Nice start so for, we're killin' em on the boards 26-12 and running just about every possession, even on makes. The big lineup Moore + Swift/Petro is working pretty well. 59-49 at the half. Let's see if we can maintain it, especially if the 3's stop falling.
Petro's playing great, he's hit a few open jumpers and playing Gasol about as well as you can one-on-one. You had to figure the Grizz would come back at home, and Fratello would have them crank up the D. Still, we're hanging tough with one of the top teams in the West on their home court. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting anadagirlballer4strt:</div><div class="quote_post">what's wrong with the freaking FSN. mahhh... guess listening will do.</div> At least you can still listen to Ehlo
rofl @ Ehlo, we have the ball with 17s and possession: 'Now the Sonics have a chance to win the game with a layup or a shot.' lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bravest:</div><div class="quote_post">Huge game, huge finish. Petro played with such poise tonight, did he not?</div> 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting and 4 blocks for a rookie is huge. But he only grabbed 5 rebounds.
Gasol is starting to put up Duncan like career averages against us, but then again no one has been able to stop him this season. He is an outstanding post player. Still, while it's usually the Grizz who share the ball around, this time it was us shutting down Gasol's teammates and having seven guys in double figures. Even though I wouldn't mind us not winning another game all season and picking in the top five or so, I still love seeing this sort of gritty win. Bodes well for next season when you consider at least one of Petro and Swift has made a significant contribution in just about every game since the All-Star break.
Also, is Petro the most underrated rookie this season? Has gotten no press at all outside of Seattle, but the job he has done as a raw rookie centre coming in has been spectacular. I read an article on ESPN evaluating rookies recently, and all they did was list his stats (around 5/5) and say he's been ho hum based on that.
Gasol made the same move on the baseline about twenty times and nobody seemed to be able to stop it. Petro is fun to watch because he's obviously having fun playing. Right now, Swifty is probably the safer prospect but Johan has unlimited upside. Nobody seems to care about Rashard. Poor guy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Nobody seems to care about Rashard. Poor guy.</div> Yeah, what happened there? He drove in and toppled over a foot?
I'm convinced that every contribution made in the Pacific NW happens in obscurity. Petro is arguably the 4th best post guy drafted last year (Bogut, Frye, and Villanueva) and the only true center who has made any impact from last year's draft. No one thought that he would even be on the active roster when he got drafted, let alone become an impact player. So to answer your question, he is extremely underappreciated but I wouldn't go so far as to call him the most underrated player in the draft. The Celtics have some second rounders in Gomes and Greene who have played pretty well this season under the radar. Considering Petro's age and his international backround you would think that some national sports reporter would go on record as saying that this kid is developing quite nicely. But then again, Seattle basketball columns consists of only info on UW, Gonzaga, and the next high school phenom whose game will not translate to the pro level. Great win by the Sonics though. I'd like to think that if Nick Collison were healthy we'd be able to be a much better interior defensive team and guys like Gasol wouldn't be torching us for 44. It's great to see more balance scoring, but it is obvious that Sweet Lew is beginning to take significant steps backwards in his production. Get on the horn this summer Rick. Rashard Lewis days in the Emerald City are numbered. And after missing three straight games in the second round last season (including our elimination game), it is extremely hard for me to feel any type of sympathy for Sweet Lew when he is reported to be have sustained an injury.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Coach Bob Hill said the Sonics were not going to double-team Gasol in the post no matter how many points he scored, and leave the perimeter uncovered for the Grizzlies' 3-point shooters. Consequently, Memphis was only 5-of-15 outside the arc. "That was the game plan. We were going to let Gasol score," Seattle forward Chris Wilcox said. "We just wanted to guard the perimeter. Last time we played them, we doubled him, and he hurt us by making passes to the other guys and they were getting in a rhythm. We just let him (score) and took away a lot of the 3-point shooting."</div> ESPN.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Petro is fun to watch because he's obviously having fun playing. Right now, Swifty is probably the safer prospect but Johan has unlimited upside.</div> They both have tremendous upside. The reason why you may feel that Swift is the safer prospect is b/c Swift is the more talented player. Johan is much more tough minded than Bobby and is much more likely to play the game on instinct without worrying about making a mistake. He is more aggressive and more assertive than Swift b/c he has more professional experience and has had to prove himself against seasoned professionals. But there is no doubt in my mind that I'd rather have Swift than Petro. Robert Swift is a pretty competitive kid himself, with a ton of upside. He is more polished in the post, he runs the floor better, he plays above the rim better, and he seems to be able to take his game further from the hoop than Petro. He also, in my estimation, is as good of a shot blocker as Petro and is a better rebounder. I don't understand how Swift's potential doesn't intrigue every Sonics fan. Johan is going to be a very solid NBA player for many years but Robert Swift has an opportunity to be a premier true center in this league--something that I don't think Petro will ever develop into.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post"> I don't understand how Swift's potential doesn't intrigue every Sonics fan. Johan is going to be a very solid NBA player for many years but Robert Swift has an opportunity to be a premier true center in this league--something that I don't think Petro will ever develop into.</div> I agree, but one's a lottery pick and one's a late first rounder, so I think that would be a great scenario for management if it does turn out that way. It either gives us a legit top five centre and a very capable back-up, or a legit top five centre and a very desirable trade asset. Given the dearth of true seven foot centres in this league, we are in a super position and props to our drafting team for having that sort of vision.
