Wolves 102 Sonics 92 – FINAL SCORE
What is left to be said?
The unnerving thing is now the offense is poor – the offense has been below its season efficiency rating for seven straight games
Lewis was totally non-existent
Wolves 86 Sonics 76 with 8:32 left in the 4th Quarter
AGRHHHH this is so ugly
I can’t tell what we are trying to run offensively
The only thing I see is Ray Allen running the Reggie Miller curls but if it doesn’t work I can’t tell what the secondary plays are.
The Sonics couldn’t play worse transition defense if they tried
Rashard Lewis has been absent.
Wolves 80 Sonics 73 at the end of 3 Quarters
Sonics looked like they were on the verge of the nightly wilt and quitting but they fought through and have stayed in the game.
The Wolves have been a terrible close game team and an awful 4th quarter scoring team
All the focus is on Swift and Petro is getting better and better. Both of them make a ton of mistakes and it may be costing us games, but they are getting better. I would like to see him have more of impact on the defensive end of the game.
Wolves 52 Sonics 50 at the half
This game really rolled into a rather non-descript game amongst two not very good teams.
Wilcox hit a nice 16 footer from the left baseline and has 7 points and 3 rebs
Turnovers are silly, Sonics with 8 and the Wolves with 11
Minnesota ranks 29th in the NBA in free throw attempts and the Sonics have put them on the line for 21 free throws in first half
Sonics 37 Wolves 32 with 8:40 left in the 2nd Quarter
Ray Allen has 7 straight points
Wilcox is in with Swift – I want to see this tandem.
Nick is getting beat athletically too many times. It concerns me that he might just be a 3 post off the bench
Sonics 28 Wolves 28 at the end of 1 Quarter
11-4 run to close the Quarter
2-3 zone has been a problem
Sonics were trying so hard to get Wilcox involved they lost the rhythm
Seattle is being sloppy defensively and putting the Wolves on the line
Sonics 18 Wolves 13 with 5:44 left in the 1st Quarter
Swift continues to show athletic signs that he could be terrific. He just slipped a pick got the pass from Lewis and made a really tough catch, collected his body to avoid the charge and went straight up with the shot. This part was amazing for a 7 footer. He missed the shot.
Then on the other side he was out of position on a Carter drive but went up with him and blocked his shot.
The game is very high paced. The Sonics are not doing very well in transition defense
Talking to a scout today he said KG is a shadow of what he once was and it is obvious he has become a jump shooter.
Storylines
1) Chris Wilcox makes his debut
2) Effort and energy
3) Minnesota is poor in three areas, offensive rebouning, getting to the line and forcing turnovers. Keep them that way and you win.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Locked On Sports: Wilcox trade a crafty move
Locked On Sports: Wilcox trade a crafty move: "Three seasons ago, the Sonics' front office pinpointed Wilcox as having potential to be the next O'Neal. Yesterday, they found the package that got the Clippers to agree to move Wilcox."
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. BUCKS
Bucks 106 Sonics 91 -- FINAL SCORE
Another DOG. I guess they really missed Vlady.
Game got out of control when the Sups went to the bench in the 1st Quarter and never got back together.
Bucks 84 Sonics 64 at the end of 3rd Quarter
Can anyone find the re-set button
No field goals for the final seven minutes until Flip lays it in
Final 3:11 3 points
Bucks 72 Sonics 57 with 5:52 left in the 3rd Quarter
Nick Collison has to become a better finisher around the basket. The only question I have is whether or not he is good enough athlete to ever become that finisher. If Wilcox can develop and Nick comes off the bench and plays against predominately back-up players he will be more effective. At some point he needs to be able to beat some top line guys.
Allen was on fire to start the half
Bucks 59 Sonics 44 at the Half
A 59 point half says all you need to know about the defense
Swift is making some really terrific plays and then he mixes in a play that shows you how little he has played. That is to be expected. The really good plays are what matters.
The back up point guard issue is so enormous
Sonics had turnover issues again which is strange under Bob Hill
Bucks 42 Sonics 24 with 7:57 left in the 2nd Quarter
The Sonics have to find a back-up point guard. When Luke is off the floor they are a mess and Luke really hasn’t been that good.
They have been outscored 21 to 9 since Luke left the game,
This is a ass kicking.
The Buck are getting out and running and having fun.
Bucks 27 Sonics19 at the end of 1 Quarter
I love Andrew Bogut. I have said from day 1 he is the next closest thing to Tim Duncan and the more I see him the more I believe it.
Make TJ Ford shoot the ball please
Without Vlady the next thing will be when we don’t have to see Flip on the floor. How pleasant it could be.
Ridnour went out with 2 fouls, on a silly foul, and the score was 21-15 Bucks.
Swift lasted just two minutes and Collison was poor in the 1st Quarter
Quick thoughts on the Trade
I love the Radman for Wilcox deal.
First it is trading a fading asset for a potentially terrific asset.
The goal of any trade like this is to try to find the next Jermaine O’Neal and three years ago the Sonics pinpointed Wilcox as that guy
It makes the Sonics a more traditional basketball team. Collison and Wilcox are a nice combo for 48 minutes of power forward and Swift and Petro are 48 minutes of centers.
If you want to go small you can use any of the 4 as the center and Lewis as the power forward.
Another DOG. I guess they really missed Vlady.
Game got out of control when the Sups went to the bench in the 1st Quarter and never got back together.
Bucks 84 Sonics 64 at the end of 3rd Quarter
Can anyone find the re-set button
No field goals for the final seven minutes until Flip lays it in
Final 3:11 3 points
Bucks 72 Sonics 57 with 5:52 left in the 3rd Quarter
Nick Collison has to become a better finisher around the basket. The only question I have is whether or not he is good enough athlete to ever become that finisher. If Wilcox can develop and Nick comes off the bench and plays against predominately back-up players he will be more effective. At some point he needs to be able to beat some top line guys.
Allen was on fire to start the half
Bucks 59 Sonics 44 at the Half
A 59 point half says all you need to know about the defense
Swift is making some really terrific plays and then he mixes in a play that shows you how little he has played. That is to be expected. The really good plays are what matters.
The back up point guard issue is so enormous
Sonics had turnover issues again which is strange under Bob Hill
Bucks 42 Sonics 24 with 7:57 left in the 2nd Quarter
The Sonics have to find a back-up point guard. When Luke is off the floor they are a mess and Luke really hasn’t been that good.
They have been outscored 21 to 9 since Luke left the game,
This is a ass kicking.
The Buck are getting out and running and having fun.
Bucks 27 Sonics19 at the end of 1 Quarter
I love Andrew Bogut. I have said from day 1 he is the next closest thing to Tim Duncan and the more I see him the more I believe it.
Make TJ Ford shoot the ball please
Without Vlady the next thing will be when we don’t have to see Flip on the floor. How pleasant it could be.
Ridnour went out with 2 fouls, on a silly foul, and the score was 21-15 Bucks.
Swift lasted just two minutes and Collison was poor in the 1st Quarter
Quick thoughts on the Trade
I love the Radman for Wilcox deal.
First it is trading a fading asset for a potentially terrific asset.
The goal of any trade like this is to try to find the next Jermaine O’Neal and three years ago the Sonics pinpointed Wilcox as that guy
It makes the Sonics a more traditional basketball team. Collison and Wilcox are a nice combo for 48 minutes of power forward and Swift and Petro are 48 minutes of centers.
If you want to go small you can use any of the 4 as the center and Lewis as the power forward.
SONICS TRADE RADMANOVIC
950, KJR’s Locked on Sports has learned that the Seattle Supersonics has learned that the Seattle Supersonics have traded Vladimir Radmanovic to the Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Wilcox.
Vladimir Radmanovic’s Dave Bauman agent has approved the deal and Radmanovic has left the team hotel and is flying to Los Angeles.
This is a terrific deal for the Sonics. They have wanted to get Wilcox for sometime. Moreover, Radmanovic was finished with Seattle and had become visibly discontent with his situation. In addition, he was a free agent at the end of the season and the Sonics have now acquired a very talented young forward.
Wilcox is a 23-year-old 6’10 power forward who is a power jumper and a quick leaper. He defends the goal well, a good rebounder and is a runner. Two seasons ago he started twenty games when Elton Brand was hurt and averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds a game.
Wilcox was a member of the National Championship at Maryland and left school after his freshman year. He was the pick before Amare Stoudamire in the draft.
His contract is still his rookie deal and the Sonics have the option to extend him one more season.
Vladimir Radmanovic’s Dave Bauman agent has approved the deal and Radmanovic has left the team hotel and is flying to Los Angeles.
This is a terrific deal for the Sonics. They have wanted to get Wilcox for sometime. Moreover, Radmanovic was finished with Seattle and had become visibly discontent with his situation. In addition, he was a free agent at the end of the season and the Sonics have now acquired a very talented young forward.
Wilcox is a 23-year-old 6’10 power forward who is a power jumper and a quick leaper. He defends the goal well, a good rebounder and is a runner. Two seasons ago he started twenty games when Elton Brand was hurt and averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds a game.
Wilcox was a member of the National Championship at Maryland and left school after his freshman year. He was the pick before Amare Stoudamire in the draft.
