Details: When: Friday, April 8th Where: Key Arena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 7:30 P.M. TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (50-24) </font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Damien Wilkins Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="Indigo">Los Angeles (33-42)</font> Chucky Atkins Kobe Bryant Caron Butler Devean George Brian Grant Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Mateen Cleaves: Sprained thumb, ruled out. Vladimir Radmanovic: Stress fracture in leg, ruled out. Rashard Lewis: Bruised foot, ruled out. <font color="Indigo"> Los Angeles</font> Tony Bobbitt: Sprained ankle, ruled out. Chris Mihm: Sprained ankle, ruled out. Lamar Odom: Strained shoulder, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]One win, or one Denver loss, is all that is needed for Seattle to clinch the inaugral Northwest divisional crown. Denver play an in-form Minnesota side, while the Sonics aim for a season sweep of the disappointing Lakers. Word has it that it won't be Kobe's fault if that happens, but I haven't recieved confirmation as of yet. The Supes are coming off a thrashing at the hands of Sacramento while going for that season-sweep, so they'll hope lightning doesn't strike twice. The Lakers are coming off a loss to Houston, and Kobe a triple double on 4-19 shooting. [/list] <ul> [*]The injury bug continues to hit Seattle. Rashard Lewis, who is averaging 28.3 points and 7.7 rebounds this season against the Lakers is still out, while Antonio Daniels is now doubtful with a sore left knee. He joins Vladimir Radmanovic, who doesn't look like being back before the playoffs. Damien Wilkins is averaging 13 points on 49% shooting in his last six games. [/list] * Useful/less lyric of the day: <font face="Verdana"><font size="5"><font size="2"> Blue canary in the attic by the lighthouse, who watches over you. -- They Might Be Giants, Birdhouse In Your Soul.</font></font></font> Quotable: "They call me Nostradamus." - Ray Allen after he predicted in the pre-season that the Lakers would struggle with without Shaq, and that Kobe couldn't carry them. Random Family Guy Quote Peter: I had such a crush on her. Until I met you Lois. You're my silver medal. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
I worry this may be the second time the supes lose three in a row this year. 1) Lakers have nothing to lose 2) Kobe wants to one-up Ray 3) 3 of the 4 leading scorers are out of the lineup 4) Lakers got whupped big-time by Houston last night, they need a little victory
It's amazing how a fifty win team is feeling intense pressure to win one game to clinch their division. With eight games to go I would think Nate would feel comfortable enough to put Antonio Daniels on the injured list (would have to sit five games minimum) so that he could rest his sore knee. As it stands right now Flip will be getting his first extended action at the point (he played some point in December when AD was out w/ a ton of ailments). We are literally limping into the postseason. I hope that we can redevelop our rhythm/chemistry b/c the playoffs is not the time to be experimenting with lineups. Hopefully everyone will be physically and mentally prepared to play when the playoffs start. During the course of this season, that seems to have been the case. Tonight we will only have four perimeter players that will dress: Luke, Ray, Damien, and Flip. God forbid that something happens to one of these players otherwise we will be forced to use Nick or Reggie as a small forward.
This is our most embarassing loss of the year. L.A. has been abysmal in their past 20 games--to the point where their fans were suggesting that they quit on the season. We obviously needed this game to clinch the NW division but yet we get blown out in our home building--by a team that was blown out last night in their own building. We also have had a couple days to prepare for L.A. as well. I can't believe that we lost in this fashion. I honestly think that there is serious doubt in the minds of the Sonics as to whether or not we can win another game this season. We have Denver tomorrow and that game could be a preview of our opening round playoff game. Denver has won 20 out of their past 22 games and our positioning themselves to be as high as a 5 seed. We on the other hand have lost five of our past seven and don't even look as though we are making strides to correct our errors. Bottom line is that the players who are active have to take pride in themselves and stop feeling sorry for themselves. Injuries are a part of the game. Guys like Flip, Wilkins, Potapenko, and Cleaves have been itching for playing time all season. Now that the minutes are available they have to take advantage of them. Flip is especially disappointing b/c he doesn't seem to have that chip on his shoulder that he normally plays with. It is almost as if he has accepted the fact that he is not in the Sonics long term plans and is playing the season out like he is finishing the end of a prison sentence. I'm not one for making excuses. The Sonics need to look at themselves and play like they don't have punk in their heart. If I had to point to one reason why I think the Sonics have been struggling I would say the play of Ron Murray. On numerous occasions I've said that he is the toughest minded player in the league. It's time for him to show and prove--not time for him to be a no show and lose.
