LIVE BLOG --- GAME 3 SONICS AND KINGS

Please place any comments or questions in the comments area at the bottom of the blog.

FINAL STATS
Pace of Play: 97 trips (their is no way Seattle can win at this pace
Offensive Efficiency: 107 (77 in the 1st, otherwise ok)
Defensive Efficiency: 121 (135 in the second half)
Effective FG%: 46% (this is below their season average)
Defensive EFG%: 53%
Off Rebounding %: 42 (a very good sign)
Def Reboundng % 72 (very solid)
Off Turnover % 17 (1st quarter they turned it over 35% of their possessions)
Def Turnover% 10 (Sac is #1 in the NBA at not turning it over)

KINGS 116 SONICS 104 -- FINAL SCORE -- SONICS LEAD SERIES 2-1
Final Thoughts:
The Kings brought the intensity we anticipated.
Mike Bibby was insanely clutch. Everytime the Sonics got close Bibby made a play.
The Kings made nice offensive adjustments and the Sonics defense never had an answer.
The Kings spread the floor very well. They had good awareness of what the Sonics were trying to do and reacted well to it.
The backcourt of Bobby Jackson and Mike Bibby was really terrific.
Brad Miller playing 35 minutes changes the complexion of this series.
The Sonics offense was still able to exploit the Kings defense for most of the game.
Nine Turnovers in the first quarter were the difference in this game. The Sonics got bullrushed early and never were able to get all the way back in the game.
JJ was terrific on the offensive end again. His effort has been solid for three straight nights.
Ray Allen is a stud. He carried the load tonight
In game 3 the Kings probably won't have that early burst and it will be a real dog fit for 48 minutes.

KINGS 113 SONICS 101 with 1:23 left.
Rashard Lewis has no lift. He is really gaming it through the knee injury. He is just 2 of 10.
Jerome James has fouled out with 22 and 9. As frustrating as his defense was at time tonight this is another great night for JJ. On the road this is pretty impressive. For the most part he stayed inside his game despite all the hype. I am impressed.
Nick Collison is going to need to learn how to finsih. Otherwise, his game is nearly perfect.

KINGS 112 SONCIS 99 with 3:23 left in the 4th Quarter.
JJ continues to be totally amazing offensively in this series.
Their is no reason to be upset by this. In fact, I might take the other approach. Seattle continued to slice up the Kings defense once they stopped turning the ball over.
The Kings had great energy and made nice adjustments. The Sonics staff will get to work and fix the areas that need to be fixed.
The Sonics must find a way to play a slower pace.
The Cowbells are behind us and they are brutal.

REACTION TO COMMENTS

DJ Chameleon said...

We need Lewis to finally show up tonight. Does anyone know of any health reasons for Rashard's horrible game tonight.

Lewis knee is causing him problems. He took the last two days off and never seemed to get loose tonight. He doesn't seem to have his usual lift.

KINGS 108 SONICS 93 with 6:04 left in the 4th Quarter.
I think Seattle is done. They have extended all their energy and the Kings have answered every move. Impressive night for the Kings and Mike Bibby

KINGS 104 SONICS 93 with 6:22 left in the 4th Quarter
Another huge play by Bibby. Splitting the pick and roll Bibby got to his left and into the lane and scored and the foul shot. Putting the Kings back up 11. That is twice that Seattle has knocked on the door and Bibby has made a huge play.
The Kings rotation is much better tonight.
JJ has had a poor defensive night. His offense has been great. His rebounding continues to be solid, but his defense has been less good then it was in Games 1 and 2.


KINGS 97 SEATTLE 85 with 8:55 left in the 4th
The cow bells are out.
Bibby is making all the plays tonight. A pull-up 3 in transition puts the Kings up 12
Seattle is going to need an awesome defense stand if they are going to win this.
The Sonics offense is rolling but they can't stop the Kings.
Bad Tech on AD.

3RD QUARTER STATS
Pace of Play: 75 trips
Offensive Efficiency: 150 IN THE 3RD
Defensive Efficiency: 154 IN THE 3RD Q -- OUCH
Effective FG%: 60% IN THE 3RD
Defensive EFG%: 61% IN THE 3RD
Off Rebounding %: 43
Def Reboundng % 75
Off Turnover % 20 (even in the 2nd quarter they turned it over 20%)
Def Turnover% 9 (Sac is #1 in the NBA at not turning it over)


KINGS 92 SONICS 81 end of the 3rd Quarter
Huge by the Kings they held off Seattle's run and still lead by 11
Missed opportunity in the final minute by Seattle. Collison missed a lay-in and on the rebound Fortson committed a foul with Seattle already over the penalty. A four point swing.
Huge shot by Mike Bibby. Seattle got it down to 7 points and with a stop it could have been nervous time for te Kings. Instead Bibby got off AD with a pick and hit the shot going to his left.
The difference in Peja going right v going left is one of the most amazing things I have seen. He never misses going left and never makes it going right.
Danny Fortson is really ineffective. He checks out. A really poor showing.