His contract is still his rookie deal and the Sonics have the option to extend him one more season.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. NUGGETS
Nuggets 120 Sonics 112 – FINAL SCORE
Vlady threw the ball away trying to go down low with no chance of finding his man and it went right to the Nuggets and clinched the game.
Ray Allen had no field goal attempts in overtime while the outcome was in doubt.
A very poor finish by the Sonics
Nugs 110 Sonics 106 with 1:24 in overtime
Missed opportunities and poor plays so far in the ot
Vlady Radmanovic got beat back defensively twice by Najera of the Nugs. How does it happen twice, that is amazing
Luke Ridnour pulled up on a early three down 108-104 and if he is going to take that shot he has to make it and he missed. He is not a good enough shooter to take that shot with 18 on the shot clock.
Ray Allen had a chance to grab a rebound that would have given the Sonics the ball down 4 but he didn’t grabbed it securely and it went out of bounds
Sonics 102 Nugs 102 – end of regulation
Damien Wilkins buries a 16 footer with :11 seconds left out of a timeout
The Nugs were switching and doubling Ray every step on the court and forced the Sonics to find another scorer and Wilkins answered
A moment before the Sonics had turned the ball over and Anthony had a steal up two with the shot clock off and he forced the action and turned it over himself rather then letting the clock run out or get fouled
Greg Buckner missed at the buzzer for Denver
Ray Allen is super-human
Sonics 92 Nugs 90 with 4:35 left in the 4th Quarter
Awesome four play sequence.
Luke was in serious trouble on a broken play and he threw the ball to the rim and Petro grabbed it and dunked it.
Allen forces the defense to get Carmelo to switch on him and then he rose over CA to hit a three to put Seattle up 3.
Then Allen took a charge from Anthony
Then Allen ran off a curl pick from Petro, a great pick, and hit the catch and shoot jumper.
Sonics 83 Nugs 80 with 10:47 left in the 4th
Back to back to back 3's takes the lead – here we go.
Nugs 80 Sonics 74 at the end of 3 Quarters
The Nugs are forcing Luke to shoot and he is 4 of 11.
Needing to give Wilkins a break Bob Hill has gone to Mikki Moore to guard Carmelo. He couldn’t go to Vlady to guard Carmelo
The Nugs have the Sups on their heels.
Nugs 75 Sonics 67 with 2:39 left in the 3rd Quarter
The Sonics are having a really hard time getting the ball into the hands of Ray Allen
The Sonics are doing a very good job of defending Carmelo Anthony
Kenyon Martin would be the most annoying teammate
Seattle can’t score right now without Ray getting the ball. The Sups are shooting just 40%.
Bob Hill called a timeout at the 6:16 mark and then the Sonics went flat and got outscored 9-2.
Points off turnovers 21 to 4 advantage Denver
Nugs 53 Sonics 49 at the Half
Turnovers are the key here. The Sonics have committed 9 turns for 15 Nugs points and the Nugs have committed 3 turns and the Sonics have 0 points off turns
The Sonics defensive rebounding has been vastly improved and is very good again today at nearly 80% for the first half.
The Sonics are scoring in the half court when they need to.
The one stretch with Mateen at the point
Sonics dominated the offensive glass in the 2nd quarter getting 58% of the available rebounds.
Nuggets 41 Sonics 37 with 4:26 left in the Quarter
Mateen Cleaves just did an awful job running the point.
Ray Allen was off the floor and the Sonics didn’t have a chance
Ray Allen has two fouls and is getting a break.
Bob Hill is trying to control the game more then I have seen, by calling a play every possession.
Robert and Nick are back in at the timeout
Denver 25 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Flip is a mess tonight
Robert Swift checks out and is showing consistency that he must to be great in this league. He is really far ahead of where any one thought this year
Without Ray on the floor and no Rashard tonight it is going to be hard to find points
Radmanovic just got a post-up on Earl Boykins and didn’t score.
Sonics 12 Denver 12 with 4:59 left in the 1st Quarter
Robert Swift looks better tonight then any night I have seen. He is active, blocking shots, moving with confidence, and playing really hard.
Denver is one of the tops at forcing turns and they forced turns on the first two possessions.
Can Nick Collison stay out of foul trouble against Kenyon Martin?
Robert Swift has two new tattoos, one on the back of each arm
Anthony two fouls at the 7:07 mark of the 1st Quarter
Storylines
1) Nuggets pressure defense forcing turnovers against the Sonics
2) Sonics ability to keep the Nugs off the free throw line
3) Camby and Martin against the young Sonics bigs
Vlady threw the ball away trying to go down low with no chance of finding his man and it went right to the Nuggets and clinched the game.
Ray Allen had no field goal attempts in overtime while the outcome was in doubt.
A very poor finish by the Sonics
Nugs 110 Sonics 106 with 1:24 in overtime
Missed opportunities and poor plays so far in the ot
Vlady Radmanovic got beat back defensively twice by Najera of the Nugs. How does it happen twice, that is amazing
Luke Ridnour pulled up on a early three down 108-104 and if he is going to take that shot he has to make it and he missed. He is not a good enough shooter to take that shot with 18 on the shot clock.
Ray Allen had a chance to grab a rebound that would have given the Sonics the ball down 4 but he didn’t grabbed it securely and it went out of bounds
Sonics 102 Nugs 102 – end of regulation
Damien Wilkins buries a 16 footer with :11 seconds left out of a timeout
The Nugs were switching and doubling Ray every step on the court and forced the Sonics to find another scorer and Wilkins answered
A moment before the Sonics had turned the ball over and Anthony had a steal up two with the shot clock off and he forced the action and turned it over himself rather then letting the clock run out or get fouled
Greg Buckner missed at the buzzer for Denver
Ray Allen is super-human
Sonics 92 Nugs 90 with 4:35 left in the 4th Quarter
Awesome four play sequence.
Luke was in serious trouble on a broken play and he threw the ball to the rim and Petro grabbed it and dunked it.
Allen forces the defense to get Carmelo to switch on him and then he rose over CA to hit a three to put Seattle up 3.
Then Allen took a charge from Anthony
Then Allen ran off a curl pick from Petro, a great pick, and hit the catch and shoot jumper.
Sonics 83 Nugs 80 with 10:47 left in the 4th
Back to back to back 3's takes the lead – here we go.
Nugs 80 Sonics 74 at the end of 3 Quarters
The Nugs are forcing Luke to shoot and he is 4 of 11.
Needing to give Wilkins a break Bob Hill has gone to Mikki Moore to guard Carmelo. He couldn’t go to Vlady to guard Carmelo
The Nugs have the Sups on their heels.
Nugs 75 Sonics 67 with 2:39 left in the 3rd Quarter
The Sonics are having a really hard time getting the ball into the hands of Ray Allen
The Sonics are doing a very good job of defending Carmelo Anthony
Kenyon Martin would be the most annoying teammate
Seattle can’t score right now without Ray getting the ball. The Sups are shooting just 40%.
Bob Hill called a timeout at the 6:16 mark and then the Sonics went flat and got outscored 9-2.
Points off turnovers 21 to 4 advantage Denver
Nugs 53 Sonics 49 at the Half
Turnovers are the key here. The Sonics have committed 9 turns for 15 Nugs points and the Nugs have committed 3 turns and the Sonics have 0 points off turns
The Sonics defensive rebounding has been vastly improved and is very good again today at nearly 80% for the first half.
The Sonics are scoring in the half court when they need to.
The one stretch with Mateen at the point
Sonics dominated the offensive glass in the 2nd quarter getting 58% of the available rebounds.
Nuggets 41 Sonics 37 with 4:26 left in the Quarter
Mateen Cleaves just did an awful job running the point.
Ray Allen was off the floor and the Sonics didn’t have a chance
Ray Allen has two fouls and is getting a break.
Bob Hill is trying to control the game more then I have seen, by calling a play every possession.
Robert and Nick are back in at the timeout
Denver 25 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Flip is a mess tonight
Robert Swift checks out and is showing consistency that he must to be great in this league. He is really far ahead of where any one thought this year
Without Ray on the floor and no Rashard tonight it is going to be hard to find points
Radmanovic just got a post-up on Earl Boykins and didn’t score.
Sonics 12 Denver 12 with 4:59 left in the 1st Quarter
Robert Swift looks better tonight then any night I have seen. He is active, blocking shots, moving with confidence, and playing really hard.
Denver is one of the tops at forcing turns and they forced turns on the first two possessions.
Can Nick Collison stay out of foul trouble against Kenyon Martin?
Robert Swift has two new tattoos, one on the back of each arm
Anthony two fouls at the 7:07 mark of the 1st Quarter
Storylines
1) Nuggets pressure defense forcing turnovers against the Sonics
2) Sonics ability to keep the Nugs off the free throw line
3) Camby and Martin against the young Sonics bigs
Friday, February 10, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. HAWKS
Sonics 99 Hawks 91 --- FINAL SCORE
Damien Wilkins scored 11 staright points for the Sonics
He has a career high 26 points and 12 of 13 from the free throw line
Nick Collison was the key to the game and he had a career high 13 rebounds
The Sonics had a lull in the 3rd Quarter but otherwise were very good tonight
The Hawks were unable to find the match-ups that I thought they were going to be able to exploit.
The Hawks isolated Harrington on the wing guarded by Collison and he forced him into a jumper and the Hawks never went to it again.
