Details: When: Sunday, February 13th Where: KeyArena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 5:00 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (35-13)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="RoyalBlue">Dallas (32-16)</font> Jason Terry Michael Finley Josh Howard Dirk Nowitski Erick Dampier Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Mateen Cleaves: Sprained thumb, ruled out. Damien Wilkins: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. <font color="RoyalBlue">Dallas</font> Marquis Daniels: Appendectomy, ruled out. Tariq Abdul-Wahad: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. DJ Mbenga: Strained hamstring, ruled out. Pavel Podkolzine: Torn knee, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Sonics are coming off back to back downings of two of the best teams in the NBA. Seattle shanked the Kings for the third time this season and avenged a home loss to Phoenix with an away win that showcased seven players in double digit scoring. All-star forward Rashard Lewis was magnificent in the two-game stint, posting 23/7 and 23/8 statistics respectively. The Mavericks beat the Kings right after the Sonics did in a 115-113 barnburner. [/list] <ul> [*]Dirk Nowitski continues to be a dominant scorer for Dallas and will be sure to cause some matchup problems for the Supes. In fact, Dirk holds the largest +/- ranking of any player in the NBA. That means that the difference of points scored when Dirk is on the court and when he is off is the biggest differential in the NBA. So, obviously Dirk should be a main priority for the Sonics on defense...containing Dirk will be a major part in containing Dallas' potent scoring attack. [/list] <ul> [*]Useful/less stat of the day: The Sonics are 3-1 this season against teams from Texas. [/list] <ul> [*]Word of the day: Marvel; v. to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity. [/list]<div align="center">"Many scouts marvel at Robert Swift's basketball talent while many young girls marvel at his dashing good looks."</div> <div align="center">Random Family Guy Quote </div> Peter: What am I supposed to do with all my great ideas? Put 'em in a tub and clean myself with them? That's what soap is for, Lois. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
how 'bout the match ups? If I take my own personal rating system and put it to the test for this game we get... Ridnour(6) vs. Terry(7) D+1 Allen(10) vs. Finley(8) S+2 Lewis(9) vs. Howard(7) S+2 Evans(7) vs Nowitski(10) D+3 James(3) vs. Dampier(5) D+2 Sonics bench(9) vs Dallas Bench(6) S+3 Totals: Seattle 44 vs. Dallas 43 Hey look! We are going to win again! maybe. This should be another good game. Question. If we beat three of the best teams in the west (and the league for that matter) in four days, then can we call ourselves (our team) contenders?
We have a good chance at winning the game, but its who wants it more.. a team can be all around better but lose it cause they didnt want it enough.. Lewis and Allen will both have 20+ points ..the only queston mark is Radmanovic will he get into this game and shoot well?
This is going to be a very tough game b/c this will be our third game in four days against three of the best teams in the league. I'm hoping that we have our legs tonight. We've shown the ability to play well against the league's best on short rest. I'm optimistic that it will continue.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Question. If we beat three of the best teams in the west (and the league for that matter) in four days, then can we call ourselves (our team) contenders?</div> I don't think there's any reason we shouldn't. Beating 3 of the best in 4 days is an excellent measure of a team's talent and poise which is of course what matters when it comes to playoff time. If we play like we have been in the last two games tonight we should take this. Maybe even a Robert Swift sighting tonight? We can only hope. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's sad that "23/7 and 23/8" are considered magnificent stats for a 6'10" all-star.</div> Maybe magnificent wasn't the right word, but they show consistency by Rashard in his game which has always been the knock on him. Scoring 23 points against some of the best teams in the league with Ray Allen on your team isn't too bad either... and he is not a power forward or center despite his height, so grabbing 7 and 9 rebounds is above average for a small forward who isn't Kevin Garnett.
We've all got excuses. How many rebounds is he averaging? Less than 6. Oh, but it's because he plays on the perimeter a lot. And because we have Reggie and Danny. It's okay for Rashard to be underwhelming.
All I have to say about the last few minutes of that game is ewwwwwwwwwwwww. Flat out gave the game away with poor shooting rebounding, and defense. Ridnour was great though.
That game was a heartbreaker if I ever saw one. I had that gut feeling something bad was gonna happen even when we had the 10 point lead with 5 minutes to go. Way too many rushed shots at the end there, and Dallas had a few hail mary shots that ended up going in.
Is it me, or should the Supes have won about half the games they lost? Blowouts are one thing, but giving up leads in the fourth quarter is just bad.
Does anyone remember that game last season where it was tight all game, and then 'Toine Walker threw in that buzzer beater from the corner? Well, this one wasn't neck and neck the entire way, but it was still heartbreaking. Still, it's a credit to the team that we can playing two of the league's best teams back to back, then come out a day later and get ourselves in a winning position on a stinker from Ray. We'll bounce back. Hey, at least Minny lost.
Obviously going scoreless for the final 4.30 will not win you many games. Sonics just went really cold and left a very good shooter wide open to win the game. Jason Terry has been so clutch this season, finally good to see him playing in a good system.
the Mavericks and Sonics are different teams? i could've swore they were the exact same.. haha... but really.. they are the exact same team basically.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Da_Future_2k5:</div><div class="quote_post">the Mavericks and Sonics are different teams? i could've swore they were the exact same.. haha... but really.. they are the exact same team basically.</div> How the hell didya come up with that???
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting samoan-maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">How the hell didya come up with that???</div> The Sonics and Mavs are pretty similar. Both are packed with shooters, both have talented backcourts, and both score alot of points usually.
Well i guess you can say that, but i think our rebounding and Defense almost gives us an edge. But i cant believe how well you guys shoot the long ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting samoan-maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">Well i guess you can say that, but i think our rebounding and Defense almost gives us an edge. But i cant believe how well you guys shoot the long ball.</div> We are the top offensive rebounding team in the league and one of the bet rebounding teams overall. Not to mentionwe have 1 of the 2 best benches in the league...I like Dallas but the Supes got the edge.
