SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. BLAZERS

Blazers 116 Sonics 111 – Final Score
Defense has 4 part. Ability to force a turnover, defend the shot, keep people off the foul line and then rebounding the miss
The Sonics failed in the first half to contest shots.
In the second half the Sonics were awful, really really awful on the defensive glass. 20 offensive rebounds by the Blazers in the game.
Offensively, Seattle feel apart in the middle of the 4th Quarter and couldn’t get looks to Ray and Rashard. The rebounding problems forced the Sonics to sit Vlady and play Reggie and Nick and that clogged the floor.
Rashard had a very hard time getting the ball in the 4th Quarter with Rueben Patterson guarding him. Lewis three with :15 left in the game was his first field goal of the 4th quarter.
The Blazers missed a free throw at 106-101 and the Sonics would have had the ball with :45 seconds left and they couldn’t get the rebound.
Losing to the Blazers and the Raptors at home is not good.


Blazers 96 Sonics 89 with 5:41 left in the 4th Quarter
Since Bob Hill took over the Sonics their defensive rebounding % has been 66% worst in the NBA by a good margin. Today they are getting killed.
It is a complicated issue. The young bigs don’t rebound well and if you want to get rebounding then you go to Reggie and then the floor spacing is brutal


Blazers 88 Sonics 84 with 8:41 left in the 4th Quarter
Sonics have Reggie in on Zack. Reggie is pulling out all the tricks. He is pinching, grabbing, snapping, etc. Let’s see how Zack reacts.
He is visibly frustrated but he is still going hard at Reggie.


Blazers 84 Sonics 82 at the end of 3 Quarters
Sonics go on an 8-0 run but are unable to maintain it late.
Can the Sonics defend at all in the final 12 minutes will determine the game
The Sonics are getting crushed on the glass. They have allowed 15 offensive rebounds and have only 19 defensive rebounds.


Blazers 81 Sonics 80 with 2:15 left in the 3rd Qua

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I have been saying all night that it will only take 5 minutes of basketball. Falling behind by 7 may mean they need to play 7.
They have just linked 2 minutes of good ball to get back to even.
Nice ball movement lead to a Collison lay-up.


Blazers 77 Sonics 72 with 4:55 left in the 3rd Quarter
If you play more then 10 seconds of offense against the Sonics you will get a very good look at the basket. The Sonics can’t maintain a defensive possession,
Ray Allen is trying very hard to get going, he had just 4 in the first half.
The Sonics who have been very good taking care of the ball are turning it over at a high rate in the 3rd Quarter
The Sonics have no defensive rebounding
Great break by Luke gives Ray a wide open three.


Blazers 58 Sonics 57 at the half
Sonics will win this game. The Blazers are so bad that it will only take 5 minutes of basketball to win,


Blazers 53 Sonics 52 with 2:39 left in the 2nd Quarter
Allen got his first points at the 2:59 mark of the 2nd Quarter
Blazers are still shooting over 60% -- the Sonics are making it easy
There is no defensive rebounding this game.


Blazers 52 Sonics 45 with 4:11 left in the 2nd Quarter
Blazers high points in a half is 61.
This game is really ugly.
The Blazers offense is much improved. They have scored 50 points in 6 of the last 9 first halves.
The Sonics rebounding is so poor that Hill has gone to Reggie Evans.


Blazers 42 Sonics 37 with 7:47 left in the 2nd Quarter
The Blazers open the 2nd quarter on 7-0 run
Seattle defense has to be better. Petro just allowed Jack to drive right at him and never affected the shot.
I am not sure I like Telfair’s game. He is lighting fast but he thinks he can shoot and he can’t.


Sonics 32 Blazers 31 at the end of 1 Quarter
Sonics defensive rotation away from the double teams have been very poor tonight.
Sonics can score at will
Allowing 30 pts to the Blazers is absurd
The Blazers have 14 30 pt Quarters all season. That is 14 out of 179 quarter. 11 of the 14 have come in the first half of games


Blazers 21 Sonics 18 with 5:01 left in the 1st Quarter
The Vlady v. Zach Randolph match-up is interesting. The Sonics are doubling Randolph the minute he gets the ball the Sonics are trying to make Randolph run on the defensive end.
Khryapa can’t guard Rashard Lewis
Bob Hill believes strongly in putting pressure on the defense by constantly attacking and he has the team buying in.
Another Swift tip jam.
There have only been 9 defensive stops in the entire game
Blazers are 10 of 14 from the field

STORYLINES
1) Nate's return
2) Luke's improved play
3) Swifty at center
4) How does Portland score?
5) How does Nate guard the Sonics?

Sorry for not being with you the last few nights. Tech issues killed two of them and a wedding anniversary had me off on Saturday. Let's go tonight.