Sonics 83 Hawks 83 with 6:19 left in the 4th Quarter
Flip Murray was -15 in his last stint
Nick Collison is the reason the Sonics are in the game
Neither team can grab a defensive rebound.
Hawks 78 Sonics 76 at the end of 3 Quarters
7 turnovers by the Sups in the 3rd Quarter
A total and colossal collapse by the Sonics
The Hawks scored on their final 6 possessions of the Quarter to close on a 13-2 run.
That is terrible
I am nervous about this. The Hawks have some half court match-ups that we can’t guard and I am not sure we have the same without Rashard Lewis on the floor.
If they isolate Al Harrington we can’t guard it.
Joe Johnson may be able to penetrate.
Sonics 58 Hawks 56 with 7:04 left in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics are in a lull and it could be dangerous.
I am not sure I understand what Atlanta is doing. Why aren’t they isolating Al Harrington on Nick Collison and trying to draw him into foul trouble. They have done it once and got an easy lay-up.
10-2 Hawks run.
Sonics 52 Hawks 44 at the half
Great second quarter of basketball
The Sonics are playing very well defensively and it is opening up opportunities.
Nick Collison has been a total stud – 15 pts 7 rebs
Strong strong performance
Rashard has not come out to warm up for the second half
Sonics 46 Hawks 44 with 1:54 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nick Collison is playing great tonight. I mean great. His defensive rebounding changes everything. Swift needs Nick on the floor. Nick is always in the right place and it give Robert some freedom.
Lewis has not returned.
This is a really fun game, thus far. Great pace. Great energy. Great action
Sonics 38 Hawks 37 with 5:20 left in the 2nd Quarter
Rashard Lewis is in the locker-room with a thigh contusion
Damien Wilkins is a totally different player under Bob Hill
There is a really good energy in the building tonight
Not sure why Nick has re-entered the game yet after his brilliant first quarter
The Sonics ran their best fast break of the season on a Wilkins/Murray back and forth with the ball never touching the floor and finishing on a Wilkins dunk
Hawks 28 Sonics 26 at the end of 1 Quarter
Josh Childress may have the ugliest shot I have seen in the NBA. I love his game, but then when he shoots it is so terrible looking that it makes you cringe.
Vlady has been aggressive going to the basket thus far coming off the bench
It is a very high tempo game
Nick had a brilliant first quarter 11 pts 4 of 4 shooting and 3 rebounds.
Luke is 0 for 5 but has 3 steals.
Sonics 16 Hawks 14 with 6:15 left in the 1st Quarter
This is going to be a heavy transition game as neither team gets back well.
Nick Collison is very active and getting great slips to the basket from Ray Allen.
The Hawks ran a pick and roll with Johnson and Harrington and the Sonics look like they are going to have a tough time with that play
Great block by Robert Swift helping down low on Joe Johnson
Opposing bigs are just killing the Sonics young kids
Storylines
1) Nick Collison at the power forward matching up on Al Harrington
2) Both teams are great offensive rebounding teams and both are poor defensive rebounding teams. Who wins that battle wins the game
3) Marvin Williams homecoming
Damien Wilkins scored 11 staright points for the Sonics
He has a career high 26 points and 12 of 13 from the free throw line
Nick Collison was the key to the game and he had a career high 13 rebounds
The Sonics had a lull in the 3rd Quarter but otherwise were very good tonight
The Hawks were unable to find the match-ups that I thought they were going to be able to exploit.
The Hawks isolated Harrington on the wing guarded by Collison and he forced him into a jumper and the Hawks never went to it again.
Sonics 83 Hawks 83 with 6:19 left in the 4th Quarter
Flip Murray was -15 in his last stint
Nick Collison is the reason the Sonics are in the game
Neither team can grab a defensive rebound.
Hawks 78 Sonics 76 at the end of 3 Quarters
7 turnovers by the Sups in the 3rd Quarter
A total and colossal collapse by the Sonics
The Hawks scored on their final 6 possessions of the Quarter to close on a 13-2 run.
That is terrible
I am nervous about this. The Hawks have some half court match-ups that we can’t guard and I am not sure we have the same without Rashard Lewis on the floor.
If they isolate Al Harrington we can’t guard it.
Joe Johnson may be able to penetrate.
Sonics 58 Hawks 56 with 7:04 left in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics are in a lull and it could be dangerous.
I am not sure I understand what Atlanta is doing. Why aren’t they isolating Al Harrington on Nick Collison and trying to draw him into foul trouble. They have done it once and got an easy lay-up.
10-2 Hawks run.
Sonics 52 Hawks 44 at the half
Great second quarter of basketball
The Sonics are playing very well defensively and it is opening up opportunities.
Nick Collison has been a total stud – 15 pts 7 rebs
Strong strong performance
Rashard has not come out to warm up for the second half
Sonics 46 Hawks 44 with 1:54 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nick Collison is playing great tonight. I mean great. His defensive rebounding changes everything. Swift needs Nick on the floor. Nick is always in the right place and it give Robert some freedom.
Lewis has not returned.
This is a really fun game, thus far. Great pace. Great energy. Great action
Sonics 38 Hawks 37 with 5:20 left in the 2nd Quarter
Rashard Lewis is in the locker-room with a thigh contusion
Damien Wilkins is a totally different player under Bob Hill
There is a really good energy in the building tonight
Not sure why Nick has re-entered the game yet after his brilliant first quarter
The Sonics ran their best fast break of the season on a Wilkins/Murray back and forth with the ball never touching the floor and finishing on a Wilkins dunk
Hawks 28 Sonics 26 at the end of 1 Quarter
Josh Childress may have the ugliest shot I have seen in the NBA. I love his game, but then when he shoots it is so terrible looking that it makes you cringe.
Vlady has been aggressive going to the basket thus far coming off the bench
It is a very high tempo game
Nick had a brilliant first quarter 11 pts 4 of 4 shooting and 3 rebounds.
Luke is 0 for 5 but has 3 steals.
Sonics 16 Hawks 14 with 6:15 left in the 1st Quarter
This is going to be a heavy transition game as neither team gets back well.
Nick Collison is very active and getting great slips to the basket from Ray Allen.
The Hawks ran a pick and roll with Johnson and Harrington and the Sonics look like they are going to have a tough time with that play
Great block by Robert Swift helping down low on Joe Johnson
Opposing bigs are just killing the Sonics young kids
Storylines
1) Nick Collison at the power forward matching up on Al Harrington
2) Both teams are great offensive rebounding teams and both are poor defensive rebounding teams. Who wins that battle wins the game
3) Marvin Williams homecoming
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. HORNETS
Hornets 77 Sonics 73 at the end of 3 Quarters
Hornets are shooting 30 of 60 on the game. This is the 28th best shooting team in the NBA playing without both of their point guards
Sonics may need to go Evans and Collison to finish and win this game
Since the Sonics starting playing the young bigs the other teams bigs have been putting up big numbers – West has 16-8 and Brown 13-7
Sonics 69 Hornets 67 with 2:37 left in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics offensively are taking advantage of the overplay on Allen to get easy looks in the paint and finding open cutters
Chris Paul tired to return but was unable to go and Speddy Claxton is still out of the game.
The Hornets can’t run the offense without either of their point guards,
The Sonics should run away here at some point.
Sonics 47 Hornets 47 at the half
The Hornets lost Speedy Claxton early in the first half when he got hit in the eye.
Chris Paul drove aggressively to the basket and fell hard when Collison took a charge.
The Hornets scored 38 points in the first 15 minutes of the game and without both point guards they scored just 9 in the next 9 minutes.
Hornets 38 Sonics 22 8:54 left in the 2nd Quarter
12-2 run and the rout is on.
The Sonics have been down double figures at this point in every game of the road trip.
Petro is a disaster on defense. He isn’t feeling where people are and he is a poor rebounder
The effort is questionable again tonight
Hornets 26 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Flip Murray comes into the game and the first possession he is in the game he catches the ball on the inbound and then proceeds to never pass on the possessions and drive to the basket and misses. That has to do wonders for team chemistry.
Hornets shot 52%
No Vlady again tonight
Hornets 19 Sonics 13 with 5:18 left in the 1st Quarter
I love Chris Paul. He is amazing. He is in total control.
Everyone is talking about comparisons and the most common name is Kevin Johnson which is pretty good, but he reminds me a bit of Kidd with his open floor vision.
His ability to move the defense with a subtle drift to one side which opens up the back side is a veteran move. He is outstanding.
The Sonics are a poor weakside defensive team and Paul is exploiting it.
Hornets are shooting 30 of 60 on the game. This is the 28th best shooting team in the NBA playing without both of their point guards
Sonics may need to go Evans and Collison to finish and win this game
Since the Sonics starting playing the young bigs the other teams bigs have been putting up big numbers – West has 16-8 and Brown 13-7
Sonics 69 Hornets 67 with 2:37 left in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics offensively are taking advantage of the overplay on Allen to get easy looks in the paint and finding open cutters
Chris Paul tired to return but was unable to go and Speddy Claxton is still out of the game.
The Hornets can’t run the offense without either of their point guards,
The Sonics should run away here at some point.
Sonics 47 Hornets 47 at the half
The Hornets lost Speedy Claxton early in the first half when he got hit in the eye.
Chris Paul drove aggressively to the basket and fell hard when Collison took a charge.
