<font color="Navy"> Toronto Raptors (10-18) @ Phoenix Suns (22-3) TV: Toronto (RSN Ontario), Phoenix (FSN Arizona) Venue: Air Canada Centre TipOff time: 8:10 PM est</font> <font color="Red">- Starting LineUps</font> <font color="Red">The Raptors: </font> Rafer Alston-Morris Peterson-Eric Williams-Chris Bosh-Loren Woods <font color="Red">6th Man:</font> Donyell Marshall <font color="Red">Coach:</font> Sam Mitchell <font color="Red">The Suns:</font> Steve Nash-Quentin Richardson-Joe Johnson-Shawn Marion-Amare Stoudemire <font color="Red">6th Man:</font> Leandro Barbosa <font color="Red">Coach:</font> Mike D'Antoni ........ <font color="Red">Keys To The Game:</font> * Get Up On Shooters- Joe, Q, and Shawn have been hitting three's all season even with a hand on their face. Got to get up on them and make them put it on the floor. * Match The Tempo- No, last year, I'd have said 'change the temp and slow it down', but Raps are a running team this season so we got to match their tempo and get easy buckets. * Switch Pick n' Rolls- Amare getting plenty of dunks from Nash passes because most teams that played teh Suns have not switched on the pick n' roll. Switch, and if it's a total mismatch you send the double team from the weak side. * Offensive Glass- Got to outrebound the Suns if we'd have a chance at getting the win. * Transition D- I'm not saying we have to stop their fast break, 'cause it ain't gonna happen, we just have to get back fast and not give them the easy dunk/lay up. * Nash can't hang with Rafer's quickness. Take it at him Skip. .... <font color="Red">Say What?! (Prediction)</font> Let's just say I have a strong feeling that this game might be the only dark spot on my Christmas weekend. Merry Xmas to y'all.
^ Thanks. I know I've written it form a Raptors' perspective, but I saw no game thread in the Suns' forum so I thought you (Suns Fans) might want to discuss the game here. Anyways, if you guys are making a Game Thread, please delete this. It's all good.
Nice preview, thanks for posting it in the Suns forum, I was going to make one up tomarrow. I feel that we are going to win again. I think the Suns team is far too powerful on offense for the Raptors to handle. I am predicting win by 9 but you never know how this Raptors team is going to be without Vince... Suns - 101 Raptors - 92
Raptors 98 - Suns 112 The Raptors can't keep up with the Suns, and Amare will dominate anyone he's matched up against. Like I said in the Raps forum, Marion will show Bosh how people rebound.
<div align="center">Raptors - 94 Suns - 106</div> <div align="center">Key Stats</div> <div align="center">Amare Stoudemire: 33 points, 13-18 FG, 6 boards, 5 blocks</div> <div align="center">Steve Nash/Shawn Marion/Quentin Richardson: All with 18 points</div> No surprise here, Amare was expected to have a good game and he came through. I really like the 5 blocks from Amare, maybe he can show us that he is a defensive threat in the post so that we don't have to work the phones and get one. Fairly disapointed from Q-Rich's shot selection and JJ tonight, Q shot 6-18 (33%) while putting up 11 threes, 4-11 (36%). JJ only finished with 10, shot 4-16 (25%) from the field, and only had 1 assit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtKing:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Raptors - 94 Suns - 106</div> <div align="center">Key Stats</div> <div align="center">Amare Stoudemire: 33 points, 13-18 FG, 6 boards, 5 blocks</div> <div align="center">Steve Nash/Shawn Marion/Quentin Richardson: All with 18 points</div> No surprise here, Amare was expected to have a good game and he came through. I really like the 5 blocks from Amare, maybe he can show us that he is a defensive threat in the post so that we don't have to work the phones and get one. Fairly disapointed from Q-Rich's shot selection and JJ tonight, Q shot 6-18 (33%) while putting up 11 threes, 4-11 (36%). JJ only finished with 10, shot 4-16 (25%) from the field, and only had 1 assit.</div> Against a good team the suns would have been in trouble ;( However, Nash beat Magic Johnsons record tonight with the 11th win in a row with at least 10 assists
Suns laid back a little bit at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th. But then Q and JJ turned it lead by Nash's dimes. Q kept on launching 3's up, and they just kept going in. Ridiculious. Amare dominated again, and gave Matt Bonner a nasty facial. However, he needs to rebound. Six rebounds against Bosh, Woods and Marshall? He's should utilize his skills and strengths more to grab them like Marion does with his skills.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">Suns laid back a little bit at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th. But then Q and JJ turned it lead by Nash's dimes. Q kept on launching 3's up, and they just kept going in. Ridiculious. Amare dominated again, and gave Matt Bonner a nasty facial. However, he needs to rebound. Six rebounds against Bosh, Woods and Marshall? He's should utilize his skills and strengths more to grab them like Marion does with his skills.</div> I agree 100%. I think Amare is having an amazing year, but the only thing I don't like is his rebounding. He should be using his atheism, size, and strength to his advantage. When we play teams like the Spurs, and the T'Wolves, 6 rebounds a game is unacceptable. In those games against the Spurs and T'Wolves he has to try his best to keep KG and Duncan off the glass, grabbing offensive boards and getting second chance buckets.
