Details: When: Monday, January 3rd Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami Time (Seattle): 4:30 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (22-6)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="Red">Miami (25-7)</font> Damon Jones Dwyane Wade Eddie Jones Udonis Haslem Shaquille O'Neal 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="red">Miami</font> Malik Allen: Back spasms, ruled out. Jerome Beasley: Strained lower back, ruled out. Dorrell Wright: Abdominal strain, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Sonics' biggest challenge for the season thus far, arguably eclipsing playing the Spurs on the road and the Suns at home. The Heat were widely tipped to dominate the East after aquiring Shaquille O'Neal before the season, and after a slow start, they have won 14 straight, and are miles out ahead in the East. They are also 5-6 against West teams this season, but those six losses came first up, meaning they have won their last five games against teams from the opposite conference. The Sonics play Miami again on the 9th. [/list] <ul> [*]A very interesting game, match-ups wise. Vitaly Potapenko should see his way back into the rotation, just to have six extra fouls to use against the Big Aristotle. With Udonis Haslem next to him, the likes of Reggie Evans, Nick Collison and Danny Fortson can't really afford to focus solely on Shaq, as Haslem will clean the boards and make the most of any tidbits he get in terms of scoring. In the backcourt, I'd like to say the Sonics have the advantage, but Damon Jones on Luke Ridnour and Dwyane Wade on Ray Allen is very close, and might even favour the Heat. [/list] <ul> [*]All-Star Watch: Rashard Lewis is absolute key for the Sonics' chances of victory. He is the one position Seattle have the advantage at, as Miami start small with Eddie Jones at the three. Lewis needs to get to the basket much as possible, and try and draw fouls on O'Neal. He also needs to post up Jones whenever possible, as he has a big size advantage over the natural shooting guard, and is a much better player than the Heat's back-up in Rasual Butler. [/list] <div align="center"><u>Random Family Guy Quote</u></div> Meg: You could kill all the girls who are prettier than me? Death: Well, that would just leave England... <div align="center"><font size="6"><font color="DarkGreen">FAM</font> </font></div> All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
Let's go heat go... we can win this. It's a close game in the 4th quarter, which is when we thrive. Hopefully we can pull a win out. Lewis and Allen are unstoppable right now, but Shaq is dominating them.
I was listening it on KJR-AM and I was swetting all over and jumping up & down for all the fourth quarter. Nice-nice win! Our offensive rebounding was awesome, Allen was awesome, heck whole team was awesome! I have to calm down now and go to sleep! Nice win! Huh!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Some Hobo:</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately, the Bobcats will keep this game close, but will lose it in the 4th. The Sonics will take this win and head to Miami to suffer a beating on Monday...</div> Guess who said that?
Uh...a joke, possibly? If you really did believe that I thought the Heat were going to destroy the Sonics, then there's something wrong. I personally think the games are going to be split...and I stated this in the Heat forum, actually. But it figures you'd stress something I said as a joke, versus something I said on a serious note. But you know me...I'm definitely going to root for my favorite player of all time, Snaq.
Business as usual. In the Sonics camp we don't believe in big wins. We believe in big winning streaks.
I thought Danny-boy would foul out within 10 minutes. Instead he posted a 15/10 double double off the bench, and ended the game with only five fouls.
A postgame quote from Shaq: "You live by the jumper and die by the jumper. In order to beat us, you have to shoot the ball well like that. Ray Allen is the best guard in the West and he really shot the ball well tonight." A small swipe at Kobe there? <font size="1">Full list of postgame quotes courtesy of Supersonics.com.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">A postgame quote from Shaq: "You live by the jumper and die by the jumper. In order to beat us, you have to shoot the ball well like that. Ray Allen is the best guard in the West and he really shot the ball well tonight." A small swipe at Kobe there? <font size="1">Full list of postgame quotes courtesy of Supersonics.com.</font></div> Yeah, what's new? You would think that he'd stop dreaming about the Lakers by now. Does GP do that to the Sonics organization? Like I said earlier...I'm glad you guys won, really. I should be rooting against the Sonics, since you're in the West...but because of Shaq's mouth, I'll root for every team to beat them until he shuts up. It's sad...because I really favored the Heat last season to win the East (although they were the underdogs), but now...I'd love to see them curl up in the second round.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Business as usual. </div> So we're stealing other users' catchphrases now are we, fam?
Good win by the Sonics which brings the Heat back down to earth after many of their fans were already claiming NBA champions. Big game from Ray by the looks, been a while since he has hit 6 threes in a game. His shooting % from three has dropped a little lately and thats the kind of performance he needed.
Yes awesome win. Someone finally stopped the Heat. They were starting to seem like they were unstoppable. My man Ray was doing great and so was Danny. Great win!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Like I said earlier...I'm glad you guys won, really. I should be rooting against the Sonics, since you're in the West...but because of Shaq's mouth, I'll root for every team to beat them until he shuts up.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, there's one game. I seriously do hope that the Heat stomp them in Seattle, though...just to even it up.</div>
You can't expect a Laker fan to root for a team that has Ray Allen In it, as afterall Ray dissed and stated good facts about their boy during the summer.
Supersonic, what do you expect? I wanted the streak to end for Miami...but I won't be happy if the Sonics win ANOTHER game. After what all was said the other day, the Sonics need someone to step in their way and knock them off their pedastal. If it can't be the Spurs, then it's the Heat. If not the Heat, it'll be a small team. If it was possible, I'd like to see both Miami and Seattle lose in their next game against each other. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">You can't expect a Laker fan to root for a team that has Ray Allen In it, as afterall Ray dissed and stated good facts about their boy during the summer.</div> Those "good facts" were funny...since Ray threw up more shots. And give Atkins and Odom to Ray Allen...give us Ridnour and Lewis...and Ray wouldn't be running his mouth. Instead, he'd be running the point.