The Hornets scored 38 points in the first 15 minutes of the game and without both point guards they scored just 9 in the next 9 minutes.
Hornets 38 Sonics 22 8:54 left in the 2nd Quarter
12-2 run and the rout is on.
The Sonics have been down double figures at this point in every game of the road trip.
Petro is a disaster on defense. He isn’t feeling where people are and he is a poor rebounder
The effort is questionable again tonight
Hornets 26 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Flip Murray comes into the game and the first possession he is in the game he catches the ball on the inbound and then proceeds to never pass on the possessions and drive to the basket and misses. That has to do wonders for team chemistry.
Hornets shot 52%
No Vlady again tonight
Hornets 19 Sonics 13 with 5:18 left in the 1st Quarter
I love Chris Paul. He is amazing. He is in total control.
Everyone is talking about comparisons and the most common name is Kevin Johnson which is pretty good, but he reminds me a bit of Kidd with his open floor vision.
His ability to move the defense with a subtle drift to one side which opens up the back side is a veteran move. He is outstanding.
The Sonics are a poor weakside defensive team and Paul is exploiting it.
Monday, February 06, 2006
SIMULBLOG SONICS V. BOBCATS
Bobcats 101 Sonics 87 with 8:10 left in the 4th
Sonic on a 15-4 run
They are playing 4 guards and Lewis
This is the highlight of ever night but it means nothing unless you get to the other side of the mountain.
Bobcats 95 Seattle 71 at the end of 3 Quarter
The Bobcats have surpassed their season average by 7 at the end of 3.
This is really amazing
It reminds us all of the three game losing streak on the first long trips of the year when the Soncis lost three games by 30. This is 22,19 and whatever tonight ends at.
When do we start training camp again?
Bobcats 80 Sonics 60 with 6:45 left in the 3rd Q
The first good news of the night Mateen Cleeves comes in for Flip Murray
Does this prove that Vlady has value?
Wow is this bad
There is no effort. I mean no effort
Bobcats 67 Sonics 54 at the half
The Bobcats average 89 points a game.
This is Washington Wizards game 5 bad
Reggie Evans will start the second half.
Bobcats 56 Sonics 43 with 2:50 in the 2nd period
Lay-ups,lay-ups, lay-ups anybody want any lay-ups. Giving up lay-ups. Free lay-ups, just come and grab them. Lay-ups lay-ups lay-ups
This is the worst defense of the year. That is a huge statement.
Bobcats 34 Sonics 22 at the end of 1
Rashard has its offense going with 9 points
Sonics trailed by as many as 18
This could be a disastorous ugly loss.
Bobcats 29 Sonics 16 with 2:03 left in the 1st Quarter
This is the worst offensive team in the NBA and they have 29 points already
Melvin ELy, who I like a lot, is dominating the game inside
Swift is out with 2 fouls
Collison has 2 fouls and once again promotes the theory that he can't start because he can't stay on the floor.
STROYLINES
1) worst offense v. worst defense
2) Can the Sonics match the effort
3) No vlady is that good or bad
Sonic on a 15-4 run
They are playing 4 guards and Lewis
This is the highlight of ever night but it means nothing unless you get to the other side of the mountain.
Bobcats 95 Seattle 71 at the end of 3 Quarter
The Bobcats have surpassed their season average by 7 at the end of 3.
This is really amazing
It reminds us all of the three game losing streak on the first long trips of the year when the Soncis lost three games by 30. This is 22,19 and whatever tonight ends at.
When do we start training camp again?
Bobcats 80 Sonics 60 with 6:45 left in the 3rd Q
The first good news of the night Mateen Cleeves comes in for Flip Murray
Does this prove that Vlady has value?
Wow is this bad
There is no effort. I mean no effort
Bobcats 67 Sonics 54 at the half
The Bobcats average 89 points a game.
This is Washington Wizards game 5 bad
Reggie Evans will start the second half.
Bobcats 56 Sonics 43 with 2:50 in the 2nd period
Lay-ups,lay-ups, lay-ups anybody want any lay-ups. Giving up lay-ups. Free lay-ups, just come and grab them. Lay-ups lay-ups lay-ups
This is the worst defense of the year. That is a huge statement.
Bobcats 34 Sonics 22 at the end of 1
Rashard has its offense going with 9 points
Sonics trailed by as many as 18
This could be a disastorous ugly loss.
Bobcats 29 Sonics 16 with 2:03 left in the 1st Quarter
This is the worst offensive team in the NBA and they have 29 points already
Melvin ELy, who I like a lot, is dominating the game inside
Swift is out with 2 fouls
Collison has 2 fouls and once again promotes the theory that he can't start because he can't stay on the floor.
STROYLINES
1) worst offense v. worst defense
2) Can the Sonics match the effort
3) No vlady is that good or bad
BREAKDOWN OF THE OFFICALS MISCUES
The talk on this is out of control and 95% of what I said last night was not heard correctly so I thought I would write it all down.
Here is my take on the calls and the officiating which I said last night was awful, was an embarrassment to the league and definitely was influential in the game
D-Jack TD offensive pass interference -- I can somewhat understand why the call was made since it was directly in front of the official and it had all the bearings of offensive pass interference. However, in reality it was a terrible call that cost the Hawks a touchdown.
Big Ben TD – The mechanics of the official were brutal, when he runs in from the side he has his hand up signaling 4th down and then on the second replay you can see when he raises his hand and it is when Michael Boulware walks in front of the officials vantage point the official then sees the ball in the end zone that he raises his arm for a TD. That makes the difference because the head official Leavy has the lowest % of overturned calls in the last 3 years so he was going to keep the call on the field no matter what the call was.
D-Jack TD on the bomb at the end of the 1st half – this is D-Jack fault. He has to get feet in. That is a lack of focus. But what infuriates me on this is that it was close, in fact I think it was a TD, his second foot knicks the pylon before his next foot knocks it over. What is overwhelming is that the Steelers call a TO and the guys upstairs never review the play. How can that be, How can they not review it or take another look at it when there is a timeout on the field.
Locklear Hold negating play to the 1 – Honestly I don’t know enough to understand what is and what isn’t holding. However, I will go with what Madden and others who I know said and they think it was an awful call. There has been a good deal of talk about whether or not the Steelers were offsides on this play and the next. I went frame by frame and didn’t think it was offsides, but it is obvious that they had figured out the snap count the Hawks were using or that Tobeck or Hasselbeck did something right before the snap, because they were moving unnaturally.
SUMMARY
There is no doubt in my mind that the Hawks were responsible for this loss with their own mistakes. The next question is if these calls were all made correctly or mechanically correctly would the Hawks have been able to overcome their own errors?
The officiating had a huge impact on the game, the flow, etc. That is undeniable.
At the same time, the Hawks inability to finish drives. The Hawks inability to make plays and moreover the Stevens and Engram drops were huge. The injury to Manuel put the onus back on Ken Hamlin for his poor decisions in Pioneer Square, the injury to Bernard took away a huge play maker. The Steelers took advantage of that.
The officials were an influence on the game, more so then the NFL should ever allow. Did they determine the outcome of the game, that is up for debate.
Was the officials inadequacies intentional and part of a fix or a conspiracy. No. Get real that is crazy talk.
Here is my take on the calls and the officiating which I said last night was awful, was an embarrassment to the league and definitely was influential in the game
D-Jack TD offensive pass interference -- I can somewhat understand why the call was made since it was directly in front of the official and it had all the bearings of offensive pass interference. However, in reality it was a terrible call that cost the Hawks a touchdown.
Big Ben TD – The mechanics of the official were brutal, when he runs in from the side he has his hand up signaling 4th down and then on the second replay you can see when he raises his hand and it is when Michael Boulware walks in front of the officials vantage point the official then sees the ball in the end zone that he raises his arm for a TD. That makes the difference because the head official Leavy has the lowest % of overturned calls in the last 3 years so he was going to keep the call on the field no matter what the call was.
D-Jack TD on the bomb at the end of the 1st half – this is D-Jack fault. He has to get feet in. That is a lack of focus. But what infuriates me on this is that it was close, in fact I think it was a TD, his second foot knicks the pylon before his next foot knocks it over. What is overwhelming is that the Steelers call a TO and the guys upstairs never review the play. How can that be, How can they not review it or take another look at it when there is a timeout on the field.
Locklear Hold negating play to the 1 – Honestly I don’t know enough to understand what is and what isn’t holding. However, I will go with what Madden and others who I know said and they think it was an awful call. There has been a good deal of talk about whether or not the Steelers were offsides on this play and the next. I went frame by frame and didn’t think it was offsides, but it is obvious that they had figured out the snap count the Hawks were using or that Tobeck or Hasselbeck did something right before the snap, because they were moving unnaturally.
SUMMARY
There is no doubt in my mind that the Hawks were responsible for this loss with their own mistakes. The next question is if these calls were all made correctly or mechanically correctly would the Hawks have been able to overcome their own errors?
The officiating had a huge impact on the game, the flow, etc. That is undeniable.
At the same time, the Hawks inability to finish drives. The Hawks inability to make plays and moreover the Stevens and Engram drops were huge. The injury to Manuel put the onus back on Ken Hamlin for his poor decisions in Pioneer Square, the injury to Bernard took away a huge play maker. The Steelers took advantage of that.
