Seattle @ Washington: Official Game Thread

Details:

When: Thursday, January 6th
Where: MCI Centre, Washington
Time (Seattle): 4:00
TV: TNT

Projected Starters:

<font color="green">Seattle (23-7)</font>

Luke Ridnour
Ray Allen
Rashard Lewis
Nick Collison
Jerome James

<font color="navy">Washington (17-13)</font>

Gilbert Arenas
Larry Hughes
Jared Jefferies
Antawn Jamison
Brendan Haywood

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.
Reggie Evans: Stomach ailment, ruled out.

<font color="navy">Washington</font>

Laron Profit: Strained foot, ruled out.
Peter John Ramos: Shoulder tendinitis, ruled out.
Etan Thomas: Strained abdomen, ruled out.

Brief Notes:
<ul>
[*]Ah, the beauty of NBA scheduling. Despite suffering a big loss to the Magic, Seattle only have to wait 24 hours before getting the chance to redeem themselves, this time against another of the big improvers in the East in Washington. Despite strong performances from Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and a very hot start, the Sonics were hopelessly outplayed over the final three periods, obviously disappointing coach Nate McMillan, but very much pleasing Sonics obsessee Real Deal. The bench, which has been the key to so many victories this season, was less than impressive, with Antonio Daniels and Vlad Radmanovic combining to shoot 3/23 from the field.
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Losing Reggie Evans really played havoc with the Sonics' rotation, but at the same time gave rookie Nick Collison his first career start. It's tough to say whether Collison will get a second start or if Danny Fortson will step in, but both will have a tough job in limiting Wizards star Antawn Jamison. The Wizards also have one of the best backcourts in the league, with combo guard Gilbert Arenas and Most Improved candidate Larry Hughes. Because they more or less go with two guards who can play both backcourt spots, they may be able to expose a pure point guard like Luke Ridnour defensively.
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<ul>
[*]Well done guys: On Tuesday night against New Jersey, the Wizards sold $2 wristbands with profits going towards relief for victims of the devastating tsunamis that have rocked the world recently, while the players all wore these wristbands in Washington's victory on the night. I'm not sure how much was raised in the end, but I extend a big thumbs up to the Wizards organisation anyway.
[/list]<div align="center"><u>Random Family Guy Quote</u></div>

Brian: Mmmm. I don't care for Pottery Barn.


All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Your biggest threat, our biggest weakness</div>

And vice versa - Arenas, Hughes and Jamison could be Francis-Mobley-Hill, Pierce-Payton-Davis, Marion-Johnson-Richardson redux

We seem to have problems with 6-6 guys who can take it off the dribble.

 

All i know is that this is going to be a good game. I am already getting ready with getting some doritos a six pack and just got a new sound system for X-mas, that should allow me to watch this game and jump up for joy because it is going to be a good game. Thank you TNT 4 finally bringing us some national TV time.

 

Luke goes SSJ and finally shows his true power with 2 points, 10 rebounds, and 20 assists. Flip gets mad when he finds out that Luke has surpassed him in power.

 

Actually, I like the Wiz - Arenas, Jamison and Hughes especially - I saw the piece on him re: him going pro to help his little brother - seem like decent guys deserving of success.

Just not tonight.

 

I hope we can win this one, we're killing right now, so many steals, and if not for the fastbreak turnovers, we'd be up even more. Seattle seems tired or a little slow today.

Go Wizards!

 

Up 18 at the half, mainly because we went 18 for 18 from the FT line. But we're also not turning over the ball, and the Sonics seem tired.

Third quarter, Sonics got close, Wizards withstood the run. Haywood is playing a brilliant game, 8-8 from the line, taking two charges. Talk about "The Difference Maker" (see below).

But this will be huge - up 9 with 8 and a half left in the fourth. If we can hold on it will be a huge, HUGE step towards really showing we're real. HUGE.

Let's hope.

P.S. One interesting note mentioned on the radio broadcast: The Wiz are 6-0 when Jared Jeffries scores in double figures. And he's got 11. Hmm...

P.P.S What a huge 3 pointer by Jamison! 4:25 left, puts the Wizards up 12. Wow, that was amazing! That was the offense they needed, let's see if they can hold the Sonics to under 15 points the rest of the way. If they can do that, I think there's no doubt they'll win. Sonics have 82 points now, so keep them under 97 and the game is ours.

 

Stat of the night so far 4-17

EDIT: Okay, 5-19, Hughes adds the dagger to the mix, it's over boys and girls, Ray just couldn't get it going.

 

Hughes with a huge dunk! 103-88, with a minute and a half left! This game's basically over, and what a huge win. What a great, great game played by the Wizards. Only 9 turnovers. This was a monstrous step towards becoming not just another mediocre East team. They also fulfilled the 3 out of 5 goal that I said they should shoot for about a week ago. If they can steal one from Minnesota on Saturday (who have lost 4 straight) that would be more than we could ask for.

 

I loved that this game was on national TV too, maybe the Wiz will now start getting some respect. Kwame did a good job in the little time he was in too.

