Soooooooo Close!

Posted on November 16, 2009 | 2 Comments

Who’d have thought it would end up being a defensive battle, and not the ultra high scoring game most of us expected. In the end, it all came down to one shot, and the guy who the Raptors signed for more than $50 million this summer to take that shot, was the guy who took it. And missed.

Okay, so 101-100 doesn’t sound like a defensive battle, but when the two teams average 111 and 108 points, and like to run the way these two teams do, 201 combined points is about 50 points less than I was expecting.

Even though it was a heart breaker, and the Raptors could have easily won, I’ve gotta say that I think I was more impressed tonight with the Raptors than in any game so far this season. They played hard for 48 minutes, played consistently solid defense and actually looked like a team that can play with anyone. They just happen to score a couple of points less than they needed to.

They held a 8-2 team that scores 111 points on 49% shooting to 101 on 45% shooting and came up just short.

KUDOS

THE WHOLE TEAM

I think everyone deserves kudos here, right down to the coaches, who drew up good plays and gave the team a good strategy to follow. I think it was their best defensive effort this season, and although there were a few miscues (like Nash getting a couple of open threes near the end), they never let the Suns go off. Even Bargnani played solid defense most of the game. Nash made some circus shots despite being defended well. Yes, Channing Frye went 6-8 from the three point line, but that was the shot the Raptors were giving the Suns, and he just happen to hit most of them. And most of the time, he had someone in his face, a far cry from when the Raptors were playing the Spurs or Memphis.

RUNNING LAPS

Although I’d like to point out Bargnani’s continued aversion to rebounding and how he should have gone into the paint a lot more instead of settling for jumpers, I won’t. Okay, I guess I just did, didn’t I. Still he impressed me more in this game than most others, despite having an off night from the field. I’d rather he play like he did tonight every night, and score a few less points.

NOTES:

First Boston, and now the Lakers. Both teams, favourites for the Finals, are on a two game losing streak. Right now, the two best teams in the league look like Phoenix and Atlanta.

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Category: Celtics, Hawks, NBA, Raptors, Suns

Comments

2 Responses to “Soooooooo Close!”

  1. Vic De Zen
    November 16th, 2009 @ 9:32 AM

    “Right now, the two best teams in the league look like Phoenix and Atlanta.”

    Now that is a sentence.

  2. khandor
    November 16th, 2009 @ 12:27 PM

    Atlanta is one of the better teams in the league this season and will remain so for the balance of the season. Phoenix, on the other hand, is a very good squad at the moment but will probably drop down a notch or two as the season progresses and a few of the other Top Dogs in the West regain full health.

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