The officials were an influence on the game, more so then the NFL should ever allow. Did they determine the outcome of the game, that is up for debate.
Was the officials inadequacies intentional and part of a fix or a conspiracy. No. Get real that is crazy talk.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
SUPER BOWL SIMULBLOG
THE COMMENT ZONE IS OPEN TODAY.STEELERS WIN THE SUPER BOWL 21-10.
A brillant season and the last two weeks were two of the best any sports fan can ever have but the final chapter is very disappointing.
Pittsburg 21 Seattle 10 with 6:46 left in the Super Bowl
The trick play burned Seattle – Randle El to Ward for a 44 yard touchdown.
The killer is that the burned players were Erik Pruitt and Kelly Herndon.
I am not sure why Jordan B isn’t getting some time at the safety
Then the Hawks couldn’t complete another drive.
The Steelers are getting through to Hasselbeck just enough to eliminate drives.
Where has D-Jack gone? No catches since the 1st Quarter
Pittsburg 14 Seattle 10 with 10:46 left in the Super Bowl.
The curse of being a Seahawk fan lives. Just when you felt it really felt it. It gets taken away from you.
The Hawks were at the 1 on a catch by Stevens, that is noteworthy, but it was negated by a phantom penalty holding on Locklear
Then the Steelers keep making plays when Casey Hampton blew up Robbie Tobeck for a sack.
Then the first huge mistake of the game. Matt throws an INT.
If this is going to get done it is going to be in the most dramatic fashion.
That was the game winning drive and it feel short. Is there another one.
The inability to finish drives has killed the Hawks
Then the Hawks got F’d for the third time this game on a brutal officals call and it cost them 15 yards and Pittsburg starts with great field position
Pittsburgh 14 Seattle 10 with 2:41 left in the third
Great work by the defense to force back to back 3 and outs
However, the Hawks still aren’t making plays. Warrick should have never let the punt drop it bounced at the 21 and then rolled to the 1. Tom Rouen has been unable to do this all game.
Jerramy Stevens dropped another ball and has been a total disaster. Joey Porter hasn’t made one play on the field but he may have won the Super Bowl in the week’s pre-game activities.
Hawks start at the 1 – it could be a classic drive. A mistake and the game is over.
Pittsburg 14 Seattle 10 with 6:45 left in the 3rd quarter
How about this change -- Living for another breathe.
Kelly Herndon steps in front of a terrible Big Ben pass and takes it back to the Hawks 20.
Rocky Bernard looked like he got hurt trying to be the lead blocker. I doubt he will return,
Stevens finally holds on to one and catches the 18 yard touchdown pass.
Now the question is without Manuel, Dyson, and Rocky can the Hawks get stops.
Pittsburg 14 Seattle 3 with 11:40 left in the 3rd Quarter
Time to play Jeopardy. The answer is goat. The question is who is Jerramy Stevens?
He has two enormous drops that have changed the game.
The Super Bowl is about making plays and the Hawks are not doing.
The Hawks are without Manuel and Dyson. The Hawks don’t have a stop since Manuel left the game.
Pittsburgh 14 Seattle 3 2 plays into the 2nd half
This is a disaster
Jon Kitna told us that Joey Porter is a much better player when they are ahead then when they are behind. That holds true for the entire Pittsburgh approach offensively and defensively.
Getting Alexander involved in the game is going to be very difficult.
The Ken Hamlin fight is coming back to haunt the Hawks in the Super Bowl of all places.
More Halftime Notes
Seattle had 6 drives
1st – died when they got caught in 2nd and 3rd and long
2nd – Chris Grey holding penalty killed this drive
3rd – Bad Call of Offensive Pass Interference negated TD and ended drive
4th – drop by “Soft” Stevens on 3rd and 2 negated a huge play
5th – Mack Strong comes up an inch short
6th – butchered two minute drive
If they tighten up they should be able to score.
The Steelers had 5 drives and only got first downs on a gimmick reverse and two great playmaking plays by Big Ben.
Steelers lead 7-3 at the Half
Seattle is not making plays that win Super Bowls. D-Jack has to get his feet in bounds. Stevens has to hold onto the ball. The penalties have negated huge plays.
An inch changed the half. When Mack Strong was an inch short on the 3rd down play. He should have got the first down. It changed the field position and let the Steelers start a drive in decent position.
They mismanaged the end of the half when Hasselbeck got caught up in an audible
Seattle dominated 22 minutes of the half and trail at the half. That is disturbing.
Seattle has been using 3 wide receiver sets with great success in the passing game.
The offensive pass interference call was awful and has changed the game
The reverse call to Ward was a game changer as well.
Remember the halftime is significantly longer at the Super Bowl.
Since they have gone to this stupid new ball for souvenir routine the second half has been the scoring half.
Steelers lead 7-3 with 1:55 left in the 2nd Quarter
It is tough to swallow but that was too close to overturn. All you have to do is hit that white line not the end zone blue and Big Ben may have done that.
The difference in this game is the Steelers are making plays and the Hawks have not made the plays they needed to make.
Penalities and not holding onto the ball by Stevens have separated the Hawks from brilliance.
The good sign is that the Steelers had to make two remarkable plays to complete that drive. Ben shoveled a pass to Ward on 3rd down and then on another 3rd down his scramble was amazing.
The other thing of concern is that drive too so long that now you are limiting the amount of drives the Hawks get.
Hawks lead 3-0 with 10:10 left in the 2nd Quarter
Boulware interception just as we predicted and it would be 10-0 like we predicted if Stevens hadn’t been”soft”
Huge drop by Stevens on the last drive
The Hawks are killing themselves with mistakes.
They are dominating this football game and look to be the much better team, but they are uncharacteristically making mistakes that are preventing them from being up 14 or more.
Big Ben is 2 of 8 for 9 yards and a pick. He is not comfortable with all of the coverage.
Time for a classic Seattle drive. The hawks could rip their heart out.
Hawks lead 3-0 at the end of 1
Another 3 and out by the Steelers.
Big Ben is 1 for 5
The Steelers don’t have a first down
The Hawks defense finishes the year allowing only one defensive touchdown in the 1st Quarter.
Great return by Warrick puts the Hawks in Steelers territory. Return is negated by a penalty.
Penalties are killing the Hawks
Hawks lead 3-0 with :22 left in the 1st Quarter
Hawks lead but it should be more. A brutal call negated a TD to Darrell Jackson in the end zone. Jackson pushed off at the last second but it was minimal. Bad Call big time bad call and it will impact the game
Mike Holmgren is getting a feel for this game. He is exploiting things in the Steelers defense.
Big play in the drive was 3 recievers to the left (including the TE) and Jackson isolated on the right. Matt hit D-Jack for big yardage
The Steelers are rushing 3 a lot and not blitzing but Matt seems to be comfortable.
Hawks 0 Pitt 0 with 4:34 left in the 1st Quarter
Roethlisberger looks uncomfortable with the Hawks only rushing 4 and dropping 7.
In the past playoff games he was great against the blitz and the Hawks haven’t shown the blitz yet
Great play on run support by Marcus Trufant
The Steelers pressure is hurting the Hawks offense. Hawks have two holding penalties.
Tom Rouen has to do a better job of not kicking into the end zone.
Hawks are winning the field position battle
Hawks 0 Pitt 0 with 9:39 left in the 1st Quarter
Opening Drives are in the books.
Hawks moved the ball and then fell apart when they got into 2nd and 3rd and long
Hawks showed a ton of formations early in Holmgren pre prepared sheet
We saw a 2TE set, a 4 WR, and mostly 3 WR 2 RB.
Hasselbeck missed an open receiver that would have continued the drive
Sean Locklear got beat for a sack.
Pittsburg self destructed
I was waited for Hasselbeck to say "We will take the ball and we are going to score." Maybe that is why they let Wistrom call the coin. Hawks are 1 for 1.
Can you believe it is true -- the Hawks are about to play in the Super Bowl. Enjoy eve
ry second everyone and cheer like hell
Saturday, February 04, 2006
SUPER BOWL PREGAME-NOTES AND PREDICTION
The comment zone is open and will be open all night and game. Go Hawks !!!
3:30 can not get here soon enough. Let me give you a few things to chew on between now and then.
When the Seahawks have the ball.
When the Steelers have the ball.
Overall Game Trends
Prediction
The Hawks will score early in this game and take a 10-0 lead. The Steelers will make plays with their passing game in the middle of the field. The game will get closer, but Michael Boulware will get a huge interception that alters the frame of the game and leads to an easy Hawks touchdown.
Boulware will get another turnover on his way to the Super Bowl MVP. The Hawks will prevail 31-17.
Enjoy the day.
SIMULBLOG SONICS V. MAVS
MAVS 110 SONCIS 91 – FINAL SCORE
What is the next move for Bob Hill?
If he doesn’t fix two issues on the defensive end there is no end in sight.
This team is dreadful on the defensive glass. They only got 55% of the defensive boards tonight. The two main culprits are Radmanovic and Petro. The Sonics are the worst defensive rebounding team under Bob Hill since any team since 97-98
Radmanovic was poor again. He lasted just 18 minutes and never made Drik work.
Also the Sonics are not forcing any turnovers at all. They are last in the league in forcing turnovers. You can’t be last in both of those and survive.