I'm glad the Lakers won, I thought they would be on the flipside of their drubbing. The Sonics looked flat after the 1st quarter, and Kobe started getting into one of those grooves where he doesn't miss. The Lakers also didn't commit their typical 20 turnovers in the first half to go along with 25 three point attempts. It seemed like Seattle overlooked this game for their match-up against Denver tomorrow. All game long Stu Lantz (Lakers announcer) kept mentioning why the Sonics were trying to beat the Lakers with a big lineup. With Evans, Fortson, and Collison in the game, Caron Butler kept taking advantage of the slower defender on him. I thought Jerome James played effective in the 1st Q, but after he went to the bench he never got back in the game. Is this the normal substitution pattern the Sonics use?
It was an ugly game. We have no defense, and no offense besides "pass the ball to Ray Allen". Like Shiek said, Flip doesn't seem to care anymore, and we don't have enough skill players on offense to make up for Rashard and Antonio's absence. I don't think Nate's good enough of a coach to change our offense to fit the roster we have now, because we'd need a Jerry Sloan type system to make it work. I could list more bad things, like Damien thinking he's a jump shooter to Nick and Reggie not being able to finish after contact, but it's pointless. I just hope it was an off night.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post"> All game long Stu Lantz (Lakers announcer) kept mentioning why the Sonics were trying to beat the Lakers with a big lineup.</div> Well our two small forwards and the third guard in our rotation were all missing, so it's no surprise as to why we persisted with a bigger line-up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought Jerome James played effective in the 1st Q, but after he went to the bench he never got back in the game. Is this the normal substitution pattern the Sonics use?</div> JJ sprained an ankle in the 1st half. He is questionable tonight against Denver. This game happened exactly the way I feared it would. Can anyone say interior defense? Luke is a step AND a half slow (his plantar fascitis, probably) on defense, and Ray never works to hard at it. However, the bigs are not closing off the lane when the guard lets someone by. Early in the year they were OUTSTANDING at closing the gap...though less got through. Now they seem to be closing out late, if at all. It was disgusting how many open paths to the basket were available last night while the Sonics settled for jumpshots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">This is our most embarassing loss of the year. L.A. has been abysmal in their past 20 games--to the point where their fans were suggesting that they quit on the season. We obviously needed this game to clinch the NW division but yet we get blown out in our home building--by a team that was blown out last night in their own building. We also have had a couple days to prepare for L.A. as well. I can't believe that we lost in this fashion. I honestly think that there is serious doubt in the minds of the Sonics as to whether or not we can win another game this season. We have Denver tomorrow and that game could be a preview of our opening round playoff game. Denver has won 20 out of their past 22 games and our positioning themselves to be as high as a 5 seed. We on the other hand have lost five of our past seven and don't even look as though we are making strides to correct our errors. Bottom line is that the players who are active have to take pride in themselves and stop feeling sorry for themselves. Injuries are a part of the game. Guys like Flip, Wilkins, Potapenko, and Cleaves have been itching for playing time all season. Now that the minutes are available they have to take advantage of them. Flip is especially disappointing b/c he doesn't seem to have that chip on his shoulder that he normally plays with. It is almost as if he has accepted the fact that he is not in the Sonics long term plans and is playing the season out like he is finishing the end of a prison sentence. I'm not one for making excuses. The Sonics need to look at themselves and play like they don't have punk in their heart. If I had to point to one reason why I think the Sonics have been struggling I would say the play of Ron Murray. On numerous occasions I've said that he is the toughest minded player in the league. It's time for him to show and prove--not time for him to be a no show and lose.</div> Well said Shiek. I for am getting a little worried about the division. It wouldnt surprise me at all to see the Nuggets win out and if we play like we did last night the rest of the season I would EXPECT us to lose out. Sounds like we are going to have 8 available players tonight....doesnt seem like it will get better anytime soon.
It wasnt that nice...I think if me, Shiek,Casual, and a couple other of the posters played the Sonics that game we coulda givin them a run for their money
