Post Game Report: Raptors Can’t Keep Up With Suns In 121-113 Defeat

The Phoenix Suns were able to play their style of basketball throughout the entire game on route to a 121-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Gerald Green led the way with 28 points in just under 26 minutes, while Eric Bledsoe scored 14 on only five shots. The Suns quickly turned the game into a track meet, sprinting down the court to exploit the Raptor’s transition defense. The loss drops the Raptors to 37-28, just a half game over the Chicago Bulls for third in the east, while the Suns improve to 38-28.

Offence: B+

It’s hard to argue with the numbers. The Raptors scored 113 points on 49.4% shooting and they were able to get a lot of nice looks off of the pick n roll, even if they occasionally looked sloppy. Kyle Lowry tried to strap the team on his back in the second half, scoring 26 points and dropping off 6 helpers. Every starter scored at least 15 points, but playing the bench today was the equivalent of the Raptors shooting themselves in the foot. The Raptors bench was outscored 59-11, with John Salmons and Greivis Vasquez shooting a combined one of ten from the floor. Overall the offense was solid. However, the play at the defensive end required the offense to be near-flawless, and it just wasn’t up to the task.

Defense: D-

Can you really expect to win when you allow the opposing team to score 121 points and shoot almost 51% from the floor? Bledsoe would zip past a defender and head to the free throw line. Green would pull-up whenever he felt like it and would drain a long jumper. Although he made some nice shots towards the end of the game, Terrence Ross allowed him some free looks in the first quarter that Green took advantage of. That’s disappointing from a usually solid defender. Playing Steve Novak for 13 minutes was puzzling considering the Raptor’s woes on the defensive side of the ball, and his efforts did nothing to help the team on defense. Every time it seemed like Lowry, almost a one-man wrecking crew in the second-half, pulled the team closer, the Suns would come back with a big shot. Or a miss, a rebound, and a big shot, either or. At least Amir Johnson moved into sole possession of third on the Raptor’s all-time block list, ahead of Antonio Davis.

Rebounding: F

This was easily the most frustrating aspect of the game to watch. So many second chances the Suns received were off hustle boards or tip outs. Not having a true center in for most of the game, the Suns won the rebounding battle 45-26, including grabbing 12 on the offensive glass. Struggling with the Suns’ tempo on offense is one thing, but getting outrebounded that badly by the smallish group they put out on the floor is inexcusable.

Game Ball: Gerald Green

Great book ends to the game for Green. He came off the bench in the first and dropped 13 points, and then killed any chance of a Raptors comeback by dropping another 13 points in the final quarter. The elevation he had on his shot made it very difficult to contest his jumper, and he did a great job of getting himself open both with and without the ball. An honorable mention goes out to Markieff Morris, who once again burned the Raptors, this time with 16 points and 14 rebounds.