Details: When: Monday, December 27th Where: Delta Center, Utah Time (Seattle): 6:00 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (19-5)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="navy">Utah (11-16)</font> Raul Lopez Raja Bell Matt Harpring Carlos Boozer Alexsander Radjovec Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Mateen Cleaves: Strained shoulder, ruled out. Casanova Swift: Strained hip, ruled out. Damien Wilkins: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. <font color="navy">Utah</font> Jaron Collins: Sprained MCL, ruled out. Keith McLeod: Strained groin, ruled out. Andrei Kirilenko: Sprained MCL, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Sonics finally get to play again, after a stretch of one game in 10 days (a 15 point win over Denver). They travel to the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, a place where they have simply been unable to win in recent times. The two teams fought out one of the games of the season in Seattle, with a Vlad Radmanovic triple providing the Supes with overtime, and the platform to go on and win. Travelling to Utah is a differently proposition, although the Jazz have been mired in one long slump without Andrei Kirilenko and have slipped to five games below .500, and bottom place in the Northwest. [/list] <ul> [*]The Jazz will again be relying on their bigmen in this one. Last time around, Carlos Boozer had 36 points while Mehmet Okur was also big down the stretch. While Okur is coming off the bench still and staking a claim for 6th man of the year honours, most Jazz scoring will go through these two guys. On the other hand, Rashard Lewis is having by far his best NBA season and again will not have to deal with the defensive attentions and long arms of Kirilenko, while Ray Allen will get defensive specialist Raja Bell. Bell did a reasonable job on Allen last time for three periods, but the silky guard exploded in the last and overtime to finish with 38. [/list] <ul> [*]Murray Watch: Flip posted 15 points off the bench, and after the game drew comparisons with such players like Michael Jordan and George Gervin, although neither really compared to Murray's performance. David Stern came out and addressed the issue of Flip and the Hall Of Fame, commenting that he will likely be the first player inducted whilst still playing, and plans to trade Ray Allen were immediately brought to life again. If a possible suitor cannot be found, it is very likely the Sonics will just buy out Allen's contract. [/list]<div align="center"><u>Random Family Guy Quote</u></div> Tom Tucker: Look, I know Stacey isn't your mother, but upside-down face or not, you have to respect her. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
I'm expecting this game to be much like Utah's recent ones. Matt Harpring, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur leading the way in scoring and rebounding, with a big lack of contribution from Utah's guards, on both ends. Unless they've changed something over the break, Utah will struggle to contain Seattle's shooters, especially Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. With both teams rested, this should be a good game. Utah must have Harpring, Boozer and Okur continue to play well and have their guards rack up the assists and play good D. Which is a big ask for them recently, especially Arroyo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post"> Murray Watch: Flip posted 15 points off the bench, and after the game drew comparisons with such players like Michael Jordan and George Gervin, although neither really compared to Murray's performance. David Stern came out and addressed the issue of Flip and the Hall Of Fame, commenting that he will likely be the first player inducted whilst still playing, and plans to trade Ray Allen were immediately brought to life again. If a possible suitor cannot be found, it is very likely the Sonics will just buy out Allen's contract.</div> The funniest quote on JBB to date. All seriousness it seems like its been a while since we've played on the road and Utah has always given us trouble at the Delta Center. Three games in 14 days is a ridiculously long lay off and I wouldn't be surprised if we had some rust to our game. Utah is really fading quickly and I attribute that to Kirilienko's injury and possibly Jerry Sloan being burned out from his very tough off season. I've never known a Jerry Sloan team to struggle for a long period of time. For whatever reason they haven't found a combination that has worked since AK has gone down. Considering how everyone was praising their depth in the beginning of the year I find it puzzling that they have been struggling. W/o Daniels, our three guard allotment of Luke, Ray, and Flip should play big minutes. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ibo get some minutes too. To be honest I'm just excited to see the Supes back in action. I guess the NBA scheduling committee realized that most of our players haven't graduated college and figured that they needed time to study for exams.
Is Daniels still out? If he is then Luke has to do great in PG position cause Murray may struggle in PG because he isn't yet familiar how the team plays together this year. If Luke falls into foul trouble against Arroyo & Lopez then it will be hard night. But I think Sonics can win this game.
If our guards hit their shots tonight we should take this one running. Our big men should be adequate in slowing down Utah's bigs and I think our guards have a big advantage. Rashard should also continue on his road to the All-Star game with AK47 out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Semmi:</div><div class="quote_post">Is Daniels still out? If he is then Luke has to do great in PG position cause Murray may struggle in PG because he isn't yet familiar how the team plays together this year.</div> Have faith, young Semmi. Have faith. Don't be surprised if Ray and Raja Bell really get into it tonight. Bell has a history of getting under people's skin, and Ray doesn't like people putting his hands on him. I've seen them get into it in the past. I'm positive that we will get the Jazz most physical effort tonight. Bodies will be flyin'. I hope to God that Joe DeRosa isn't on this game. I guarantee that at some point in the year you will hear one of the Sonics (most likely Fortson) go on the record as saying how impartial he really is. I'm not trying to break any JBB guidelines so I'll leave it at that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess the NBA scheduling committee realized that most of our players haven't graduated college and figured that they needed time to study for exams.</div> This forum could make a lot of money in the stand-up industry. Luke has been struggling and will welcome Utah's point guard rotation of Raul Lopez and the out of favour Carlos Arroyo, who he schooled in Seattle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Have faith, young Semmi. Have faith. </div> I'll try! You guys have to help me
Utah is gonna give it to us, believe that. It's going to be a grind, the Sonics will win this by only a couple of points. P.S. I hate predictions.
The typical 4th quarter meltdown has happened to Utah again . Down by 1 entering the 4th, now down by 12 with 4:30 left
A win in Utah. After struggling to achieve this one feat for so long, this current team waltzes in and does it in style. Yet more proof we could be witnessing something special. Rashard leads the team again, continuing his All-Star bid, while Luke gets back to a bit of form. Arguably Collison's best game of the season, leading the team in rebounding and helping limit Boozer to some poor shooting and eight turnovers.
Collison, baby! It's about time, Nick. And Rashard is just sick...that's all I gotta say. Nice win, guys.
^ A Kansas fan then, mate? Nick's slowly learning the NBA trade, and with Evans and Fortson playing very effective basketball, he has time to do just that without the pressures a lot of lottery picks have.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">^ A Kansas fan then, mate? Nick's slowly learning the NBA trade, and with Evans and Fortson playing very effective basketball, he has time to do just that without the pressures a lot of lottery picks have.</div> Haha...me and Nick are friends, actually. Same with Kirk Hinrich. We all three used to hang out at the dorms in Lawrence when I was dating a girl who is now my ex...she lived near Lawrence, in El Dorado, KS...and she knew them before we started dating. She introduced me to Nick, and I eventually got to meet Kirk. They're pretty cool guys. I got to talk to Nick before he had his surgery last season, and I personally thought it was going to ruin his career. It may have affected him a little...because the man was awesome in college, but I've been hoping for him to get some minutes behind Evans and Fortson. I just wish he would avoid those fouls.
Flip came through when we needed him tonight. Only 10 points off the bench, but they all came at crucial times - major props to him.
