Details: When: Sunday, November 7th Where: Key Arena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 5:00 TV: FSN, NBATV Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="DarkSlateGray">San Antonio</font> Tony Parker Manu Ginobili Bruce Bowen Tim Duncan Rasho Nesterovic Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Vitaly Potapenko: Broken hand, ruled out. Ibo Kutluay: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Flip Murray: Quadricep strain, unlikely. <font color="DarkSlateGray">San Antonio</font> Linton Johnson: Sprained ankle, unlikely. Sean Marks: Sprained back, unlikely. Romain Sato: Knee tendinitis, unlikely. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Spurs swept the hapless Sonics last season. They come in full strength, and as favourites to win the West. [/list] <ul> [*]Ray Allen called out Bruce Bowen in the media for his physical style of defense last season, and will be guard by Bowen again. [/list] <ul> [*]This is Brent Barry's first return to Seattle, which should ensure a big crowd and a standing ovation for one of the most loved Sonics in recent history. [/list] <ul> [*]Jerome James was fined for arriving late against Atlanta, but the Sonics cannot afford to be without him against Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic. [/list] <ul> [*]Seattle rectified a season opening road blowout to the Clippers with a big win over the Hawks, and stand at 1-1, while the Spurs have started the season in typically efficient form, particularly Tim Duncan who is averaging 28 and 15 thus far.[/list] All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
Spurs should really win this one. Only problem we may face is a matchup for Lewis and Radmanovic - I'd think Horry might have to play some time on Rashard. Barry will get about 25-30 minutes of the bench. Ray Allen vs Bowen will be a fun match-up. Bowen has not lost an ounce of defensive talent, whilst Ginobili and Brown have improved. No rest for Ray I'd say. 97-86 Spurs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mattyc:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray Allen vs Bowen will be a fun match-up. Bowen has not lost an ounce of defensive talent, whilst Ginobili and Brown have improved. No rest for Ray I'd say.</div> I can envision Fortson setting a few hard picks on Bowen, but knowing Bruce it won't bother him one bit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">I think if Fortson pulls that, Brucie babes might just have to karate kick him into next week.</div> <div align="center"></div>
First of all... i'd like to commend you Nick on your amazing signature. Finally someone took the initiative of putting one of the NBA's fresh new faces in their signatures. Watch out Allen Iverson, theres a new NBA heartthrob in town. Secondly, the Sonics will need to muster every ounce of talent and strength they possess in order to pull off a victory against the Spurs. That being said, we're throwing Jerome James and Reggie Evans against Tim Duncan. The game will be a success if the Sonics stick with the Spurs the whole game and if Bruce Bowen gets flattened.
Im cheering for the Spurs because of Ginobili, he's a great player and had that monster dunk last week over like 3 people. Tony Parker is good too he should be a big factor in this game and so Will Bruce Bowen. The Sonics have a chance if Ray comes up big and Shard shows up.
Wow, a blowout win over the West favourites, they don't come along very often, particularly in the early part of the season when they're not resting players for the playoffs. Good to see Rashard continuing to step up to the plate, and Ray shaking off his nemesis Bruce. From all accounts Reggie, Jerome (four blocks) and big Danny formed a triple tag team on Timmy D, and it paid off. Also, if we can get that sort of bench production from the likes of DF, Vlad and AD more often than not, that's a huge step to contending for the postseason. It's all about the Fortson, boys and girls, bring on the Nuggets. <font size="1">Boxscore courtesy of NBA.com.</font>
113 to 94, Sonics Great win, we spanked arguably the best team in the league. <u>Things that stood out:</u> <u>The Good</u> :thumbsup: 6 players in double digits Danny Fortson with 15 points and 13 boards Lewis with 27 Ridnour with 6 dimes(but only 2 points) Duncan only 17 points 50% from the field(46% from behind the arc) Jerome James with 4 blocks And of course Ray was his normal self with 24 points and 6 boards <u>The Bad</u> :thumbsdow Evans only 2 boards(but he had 10 points) James, 6 fouls in 19 minutes(same old Jerome) Ginobili and Parker each with 21. Allowed 50 points in the paint The good heavily out favored the bad in this matchup. Hopefully we can gain some momentum from this victory and get a win streak going.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Danny Fortson was harrasing Duncan in this game, man, Forston was a beast too.</div> Exactly what he was brought in for, and he's already done more than Booth did in his entire Sonics career. 13 boards, seven of those offensive, and he hit his freebies too (9-10).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">spurs got owned this game. I thought it would be the other way around.</div> Me too, GOOD GAME SONICS!
41 points in the 4th quarter, are my eyes deceiving me? So much for the Spurs being a defensive team.