Mavs 90 Sonics 74 with 10:00 left in the 4th Quarter
Wham Bham thank you Mham
8-0 run. Ballgame
Erick Dampier is totally dominating the Mavs offensive glass.
The Mavs are really really good.
If anyone sees Rashard Lewis let me know
Mavs 82 Sonics 74 at the end of 3 Quarter
Johan Petro is killing the team with his terrible defensive rebounding. Petro looks like a guy who has played against inferior talent so he never looks for a body to box out and instead he just waits and jumps. What happens is a more athletic or bigger player comes into the paint and gets a better read on the ball and follows it up and in. He cost the Sonics 4 points in the final 3 minutes of the Quarter
Those 4 points are huge.
Rashard is really far off his game tonight.
Mavs 65 Sonics 63 with 6:01 left in the 3rd
Another great bounce back
Collison replaced Vlady and did a really nice job on back to back plays; His offense is a big problem but he is able to do everything else and needs to be on the floor.
Swift is having his best game of the year.
Mavs 63 Sonics 55 with 8:27 left in the 3rd Quarter
This does not have a good feel
How many bounce backs do the Sonics have in them tonight
Vlady is becoming infuriating to watch. His effort has become sporadic play to play. He is being guarded by Nowitski who is not a good defender and he is doing nothing to make him work.
Mavs 54 Sonics 51 at the end of the 1st half
Sonics did a great job of getting the game up tempo in their model
The game has really had very good defense from both sides.
The Sonics offense hasn’t clicked in yet, but they have received great play off the bench.
Within three at the half without a three point shot and without Rashard Lewis scoring a field goal that is a good sign
Mavs 37 Sonics 30 9:22 left in the 3rd Quarter
Nice bounce back by the Sups
They are getting out in the opening court
Wilkins has 8 points in the Q
Mavs 32 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Mavs went on 8-0 and 16-0 runs in the Q
The Sonics offense disappeared again.
They went 10 possessions without a score
Where is Rashard Lewis tonight? He has only one shot attempt and I can’t recall him being a part of any action.
Mavs 22 Sonics 14 with 4:53 left in the 1st Quarter
Last night the Sonics had no bounce back. This is the first shot to bounce back tonight.
The Mavs are so versitile offensively I can't see Seattle finding any way to slow them down.
Sonics 12 Mavs 12 with 7:04 left in the 1st Quarter
Sonics are making a strong effort to push tempo
Vlady has two buckets bouncing back from a miserable night last night
The bench play will be the issue. The Mavs get stronger and Seattle can’t get consistent play
Storylines
1) Can the Sonics bounce back from a miserable game in Houston
2) Stopping the Jason Terry/ Dirk pick and roll
3) Will the Soncis get any consistency from the support players?
4) How good are the Mavs
What is the next move for Bob Hill?
If he doesn’t fix two issues on the defensive end there is no end in sight.
This team is dreadful on the defensive glass. They only got 55% of the defensive boards tonight. The two main culprits are Radmanovic and Petro. The Sonics are the worst defensive rebounding team under Bob Hill since any team since 97-98
Radmanovic was poor again. He lasted just 18 minutes and never made Drik work.
Also the Sonics are not forcing any turnovers at all. They are last in the league in forcing turnovers. You can’t be last in both of those and survive.
Mavs 90 Sonics 74 with 10:00 left in the 4th Quarter
Wham Bham thank you Mham
8-0 run. Ballgame
Erick Dampier is totally dominating the Mavs offensive glass.
The Mavs are really really good.
If anyone sees Rashard Lewis let me know
Mavs 82 Sonics 74 at the end of 3 Quarter
Johan Petro is killing the team with his terrible defensive rebounding. Petro looks like a guy who has played against inferior talent so he never looks for a body to box out and instead he just waits and jumps. What happens is a more athletic or bigger player comes into the paint and gets a better read on the ball and follows it up and in. He cost the Sonics 4 points in the final 3 minutes of the Quarter
Those 4 points are huge.
Rashard is really far off his game tonight.
Mavs 65 Sonics 63 with 6:01 left in the 3rd
Another great bounce back
Collison replaced Vlady and did a really nice job on back to back plays; His offense is a big problem but he is able to do everything else and needs to be on the floor.
Swift is having his best game of the year.
Mavs 63 Sonics 55 with 8:27 left in the 3rd Quarter
This does not have a good feel
How many bounce backs do the Sonics have in them tonight
Vlady is becoming infuriating to watch. His effort has become sporadic play to play. He is being guarded by Nowitski who is not a good defender and he is doing nothing to make him work.
Mavs 54 Sonics 51 at the end of the 1st half
Sonics did a great job of getting the game up tempo in their model
The game has really had very good defense from both sides.
The Sonics offense hasn’t clicked in yet, but they have received great play off the bench.
Within three at the half without a three point shot and without Rashard Lewis scoring a field goal that is a good sign
Mavs 37 Sonics 30 9:22 left in the 3rd Quarter
Nice bounce back by the Sups
They are getting out in the opening court
Wilkins has 8 points in the Q
Mavs 32 Sonics 20 at the end of 1 Quarter
Mavs went on 8-0 and 16-0 runs in the Q
The Sonics offense disappeared again.
They went 10 possessions without a score
Where is Rashard Lewis tonight? He has only one shot attempt and I can’t recall him being a part of any action.
Mavs 22 Sonics 14 with 4:53 left in the 1st Quarter
Last night the Sonics had no bounce back. This is the first shot to bounce back tonight.
The Mavs are so versitile offensively I can't see Seattle finding any way to slow them down.
Sonics 12 Mavs 12 with 7:04 left in the 1st Quarter
Sonics are making a strong effort to push tempo
Vlady has two buckets bouncing back from a miserable night last night
The bench play will be the issue. The Mavs get stronger and Seattle can’t get consistent play
Storylines
1) Can the Sonics bounce back from a miserable game in Houston
2) Stopping the Jason Terry/ Dirk pick and roll
3) Will the Soncis get any consistency from the support players?
4) How good are the Mavs
Friday, February 03, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V.ROCKETS
ROCKETS 100 SONICS 77 -- FINAL SCORE
Bad night for the Sups
Too bad they never got it going offensively because they weren't terrible defensively.
The Sonics got nothing from their supporting cast. Vlady was awful. Flip was Flip. Luke was poor and the bigs were outclassed by Yao Ming
Rockets 98 Sonics 75 with 3:00 left in the 4th quarter
Nothing to be said
A full out blow out.
Sonics didn’t have a match to the Rockets.
Rockets 73 Seattle 57 at the end of 3 quarters
Sonics offense is not rolling tonight.
We have not seen this type of offensive struggle
The lack of offense is hurting the defense and this one is getting away from the Sups in a hurry
McGrady took over and carried this game for the Rockets
Rockets will go to 11-6 with both McGrady and Ming
Rockets 56 Sonics 49 with 6:31 left in the 3rd Quarter
McGrady has 15 straight Rockets points
The Sonics are having major turnover issues tonight
Lewis is really having a hard time getting looks
Rockets 48 Sonics 43 at the Half
Sorry for the late start.
Turnovers are a big surprise tonight,. The Sonics have 9 turnovers in a slow game and the Rockets usually don’t force turnovers. The Sonics have been the best in the NBA with the ball since Hill took over.
The Sonics hit their shots early and then lost their rhythm
Yao Ming changes the game, the Rockets are a much better defensive rebounding team with him.
Bad night for the Sups
Too bad they never got it going offensively because they weren't terrible defensively.
The Sonics got nothing from their supporting cast. Vlady was awful. Flip was Flip. Luke was poor and the bigs were outclassed by Yao Ming
Rockets 98 Sonics 75 with 3:00 left in the 4th quarter
Nothing to be said
A full out blow out.
Sonics didn’t have a match to the Rockets.
Rockets 73 Seattle 57 at the end of 3 quarters
Sonics offense is not rolling tonight.
We have not seen this type of offensive struggle
The lack of offense is hurting the defense and this one is getting away from the Sups in a hurry
McGrady took over and carried this game for the Rockets
Rockets will go to 11-6 with both McGrady and Ming
Rockets 56 Sonics 49 with 6:31 left in the 3rd Quarter
McGrady has 15 straight Rockets points
The Sonics are having major turnover issues tonight
Lewis is really having a hard time getting looks
Rockets 48 Sonics 43 at the Half
Sorry for the late start.
Turnovers are a big surprise tonight,. The Sonics have 9 turnovers in a slow game and the Rockets usually don’t force turnovers. The Sonics have been the best in the NBA with the ball since Hill took over.
The Sonics hit their shots early and then lost their rhythm
Yao Ming changes the game, the Rockets are a much better defensive rebounding team with him.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. WARRIORS
Sonics 111 Warriors 107 – Final Score
Nothing is ever easy
Sonics were in control but the Warriors did the late game surge that happens every night and made everyone very nervous
Alley opp from Ray to Rashard was the play of the night
Ray Allen had an unreal game
Defensive rebounding of Vlady and Swift was vital to the win
The Sonics offense is amazingly consistent. They are executing at a very high level all night every minute of every night.
The 3rd Quarter was brilliant and carried the night
Sonics 96 Warriors 88 with 5:35 left
Baron Davis is just going to the hoop and the Sups can’t stop him
Rebounding will be the key late
Ray Allen is having one of those special night where he wows you with every shot.
