Golden State vs Seattle Details: Who: (25-28) vs (23-30) Where: The Arena in Oakland When: Saturday, Feb 21st, 7:30pm TV: KONG Projected Lineups: PG: Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ray AllenRonald Murray/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic/Ansu Sesay PF: Calvin BoothVladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans C: Vitaly PotapenkoJerome James/Calvin Booth Coached by Nate McMillan PG: Speedy Claxton/Nick Van Exel/Avery Johnson SG: Jason Richardson/Calbert Cheaney SF: Brian Cardinal/Calbert Cheaney/Mickael Pietrus PF: Calvin Booth/Popeye Jones C: Vitaly Potapenko/Adonal Foyle Coached by Eric Musselman Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Brent Barry: broken finger, on IL. Injury List Mike Dunleavy: sprained ankle, doubtful. Troy Murphy: bone bruise, on IL. Evan Eschmeyer, knee surgery, on IL. Analysis: The battle of the placings, really. Both Seattle and Golden State look out of the running for a playoff berth, and the Warriors look to wrap up their first season series win over the Sonics since 1991/92. For Golden State Mile Dunleavy is struggling to come up with an ankle sprain, while Seattle continue to struggle in the absence of Brent Barry, who sits on the sidelines with a broken finger on his shooting hand. Both clubs were heavily involved in trade deadline discussions, particularly surrounding the likes of Barry, Radmanovic, Murray and Erick Dampier, but neither team made a trade. Slam Dunk Epic Flashback to All Star weekend, 2003, and the dunk contest. Without the likes of Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant, the contest was expected to be a bore. Enter Desmond Mason, then with Seattle, and Jason Richardson, who staged an epic final. Mason looked to have it in the bag after scoring a 50 on his first dunk, but a miss on his second allowed Richardson back in. He did not disappoint, scoring a perfect 50 on his final dunk to upstage Mason and temporarily bring some life back into the contest. [quoteright] "My position going into the summertime now, becoming a free agent, I have opportunities to go and play somewhere where I have a choice in the matter. Whether that is here or someplace else. It just depends on how important it is for Seattle to keep me around in their scheme of things and what direction they're headed.” – Brent Barry on re-signing with the Sonics.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factors: - Crash the glass. Guys like Dampier, Cardinal, Robinson and even Richardson will kill the Sonics on the glass, particularly offensively, unless Seattle’s big men come to play. Often this is not the case, and is why so often the Sonics are killed by second chance points. - Put a body on defensively. The game against Philadelphia was painful to watch simply because no one wanted to play some physical defense, and Golden State have the slashers to take advantage of any soft defending. - Feed Rashard Lewis early. Against Philadelphia Lewis was in early foul trouble, and was really a non factor when the game was on the line. He is a confidence player, so feeding him the ball early and hoping he gets off to a hot start will make life difficult for the Warriors. Key Matchup: Ray Allen vs Jason Richardson Interestingly enough, in the two times the Warriors have beaten Seattle this season Richardson has had a big impact, and in the single Sonics win he was effectively a spectator as he struggled all night. Fresh off losing his Slam Dunk title to unheralded Pacer Fred Jones, Richardson goes up against All Star Ray Allen in perhaps the most important match-up on the floor. Allen comes in after being the only Sonic to produce much in a disappointing loss to Philadelphia, and will know he needs to lead from the front against a talented, yet inconsistent Golden State team. Richardson will need to make sure he gets a hand in the face of Allen as much as possible, while at the other end Allen will need to concentrate on keeping Richardson off the boards, especially offensively. Richardson, despite standing around 6’3, is one of the best rebounding guards in the league. X-Factors: Reggie Evans – as ever, Golden State’s strength is their inside play, and in both occasions they’ve beaten Seattle this season it has been by scoring inside and crashing the boards at both ends. Evans generally doesn’t get a lot of minutes, but he may be needed in this one. Brian Cardinal – Seattle, like every other team, could have thrown a contract at this guy in the off-season, but he wasn’t given much of a look. Now he exhibits all the qualities the Sonics lack; defense, toughness, rebounding, and is carving a nice career for himself in California. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
Sonics by 2. Evevn though the Warriors are at home and both of these teams are almost equal I'll have to say the Somnics take this oe aftera stop in the 4th. That's what I think willl win the game for any of the two teams. The first one to get a stop will walk a victouriously. I think the Sonics will do this and win by 2.
