Preview Details: Who: (13-13) vs (18-9) Where: Key Arena When: Sat, Dec 27rd, 7pm TV: KONG, NBALP Projected Lineups: PG: Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour* SG: Ronald Murray/Ray Allen/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Ansu Sesay/Vladimir Radmanovic PF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans/Vitaly Potapenko C: Jerome James/Calvin Booth/Vitaly Potapenko * Seattle's usual starting point guard, Brent Barry, will be a game time decision. Coached by Nate McMillan PG: Sam Cassell/Troy Hudson/Keith McLeod SG: Trenton Hassell/Fred Hoiberg SF: Latrell Sprewell/Gary Trent/Ndudi Ebi PF: Kevin Garnett/Gary Trent/Mark Madsen C: Ervin Johnson/Oliver Miller Coached by Flip Saunders Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Brent Barry: strained left hip flexor, probable. Sun Injury List Michael Olowokandi: right knee surgery, on IL. Wally Szczerbiak: strained plantar fascia in left foot, on IL. Analysis: Two of the NBA's form teams come to the fore in this one. Minnesota have won six straight, including an impressive overtime win against Sacramento at ARCO Arena, and rightly come into this one as favourites. Seattle's record isn't eye-catching, smack bang on .500 at 13-13, but they come off a confidence boosting win in Denver, and a 26 point demolition job of Phoenix. Ray Allen is also back, and immediately made his presence felt against the Suns with 24 points (8-13 shooting) and 7 assists in only 23 minutes. He should see more time against Latrell Sprewell and the Timberwolves, and this will give the Sonics more confidence against one of the elite teams going around. Flashback: Remember this Minnesota fans? With the scores tied at 87 on November 11, at the Target Centre, Flip Murray went left and nailed an 18 footer over Latrell Sprewell, to cap off a then career high and take Seattle to 4-1. Since then the Sonics have gone 9-12 to fall out of the playoff picture. Can they get back on track here? [quoteright]“This is a great group of guys. I had no idea that there were some of the personalities on this team that they have, which makes it a lot easier to play with on the floor. Off the floor, it’s enjoyable. Being on the bus, on the plane, laughing and joking, makes it even more fun.” - Seattle FA signing Antonio Daniels on his Seattle teammates.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factor: Seattle have to buck up on the defensive end here, or they could theoretically get blown out. In the past it seemed easy; double Kevin Garnett and look to limit his effect, and a win was likely. As good as Garnett is, the bottom line is he needed help, and now he has it. Latrell Sprewell, Michael Olowokandi (injured) and Latrell Sprewell were all aquired through trade and free agency, and the result is teams can no longer afford to focus so heavily on MVP candidate Garnett. Will this spell disaster for Seattle? Not only do they not have the defensive players to match-up on Garnett, the form of Cassell and Sprewell ensures the Sonics will have to be wide awake on the defensive end. Antonio Daniels will likely get Cassell, Ray Allen will get Sprewell and Lewis may match-up on Garnett, and all three will have to help each other and rely on Jerome James and Calvin Booth staying out of foul trouble, and guarding the basket. You can't stop KG, but if you don't contain his teammates as well then you are in trouble. Key Matchup: Rashard Lewis vs Kevin Garnett Last time the Wolves double and triple teamed Lewis, and were guilty of this when Murray nailed the gamewinner. They may not be so hasty to guard Lewis in this one however, as Garnett has the length and abilities to completely shut Lewis down, who comes in on the back of a 22/13 game against Phoenix, and his sidekick Ray Allen is back and commanding attention. Lewis needs to use his first step and speed to penetrate, and hopefully get Garnett in foul trouble, who is having another dominant, MVP worthy season. Garnett will look to isolate Lewis, and especially look to post him up and use his size advantage accordingly. Lewis will want teammates Radmanovic, who is slumping, Allen and Murray to all fire, meaning the defense cannot focus as much on him. X-Factors: Antonio Daniels - averaging 11 and 7 since coming into the starting line-up, Daniels remains the Sonics' best perimeter defender and will likely see a lot of time on the in-form Cassell. He is shooting over 40% from donwtown also, which means Cassell cannot disrespect his shot and play the passing lanes too often. Gary Trent - once dubbed a 'mini-Shaq', Trent isn't quite so polished, but does have the build and toughness. When he wants to be, Trent is capable of banging it down low and clearing the key way for Cassell, Sprewell and Hudson to penetrate, and a weak inside team like the Sonics will get him salivating. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
I think this one is going to be like the Mavs/Kings game last night. Somebody is going to break out in a lead, a team is going to come back, and then one is going to finish of the other. The Wolves need to contain Ray, I know him and Flip are going to have a big game. You saw what he did on his comeback Its gonna be a good one!
Nice preiew. Unfortunatley, I think the Twolves will take this one. Although, again, Ray will provide a spark, it won't be enough to stop them. Twolves by 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preiew. Unfortunatley, I think the Twolves will take this one. Although, again, Ray will provide a spark, it won't be enough to stop them. Twolves by 6.</div> I agree. I think Wolves will start off strong, the Sonics will battle back but in the end fall just short. I saw TWolves by 5.
Great previews Dez :thumbsup: This one will be close.The guard play will decide this game to me.Ray Allen,Ronald Murray,Antonio Daniels,Richie Frahm and Luke Ridnour v the main guards for the Wolves of Cassell,Hudson,Sprewell,Trenton Hassell and Fred Hoiberg.
Arg! I came so close to getting tickets to this game tonight. Then I was gonna brag to Purehoops about getting to see KG play Guess I'll just watch in on Kong..... Anyway, the Soncis have a good chance of winning this one. Did anyone see how well Jerome James played in Ray Allen's return?! Energized! Ray barely played two quarters and he still had 24. The Sonics should take a Dallas-style approach to this game. Don't worry about containing guys like KG, just try to outscore them. Sonics by 7 (some of that 7 will come from end of the game foul line inflation).
I predict that Kevin Garnett and the T wolves will triumph over the Sonics. I dont think the sonics can handle all that experience that the Timberwolves have.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyway, the Soncis have a good chance of winning this one. Did anyone see how well Jerome James played in Ray Allen's return?! Energized! Ray barely played two quarters and he still had 24.</div> Spot on dude, when ray was traded here last season he brought the best out of JJ. James can be very sensitive and playing with GP was not a perfect fit, he seems a lot more relaxed with Ray and he knows he's gonna find the ball.
Well 104-86 in the end, as per usual the Sonics self-destructed in the last...KG was massive, especially in the second half with 28 and 14, and Sam Cassell had 20. For Seattle, Ray was ice cold all night, shooting 5-22. Lewis was the best of a bad bunch, finishing with 16 and 7 but fading out. Ridnour was great off the bench, Radmanovic was servicable and Brent Barry did some nice things. Overall, one to forget for Sonic fans. Next Game: @ Rockets, Monday Box Score<font size="1"> courtesy of NBA.com </font>
Give Ray some time, he will be ok, an off game was bound to happen after making his return, even if that first game was lights out.
Yep Ray needs time to get back into his groove...He has showed signs of how good he will be.I say in a few weeks we all should see the real Ray Allen.
