Toronto Raptors Season Preview: Game 18
Thursday, October 15th, 2009re: 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
