sure, he has shown some signs of being a decent defensive presence, but come on, we're not talking about Bruce Bowen here.

As for your Jalen Rose comment, there is virtually no proof that is accurate. Rose hasn't got the playing time to even see if he can play with us.

You say "never", but then why did he sign here in the first place? To win a ring, sure, but he could have signed on with the Spurs or Mavs, whose games I would guess in your opinion more match his style. So why did he sign with us instead? Either Rose or the Suns (or both) thought he WOULD fit with us. Instead, he just languishes on the bench.

The only thing I would say is that they are going to use him a lot more during the playoffs and not during the regular season.

Strangely enough, this seems to be the only issue I disagree with you on from the last couple months.

James Jones is going to get time regardless if his shot is falling or not. As long as JJ plays capable D (like he's been doing), disrupting opposing players, or playing fundamental ball... he's going to be on the floor.

Why? Because he fits in with Mike D's system. He knows that if he does the above-mentioned well, he'll get time. He's a smart player.

You can bet everybody would like to see JJ get his offense untracked. But, he's surely not going to do it by sitting on the bench. He still has about 55 games to get things right.

What makes you think Jalen Rose can suddenly adapt his game from a plodding half-court style, to a run-and-gun Princeton-weave style? So far, I haven't seen it. You'd think Jalen would have shown small glimpses of being able to run. I haven't seen it.

Jalen is going to have to step up his game. He's been resting for almost 2 years.

Heck, Tim Thomas came over last year and dominated his first game.

 

[sly fly]

Strangely enough, this seems to be the only issue I disagree with you on from the last couple months.

You should agree with me, because I speak the truth.