Sonics vs. Clippers: Official Game Thread

Details:

When: Wednesday, November 2nd
Where: Key Arena, Seattle
Time (Seattle): 7:00
TV: Fox Sports, League Pass

Projected Starters:

<font color="green">Seattle (0-0)</font>

Luke Ridnour
Ray Allen
Rashard Lewis
Reggie Evans
Johan Petro

<font color="Red">LA Clippers (0-0)</font>

Sam Cassell
Cuttino Mobley
Quinton Ross
Elton Brand
Chris Kaman

Injury Troubles:

<font color="green">Seattle</font>

Vitaly Potapenko - Sore left hamstring (doubtful)
Robert Swift - Sore left hip (doubtful)
Clinton "Mikki" Moore - Sore left knee (probable)
Danny Fortson - Sore left toe (probable)
Rick Brunson - Plantar fasciitis (probable)


<font color="red">LA Clippers</font>

Shaun Livingston - Lower Back (out)
Corey Maggette - Strained left hamstring (doubtful)
Walter McCarty - Lacerated right thumb (doubtful)

Inactive List:

<font color="green">Seattle</font>

Robert Swift
Mateen Cleaves
Vitaly Potapenko

<font color="red">LA Clippers</font>


Shaun Livingston
Walter McCarty


Brief Notes:

<ul>
[*]The Sonics will begin the 2005-2006 the same way it began the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 season -- against the Los Angeles Clippers. This game unlike the past two season openers will be at the Key Arena. Last season the Sonics were crushed 114-84 in the season opener and went on to win 17 of their next 19 games.
[*]This game marks the debut of both Bob Weiss as the head coach and rookie Johan Petro at center. Weiss succeeds long time Sonic Nate McMillan who now coaches down I-5 for the Portland Trail Blazers and Petro succeeds Big Game James (Jerome James) who now is the starting center for the New York Knicks.
[*]Former Clippers Rick Brunson and Clinton "Mikki" Moore also make their Sonic debuts tonight.


[*]The Clippers may be without swingman Corey Maggette and will most likely give Quinton Ross the start if he is unavailable. They will also be missing Shaun Livingston and Walter McCarty.
[*]The Clippers will also sport a new starting backcourt this season with the additions of Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. Cassell was traded from Minnesota for Marko Jaric and Cuttino Mobley signed as a free agent from Sacramento.
[/list]
<div align="center">Random Kenny "The Jet" Smith Quote:

<div align="left"> "For all those who thought that the Steve Nash shouldn't have been the MVP last season, best believe that he will be able to silence all of his criticisms after he is able to lead the Suns to the playoffs without Amare Stoudamire."

All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
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Is it too early to label a game as a 'must-win'? For some reason I feel like a loss tonight would result in an 'I told you so/It has begun/Nate wouldn't have let that happen' sentiment that we need to shake as early in the season as possible.

As far as the matchups on the floor, I have to admit to having no affection for the Clipper starting guards, but no one can deny that they can be exceedingly dangerous. Hopefully Cassell and Cat are too old and feeble now to do it for an entire game.

Also, Vlads shot needs to make a return quickly. We need that 3rd option, but I fear that his agent will be in his ear all season and it will affect his play for the worse.

Anyway, glad to see the season finally starting and sharing thoughts on the Supes with you guys throughout the year.

 

Im just excited for the season to start. i dont expect a great performance out of the Sonics tonight but for us to have a good season im hoping to see good signs from Flip and hopefully Petro as well.

 

Nice preview, though the nit-picky among us will remind you that with the trade with Chicago for Eddy Curry relegated Jerome James to a backup, and his arrival at camp significantly out of shape will likely lead to limited game action for BGJ under the demanding discipline of Larry Brown.

 

I expect the Supes to do the same thing the Spurs did last night and not overexert themselves. We still need to sharpen up the offense and defense, so this game will be an experiment of sorts.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview, though the nit-picky among us will remind you that with the trade with Chicago for Eddy Curry relegated Jerome James to a backup, and his arrival at camp significantly out of shape will likely lead to limited game action for BGJ under the demanding discipline of Larry Brown.</div>

I knew it. I was gonna say something, and then thought, "naw, somebody else will say it before game time."

 

You certainly did pwn me Shiek - did you have the format from last season saved or something? Great job.

Anyway, remember last season when we got trounced by 30 on opening night against the Clips? From memory we won the next nine games before being beaten by the Celtics. I think we'll see a tight game this time around and hopefully we can get our home schedule off to a flying start, but I don't think this game is going to make or break a season. Would be nice for Bobby to get a win on the board already in front of the home fans though.

Thanks for clarifying who Big Games James is too, I wasn't sure who you were talking about until I saw the brackets.

 

I'm pumped for this year. Anyone else going to the Wolves game on Friday?

