<div align="center"> @ <font color=""DarkGreen"">Seattle Supersonics</font> (16-24) @ <font color=""Navy"">Utah Jazz</font> (21-21)</div> When: Wednesday 25th January, 7:00 PM (Utah) Where: Delta Center Local TV: KJZZ / FSN-SEA National TV: NBALP Streak <font color=""DarkGreen"">Sonics:</font> Won 1 <font color=""navy"">Jazz:</font> Won 1 Last Result <font color=""darkgreen"">Sonics:</font> Sonics 152 @ Suns 149 (2OT) <font color=""navy"">Jazz:</font> Nets 78 @ Jazz 89 Last Ten <font color=""darkgreen"">Sonics:</font> 3-7 <font color=""Navy"">Jazz:</font> 5-5 Last Met December 9: Sonics 106 @ Jazz 90 <div align="center">Projected Starters <font color=""DarkGreen"">Sonics</font> <font size=""1"">Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmanovic, Robert Swift</font> <font color=""Navy"">Jazz</font> <font size=""1"">Keith McLeod, Gordan Giricek, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Jarron Collins</font></div> Prediction <font color=""Red"">-> -> -> Jazz by 7 <- <- <-</font>
Ok...the Jazz fans are using follow the sun methodology to post their game threads, does that mean we Sonic fans are just slackers? I believe we have our own member on the other side of the Int. Date Line. I haven't watched the Jazz play this year other than against the Sonics, so I don't have much pre-game thinking (not that I generally do much thinking anyway). The glaring style difference is just too funny to me... <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Stockton:</div><div class="quote_post">Last Result Sonics: Sonics 152 @ Suns 149 (2OT) Jazz: Nets 78 @ Jazz 89</div> I am interested to see how Shard does against AK47 at full strength. He was out the first game and not at full strength in the second game.
Wow...I feel a little bit of excitement in here. We haven't had an official game thread for a while now. See what a win can do? Haha...I just hope we have a strong outing tonight..especially after the win vs the Suns.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting monty001:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow...I feel a little bit of excitement in here. We haven't had an official game thread for a while now. See what a win can do? Haha...I just hope we have a strong outing tonight..especially after the win vs the Suns.</div> Monty...the game thread was actually started by a Jazz fan...don't mistake that for sonic fan motivation...
whoops....my bad guys. I didnt look at the name of the person who started the thread...in that case...SCREW YOU JAZZ FANS!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post"> I am interested to see how Shard does against AK47 at full strength. He was out the first game and not at full strength in the second game.</div> I am too. AK is actually one of my favorite players in the league. Great defender, blocks a crazy # of shots, fills the stat sheet, and is just plain scrappy at times. If only we'd have taken him instead of Corey Maggette Andrei is an interesting matchup because Shard doesn't face up against many 3's that are as long and lanky as he is. He's generally got a height or quickness advantage, and here he doesn't really have either. Will be a good test for him. Noticed this little tidbit when perusing some Jazz stats on espn.com <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Status Alert: Coach Jerry Sloan has clearly stated that Milt Palacio, not Williams, will be his first option behind Keith McLeod at point guard, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. (Jan 25)</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting M_Cage89:</div><div class="quote_post">If only we'd have taken him instead of Corey Maggette </div> I'm sure we would've ended up trading him for a 43 year old Otis Thorpe.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard:</div><div class="quote_post">**** the Jazz.</div> Why would I want to lick the Jazz? I find it amusing that Swift is starting. Okur always torches us because we are weak inside and always in foul trouble. Plus he can play the perimeter. At this point we needed a change though, so I'll roll with it. Anybody know what Hill's record is so far?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post"> I find it amusing that Swift is starting. Okur always torches us because we are weak inside and always in foul trouble. Plus he can play the perimeter. At this point we needed a change though, so I'll roll with it. Anybody know what Hill's record is so far?</div> I was thinking that about Okur too, but between Collins and Tag, they'll likely have at least one traditional C on the floor for most of the game so it might not be an issue. I think Hill is 3-7, with 3 3/4 of those games without Ray Allen. We need to finish strong this month if we even want to have a prayer at the playoffs - not that I think we'll make it anyways. February could be the nail in the coffin, 4 @ home, 10 away - with a 4 and 6 game road stretch to make up the 10.
