"Toronto has only won 4 out of their last 10 games which has caused them to fall down to the 7th seed and into the Eastern Conference play-in. A win tonight against a hampered Suns team would go a long way in aiding Toronto's climb back up the standings."
"Scottie Barnes is questionable with an illness tonight, so it remains to be seen if he will suit up. Like all 30 NBA teams, Toronto looks much worse without their best player, and their chances of winning drastically decrease without Barnes."
"Phoenix's defense is built upon help defense, they swarm to the ball, fill and replace defenders on those subsequent passes, and just try to overwhelm teams. Ingram struggles with reacting to multiple defenders coming at him, and that method is Phoenix's bread and butter."
The Toronto Raptors host the Phoenix Suns in a crucial matchup as Toronto attempts to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings after a recent slump. Toronto holds a 36-29 record and sits in 7th place, having won only 4 of their last 10 games. Scottie Barnes is questionable with an illness, which significantly impacts Toronto's chances. The Raptors' offense ranks 20th in rating while their defense ranks 6th. Brandon Ingram must make quicker decisions against Phoenix's aggressive help defense scheme. RJ Barrett has shown recent improvement and will need to provide significant scoring. Phoenix, despite missing Dillon Brooks, remains a talented team with strong defensive principles built around swarming and help defense.
Read at Raptors Republic
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