Seattle vs Memphis: Official Game Thread

Details:

When: Sunday, November 14th
Where: Key Arena, Seattle
Time (Seattle): 5:00
TV: Fox Sports, League Pass

Projected Starters:

<font color="green">Seattle (5-1)</font>

Luke Ridnour
Ray Allen
Rashard Lewis
Reggie Evans
Jerome James

<font color="Teal">Memphis (2-4)</font>

Jason Williams
Bonzi Wells
Shane Battier
Pau Gasol
Lorenzen Wright

Injury Troubles:

<font color="green">Seattle</font>

Vitaly Potapenko: Broken hand, ruled out.
Ibo Kutluay: Knee tendinitis, ruled out.
Flip Murray: Quadricep strain, ruled out.

<font color="Teal">Memphis</font>

James Posey: Sprained foot, ruled out.
Andre Emmett: Knee tendinitis, ruled out.
Antonio Burks: Strained hip, ruled out.

Brief Notes:
<ul>
[*]Seattle go against a team they have traditionally had a big advantage over, winning something like 25 or their 30 match-ups (I'll get the exact stats later). However, Memphis are the young team on the rise, winning 50 games last year and making their playoff debuts. They endured a rough start to the season with four losses, but have bounced back with two straight, including a 29 point demolition of the Warriors. The Sonics go for their sixth straight, and try to maintain their unbeaten record at home, currently 4-0.
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<ul>
[*]It's a game of interesting match-ups. Seattle have the advantage on the perimeter; without James Posey, Memphis will struggle to contain both Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and the offense off the bench of Vlad Radmanovic and Antonio Daniels. On the flipside, Memphis hold an advantage in the middle. Reggie Evans will do his usual bullocking job on Pau Gasol, but Gasol's creative moves and long arms in the post will make sure he commands a double team, opening up the door for Stro Swift and Lorenzen Wright to benefit from Jason Williams' laser passing.
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Ridnour Watch: Against Toronto, Luke had his colours lowered early by the in-form Rafer Alston, but recovered nicely to hit a key trey in the final quarter, and finished with the respectable figures of eight points, seven assists and two steals. The key for him in this one will be quick ball movement to Lewis and Allen, who will rely on Danny Fortson, Reggie Evans, Nick Collison and Radmanovic screens to get them breathing space, while he faces both sides of the coin defensively with the exciting but erratic Williams, and the less flashy but steadier Earl Watson, a former Sonic himself. Either way, it's a big test for Luke to show his recent form has not been a fluke, and he belongs on the same floor as these guys.
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<ul>
[*]The referees obviously took note of Sacramento's complaining, cracking down bigtime on Fortson's physicality against Toronto. Both he and Evans will play very physical on Gasol, so it will be interesting to see how the referees react to that; Evans in particular has drawn criticism from opposition players for his physical defense inside. Is it just out of frustration, or does Reggie really get away with a lot of holding and jersey-pulling?
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All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.

 

We actually match up fairly well with the Grizzlies, and Hubie's style of not playing big-time minutes works to our advantage since Gasol is the only post presence on Memphis..

Here's to hoping we keep the streak going

 

This should be an interesting game. It'll be a real test for Reggie and Danny against Gasol but I think they are up for it. Expect Ray allen and Rashard Lewis to have games. I also think Rid will have solid performance tonight against J-Will. My prediction: a win, but it'll be close.

<u>KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE</u>

 

These are the best days, get to watch the Seahawks and Sonics in a 24 hour period. Hopefully they can each respectively grab wins. I imagine another close game this time and the Key should be rocking. The Sonics will take the momentum and take the game in the final minutes.

 

Does anyone know of an internet site that streams Sonics games?

Anyway, as great as Gasol is, he's soft. Fortson will bang him up, and by halftime Pau will be shooting only from the outside. Jwill cannot defend, and Ridnour's penetration will result in at least 5 assists and some easy buckets for the big men. I think that this should be a double digit victory for the supes.

 

No more Fortson. Looks like Collison will have to bang Gasol up.

 

Well atleast we still have Reggie. He can definately bang gasol just as good if not better than Fortson, but unfortunately collison can't . Expect Reggie to play big minutes tonight. I'm still predicting a win.

 

71 to 61 at the half; so high scoring...

 

Sonics making a comeback, 107 to 103 grizz up. Daniels with 26 points and Allen with 23. 5 minutes left in the 4th.

 

What a comeback! This Sonics team just cant lose. Antonio Daniels is the friggin man, he was so hot tonight. Great rebounding effort by Rashard. Another great game from Ray. Gotta love the streak, keep the wins coming!

 

The Sonics outscored the Grizz 34-13 in the fourth quarter. Insanity.

 

Aren't you glad you didn't trade AD in the off-season now? That was one of the best games I've seen this year. Got to love league pass

 

Sonics Win!!! Great 4th quarter comeback by the Supes(outscored the Grizz 34 to 13). Allen and Daniels went off tonight, combining for 62 points. Lewis grabbed 12 boards to go along with 14 points. Rid had a great game with 17 points and 8 dimes. Evans and Collison(fouled out) couldn't hold Gasol tonight as he had 25 points(oh well). Not much defense played in this game(big deal) but we got the win. The streak stays alive.

Box Score

It feels so good to win. Especially a comeback like the one tonight. This team is invincible. Antonio Daniels is the man . How do they do it?

 

haha awesome win

 

A win is a win I guess, and this team is doing it from everywhere this season. Close games without Ray, blowout wins, and now comebacks like that.

I don't know where the ride is taking me, but I'm going to milk it and enjoy it for as long as I can.

AD is the man, period.

 

Like I said, Jwill cannot defend. He allowed Luke to get 17 points and 8 assists. I'm starting to question Hubie Brown's system of limiting player's minutes. Makes them get cold I think.

I kinda wish that Shard would start bringing it every night. 14 points of so below his potential at this point. Our record thus far would justify two allstars, but Shards stats dont really back it up.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">I kinda wish that Shard would start bringing it every night. 14 points of so below his potential at this point. Our record thus far would justify two allstars, but Shards stats dont really back it up.</div>

That is Rashard for you, one night he's hot, the next night he's not. As long as we have other guys contributing like Daniels and Ridnour, I'm not going to complain too much.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">That is Rashard for you, one night he's hot, the next night he's not. As long as we have other guys contributing like Daniels and Ridnour, I'm not going to complain too much.</div>
Aww, give him a break, he led the team in rebounds tonight and the Sonics didnt really need him to score 20 with AD and Ridnour knocking down shots. He contributed other ways than points.

 

Yeah, 14 points isn't bad if he keeps bringing in 13 boards.

 

Sonics looking good so far. I may not like Ray Allen, but I'm happy for the Sonics. I just wish Nick Collison could contribute more without picking up 6 fouls in 15 minutes.