Suns Declaw Raptors to Win 100-98

The Suns balanced attack proved to be too much for the Toronto Raptors last night as they built an early lead and barely protected it in the fourth quarter, eventually winning 100-98 behind a huge quarter from Steve Nash. Mr Canada, Steve Nash, was loved by Raptor fans almost the entire night until he took over the game in the fourth and scored the Suns final eight points to secure the win. The game was an inverted display of the previous nights Bulls game, this time the Suns built an early lead before coughing it up in the fourth but the Suns were able to hang on for the win.

I missed the first half and didn't see the first few minutes of the third because these games start far too early and five pm is exactly when I begin making the journey through traffic home. Steve Nash wasn't shooting very well until his fourth quarter eruption during which he hit numerous huge shots to keep the lead including an answer three pointer just after the Raptors took the lead. Raptors fans who normally love their fellow statesmen actually booed Nash at one point because he was singlehandedly destroying their chances to win. The Raptors played hard and if not for their inexperience as a team, they could have pulled out a big win.

In the final minute of the game the Raps had a chance to take the last shot but had no timeouts left which impeded their ability to take a game-winning shot. Chris Bosh was a load on the interior all night but Amare did an impressive job prowling the paint and giving the Raptors a difficult time scoring easy baskets. Amare came away with six blocks and three steals on the night. The rest of the Suns did exactly what they had to do. It was a very balanced scoring attack with six players in double figures scoring and all players who entered the game scoring, including James Jones who must have hired a private investigator to find his shot because he made some buckets.



Boris had a great night, scoring 15 points, grabbing six rebounds (four offensive), and dishing out six assists. If Boris continues to play this way it is going to be real hard to beat the Suns. Looking at the balanced scoring of the Suns will tell you how difficult it must be to defend this team. Of the players in double figures here are their point totals: 12, 13, 15, 15, 15, 17, and the other two players pitched in 6 and 7. This makes the defense scramble because every player is just as much of a threat offensively as any other. This is just another great win for us and we continue to grow as a team.

All the close games we have won lately are games we would have dropped last season. This team is much more hardened and can find any number of ways to win. In addition I don't think we are even beginning to see this team's ceiling. They will continue to get better and better and in the Spring they are going to be very very dangerous.

Be sure to check out my recap podcast with Ryan from Hoopsaddict.