The Phoenix Suns have won three straight while putting up an average of 121ppg over that stretch. And the player most responsible for the Suns early success is Steve Nash who is on a mission this year. He’s putting up 16ppg and 12ast while shooting 53%, similar stats to his MVP years. Maybe the adulation he’ll receive in Toronto this afternoon will slow him down.
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The Raptors played Boston twice in the preseason and lost both games. The results don’t really matter in the preseason but it was obvious even then that the Celtics were a far superior defensive team. The Celtic bench was very effective against the Raps showing great hustle and grit that allowed them to extend leads without their stars on the floor.
Fast forward a few weeks and the Celtics are once again among the best defensive teams in the league. The Raptors on the other hand are not. Tonight marks the first of four meetings for these two teams and the Raps will need to play well on both ends of the floor if they hope to make the Celtics care about what’s happening below them in the Atlantic.
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Bobcats head coach Larry Brown is notorious for his aversion to rookies and his tendency to ride his starters. That was before the Bobcats’ easy victory over the Pacers last Sunday. Brown gave significant minutes to the bench and was rewarded with solid play especially from his 2nd round pick Derrick Brown who chipped in 13pts. After the game, coach Brown said he will start resting his starters more in order to develop his bench.
Just in time to go up against the Raptors’ talented second squad. Jarret Jack has put his terrible start to the season behind him and is playing the kind of basketball we all expected when he was signed as a free agent. He’s not alone with Belinelli and Amir Johnson providing some much needed scoring and hustle off the bench. Let the battle begin.
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The Pacers arrive in Toronto riding a three game losing streak. Word out of Indiana is that there are going to be changes to the starting lineup. They were playing small ball with Granger at PF but that’s not going to be the case tonight. Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy will be starting to check Bosh and Bargnani. I don’t see Foster getting many minutes tonight.
It looks like T.J Ford has worn out his welcome in Indiana with fans looking to replace him with backup PG Earl Watson. Yes, that Earl Watson who has never averaged more than 30mpg in his previous eight years in the league. This follows a familiar pattern for Ford who was replaced in Milwaukee by Mo Williams, Calderon in Toronto, Jarret Jack last year and now likely Earl Watson. I still believe T.J is the most talented of the aforementioned group, it’s too bad he can’t get his head on straight.
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