Sonics by 7. I predict a close game until the 4th. For some reason I think that we'll be run a little bit more like the Grizzlies with more minutes for the reserves.

 

16-4. Nice start. Everyone looks lively. Petro is already better than JJ

I like the way he moves his feet and gets in the chair on D.

 

Halftime all notted at 50....

Cassel jumper looks in mid april form. and that is helping the Clippers stay in it. But I think Seattle is playing a better team game(well both teams are struggling on D) but offsensively, they have the ball movement and are getting the better looks at the basket both in the paint and from the outside. I love when Sammy gets going like this..but I think he needs to wheel his game in a bit for the 2nd half and establish Brand in the post because right now everything is to perimeter orientated...long jumpers eventually stop dropping.

Seattle, I just think their bigs have to show hard as Cassell looks to come off screens. And maybe put a bigger defender then Ridnour on Cassell...that will keep Cassell from using his body to position himself in the lane for his 15 footers. And shooting over the top of the Sonics D. But overall I think the Sonics are playing the better team basketball.

 

Shame to lose a game that we were truly in control of for the majority of it. Weiss def has his work cut out for him still. my notes on the game....

Flip was solid except that last turnover which was very very very silly. He was no Antonio Daniels but was an ok start and hopefully he will grow more comfortable

Petro was solid. Luke and Nick had pretty bad games but that isnt anything to worry about. Vlade and Fortson though may end up going from heavy contributors of last year to the IR if they play like they did tonight. Fortson played like an absolute moron and his 5th foul was absolutely huge. I didnt like Weiss putting him in the game with 4.5 minutes to go. But just opening game I think we saw some solid signs just have to build off this loss and hopefully get a win against Minnesota on Friday.

 

I'm way too depressed about an opening day loss. I think I'm too into this.

The offense looked pretty bad. Luke didn't create any shots, and Flip couldn't do anything besides drive to the hole and dish it off. Brunson played really well in the first half for a few minutes, but didn't get off the bench in the second for some reason. Ray was the only constant, hitting shots nobody else would think of taking (except Sam Cassell, apparently). Rashard didn't post up, we didn't set enough screens, and there was just no flow.

The defense looked promising. The Clippers just hit a lot of contested jump shots. I don't think Cassell made one layup for his 35 points.

Petro was way better than I thought he'd be. He deserved to play more, but the rotation was messed up. At least Nate stuck with his rotations for two halves when he was changing things around last year. Petro, Brunson, and Damien should have played more, especially in the second half. Luke and Nick should have played less.

But it's only the first game...

 

Man, I hate Sam Cassell. He was lighting it up all game, man he was amazing lol.

But its ok, just the first game..Even tho ALOT of Sonic Haters were in my ear after the game, I was kinda pissed off..But I got to see Petro play, and man the guy is good..Bobby shoulda gave him more minutes, him and Reggie Evans work well together, If those 2 were in near the end I think it wouldve been better for us, cause when those 2 were in the game it seemed like the Clippers werent scoring as much..Or was Cassell on the bench?

Hopefully we can bounce back tho..I hate seeing the Sonics lose. Danny Fortson pisses me off to, his dumb fouls at critical points of the game. SMH..Vlad needs to start stroking it again.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">

The defense looked promising. The Clippers just hit a lot of contested jump shots. I don't think Cassell made one layup for his 35 points.
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Nope not one...he pentrated all the way to the hoop twice al night I believe..once was in the 1st quarter and he missed a layup on the fastbreak. And the 2nd time was in the third quarter when he went 1 for 5 from the field, he got stripped. But honestly I have seen plenty of games over the years were Sam gets 30 without making a layup. a 12 footer in the lane is a layup for him honeslty. I think that that is what has made Cassell so dangerous...when Sam first got into this league he went to the hoop more but after back injuries he stop going to the hoop all the way. And he added the consistency to the mid range game and its been a wrap ever since.

Cassell is so hard to guard in the crunch because his range gets alot deeper. Defenders(I guess they are so use to the normal defensive mentally), they still try to appoarch him like they approach alot of other clutch players..buy stoping the penetration...keep them from getting to the line force them to take jumpers falling away from the hoop. But honestly, Cassell, the only thing he is thinking in the clutch, is how to set the guy defending him up and back on his heals, so he can take a jumper falling away from the hoop. If Cassell is going all the way to the hoop in the crunch, its to to set up a play for someone else...or his intentions to throw his body into the defender to get to the line. But rarely does Cassell go all the way to the hoop in the clutch. And he definately is aware that he doesnt have the lift to get his shot off consistently against the trees deep in the paint

 

Just one of those nights I guess, where the opposition gets into a zone.

If Cassell scores 35 again all season I'll eat my hat.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Just one of those nights I guess, where the opposition gets into a zone.