No one really shot good today, Arenas, Hughes and Jamison all took some bad shots, Arenas and Hughes shot terrible, but got to the line, and Jamison shot bad too. I liked JJ's effort on the offensive glass/ Hayes actually shot good today, and Dixon was just useless.

 

Ray played like Kobe tonight, he couldn't hit **** so he kept taking and taking and taking shots. I couldn understand that if they were open shots but don't force it like that. I groaned when Nate put Ray back in halfway through the fourth quarter. I would have rather seen Flip at least try to go to the basket than Ray trying to earn a paycheck.

Vladimir CAN'T ****ING PLAY DEFENSE ANYMORE. At all. He doesn't even put his ****ing hands up when somebody scores on him in the paint. He could have stayed on the bench the entire second half as far as I'm concerned.

And, Antonio, please learn to pass to an open man. I know it's hard when the pass isn't one a baby could make, but it would be nice if you learned to make those.

What I saw out there tonight was ****ing high school bull****. At least everybody else was trying. I know Nate wants to stick with his rotation, but it won't work every game. He needs to learn to adapt. Don't put people in if they're sucking it up. Period. End venting.

 

Danny Fortson, one of the hidden reasons Seattle has been doing so good was harrasing today, the only guy that did good against him was Kwame. I felt bad for Ridnour though, he really didn't have a chance guarding Arenas if he was going to the basket, Gil is just stronger, and he's so quick, I mean he's one of the best guards at getting to the basket.

The Wizards shot 41.5% and still won, the difference in this game was just getting to the line and making free throws, without that, the Sonics would've been the ones that won by 10.

 

Is this a back to back to back? I remember them playing the Magic yesterday, and the Heat a couple of days ago. Weird.

 

^Lmao. The sonics didn't play THAT bad. They're doing great this season, and still don't even have ten losses yet. You'll be fine dude.

You just need to relax.

Ray Allen has had plenty of nights like that. Ray couldn't play like Kobe if he wanted to. As you can see, Ray isn't even the man on his team. Aw.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray played like Kobe tonight, he couldn't hit **** so he kept taking and taking and taking shots. I couldn understand that if they were open shots but don't force it like that. I groaned when Nate put Ray back in halfway through the fourth quarter. I would have rather seen Flip at least try to go to the basket than Ray trying to earn a paycheck.

Vladimir CAN'T ****ING PLAY DEFENSE ANYMORE. At all. He doesn't even put his ****ing hands up when somebody scores on him in the paint. He could have stayed on the bench the entire second half as far as I'm concerned.

And, Antonio, please learn to pass to an open man. I know it's hard when the pass isn't one a baby could make, but it would be nice if you learned to make those.

What I saw out there tonight was ****ing high school bull****. At least everybody else was trying. I know Nate wants to stick with his rotation, but it won't work every game. He needs to learn to adapt. Don't put people in if they're sucking it up. Period. End venting.</div>

^Lmao. The sonics didn't play THAT bad. They're doing great this season, and still don't even have ten losses yet. You'll be fine dude.

You just need to relax.

Ray Allen has had plenty of nights like that. Ray couldn't play like Kobe if he wanted to. As you can see, Ray isn't even the man on his team. Aw.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray couldn't play like Kobe if he wanted to.</div>

I'm happy to know that, as I'm sure are Ray's teammates.

Anyway, I have two things to say about this game.

1) We suck.

2) Rashard is an All-Star this season.

Time to go home and play ... Miami (d'oh!)

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm happy to know that, as I'm sure are Ray's teammates.

Anyway, I have two things to say about this game.

1) We suck.

2) Rashard is an All-Star this season.

Time to go home and play ... Miami (d'oh!)</div>

Well, that's the thing. Kobe and Ray are both brilliant players. The problem is, they also play very differently - and this season, play very different roles. This season Kobe is leading his own team, and he seems far more agressive to me. Close to seven rebounds and assist per game, whilst Allen is somewhere in the fours.

Ray Allen is a shooter, but sometimes that's all he is. And yes I know he's shooting better than Kobe, by three percent? What is surprising though is after Ray's comments of Kobe needing to use his teammates... then why is Kobe averaging almost double the assist, and a few turnovers per game trying to get Mihm involved who just cannot catch?

I'm sorry, I truly am. I know you didn't say it, but saying Ray played like Kobe because of his not-very-good shooting is just being retarded. The Mavericks won the Lakers a few days and Dirk shot like dirt, but because they won noone cared - Dirk is doing great, right? Well everytime the Lakers win Kobe gets criticised for poor shooting. You try shooting when you have two guys grabbing you all game, and i'm not talking one at a time, i'm talking both at once. What they do is one person goes on one side and the other person goes on the other side, and no matter what Kobe does he is trapped. I'm amazed by how many dunks he's pulled off, and the fact he only has close to five turnovers per game when he has to play like this.

Ray wasn't double-teamed this game. Is he ever? Truely? I don't watch all his games, so I don't know.

But Ray should keep his mouth shut about Kobe if he can't do better.

Go ahead, SuperSonics, flame me. I'm curious to know why Ray is god anyways. Don't get me wrong, I love his game. Hell I even like the Sonics. I wanted them to win.