KINGS 86 SONICS 77 with 1:57 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Sonics have to get some stops. If they can get this game down to 6 then the Kings might get tight. but it just hovers at 10.
Fortson Tech costs the Sonics a point
Peja got a look going to his left and hit the jumper
AD hits VR on a gorgeous drive and dish for a 3.

KINGS 81 SONICS 70 WTH 3:11 left in the 3rd Q
No one can get a stop.
Sonics go with AD, Lewis, Vlady, Nick and JJ --- interesting. Score 79 to 69 with this.
Fortson in for JJ. Still going big. Now with Fortson as the center.
Rashard Lewis is absent tonight. 1 for 8 with 6 points.

KINGS 77 SONICS 67 with 4:30 left in the 3rd Q
Luke RIdnour just got blasted on a pick and roll. I mean blasted. JJ didn't let Luke know.
AD comes in for Luke. AD has not played very well yet in the playoffs.

KINGS 73 SONICS 63 with 6:18 left in the 3rd Quarter
Seattle is slicing apart the Kings defense the same way they did in Games 1 and 2. They are getting penetration, they are finding the open man and getting dunks and lay-ups.
Second chance points are keeping the Kings with their lead.
JJ just banked a free throw line jumper. This man is hot and lucky.
Seattle has scored on 8 of 10 possessions to start the 3rd.

KINGS 66 SONICS 56 with 8:00 left in 3rd Quarter
Seattle needs to stay within 10 by the 6:00 mark
The Kings are going at Reggie Evans with Kenny Thomas. This has been a new development in this game and it has been very succesful for the Kings. Evans is a great rebounder, but not a very good on ball defender and the Kings are going at that.
Seattle's offense is much more patitent in the 2nd half.
The post players are not playing defense at the same level they did in Games 1 and 2.

KINGS 60 SONICS 47 with 10:45 left in the 3rd Quarter.
Sonics assist to turnover ratio is 4 to 14. In the wrong direction.
Sonics pick up full court out of the half
Bibby going left on first jumper of the half and it was good. The Sups need Bibby going right.
Who is going to step up Lewis or Peja?
Terrible defense. Out of an inbound play in the back court Mobley was able to go full court for a layup with no resistance.
Nate calls a timeout because of it.

HALTIME STATS
Pace of Play: 50 trips
Offensive Efficiency: 89 (77 in the 1st and 101 in the 2nd)
Defensive Efficiency: 108 (125 in the 1st and 91 in th 2nd)
Effective FG%: 45%
Defensive EFG%: 53%
Off Rebounding %: 44
Def Reboundng % 76
Off Turnover % 26 (even in the 2nd quarter they turned it over 20%)
Def Turnover% 12 (Sac is #1 in the NBA at not turning it over)


KINGS 54 SONICS 45 at the half
The Sonics have to be pleased that they are inside 10 points. They controlled the last 8 minutes of the 2nd quarter.
Ray Allen is unreal right now. He is killing Mobley. The Jackson/Bibby backcourt was doing a much better job for Sacramento.
The Lewis/ Peja match-up is two guys with time resumes both playing very poorly.
The game has settled down into a half court game and this is to Seattle's advantage
The Kings defensive presure has subsided.
The loud mouth behind me is no riding Peja instead of Nate. Is that a sign.
James is much better if he makes his move quickly the longer he pounds the less he scores

REACTION TO COMMENT

DJ Chameleon said...

Great turn around by Jerome. This is our only opportunity to make a game out of this.

If Sacramento responds to this run we will be crushed just like we did to Sacramento at this exact same time of the game when they made a mini run and then we crushed them the last 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter in game 2.

Another great point. Seattle needs to keep this mo for the 2:26. That is exactly what happened in Game 2.

KINGS 49 SONICS 41 with 3:07 left in teh 2nd quarter.
Allen has gotten to the line twice in the last three possessions. They have opened the floor with Allen, Lewis and Vlady on the floor.
Allen in transition just popped a three in the flow.
14-1 run by the Sonics
Miller just committed his 3rd foul. Skinner comes in for Miller.


KINGS 49 SONICS 30 with 4:32 left in the 2nd Quarter
Miller is abusing JJ
Seattle's offense has no flow. The Kings are denying the first pass and it is pushing the Sonics deeper then they are comfortable.
In addition, the Sonics have no room when they are pentrating.
12 turnovers at the 5:37 mark of the 2nd quarter.
The Kings have the line-up on the floor that I was worried about.
JJ is not helping out at all on the defensive end. Ridnour was just run off a pick and James needs to show to help out on Bibby and he was no where near the play.
The Kings are re-setting picks for Bibby so he can get going to the left. The Sonics have been forcing Bibby and Peja right all series.
On the next play James did a nice job of showing.

