Details: When: Saturday, December 11th Where: KeyArena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 7:00 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (17-3)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="royalblue"> <font color="darkGreen">Boston (7-11)</font></font> Gary Payton Paul Pierce Jiri Welsch Raef LaFrentz Mark Blount 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="darkGreen">Boston </font> Delonte West: Fractured right hand, ruled out. Justin Reed: Left hip pointer, ruled out. Michael Stewart: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Sonics get their rematch versus one of only three teams to beat them this year. This time, however, it will be a home game and the Sonics have yet to lose once at home this year. Seattle is fresh off back to back wins vs. Western Conference powers Dallas and San Antonio at their home courts. The Supes' two versatile small forwards Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic each had stellar games in Dallas. Rashard racked up 25 points and 9 rebounds while Vlade knocked down 18 points off the bench. The Celtics however have lost three in a row and are coming off of a close 89-87 loss to Portland. Paul Pierce had a lackluster game, scoring only 6 points in 34 minutes. The C's were slaughtered on the boards as three Blazers were in double digits for rebounds, including 17 by the amazing Zach Randolph. [/list] <ul> [*]The last time these two teams met this season, the game was physical to say the least. Ricky Davis came off the bench and accumulated 25 points to lead the Celtics to a 102-83 win. The Sonics shot dreadfully in this game and the shooting will surely be a point of emphasis for tonight's game. Boston should expect an elevated game from Rashard Lewis who 4-13 from the floor and 0-6 from 3-point range. Ray Allen said this about Lewis,"Rashard is playing like a man possessed. He's on a mission. He's been a guy who's willing to stand back and watch, but this year he's stepping up and is one of the guys at the forefront." (Fox Sports) [/list] <ul> [*]Ridnour Watch: Luke held his own against the Mavs' point guard duo of Darrell Armstrong and Jason Terry. Armstrong was kept to only 5 points and Terry to 9. The sophomore from the University of Oregon, however, put out a 10/7 outing and continued to add to his experience as the floor general with another impressive win. Luke will face Seattle legend Gary Payton once again in this game. GP got the best of Ridnour in their last meeting, holding Luke to 3 points while scoring 12 of his own and dishing out 7 dimes. Should be a test for the Blaine, Washington native that is trying to build a legacy of his own in Seattle. [/list] <div align="center"><u>Random Family Guy Quote</u></div> Quagmire (runs outside in a robe): Hey guys, what's going on? I was just jerki ... ed out of a deep sleep. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
^ damn, i look stupid now don't I...........horrible game, Ray Allen going 0 for 10 from the 3 pt line? damn...GP won in seattle though, thats the only good thing about that game....the sooner the sonics forget about it and move on, the better....
Flip should have played. Ray logged too many minutes and he, Luke and Antonio weren't effective at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Flip should have played. Ray logged too many minutes and he, Luke and Antonio weren't effective at all.</div> No reason in the world that Flip got a DNP-CD. If you are going to activate him, play him. Nate McMillian seems to think that Flip will mess up the team's chemistry. Well Nate, the chemistry tonight didn't look great w/ Flip on the sideline. Stop hatin' Nate. By the way, Payton used tonight to show when motivated he still can be an effective point. I'm happy that he played well in front of his most loyal fans. As much as he's taking some hits in the past year, Payton still deserves to leave the game known as one of the best points in the history of the game. Hopefully he can redeem himself this year and restore his legacy. I don't think it will happen though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Payton still deserves to leave the game known as one of the best points in the history of the game. Hopefully he can redeem himself this year and restore his legacy. I don't think it will happen though. </div> He won't likely return to Seattle form, but he showed tonight and last game that he's more than what people saw last year in LA. I'm both glad that he played well and glad that Seattle fans recieved him well tonight. He deserves it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">No reason in the world that Flip got a DNP-CD. If you are going to activate him, play him. Nate McMillian seems to think that Flip will mess up the team's chemistry. Well Nate, the chemistry tonight didn't look great w/ Flip on the sideline. Stop hatin' Nate.</div> The chemistry that didn't work tonight was also the chemistry that has worked all season - the chemistry that has seen us win from every concievable situation. The game wasn't a blowout at any stage, in fact it was close most of the way and the Supes weren't out of it down the stretch, so why would you put in a guy who hasn't played all season just after activating him? Stop hatin' on Nate.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">The chemistry that didn't work tonight was also the chemistry that has worked all season - the chemistry that has seen us win from every concievable situation. The game wasn't a blowout at any stage, in fact it was close most of the way and the Supes weren't out of it down the stretch, so why would you put in a guy who hasn't played all season just after activating him? Stop hatin' on Nate.