Game Day: Raptors (1-5) @ Suns (5-2), Wed 1/6/21

[Democritus]

No way we lose this one. I have full faith that Book and CP3 will take over no matter what happens tonight. Time for DA to have his 25 and 15 game against Baynes. They pretty much know each others strenght and weakness, so I'm eager to see this matchup.

[specialsauce]

Suns win by 15.

[Indy]

it feels like we haven't played in a week!

[Cap]

it feels like we haven't played in a week!

It’s been almost a week since anybody’s complained about Ayton’s crappy offensive game, that might be what you’re missing.

[Indy]

it feels like we haven't played in a week!

It’s been almost a week since anybody’s complained about Ayton’s crappy offensive game, that might be what you’re missing.

that is probably it... and it was probably me complaining!

[In2ition]

It feels like it's been a week since we seen a win.

[Superbone]

I think it's a perfect storm of their roster slowly declining and part of the adjustment of playing in Tampa. This isn't the Raps team from 2-3 years ago and it's catching up to them. Still dangerous, but not nearly as effective or cohesive.

We can't mess around with them. Need to stomp on them early.

[Superbone]

No way we lose this one. I have full faith that Book and CP3 will take over no matter what happens tonight. Time for DA to have his 25 and 15 game against Baynes. They pretty much know each others strenght and weakness, so I'm eager to see this matchup.

Ooh. Forgot about the Baynes revenge factor.

[BKinSJC]

This time last year: The Suns played game #8 of the 2019-20 season on November 7th, 2019. They were coming off a 114-109 win against a Philadelphia 76ers team that had entered the game 5-0; Devin Booker's 40 point night and Ricky Rubio's 21/10 had pushed the Suns to their third straight win and a 5-2 record overall. In fact, at that point, the Suns' only two losses were at Denver and home against Utah, both 1-point defeats, with the Denver loss coming in overtime - fans were pointing out that they could be a couple of missed shots away from starting 7-0. Optimism was running high.

That night's home game against the Heat (5-2 entering the game) would be a dose of reality. Jimmy Butler scored 34, Goran Dragic had 25 and Tyler Herro 15 off the bench, and Bam Adebayo did a little of everything (15/10/6, 5 steals and a block), and the Heat led pretty much wire-to-wire in a 124-108 win. Aron Baynes led the Suns with 23 points; Booker had a quiet 22. Mikal Bridges had a tough night, as he was -28 in 20 minutes off the bench (2-8 shooting, 5 points, 7 boards).

It would end up being the first crack in the armor that eventually undid the season for the Suns. Their 5-2 record coming into the game would be the best winning percentage the team would see (they'd be +3 over .500 twice more, at 6-3 and 7-4). The 3-game winning streak coming into the game would be their best of the season until the bubble games. Within a few weeks, the optimism would largely evaporate, leaving the Sun-baked desert that fans had come to know over the last decade or so.

So: not to throw too much cold water on the start so far, but we have kind of been here before. I think this year feels more sustainable so far, though: we haven't seen the best of Booker or Chris Paul, we don't seem to be relying on a massive fluke like the Aron Baynes explosions of last year, and the defense has been legitimately good and it should be possible to bring that effort on a nightly basis. Might as well try to enjoy it, and hope it lasts.

[Indy]

So: not to throw too much cold water on the start so far, but we have kind of been here before.

Thanks for nothing BK!

[Superbone]

You do remember, BK, that there was a certain someone missing for 25 games or so? Maybe even a starter? And that Heat team ended up being the Eastern Conference Finals team.

[BKinSJC]

You do remember, BK, that there was a certain someone missing for 25 games or so? Maybe even a starter? And that Heat team ended up being the Eastern Conference Finals team.

I remember, and I pointed out that this year's team, so far, doesn't seem to be depending on anything like Aron Baynes having a ridiculous unsustainable hot stretch. That said, Ayton's impact on last year's squad, at least prior to the bubble, is a little difficult to accurately quantify. He was up and down; the team was 12-18 (.400) with him in the lineup, and 14-21 (an identical .400) with him out. It wasn't until the bubble that I think he was finally somewhat comfortable with the other players and coach, healthy, and playing consistent minutes with consistent pieces around him, and the team results were obviously fantastic under those circumstances.

[ShelC]

This time last year: The Suns played game #8 of the 2019-20 season on November 7th, 2019. They were coming off a 114-109 win against a Philadelphia 76ers team that had entered the game 5-0; Devin Booker's 40 point night and Ricky Rubio's 21/10 had pushed the Suns to their third straight win and a 5-2 record overall. In fact, at that point, the Suns' only two losses were at Denver and home against Utah, both 1-point defeats, with the Denver loss coming in overtime - fans were pointing out that they could be a couple of missed shots away from starting 7-0. Optimism was running high.

That night's home game against the Heat (5-2 entering the game) would be a dose of reality. Jimmy Butler scored 34, Goran Dragic had 25 and Tyler Herro 15 off the bench, and Bam Adebayo did a little of everything (15/10/6, 5 steals and a block), and the Heat led pretty much wire-to-wire in a 124-108 win. Aron Baynes led the Suns with 23 points; Booker had a quiet 22. Mikal Bridges had a tough night, as he was -28 in 20 minutes off the bench (2-8 shooting, 5 points, 7 boards).