We ended up doing alright on Okur, mainly because everyone on the Sonics contributed. Radio & TV analysts are already doing everything that they can to jinx us, by saying that the Sonics have turned the corner and are making a move for the playoffs, etc, etc. I still don't get why we're playing Swifty. Look at his stats tonight, with the exception of the two blocks, he didn't do anything except put up a Reggie Evans' stat line 3-7 shooting, 13 rebounds, 25mins. So why aren't we playing Reggie? Minny is getting killed by Memphis, Denver is staying close to Portland, key games in out division.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post"> I still don't get why we're playing Swifty. Look at his stats tonight, with the exception of the two blocks, he didn't do anything except put up a Reggie Evans' stat line 3-7 shooting, 13 rebounds, 25mins. So why aren't we playing Reggie?</div> Your right, he put up a Reggie stat line - except he's 5 years younger and we know he's gonna be on the team next year. Reggie might not even be on the squad next week. Thats probably the main reason, IMO. I think a real key though is the exception - the 2 blocks. The last time Evans had two blocks was in preschool, and they were both wooden. Swift forces the other team to change shots, and gets his mits on a few - thats an invaluable commodity for a team doesn't have a very good perimeter defense.
Id put Swift over Reggie, just because Swift needs the experience and PT really bad. I think Swift is a better defensive player than Reggie, I dont think Reggie really intimidates anyone when the opponent goes to the hole. Swift was good tonight, 13 rebounds and some blocks, dats good.
Swift and Petro are challenging shots. Sure those contested shots dont show up on the stat sheet, but they've got the length, obviously. Evans cant contest shots like that. It really helped us tonight.
When we played the twin towers we did a good job just switching or zoning or whatever we were doing and clogging the middle - Swift, Petro, Big Game Miki and Collison. Also, I have to give credit to Ridnour, I didn't think he'd turn it around but under Hill he's been playing really well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">I still don't get why we're playing Swifty. Look at his stats tonight, with the exception of the two blocks, he didn't do anything except put up a Reggie Evans' stat line 3-7 shooting, 13 rebounds, 25mins. So why aren't we playing Reggie?</div> That's a joke, right? It has to be.
Lewis vs. AK47: Lewis had 16 points, 2 steals, 1 assist and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes against a quality defender...I'm OK with that. AK had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, but he is their best player and Lewis was only on the floor with him for half AK's minutes. Swifty: Swift could have had 20 rebounds last night. He used his length to get his 13, and he was the first to touch a lot more. Once he gets the experience to learn how to control his tips and get his hands on the ball his rebounding will only improve. Jurrasic must be using sarcasm on his Swifty comments unless he missed the game. Reggie's numbers against the Jazz in the last two games totaled 3-7 shooting, 10 points and 24 rebounds which would average out to the same numbers Swift put up tonight, but in this case the numbers don't reflect the impact of the game. (He had 0 blocks in both games btw) I can't remember a game in Utah where the Sonics controlled tempo...they have won games there in the past by playing Jazz basketball and fighting out close ones. It was great to see the same team that played the Sun's play the Jazz. The Sonics have only had 10 games this season with double digit differential in off/def ratings. This was their best, +4 over the next best which was the last time they played in Utah. Who ever thought playing in SLC would be the cure for the Sonics' woes? I used to dread watching them play in that arena.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">That's a joke, right? It has to be.</div> No it's not, so let me break it down for you guys. Unlike unloyal fans, an organization will make a push for the playoffs as long as they can, they still believe that they have a chance (if they didn't they would have stuck with Weiss and let him lead us to the lottery). Especially since we are in arguably the NBA's weakest division. Reggie Evan's brings a lot more experience to the floor than Swift. Also, Reggie was a part of the winning formula last year, Swifty was not. Evans and Fortson are both great at frustrating other forwards, getting them to lose focus and talk trash rather than play the game (I have seen them get Garnett to do this, and many others). Yeah Swift is a part of the future, but now is NOT the time to be experimenting with young talent. Bring him off the bench. Our starting lineup needed some tweaking? Sure. So start Vlad, he's played big minutes before. Don't start Swift, especially not against a Jazz team with a center who has the ability to torch us from both the outside and inside.
Did you even watch the game? Swift was guarding Okur for about 5-8 minutes in the last quarter when we were cruising. Otherwise, he was guarded by Radman or Collison. Collins and Ostertag played center for the Jazz most of the game. And you act like Reggie doesn't play off of perimeter players so he can get more rebounds. Don't get so hung up on last season. Reggie can score, but he's still a horrible player on the offensive side of the ball because he destroys any momentum. And he's not a center. Danny has played horribly this year, even in the 2 games he was healthy. I don't know how you could watch a game and think that Swift and Petro aren't helping the team. I'm all for disagreeing with everybody for the sake of disagreeing, but this is just ridiculous.