</div> I've given Nate his due all season. But at the same time I think from his performances last season that Flip has earned the right to get into the rotation when he is available to play. Doesn't seem to be too much of a request considering that he was our third leading scorer last year. On any other team if an All-Star caliber player is activated from the injured list he would receive some minutes. Nate has pushed all of the right buttons to date, but last night he should have given Flip some time. It seems to me like you want Flip to remain sidelined permanently. God forbid that eats into the minutes of your beloved Ridnour.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">It seems to me like you want Flip to remain sidelined permanently. God forbid that eats into the minutes of your beloved Ridnour.</div> He's also being chased by the CIA and FBI. They're all out to get him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard:</div><div class="quote_post">Ladies, ladies. Your boyfriends will each get their minutes. No need for a cat fight.</div> Stop playin. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">He's also being chased by the CIA and FBI. They're all out to get him. </div> And when they catch up to him, he'll go down shooting. I don't want you to be an example for Melo's B-More team's "Stop Snitchin' II" DVD. Keep your lips sealed and don't talk to the feds.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Stop playin.</div> It's all in good fun. I don't know what Nate is thinking so I feel it was best to not take a side and laugh from the outside.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">Guys! The ribbing of the Shiek is getting quite childish, and for me... I find it offensive.</div> In all seriousness, I could care less what you find to be childish. I'm going to keep making points about the Sonics and the players on the team--when they are playing exceptionally well--like they have been,--or when I see some things that concern me--like how Flip has been labeled a team cancer before he has even been on the court. If you don't like how I'm posting then that's on you. I'm not on this site to get anyone's approval. I don't personally attack anyone on this site, but at the same time I'm going to argue my points regardless of who agrees w/ me or not. If I see something that offends me, I'm going to make it known as well. So if my style offends you then I suggest that you don't read my posts.
I don't know why everybody is gettin on Iron Shiek. I think he made his point and until we see Flip actually play no one can call other people names.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">In all seriousness, I could care less what you find to be childish. I'm going to keep making points about the Sonics and the players on the team--when they are playing exceptionally well--like they have been,--or when I see some things that concern me--like how Flip has been labeled a team cancer before he has even been on the court. If you don't like how I'm posting then that's on you. I'm not on this site to get anyone's approval. I don't personally attack anyone on this site, but at the same time I'm going to argue my points regardless of who agrees w/ me or not. If I see something that offends me, I'm going to make it known as well. So if my style offends you then I suggest that you don't read my posts.</div> I believe you have indeed misinterpreted my post. 'The ribbing of Iron Shiek' i.e. those who are having a few jokes about Flip getting traded and so forth, not you. When you cycle down to my new signature, there is the comedic pay-off. Oh well...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe you have indeed misinterpreted my post. 'The ribbing of Iron Shiek' i.e. those who are having a few jokes about Flip getting traded and so forth, not you. When you cycle down to my new signature, there is the comedic pay-off. Oh well...</div> My apologies. Disregard my other post.
Sorry Shiek, I'm not trying to offend everyone and I want Flip to get into the rotation, I just think you were too harsh on Nate about it. Flip probably could have played last night, our guards were horrible, I just think it played on Nate's mind that he hadn't played all season (apart from nine minutes on opening night), he was always going to need time to get accustomed to the pace of the game, and he was always going to be rusty. I would have had that concern too, considring we still potentially had the shooters on the floor to steal a win in the last quarter, regardless of how they were shooting. My guess is Nate activated him on the (realistic) chance that we would get a big lead at home, and he could ease him back that way. As for your Ridnour comments, there is no doubt in my mind that this team plays great basketball with Luke running the point, and he is a huge reason we have started like we have. He doesn't play both guard spots, and unless he and Daniels get injured/badly out of form, I don't see how either Luke or Ron are going to really cut into eachother's minutes. The spot Flip has to IMO earn back is the role of primary scoring guard off the bench, a role in which Daniels has played exceptionally well this season. Every knows Ray needs his minutes cut, and I have no doubt Flip will get his minutes if he makes the most of them.