KINGS 44 SONICS 27 with 6:47 left
Mike Bibby is killing Seattle tonight
Jerome James is flat out not following the defensive game plan on Miller. Listen to our pre-game show and the Sonics are trying to push Miller off the elbow and James is letting him work freely and shoot freely.
Miller has hit three in a row.
Rashard Lewis is not flowing tonight. He just missed two in a row

KINGS 36 SONICS 25 with 8:45 left in the 2nd quarter.
This is the Bibby we anticipated. He is getting space on the floor and hitting his shots.
Seattle is totally out of sorts.
Another tell tale sign. Seattle executed well on the offensive side but AD missed a in paint jumper, the Kings got the rebound and Bobby Jackson went coast to coast past all the Sonics for a lay-up.
The Kings are using Jackson and Bibby together in the back-court and it is effective.
Ridnour just broke a 7:30 drouhgt by the Sonics without a Field Goal.
Sonics with a 6-0 flurry. If they can get it within 6 at the half they would be in great shape.

1ST QUARTER STATS
Offensive Efficiency: 77 (terrible
Defensive Efficiency: 125
Off Rebounding %: 55
Def Reboundng % 77
Off Turnover % 32 (that is gross)
Def Turnover% 4 (ouch)

REACTION TO COMMENTS

m_dawg21 said...

Hey Guys,
Well we look alright so far. Gotta get Rashard goin here but it looks to be an even game through the first 6 Minutes.

Totally agree. Rashard didn't look as active as usual in the first quarter. Sometimes a player nows he is going to be doubled and losses his aggressiveness. The Sonics need to get Rashard some easy looks.

KINGS 31 SONICS 19 end of the 1st Quarter.
The Kings dominated the quarter in every phase. The crowd is now juiced and rolling.
Eight turnovers in the opening 10:30 by the Sonics. You can't win this way.
The Sonics defense has tightened up after the opening run, but their offense is awful.
A very telling play was Vlady making a lazy in bound pass to Antonio who didn't come to the ball, Bobby Jackson stole it and went the lenght of the floor for a layup. In the meantime, none of the Sonics ran back to help and when it was time to in bound Vlady had to sprint back to help get the ball in bound. No energy and shell-shocked is the story.
The Kings are on a 12-1 run. Most of it off turnovers.
The crowd behind me is ruthless on Nate and the Sonics. If they have any good lines I will send them along.


KINGS 23 SONICS 15 with 2:53 left in the 1st Quarter.
The crowd is incredible so far.
The Sonics help defense which was so good in Games 1 and 2 has been terrible thus far.
The quarter is going as badly for Seattle as they could imagine.
Reggie Evans just went to the locker-room. He is sick to his stomach.
Seattle has 5 turnovers already in this game. One of the keys was to reduce turnovers and they have not done that so far.
The Kings defensive hands are much more active. Mobley stripped Allen and Bibby came down and digged it out on Collison.
Luke got an elbow to the check but will be able to return


KINGS 15 SONICS 11 with 6:23 left in the 1st quarter
Frantic pace to start.
The Kings scored on 7 straight possessions.
Mike Bibby got good early looks and hit all 3.
The Sonics have been forcing the Kings big to hit the 16 footer and they have done that early.
This is what was anticipated the Sonics just have to stay in this game after the first surge.

LIVE FROM ARCO
We are up and running after a moment or two of problems.

The primary offensive sets today will be ...
1) 1/3 pick and roll on the side (point guard/ small forward)
2) Horns -- big waiting at each elbow
3) Early offensive post up

Here is a primer
KEY STATS FOR GAME 3
• Turnovers : The Sonics have done a nice job of keeping the turnovers under control at 13% of possessions in game 1 and 11% in game 2. This will be vital at Arco Arena. It keeps the crowd out of the game and the Kings have struggled in the half court. This may fall on Jerome James ability to pass out of a double team. .
• Free Throw Attempts. This has been an advantage for the Sonics in every match-up with the Kings. In game 1 the Sonics shot 28 free throws to the Kings 15. In Game 2 they doubled their free throw attempts 30-15. In the regular season the difference was 36-25 Sonics advantage. The Kings are #24 in the NBA in free throw attempts. It is also a sign of how aggressive the Kings are. Brad Miller is the guy who will be able to draw the most fouls.
• Offensive Efficiency: In the regular season the Sonics averaged 115 offensive rating against the Kings. In the regular season the Sonics averaged 109, #2 in the NBA. In game 1 of the playoffs they had just a 101 rating. In game 2 they got it rolling up to 111. The Kings are not a great defensive team allowing their opponents a 107 in the regular season. The Sonics will need to be efficient tonight to quell the crowd.
• Pace of Play: This is my bread and butter all season long. Game 1 was 87 trips. Game 2 the Kings took the tempo up to 94 and it was 75 by the third quarter. At Arco Arena the Sonics must keep it in a slow half court game.