Toronto Raptors Season Preview: Game 18
re: How an astute NBA observer might expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors this year
Game 18 – vs Phoenix [Sun Nov 29]
|
RAPTORS |
ADV |
SUNS |
||
|
PG |
Calderon |
à |
PG |
Nash |
|
OG |
DeRozan * |
à |
OG |
Richardson |
|
SF |
Turkoglu $^ |
= |
SF |
Hill |
|
PF |
Bosh |
ß |
PF |
Frye $ |
|
C |
Bargnani |
à |
C |
Stoudemire |
|
|
|
|
||
|
PG |
Jack # |
= |
PG |
Dragic |
|
OG |
Belinelli ^ |
à |
G |
Barbosa |
|
SF |
Wright ^ |
= |
SF |
Clark * |
|
PF |
Evans ^ |
= |
PF |
Dudley |
|
C |
Nesterovic $ |
à |
C |
Amundson |
|
|
|
|
||
|
G/F |
Douby |
= |
SF |
Tucker |
|
PF |
Johnson ^ |
= |
PF |
Powell $ |
|
|
|
|
||
|
HC |
Triano |
à |
HC |
Gentry |
|
|
|
|
||
|
+1 |
OUTCOME |
+6 |
||
|
Legend: ADV – Individual match-up advantage; * - 2009 NBA Draftee; ^ - Acquired via trade; # – Restricted free agent; #M – Restricted free agent, matched offer; $ – Unrestricted free agent; $R – Unrestricted free agent, re-signed; $^ – Acquired via Sign & Trade; Italics – Returning player; ? – Injured, status uncertain. |
||||
Originally, this was a game which yours truly thought the Raptors could/should/would win during this initial stretch of 20 games to start the season … that is … until the individual match-ups were examined in closer detail, especially, in the light of last night’s exhibition games vs Boston [aka, Hedo Turkoglu's debut with the Raptors] and Portland [for Phoenix].
The pre-season injury to Robin Lopez is going to impair the Suns’ ability to match-up physically in the post with a number of teams in the league this year. However, at the same time, Suns’ opponents are going to have their hands full coping with the different/unusual 5-man combinations which Phoenix will now be able to put on the floor together, playing at a very high tempo [e.g. last night Phoenix closed their game with Nash + Barbosa + Dudley + Frye + Stoudemire].
When healthy, this group of Suns is going to be too much for the Raptors to handle, given that:
1 The only match-up advantage in Toronto’s favour is Chris Bosh;
2 The Raptors’ defense and rebounding will continue to struggle this season with the addition of Turkoglu; and,
3 The Suns are now capable of shooting the lights out with the 3-ball.
Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 6-12
Tags: Alando Tucker, Alvin Gentry, Amare Stoudemire, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Antoine Wright, Carlos Powell, Channing Frye, Chris Bosh, Earl Clark, Goran Dragic, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Jared Dudley, Jarrett Jack, Jason Richardson, Jay Triano, Jose Calderon, Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson, Marco Belinelli, Phoenix Suns, Quincy Douby, Rasho Nesterovic, Reggie Evans, Steve Nash, Toronto Raptors