Toronto Raptors @ Phoenix Suns 1-04-14

[Ronin]

RAPTORS (24-9) AT SUNS (19-16)

Tip-off: 6 p.m. (Phoenix time) TV: FSAZ

C: Jonas Valanciunas … Alex Len

PF: Amir Johnson … Markieff Morris

SF: Terrence Ross … P.J. Tucker

SG: Landry Fields … Goran Dragic

PG: Kyle Lowry … Eric Bledsoe

Key Raptors reserves: Greivis Vasquez, Louis Williams, Patrick Patterson, James Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough.

Key Raptors injuries:

DeMar DeRozan (groin) is out.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-preview-suns-raptors-orange-slices/21262139/

 

[Ronin]

Big Men
Jonas Valanciunas looked like an All-NBA center against the Suns in November, as opposed to the solid-but-unspectacular contributor he usually is. The Lithuanian big man missed just one of his 11 shot attempts on his way to 27 points and 11 rebounds.

ugh lol.
http://www.nba.com/suns/gallery/sunsvsraptors-5-things-watch

 

[AfroSuns]

RIP Stuart Scott

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[Ronin]

2 offensive rebounds for the Raptors.
3 turnovers for the Phoenix Suns
Suns on a run though

 

[Ronin]

Jonas Valanciunas off to a hot start has 6 points in the first quarter. I like how Alex Len refuses to get back down Valanciunas.

 

[Ronin]

Take care of the ball...jeebus.

 

[BC867]

IT dribbles the ball into three defenders driving to the basket and loses the ball.

Are the coaches trying to correct this? If so, it hasn't shown.

 

[Mainstreet]

IT dribbles the ball into three defenders driving to the basket and loses the ball.

Are the coaches trying to correct this? If so, it hasn't shown.

IT is just destroying the Suns right now with 9 points.

 

[Ronin]

Was that three straight three's by the Suns? Nice. Suns up by 16!

 

[Ronin]

Gerald Green playing matador defense James Johnson. Nice jam by Johson.

 

[Ronin]

Toronto is now in the bonus. 8:44 left to go in the second quarter....and another turnover by the Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nice dunk by Len.

 

[AfroSuns]

Raptors have really good shooters

 

[SirStefan32]

Dragic is on fire... take him out of the game, and the lead is down to 11. Brilliant.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ugh. Three fouls on Len.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Ugh. Three fouls on Len.

Yeah, that's the next hurdle for Alex. We need him on the court playing defense so we need him to learn how to do it without drawing fouls.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, that's the next hurdle for Alex. We need him on the court playing defense so we need him to learn how to do it without drawing fouls.

Steve

I agree. He has been a difference maker in the 1st half.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just like that, Len with four fouls.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Just like that, Len with four fouls.

I'd let him play his minutes and foul out if it happens. I think we all know that the Raptors will likely make a big push at some point. Every minute we get out of Alex makes that push a little harder as long as he's still playing the same way.

Steve

 

[BC867]

Just like that, Len with four fouls.

And with the Suns blowing out the Raptors so far.

I agree with the post that said that Mark West might not be the best Asst. Coach to mentor Len.

He spent a lot of time on the bench when he was needed on the court during his Suns career. As a Center, he was a good stockbroker.

What I mean is that Mark is an intelligent guy. Why could he not make the adjustment to avoid over-fouling?

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd let him play his minutes and foul out if it happens. I think we all know that the Raptors will likely make a big push at some point. Every minute we get out of Alex makes that push a little harder as long as he's still playing the same way.

Steve

I don't know. Plumdog is playing well at the moment. Check back later.

 

[Mainstreet]

And with the Suns blowing out the Raptors so far.

I agree with the post that said that Mark West might not be the best Asst. Coach to mentor Len.

He spent a lot of time on the bench when he was needed on the court during his Suns career. As a Center, he was a good stockbroker.

What I mean is that Mark is an intelligent guy. Why could he not make the adjustment to avoid over-fouling?

I never saw Mark West foul most of the time. I've always thought a lot of his fouls were based on reputation. So I'm not one to say Mark West would not be the proper coach.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I never saw Mark West foul most of the time. I've always thought a lot of his fouls were based on reputation. So I'm not one to say Mark West would not be the proper coach.

I pretty much never saw West foul, his Suns career ended just before League Pass became available for me. I used to drive around a 3 block area in my Moreno Valley neighborhood where I could pick up 620 AM and listen to the Suns. I'd lose the signal as I turned the corner and would quickly accelerate for 50 feet where the signal would return for the next lap. League Pass is much more efficient and less expensive in the long run. But on those drives, my favorite Suns announcer would paint a clear picture where Mark was concerned. Bad call after bad call.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I pretty much never saw West foul, his Suns career ended just before League Pass became available for me. I used to drive around a 3 block area in my Moreno Valley neighborhood where I could pick up 620 AM and listen to the Suns. I'd lose the signal as I turned the corner and would quickly accelerate for 50 feet where the signal would return for the next lap. League Pass is much more efficient and less expensive in the long run. But on those drives, my favorite Suns announcer would paint a clear picture where Mark was concerned. Bad call after bad call.

Steve

Funny story. I did see Mark West play a lot and I still never saw most of the fouls.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hornacek should call a timeout right now with the sloppy play. He shouldn't tolerate it.