Sonics 93 Warriors 80 with 8:00 left in the 3rd Quarter
Warriors making a run with Flip as the back-up point guard.
No Mateen Cleaves in the second half
Sonics 85 Warriors 71 at the end of 3rd Quarter
That is what we have been looking for.
Perfect is the best word for the 3rd Quarter. Perfect
Warriors go 2 for 21 in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics defensive rating in the 3rd quarter was 35. A far cry from the 165 in the first quarter
Sonics 82 Warriors 67 with 1:40 left in the 3rd Quarter
30-5 run.
WOW !!!! Who are these guys
They are crushing the Warriors in every aspect.
The defense has been strong. The hustle plays are all going one direction.
Rashard’s play at the end of the half may have ignited this
Sonics defense has been strong, the rebounding has been terrific
Sonics 68 Warriors 65 with 6:21 left in the 3rd Quarter
An entirely different Sonics team came out from the locker-room
The defensive rebounding is great
They have a 10-1 rebounding advantage to open the Q
12 to 3 run
Warriors 52 Sonics 47 with 3:00 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nice surge by the Sups. Allen has 13 in the quarter
The Sonics are actually defending a bit, not a lot but more then in the past.
Baron Davis blew up the rhythm of the Warriors
Most importantly the Sonics are rebounding.
Warriors 47 Sonics 40 with 5:55 left in the 2nd Quarter
Ray Allen has all 10 of the Sonics 12 points in the Quarter
Baron Davis got caught in a ball hogging one on one game and it blew up the Warriors flow. You have to be insanely selfish to start going one on one on a defense like the Sonics that has shown no ability to defend the entire shot clock.
Warriors 38 Sonics 28 at the end of the 1st Quarter
Vlady has had some nice moves to the hoop off the dribble so far
The Sonics will be able to score all game. Whether or not they defend at any point will be anyone’s guess
Warriors 38 points in the first quarter is their season high
Warriors 29 Sonics 22 with 1:55 left in the first quarter
Their might be 260 points scored tonight the way this is going.
No one is making any stops
Allen has yet to take a shot and he is out for the quarter
Sonics have only 4 stops in the quarter
Warriors have 4 offensive rebounds on 10 misses.
Warriors 17 Sonics 11 with 7:19 left in the 1st Quarter
Very poor defensive start for the Sonics
The Sonics defensive rebounding has been non-existent. Under Hill they are at 65% if that were to be for an entire season it would be the worst since the Raptors in 1997-98.
Warriors open the game 7 of 11 and have 2 offensive rebounds on their 4 misses.
STORYLINES
1) Pace of the game
2) Interior defense from Seattle
3) Ridnour v. Davis
4) Seattle's defensive rebounding or lack there of
Nothing is ever easy
Sonics were in control but the Warriors did the late game surge that happens every night and made everyone very nervous
Alley opp from Ray to Rashard was the play of the night
Ray Allen had an unreal game
Defensive rebounding of Vlady and Swift was vital to the win
The Sonics offense is amazingly consistent. They are executing at a very high level all night every minute of every night.
The 3rd Quarter was brilliant and carried the night
Sonics 96 Warriors 88 with 5:35 left
Baron Davis is just going to the hoop and the Sups can’t stop him
Rebounding will be the key late
Ray Allen is having one of those special night where he wows you with every shot.
Sonics 93 Warriors 80 with 8:00 left in the 3rd Quarter
Warriors making a run with Flip as the back-up point guard.
No Mateen Cleaves in the second half
Sonics 85 Warriors 71 at the end of 3rd Quarter
That is what we have been looking for.
Perfect is the best word for the 3rd Quarter. Perfect
Warriors go 2 for 21 in the 3rd Quarter
Sonics defensive rating in the 3rd quarter was 35. A far cry from the 165 in the first quarter
Sonics 82 Warriors 67 with 1:40 left in the 3rd Quarter
30-5 run.
WOW !!!! Who are these guys
They are crushing the Warriors in every aspect.
The defense has been strong. The hustle plays are all going one direction.
Rashard’s play at the end of the half may have ignited this
Sonics defense has been strong, the rebounding has been terrific
Sonics 68 Warriors 65 with 6:21 left in the 3rd Quarter
An entirely different Sonics team came out from the locker-room
The defensive rebounding is great
They have a 10-1 rebounding advantage to open the Q
12 to 3 run
Warriors 52 Sonics 47 with 3:00 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nice surge by the Sups. Allen has 13 in the quarter
The Sonics are actually defending a bit, not a lot but more then in the past.
Baron Davis blew up the rhythm of the Warriors
Most importantly the Sonics are rebounding.
Warriors 47 Sonics 40 with 5:55 left in the 2nd Quarter
Ray Allen has all 10 of the Sonics 12 points in the Quarter
Baron Davis got caught in a ball hogging one on one game and it blew up the Warriors flow. You have to be insanely selfish to start going one on one on a defense like the Sonics that has shown no ability to defend the entire shot clock.
Warriors 38 Sonics 28 at the end of the 1st Quarter
Vlady has had some nice moves to the hoop off the dribble so far
The Sonics will be able to score all game. Whether or not they defend at any point will be anyone’s guess
Warriors 38 points in the first quarter is their season high
Warriors 29 Sonics 22 with 1:55 left in the first quarter
Their might be 260 points scored tonight the way this is going.
No one is making any stops
Allen has yet to take a shot and he is out for the quarter
Sonics have only 4 stops in the quarter
Warriors have 4 offensive rebounds on 10 misses.
Warriors 17 Sonics 11 with 7:19 left in the 1st Quarter
Very poor defensive start for the Sonics
The Sonics defensive rebounding has been non-existent. Under Hill they are at 65% if that were to be for an entire season it would be the worst since the Raptors in 1997-98.
Warriors open the game 7 of 11 and have 2 offensive rebounds on their 4 misses.
STORYLINES
1) Pace of the game
2) Interior defense from Seattle
3) Ridnour v. Davis
4) Seattle's defensive rebounding or lack there of
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
LOOKS LIKE BIG BEN IS LOOSE FOR THE GAME
That may not be the only thing loose in this picture. Nice T-Shirt Ben.
Monday, January 30, 2006
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
rter
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.
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
rter
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.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006
SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. RAPTORS
RAPTORS 121 SONICS 113 --- FINAL SCORE
I am not sure if this lose is so bad that you re-evaluate what the team is trying to do in the game but it is close.
The Sonics blew back to back possessions in the final minutes.
Hill went to Wilkins as a defender and he ended up getting a key shot which is a killer.
Morris Peterson took Ray Allen out of the the scoring.
Allen only had two shot attempts in the entire 4th Quarter
The Raptors 33 of 36 from the line
Raptors 109 Sonics 108 with 2:58 left in the 4th Quarter
Sonics have 1 stop in the last 7 possessions.
The Sonics can't lose this game.
Sonics 104 Raptors 101 with 5:24 left in the 4th Q
Luke enters and makes two great offensive plays
Chris Bosh is 15 of 15 from the free throw line. He has 25-11 -- WOW
Allen is 1 of 1 in the 4th and Lewis is 0 for 1.
Sonics 98 Raptors 95 with 8:48 left in the 4th Quarter
The Sonics have only been stopped once in the Quarter
The Raptors are in the bonus at the 10:00 mark
The Washington Generals play better defense then these two teams
Sonics have Murray, Allen, Lewis, Nick and Reggie on the floor.
Sonics 88 Raptors 88 at the end of 3 quarters
The old phrase is first one to defend will win. In this game it will be the first team to play bad offense will lose. Because I can promise no one will defend. With Reggie and Flip in the game we are vulnerable to be the team.
Luke Ridnour has been very very good tonight.
Reggie Evans is the most selfish player with his quest to rebound. He won’t rotate or help defensively if it ruins his rebounding position. He also won’t leave the post to clear space for an offensive player.
Raptors 77 Sonics 74 with 4:56 in the third Quarter
Reggie Evans comes in for Petro
Hill furiously removed Vlady from the floor after another putrid defensive possession. I will be shocked if he starts the next game.
Raptors 68 Sonics 66 with 9:18 left in the 3rd Quarter
More corner three's. The board in the locker-room says no CORNER THREES
Hill just yelled at Petro. Make him use his right hand. Talking about defending Bosh.
Sonics 63 Raptors 59 at the Half
Allen is 6 of 10 – nice to have him back
We have the defense we anticipated
Both teams will occasionally play defense on the initial defensive assignment but they can’t sustain it at all. There is limited help and limited effort after the first moments.
No team has lead by more then 6.
The Sonics are getting killed on the corner 3
Sonics 63 Raptors 59 at the Half
Allen is 6 of 10 – nice to have him back
We have the defense we anticipated
Both teams will occasionally play defense on the initial defensive assignment but they can’t sustain it at all. There is limited help and limited effort after the first moments.
No team has lead by more then 6.
The Sonics are getting killed on the corner 3
Sonics 48 Raptors 44 with 5:49 left in the 2nd Quarter
Sonics need Nick Collison to be able to score in the post on second string power forwards. Really if he can’t do that he becomes a bit player. He is one of two on Villanueva.
Detlef Schrempf has been hired as a part time assistant coach.
Sonics have gotten out on the break off Raptors misses and Wilkins has been the benefactor.
