SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. WIZARDS

Sonics 111 Wizards 101 – Final Score
Great night by Rashard Lewis
The Sonics defended well enough
The Sups have hit 41 of their last 78 three over 4 games


Sonics 100 Wizards 92 with 3:12 left in the 4th Quarter
Sonics are stressing down the stress and this is getting tight.
Ray Allen just got stripped and committed a clear path foul.
Nick Collison does not seem to have very strong hands. He is losing a lot of loose balls.
Calvin Booth just missed back to back dunks for the Wizards --- ohhh did that look familiar. --- the debate starts again if he is the worst player in the NBA.
Ridnour huge three.


Sonics 96 Wizards 84 with 6:36 left in the 4th Quarter
Wizards are in the bonus at the 8:30 mark of the 4th Quarter with the Sonics up 11.
Luke is just 3 of 9 tonight. Another night where you need him to shoot better.
Amazing play by Rashard Lewis. The Sonics ran their show on the pick and roll and Collison stayed with Arenas as did Wilkins. This left Haywood open down low, but Lewis saw what was taking place and played coy and stole the pass when it came. Then he sprinted down to his spot and hit a huge three.


Sonics 89 Wizards 78 with 8:47 left in the 4th Quarter
Flip Murray is death for your team. He was yanked after 4 possessions and he screwed up 3 of them.
Murray’s terrible play cost the Sonics three fouls and the Sonics now have 4 team fouls at the 9 minute mark
The key has been keeping the Wizards off the foul line.
Vlady hits a huge 3 and Allen a great steal.
The Sonics are doing a nice job of answering every call tonight


Sonics 81 Wizards 74 at the end of 3 quarters
Sonics have scored on just 1 of their last 6 possessions
Collison just had Daniels in the post and didn’t score. He has to score on that play.
Zach Zarba one of the officials is having a tough night. The players are on him after ever call.
Weiss didn’t pull Ray at his usual time.
The key to the 4th Quarter will be the Sonics stress level. They have been pressing very badly in this building. The body language has made it obvious.


Sonics 77 Wizards 69 with 3:00 left
I have a bad feeling that this game is going to be tight here in a moment
Sonics have stopped defending. It will only take three possessions of missed shots for this to be tight.


Sonics 71 Wizards 61 with 6:29 left in the 3rd Quarter
It is funny to watch AD’s body language. He looks lost and frustrated.
Sonics allow Arenas a wide open three – let’s hope that doesn’t get him going.
Arenas opened the half free wheeling defensively and not guarding Luke. Luke responded by hitting three open jumpers.
Arenas now has 8 points in the quarter. Two threes and a fast break lay-up. All easy


Sonics 59 Wizards 47 at the half
Wil

kins buzzer beater
Very strong first half for the Sups

Sonics 55 Wizards 43 with 1:40 left in the 2nd Quarter
Why does Ray Allen insist on double teaming on Etan Thomas and Brendon Haywood.
Believe it or not the Sonics are missing Luke Ridnour defensively.
If Vlady wants time he is going to have to show that he can defend the three. Tonight is a good challenge with Caron Butler.
Sonics defense has created back to back opportunities for the offense
Huge sequence 9-0 run forcing three turnovers on the defensive end and three buckets on the offensive end.
Vlady has 9 points all from three point range
Sonics lead this game because of the three


Sonics 33 Wizards 25 with 8:55 left in the 2nd Quarter
Damien Wilkins is not having the improvement you would hope out a second year player. He is shooting only 35% and hitting only 5 of 20 threes. His defense and activity were supposed to be his strong points, but he isn’t impacting games like he did last year. Also he was supposed to be able to get to the free throw line with his drive and we haven’t seen that.
Vlady enters the game


Sonics 31 Wizards 21 with at the end of 1st Quarter.
Ray hits another sick buzzer beater to end the quarter.
The Wiz have only two field goals out of the half court. They have three field goals in transition, two off loose balls, two on offensive put backs.
Rashard is on fire tonight again in the 1st quarter with 13 points
The fast break has been better because Luke has had the ball in his hand. Too often the ball is in Ray’s hands and that is not his forte


Sonics 17 Wizards 13 with 4:39 left in the 1st Quarter
Vitaly’s talking on defense makes a world of difference.
One of the biggest issues the Sonics are having defensively is confusion on what game plans night to night. This cost them against Houston and Golden State. The coaching staff is going to simplify the plans and make them universal against all teams and the

n add when specific plans when they finally improve.
The Wizards are not guarding Vitaly and leaving Haywood in the post to defend.
The Sonics half court defense has been good, but their transition defense has not been very good.


STORYLINES
1) Can the Soncis win at home
2) Two of the least good defensive rebounding teams, who will win the offensive rebounding battle
3) AD guarding Allen
4) Can the Sonics stop Gilbert Arenas penetration
5) Wiz lead the league in free throw attmepts per game (29.8) and the Sonics are the second worst in allowing free throws (29.8)


PRE-GAME NOTES
Antonio Daniels is in starting line-up for the Wizards and will guard Ray Allen. I hope you heard our pre-game interview with AD.
Vitaly will stay in the Sonics starting line-up.