RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap - Phoenix Suns 96 - Toronto Raptors 99

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 24, 2012 11:53 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap

- It wasn't pretty, and you couldn't call what the Raptors played for a lot of the game "defense" but there were definitely highlights and enough for the Raptors to take it and beat the Phoenix Suns

- To start off, Andrea Bargnani's return was a massive boost for the club as he poured in buckets in the second half. If you were wondering if the Raptors missed Bargs presence, you just had to look at this game to see the impact. All in all, our returning "power forward" amassed 36 points to get the Raptors over the hump

- Oh, and defensively, Bargnani was still a step slow coming back from his injury. However, he managed to pull in 6 boards and play very impressive pick and roll defense with Jose Calderon. Yup, that's your two worst defenders from previous years being huge troublemakers for the Suns' pick and roll schemes. (Something that will be an emerging storyline from Casey's first year as coach)

- James Johnson also managed to even out some boneheaded plays with some effective offense. He crashed the offensive glass and managed to find 18 points on some very effective shooting and second chance points.

- Until the second half got rolling though, it was Leandro Barbosa who sustained the Raptors and barraged the Suns with 3 pointers. Once again, Barbosa showed why the Raptors simply can't depend on DeRozan for any kind of consistent offense or defense.

- On the other side, Robin Lopez was ejected for nudging an official in the first half and Steve Nash even picked up a technical after arguing a missed call.

- The Suns got a lot of scoring from Marcin Gortat and Hakim Warrick, both of which abused the Raptors individual defenders for most of the game.

- Overall it's a great win, and a great release of pressure as the Raptors travel to Utah to face the Jazz

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Comments

Finally !!

Can’t say it enough – but tanking sucks. Nice to change it up.
Didn’t realize it was our Carter era that last snagged a win.

If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

by RapthoseLeafs on Jan 25, 2012 12:02 AM EST reply actions

Seriously

No ONE man should have all that pasta…….

by renato on Jan 25, 2012 6:00 AM EST reply actions

haha

well timed

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 25, 2012 7:25 AM EST up reply actions

said it so many times before it still bothers me when

people seem stunned a team can suffer when a star is gone and then sit in stunned wonder why the team does well again when he returns.
DUH!

Put Bargs back in and suddenly the floor opens up.
Suddenly the defense follows him around…others get more open shots.
HIS made baskets spur the team on while others chucking up missed shots in his absence start an ugly charactoristic I see on this team…non team, non passing basketball.

by ppellico on Jan 25, 2012 8:46 AM EST reply actions

even last night's

second quarter brought this out again. I saw horrible once and done missed shooting tearing at the team’s emotions again.
Who want s to run around trying to get open if you never get rewarded?
Hell…just stop and play oe man ball like the rest!

Bargs changed that last night. The halftime discussion must have had this in it…the third’s beginning was a very different beginning.

He made shots and opened the floor. Others got the bug and the ball began to move around to open guys.

by ppellico on Jan 25, 2012 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

my big hope

unlike many here…is for the raps to get good now.
Well, good enough that some of my least liked outside crap shooters at least look good for a few weeks and then get traded.
I want to get better THIS year, this season.
So hopefully the …I will not mention their names…selfish non ball movement rim chuckers will suddenly get hot for a while long enough to get somebody’s eye for a trade.

by ppellico on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions

Nice to finally get a win. I know most of us want a good draft pick but it’s always nice to get a W once in a while so the team doesn’t get completely demoralized. I fell asleep at the beginning of the second half so I’m going by what I saw.

As good as it was to have Bargs back, I’d like to see him fight a lot harder for position under and around the basket while rebounding. Several times I watched Gortat essentially push Andrea aside with little effort. Also, he doesn’t set very good picks. I noticed a few times that it looks like he is getting into position to set a pick but then changes his mind and looks for his shot instead. Other than that, it was a pretty solid game for AB.

For those of us who thought maybe Demar was suffering with Bargs out but would turn it around once Andrea was back to create a little more space, last night’s game has to set off a few alarms. Demar was hogging up all the suck again last night.

JJ had a solid outing again last night. 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting and 10 boards. Nice! Ed Davis and Amir’s game left a lot to be desired though.

by Posterized on Jan 25, 2012 8:55 AM EST reply actions

welcome back El Mago

The pressure must be placed on Ed Davis and DD nowwww. We all complained and stressed about absolutely no offensive production coming from the 3 position. Thankfully over the last 3 games JJ has found some confidence and provided some offense. Between JJ. Kleiza. And Butler a combined contribution of 30pts a night I will be satisfied with. DD is fading badly and clearly he has no leadership qualities. He sulks way too much when shots aren’t falling 4 him. It affects the whole team a bit also. Casey n BC needs to asses DD n ED’s contribution to the team and figure out how to spark them back into action. Maybe they miss Sunny Weems in the locker room

by RedyJohn on Jan 25, 2012 9:32 AM EST via mobile reply actions