Sonics 31 Raptors 30 at the end of 1st Quarter
61 points in the first quarter. What you would expect from the two worst defensive teams in the NBA and for that matter two worst teams in years.
Coincidence? After Flip entered the game the Raptors scored on 6 of their next 7 possessions.
Jalen Rose has 11 points. Flip is guarding Rose.
Raptors 26 Sonics 23 with 1:40 left in the 1st Quarter
Petro was +3 in his first stint
Sonics are -6 in the 3 minutes Ray Allen is off the floor. This team is more dependent on Ray then any team in the NBA is on their star. Statistically, the Sonics with Allen on the bench the Sonics are the worst team in the NBA.
Sonics 17 Raptors 11 with 6:23 left in the 1st Quarter
Raptors are doubling Rashard in the post as the Sonics anticipated
Seattle Seahawks jerseys litter the crowd
Raptors give up a lot of points off turnovers and the Sonics under Hill have not been forcing turns. This will be key. The Sups already have 4 points off turns.
Petro starts on Bosh. This is what the Sonics really need is a big who can guard a 4 or a 5 in the post early in game. James did that last year for the Sups
STORYLINES
1) Which defense is worse?
2) Can the Sonics be + in the +/- in with the young bigs
3) Vlady hello
I am not sure if this lose is so bad that you re-evaluate what the team is trying to do in the game but it is close.
The Sonics blew back to back possessions in the final minutes.
Hill went to Wilkins as a defender and he ended up getting a key shot which is a killer.
Morris Peterson took Ray Allen out of the the scoring.
Allen only had two shot attempts in the entire 4th Quarter
The Raptors 33 of 36 from the line
Raptors 109 Sonics 108 with 2:58 left in the 4th Quarter
Sonics have 1 stop in the last 7 possessions.
The Sonics can't lose this game.
Sonics 104 Raptors 101 with 5:24 left in the 4th Q
Luke enters and makes two great offensive plays
Chris Bosh is 15 of 15 from the free throw line. He has 25-11 -- WOW
Allen is 1 of 1 in the 4th and Lewis is 0 for 1.
Sonics 98 Raptors 95 with 8:48 left in the 4th Quarter
The Sonics have only been stopped once in the Quarter
The Raptors are in the bonus at the 10:00 mark
The Washington Generals play better defense then these two teams
Sonics have Murray, Allen, Lewis, Nick and Reggie on the floor.
Sonics 88 Raptors 88 at the end of 3 quarters
The old phrase is first one to defend will win. In this game it will be the first team to play bad offense will lose. Because I can promise no one will defend. With Reggie and Flip in the game we are vulnerable to be the team.
Luke Ridnour has been very very good tonight.
Reggie Evans is the most selfish player with his quest to rebound. He won’t rotate or help defensively if it ruins his rebounding position. He also won’t leave the post to clear space for an offensive player.
Raptors 77 Sonics 74 with 4:56 in the third Quarter
Reggie Evans comes in for Petro
Hill furiously removed Vlady from the floor after another putrid defensive possession. I will be shocked if he starts the next game.
Raptors 68 Sonics 66 with 9:18 left in the 3rd Quarter
More corner three's. The board in the locker-room says no CORNER THREES
Hill just yelled at Petro. Make him use his right hand. Talking about defending Bosh.
Sonics 63 Raptors 59 at the Half
Allen is 6 of 10 – nice to have him back
We have the defense we anticipated
Both teams will occasionally play defense on the initial defensive assignment but they can’t sustain it at all. There is limited help and limited effort after the first moments.
No team has lead by more then 6.
The Sonics are getting killed on the corner 3
Sonics 63 Raptors 59 at the Half
Allen is 6 of 10 – nice to have him back
We have the defense we anticipated
Both teams will occasionally play defense on the initial defensive assignment but they can’t sustain it at all. There is limited help and limited effort after the first moments.
No team has lead by more then 6.
The Sonics are getting killed on the corner 3
Sonics 48 Raptors 44 with 5:49 left in the 2nd Quarter
Sonics need Nick Collison to be able to score in the post on second string power forwards. Really if he can’t do that he becomes a bit player. He is one of two on Villanueva.
Detlef Schrempf has been hired as a part time assistant coach.
Sonics have gotten out on the break off Raptors misses and Wilkins has been the benefactor.
Sonics 31 Raptors 30 at the end of 1st Quarter
61 points in the first quarter. What you would expect from the two worst defensive teams in the NBA and for that matter two worst teams in years.
Coincidence? After Flip entered the game the Raptors scored on 6 of their next 7 possessions.
Jalen Rose has 11 points. Flip is guarding Rose.
Raptors 26 Sonics 23 with 1:40 left in the 1st Quarter
Petro was +3 in his first stint
Sonics are -6 in the 3 minutes Ray Allen is off the floor. This team is more dependent on Ray then any team in the NBA is on their star. Statistically, the Sonics with Allen on the bench the Sonics are the worst team in the NBA.
Sonics 17 Raptors 11 with 6:23 left in the 1st Quarter
Raptors are doubling Rashard in the post as the Sonics anticipated
Seattle Seahawks jerseys litter the crowd
Raptors give up a lot of points off turnovers and the Sonics under Hill have not been forcing turns. This will be key. The Sups already have 4 points off turns.
Petro starts on Bosh. This is what the Sonics really need is a big who can guard a 4 or a 5 in the post early in game. James did that last year for the Sups
STORYLINES
1) Which defense is worse?
2) Can the Sonics be + in the +/- in with the young bigs
3) Vlady hello
Thursday, January 19, 2006
MIKE HOLMGREN PRESS CONFERENCE RE-CAP
• Locklear will play. Holmgren says he talked with Sean and that he feels comforatbale that Locklear should play. The question that is left unanswered is when the Seahawks talk about the story they know or what they have been told do they go any deeper then Sean Locklear.
• About Carolina = “They don’t have any weaknesses, they are very sound and they have some special players.”
• Rocky Bernard, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram did not practice today and are very sore.
• Comparing Smith to Moss – “If there is a difference it is how the teams use both athletes. Moss was going downtown a lot. Smith they use him in more ways, he gets more touches, in a lot of different ways.” Athletically, they are both fast. Smith for his size is very strong and has very strong hands.
• The loss of Foster – “It is not that dramatic. Foster is very expolsive. He has great speed. Goings is a different style, tough guy and he is going to go where the play is designed.”
• Comparing Peppers and Strahan – “They area not similar. They have different body types and different experiences. Peppers is taller and bigger. He presents a different set of problems. The players are quite different. But they are both players that you have to start with when you figure out your plan.
• Holmgren called this the best line he has had in the free agency era
• On Marquand Manuel – “I looked at him as a solid safety. I looked at him as a special teams player who did a lot things, then he is our strong safety and calling all the plays. He has had a phenomenal year.
• On the D-Jack touchdown – “That is an athletic play.”
• Peter Warrick will be the punt returner and Bobby Engram will come in if there are any issues.
• I asked him about Jerry Rice and what teams did to shut him out of a game and he referenced what he did to Rice as the Head Coach of Green Bay.
• About Carolina = “They don’t have any weaknesses, they are very sound and they have some special players.”
• Rocky Bernard, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram did not practice today and are very sore.
• Comparing Smith to Moss – “If there is a difference it is how the teams use both athletes. Moss was going downtown a lot. Smith they use him in more ways, he gets more touches, in a lot of different ways.” Athletically, they are both fast. Smith for his size is very strong and has very strong hands.
• The loss of Foster – “It is not that dramatic. Foster is very expolsive. He has great speed. Goings is a different style, tough guy and he is going to go where the play is designed.”
• Comparing Peppers and Strahan – “They area not similar. They have different body types and different experiences. Peppers is taller and bigger. He presents a different set of problems. The players are quite different. But they are both players that you have to start with when you figure out your plan.
• Holmgren called this the best line he has had in the free agency era
• On Marquand Manuel – “I looked at him as a solid safety. I looked at him as a special teams player who did a lot things, then he is our strong safety and calling all the plays. He has had a phenomenal year.
• On the D-Jack touchdown – “That is an athletic play.”
• Peter Warrick will be the punt returner and Bobby Engram will come in if there are any issues.
• I asked him about Jerry Rice and what teams did to shut him out of a game and he referenced what he did to Rice as the Head Coach of Green Bay.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Locked on Sports: Heroes or goats? Players will decide
Locked on Sports: Heroes or goats? Players will decide: "Sunday, we will be watching history unfold. What happens on Qwest Field will forever be remembered.
How will it be remembered?
Will it be the 'The Block,' after Walter Jones levels a Carolina defender, freeing Alexander?
Or the 'The Rookie,' after Lofa Tatupu dominates from his middle linebacker position?
Could it be 'The Carry,' after Alexander pounds the left side of the line for another short-yardage conversion featuring Seattle's Pro Bowl linemen. Maybe 'The Team,' when the Hawks piece together another performance spotlighting every roster spot."
How will it be remembered?
Will it be the 'The Block,' after Walter Jones levels a Carolina defender, freeing Alexander?
Or the 'The Rookie,' after Lofa Tatupu dominates from his middle linebacker position?
Could it be 'The Carry,' after Alexander pounds the left side of the line for another short-yardage conversion featuring Seattle's Pro Bowl linemen. Maybe 'The Team,' when the Hawks piece together another performance spotlighting every roster spot."
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