It would end up being the first crack in the armor that eventually undid the season for the Suns. Their 5-2 record coming into the game would be the best winning percentage the team would see (they'd be +3 over .500 twice more, at 6-3 and 7-4). The 3-game winning streak coming into the game would be their best of the season until the bubble games. Within a few weeks, the optimism would largely evaporate, leaving the Sun-baked desert that fans had come to know over the last decade or so.

So: not to throw too much cold water on the start so far, but we have kind of been here before. I think this year feels more sustainable so far, though: we haven't seen the best of Booker or Chris Paul, we don't seem to be relying on a massive fluke like the Aron Baynes explosions of last year, and the defense has been legitimately good and it should be possible to bring that effort on a nightly basis. Might as well try to enjoy it, and hope it lasts.

Agree, good post.

[carey]

[ShelC]

Nice, been missing me some Stix.

[3rdside]

This time last year: The Suns played game #8 of the 2019-20 season on November 7th, 2019. They were coming off a 114-109 win against a Philadelphia 76ers team that had entered the game 5-0; Devin Booker's 40 point night and Ricky Rubio's 21/10 had pushed the Suns to their third straight win and a 5-2 record overall. In fact, at that point, the Suns' only two losses were at Denver and home against Utah, both 1-point defeats, with the Denver loss coming in overtime - fans were pointing out that they could be a couple of missed shots away from starting 7-0. Optimism was running high.

That night's home game against the Heat (5-2 entering the game) would be a dose of reality. Jimmy Butler scored 34, Goran Dragic had 25 and Tyler Herro 15 off the bench, and Bam Adebayo did a little of everything (15/10/6, 5 steals and a block), and the Heat led pretty much wire-to-wire in a 124-108 win. Aron Baynes led the Suns with 23 points; Booker had a quiet 22. Mikal Bridges had a tough night, as he was -28 in 20 minutes off the bench (2-8 shooting, 5 points, 7 boards).

It would end up being the first crack in the armor that eventually undid the season for the Suns. Their 5-2 record coming into the game would be the best winning percentage the team would see (they'd be +3 over .500 twice more, at 6-3 and 7-4). The 3-game winning streak coming into the game would be their best of the season until the bubble games. Within a few weeks, the optimism would largely evaporate, leaving the Sun-baked desert that fans had come to know over the last decade or so.

So: not to throw too much cold water on the start so far, but we have kind of been here before. I think this year feels more sustainable so far, though: we haven't seen the best of Booker or Chris Paul, we don't seem to be relying on a massive fluke like the Aron Baynes explosions of last year, and the defense has been legitimately good and it should be possible to bring that effort on a nightly basis. Might as well try to enjoy it, and hope it lasts.

Agree, good post.

Yeah this - thanks.

[Danimal]

Nice, been missing me some Stix.

Any chance he plays?

[Split T]

Nice, been missing me some Stix.

Any chance he plays?

He’ll come in when we’re up 30 going into the 4th

[Superbone]

This time last year: The Suns played game #8 of the 2019-20 season on November 7th, 2019. They were coming off a 114-109 win against a Philadelphia 76ers team that had entered the game 5-0; Devin Booker's 40 point night and Ricky Rubio's 21/10 had pushed the Suns to their third straight win and a 5-2 record overall. In fact, at that point, the Suns' only two losses were at Denver and home against Utah, both 1-point defeats, with the Denver loss coming in overtime - fans were pointing out that they could be a couple of missed shots away from starting 7-0. Optimism was running high.

That night's home game against the Heat (5-2 entering the game) would be a dose of reality. Jimmy Butler scored 34, Goran Dragic had 25 and Tyler Herro 15 off the bench, and Bam Adebayo did a little of everything (15/10/6, 5 steals and a block), and the Heat led pretty much wire-to-wire in a 124-108 win. Aron Baynes led the Suns with 23 points; Booker had a quiet 22. Mikal Bridges had a tough night, as he was -28 in 20 minutes off the bench (2-8 shooting, 5 points, 7 boards).

It would end up being the first crack in the armor that eventually undid the season for the Suns. Their 5-2 record coming into the game would be the best winning percentage the team would see (they'd be +3 over .500 twice more, at 6-3 and 7-4). The 3-game winning streak coming into the game would be their best of the season until the bubble games. Within a few weeks, the optimism would largely evaporate, leaving the Sun-baked desert that fans had come to know over the last decade or so.

So: not to throw too much cold water on the start so far, but we have kind of been here before. I think this year feels more sustainable so far, though: we haven't seen the best of Booker or Chris Paul, we don't seem to be relying on a massive fluke like the Aron Baynes explosions of last year, and the defense has been legitimately good and it should be possible to bring that effort on a nightly basis. Might as well try to enjoy it, and hope it lasts.

Agree, good post.

Yeah this - thanks.

OK, let's wait until we're 10-2 to be excited then.

[Danimal]

Kind of a sleep walk so far