If Cassell scores 35 again all season I'll eat my hat.</div>


Cassell probably wont score 35 again this year..but it wont be because he cant. Its will be because that isnt the direction of this Clippers team..the direction is Brand, Magette and eventually Livingston. But dont sleep Dez, Sam is going to be a killer this year. And even tho, those guys are the focus point of the Clippers...Sam still will be the man with his hands on the ball come the 4th. And thats a problem for the West, when Sammy is healthy.

 

I saw this game live.

Most promising thing I saw all night involved Petro and Fortson. Petro was looking really good in the 1st quarter and just good in the 3rd quarter. In the third he found himself under the basket with the ball a number of times whether off a pass or an offensive board. He was just way to slow reacting and got stripped, blocked or fouled each time. On the last time a timeout was called after Petro was fouled. He goes to the sideline and Danny Fortson and Mikki Moore both get up and grab Petro. They have an animated conversation which ended with Danny demonstrating how to hold the ball over his head and use his legs to draw the foul and push through the contact to score. Can you imagine a 7' player who can finish and draw the contact like Danny does without the ref stigma on him? Of course he needs to fix his free throws before the drawing of fouls will help him much.

On a side note, I wonder if the Danny might have been trying to woo the favor of any potential gay referees with his homophobic lip flapping this week? Perhaps he thought they would treat him more equitably if he spat prejudicial nonsense and passively threatened his team mates.

I thought Flip looked rather sloppy with his handle in the second half and made some poor decisions. He got too fancy with his dribble more than once and had to recover which disrupted his move. He also ignored open team mates while he tried to break down his defender and made a couple of passes to players who weren't ready.

Neither Flip nor Luke were able to guard Cassell on the pick and roll. The bigs weren't showing aggressively enough and Cassell hit most of his shots without a hand in his face. Why didn't we see Wilkens get a try at Sam? We need a defensive stopper on the perimeter. The interior defense actually looked better than it has in years with every combo on the floor. Nick was a little lazy at the high post on his man and on switches during the first half. He was sagging too much and Brand and the guards were shooting away.

When is Vlade going to find out what is off on his shot. He always does, but we need his shooting.

Who is going to show some fire on defense for this team? They had solid double digit leads twice in this game and came out of time outs laid back and content rather than focused and hungry to put the Clippers away. The Clippers came out of those same timeouts fired up and confident they could come back. I don't care who fires up that huddle, but someone needs to get mad.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post"> At least Nate stuck with his rotations for two halves when he was changing things around last year. Petro, Brunson, and Damien should have played more, especially in the second half. Luke and Nick should have played less.

But it's only the first game... </div>

Yeah playing 11 guys a night is just to much. I thought Brunson was good when he was on the court but I felt like Flip was doing solid enough that it wasnt necesarily to bring him in. And Fortson should never have came back in the 2nd half. He gave an absolute pisspoor performance that made me sick to my stomach. He committed 5 blatant fouls (even for Fortson) and the 5th nearly killed us. I honestly think i would take Fortson out of the rotation for that. Not like he really earned his spot in the rotation anyways coming into camp out of shape and being hurt most of it..Potapenko didnt get his minutes back.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">Cassell probably wont score 35 again this year..but it wont be because he cant. Its will be because that isnt the direction of this Clippers team..the direction is Brand, Magette and eventually Livingston. But dont sleep Dez, Sam is going to be a killer this year. And even tho, those guys are the focus point of the Clippers...Sam still will be the man with his hands on the ball come the 4th. And thats a problem for the West, when Sammy is healthy.</div>

I never said he couldn't, but be honest, how many times is he going to shoot 14/26 from the floor entirely off jumpers?

My point is we got beaten by someone in a rare zone. It's no excuse for giving up a 13-point second half lead, it's just annoying.

Anyway, you'd tell me Cassell was going to have a big year even if he got his leg amputated and contracted gout.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">I never said he couldn't, but be honest, how many times is he going to shoot 14/26 from the floor entirely off jumpers?

My point is we got beaten by someone in a rare zone. It's no excuse for giving up a 13-point second half lead, it's just annoying.

Anyway, you'd tell me Cassell was going to have a big year even if he got his leg amputated and contracted gout.</div>

Iam not that biased...well maybe just a little bit. Anyway, you are right. Like I posted at the half last night the Sonics definately played the better team ball thru the first 3 quarters. But I think the start of the 4th...the Clippers ball movement improved. And role players like Ross, Ewing and Singleton made key plays & shots. The Clippers played well as a team in that fisrt 5 or 6 minutes of the 4th. Seattle should have won that game tho...when the game got tight...plays should have ran thru Ray more. But the Flip Murray tried to put on his superman outfit...after being Clark Kent for the 1st three quarters