Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 3:06 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	vs.	Toronto Raptors
18-8		15-13
7:00 PM Mountain / 9:00 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA League Pass
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Jose Calderon
Raja Bell	SG	Anthony Parker
Grant Hill	SF	Jamario Moon
Shawn Marion	PF	Chris Bosh
Amare Stoudemire	C	Rasho Nesterovic

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Suns return to the USAC tonight to play the Toronto Raptors in one of only four home games in December. That alone should make this game exciting for fans in Phoenix. Still, after big games against the Spurs and Mavericks, and with the Christmas Day rematch against the Lakers next on the horizon, this game seems a little anti-climatic to me. That's why I'm hoping for another one of those big scoring nights like we saw on December 6, when the Suns scored a season-high 136 points, in spite of it being the second night of a back-to-back. But there were two seven-footish-sized caveats to that game--neither Chris Bosh nor Andrea Bargnani played due to injuries. This time, both players will be back, which should make the rebounding battle a lot more challenging. T.J. Ford, still consulting with specialists after that scary fall recently, did not make the trip. As for the Suns, the latest word I've seen on Raja Bell (after his ankle injury in the previous game) is a bullet item from the Arizona Republic saying he missed yesterday's practice and his availability for the game will depend on how he feels today.

This YouTube brought us luck last time, so I'm sticking with what works.

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Q1 5:46 - Game on

Sorry for being late, and since I forgot to mention live blogging in the preview, not sure if anyone's reading anyway.

In the early going, the Raptors have a one point lead with Grant Hill up to shoot free throws after the commercial break.

I was late to start the game, so not sure what happened, but the announcers are saying something about Shawn Marion coming back from the lockerroom after an apparent injury that wasn't enough to keep him off the floor apparently. Raja Bell is out.

...Grant Hill hits both free throws to give the Suns the lead. 19-18, Suns.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:30 PM MST reply actions

Q1 4:31 - Raptors in foul trouble

Chris Bosh with two fouls, Bargnani and Anthony Parker with two each they say. A rare Marcus Banks sighting, as he comes in for Grant Hill.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:33 PM MST reply actions

Q1 2:50 - Nash playing off the ball

Marcus Banks has brought the ball up the last two possessions. Assist still goes to Nash, though as he gets it back to Banks for the three.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:38 PM MST reply actions

Q1 1:52 - Wild possession

...ends in a three for LB. Nice ball movement, but looked like it was in danger of being a lost ball a few times. 10 point lead for the Suns after the Raptors answer. 34-24, Suns.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:40 PM MST reply actions

Q1 00:57 - Ugh-ly free throw by Skinner

Hits the second. First was a near airball.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:41 PM MST reply actions

After one

Carlos Delfino's two threes late in the quarter have the Raptors back within five, 35-30. I was late to start the game, but it sounded like the Raptors got off to an early lead before the Suns came roaring back with the 12-point lead. Chris Bosh, Jamario Moon, and Anthony Parker all got themselves in foul trouble. Bosh should be back for the second since he only had two, but the other two have three fouls each, so will be interesting to see how the Raptors deal with that.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:47 PM MST reply actions

Q2 11:05 - Nice move by Skinner

Totally fakes out the Raptors but missed the dunk as well as one of the free throws. Still a nice move, though.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:48 PM MST reply actions

Q2 10:30 - Nice assist by Banks to Marion

Firing the ball up the court like that is the path to more playing time. Suns up by six after the Raptors answer. 40-34, Suns.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:50 PM MST reply actions

Q2 9:26 - Really liking Marcus Banks tonight

Nice hustle to grab the loose ball after the jump ball. Ugly miss on the shot, but he wouldn't have had the opportunity to begin with were it not for the hustle. Suns are holding up pretty good during Nash's rest, and Banks is a big part of the reason why.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 7:53 PM MST reply actions

Q2 6:20 - Nice defense

Nice defense by the Suns, especially Nash and Amare forces a...well...forced shot by the Raptors. LB gets the lucky bounce three on the other end.

47-45 Suns after the Raptors answer.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:01 PM MST reply actions

Q2 5:12 - Sweet assist by Nash

...to Hill for the easy layup. A rare eye-opening play on an otherwise sort of yawn-inducing game.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:05 PM MST reply actions

Q2 3:08 - LB on fire!

Three straight long shots from LB. They're saying he has the last nine points, so I guess that second one was a three after all.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:07 PM MST reply actions

Q2 2:06 - LB show continues

Dribbling around until his speed gets the better of whoever is guarding him. ...And now, Amare gets Nash his ninth assist. 64-55 Suns.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:11 PM MST reply actions

Make that 8th assist

Lost count.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:12 PM MST up reply actions

Q2 00:50 - Nash rebounds over Bosh

That was impressive. Suns can't capitalize on the other end though, and the score by the Raptors brings the lead down to seven. 66-59, Suns.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:14 PM MST reply actions

At the half

Amare nearly sank a half-court shot, but doesn't. And so, the Suns and Raptors played each other to a draw in the second quarter. The Suns lead 66-61 at the break.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:15 PM MST reply actions

Q3 10:15 - Chris Bosh is too good

...tonight. Made that jumper look easy.

Speaking of making things look easy, nice dunk by Grant Hill from the Marion assist on the previous play.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:34 PM MST reply actions

Q3 9:38 - Woah!

Nifty bounce pass from Nash up the court to Hill under the basket. Not sure what's more impressive, the pass, or the catch from Hill. OK, after the replay, the catch wins hands down.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:36 PM MST reply actions

cool

by jasonsuns1 on Dec 22, 2007 8:40 PM MST up reply actions

Q3 8:54 - Infectious passing

Now it's Amare with the nice pass. Lots of nice ball movement tonight.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:37 PM MST reply actions

Q3 7:56 - Play of the night?

Amare grabs the offensive rebound on the spin then slams in the and-one. The Suns now lead by eight at 81-73.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:39 PM MST reply actions

Q3 7:04 - Something from nothing play of the night

That looked like a hopeless possession, then an offensive rebound leads to the eventual bucket by Hill (incidentally from a Shawn Marion pass--the unselfishness continues).

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:43 PM MST reply actions

Q3 5:40 - Matrix for three!

...and Nash is in the "assist zone" again. Nice pass to Diaw should make for Nash's 12th assist, and he gets ins 13th on the next trip down to Amare.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:46 PM MST reply actions

Q3 2:15 - Running away with it

The Suns are up by 19 after back-to-back threes by Nash and LB. Nice offensive rebound by Nash on that last play too.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:50 PM MST reply actions

Q3 1:12 - Raptors out of steam?

Nash continues to be in the assist zone, picking up his 14th on a feed to LB. Speaking of feeds to LB, that previous one was more impressive than I thought. Grabbed the rebound in a sea of trees, then behind the back on the pass to LB. Didn't notice the behind-the-back until the replay.

The Raptors look like they're feeling their road weariness. They are looking really out of steam.

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:54 PM MST reply actions

After three

The Suns take a 20-point lead into the fourth, so the Nash assist-fest may be over at 15. Too bad DJ's in the D-League, otherwise he might get to see some minutes. I bet we see Alando, though. Of course, the Raptors still have plenty of time to get themselves back into it, but right now they really have that "tired look" about them. We'll see...

by TexSUN on Dec 22, 2007 8:59 PM MST reply actions