I'm gonna say Sonics like usual...they can't start the 2nd half with two losses in a row...Sonics by 5.
Ray is cold, very cold... and yet, we're leading. I presume that once he gets his groove back the lead will increase (or maybe vice-versa? )
I was screaming thinking we'd go overtime...but now I juss wanna cry... yea I know I'm a wuss...but grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard07:</div><div class="quote_post">ONE FOOT ON THE LINE! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?! Another bad break for the sonics.</div> Yeah, reading the commentary I was like "Why would he shoot a 22-footer instead of a 3?" Now we know. Did you get any replays of this call?
That was a downward spiral towards the end... Ray fouling out then Shard then the tech on Sesay...and to cap it off Radman steps on the line. All a part of Sonics basketball though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard07:</div><div class="quote_post">That was a downward spiral towards the end... Ray fouling out then Shard then the tech on Sesay...and to cap it off Radman steps on the line. All a part of Sonics basketball though.</div> Now have another 1 point loss in a row and that is what we have gone through in the last 2 games against the Lakers and Blazers to start the second half of the season.
Ray and and Rashard combined where just plain useless out there... I expect it every so often from Lewis, but not from Allen. Sad that the Sonics lose yet another completely winnable game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">Now have another 1 point loss in a row and that is what we have gone through in the last 2 games against the Lakers and Blazers to start the second half of the season.</div> Why? We've already have numerous close losses of our own, including two single point losses in a row earlier in the season (not to mention that Antoine Walker buzzer beater against Dallas). Seattle have had rotten luck this season, and it continues here. I guess the only way to go is up... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND, Calif. — No Sonic could hide his anger last night. It wasn't just because they lost 94-92 to the Golden State Warriors and dropped the season series for the first time since hip-hop was a new fad. And it wasn't because Vladimir Radmanovic was given only two points on an apparent game-winning three-point basket. It was the fouls. Again. Barely 48 hours after watching Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson waltz to the free-throw line for 21 attempts in the 76ers' 11-point win, the Sonics were victims of a bizarre game at The Arena in Oakland where they almost had more personal fouls (31) than field goals (35). Players are usually told to play through fouls and not allow them to decide a game, but the Sonics found that difficult to do. Co-captains Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis both fouled out with less than four minutes left. "What they ran tonight was disgusting," Allen said of the officials. "They made so many bad calls down the stretch. Nobody comes to see the referees. For them to have that kind of impact on the game is ridiculous.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of the Seattle Times.</font> Next Game: vs Celtics, Sun Jan 22nd
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray and and Rashard combined where just plain useless out there... I expect it every so often from Lewis, but not from Allen. Sad that the Sonics lose yet another completely winnable game.</div> Was it because Jrich played good defense or did they just not shoot well?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray and and Rashard combined where just plain useless out there... I expect it every so often from Lewis, but not from Allen. Sad that the Sonics lose yet another completely winnable game.</div> Did you actually watch the game, or are you quoting from a box score?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray and and Rashard combined where just plain useless out there... I expect it every so often from Lewis, but not from Allen. Sad that the Sonics lose yet another completely winnable game.</div> "Useless?" Interesting that a statement like that comes from a guy who probably didn't even watch the game. Actually, even with the struggles of Shard and Allen in the game, they probably would have won had they been there in the end. Looked like Flip Murray was trying to take over and deliver the win for Seattle, but he was having problems doing so. Also, good hustle by the Warriors to finish the game off, thought it was going to OT, but Radmonivic's foot was clearly on the line.
