Details: When: Tuesday, April 26th Where: Key Arena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 7:30 P.M. TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (1-0) </font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="navy">Sacramento (0-1)</font> Mike Bibby Cuttino Mobley Peja Stojakovic Kenny Thomas Brian Skinner Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> None. <font color="navy">Sacramento </font> None. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]Huge game for the Supes. With little playoff experience on their roster, it is vital that they win both games at home to put early pressure on the Kings. Seattle are halfway there with a game one victory, but this game will be twice as tough, and will say a lot about the character of this basketball team. They showed a lot in the regular season, can they keep it going? [/list] <ul> [*]For the first time in a long time, both teams are healthy. Both Brad Miller and Vlad Radmanovic saw court time in game one, and both will look to continue seeing off the rust and getting into a groove. Mike Bibby and Luke Rudnour shot a combined 1-22 on game one, don't expect that to happen again, particularly Bibby who has a reputation as a torrid playoff performer. [/list] * Useless NFL Draft tantrum of the day: "Alex Smith, wah wah wah. Aaron Rodgers is better, boo hoo hoo." -- d00d. Quotable: "This is the first playoffs for him, and whatever happens, I'm going to be behind him. I want him to be aggressive. He'll learn from this whether he has success or not." -- Nate McMillan on Luke Ridnour. Random Family Guy Quote Peter: I've had a good life. And you can always be proud of your father and all of his accomplishments. Meg: What accomplishments? Peter: Go to your room. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
Nice start for Vlade hit his first 3 and the 4th was in and out. Defense seems a little lax and Big Game James looks like he's bringing it again.
I don't even know what to say about Jerome James. He was hitting midrange jumpers like a fat kid hits cake (with his fork). What I really appreciated about tonight's game was that the Sonics continued to go into the paint to get their points. Rashard still looks off, but we won, so he'll have some more time to get going.
The hell? We're up 26 at the end of the 3rd so since I have the game taping I start doing something else. I check the score and we're up 9. Talk about nervous time. I have to watch the tape now, but looking at the box score Luke had a horrible shooting game as did Rashard. Rashard I expect to bounce back but with Luke you can bet the Kings will leave him alone for the rest of the series not just off the ball but on the pick and roll as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't even know what to say about Jerome James. He was hitting midrange jumpers like a fat kid hits cake (with his fork). What I really appreciated about tonight's game was that the Sonics continued to go into the paint to get their points. Rashard still looks off, but we won, so he'll have some more time to get going.</div> Looks Jerome brings his A game in the playoffs. Hell I didn't even know he had an A game.
Even though we got the W we should be ashamed, we have led by at least 20 in both games and given up big leads. Luke needs to pick up his game, he's the key imo. The only comforting thing about this loss is that Shard didn't play well. Nice that we can win convincingly even when he's off his game. Thank you Sacramento for continuing your streak of not getting it done when it counts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Even though we got the W we should be ashamed, we have led by at least 20 in both games and given up big leads. Luke needs to pick up his game, he's the key imo. The only comforting thing about this loss is that Shard didn't play well. Nice that we can win convincingly even when he's off his game. Thank you Sacramento for continuing your streak of not getting it done when it counts.</div> We've given up leads all year long - shoot em in, shoot em out I guess. Seems like we can never take a 20pt lead to 30 and continue on to the end of the game. Hardly ever, I should know I get nervous every 4th quarter all year long.
Nate has a team policy of no headbands, so Vlad has to do something to keep those gorgeous locks out of his eyes. Pleasing performance from him too, and it was nice to see Nick and Danny both contribute from the pine. Luke didn't have a great shooting night, but at the end of the day Bibby didn't come out and have a big influence on the game like most thought he would, and Bobby Jackson threw up a lot of shots for his 17 points. We have done all we can do to this point, time to steal a game in California.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">We've given up leads all year long - shoot em in, shoot em out I guess. Seems like we can never take a 20pt lead to 30 and continue on to the end of the game. Hardly ever, I should know I get nervous every 4th quarter all year long.</div> Well, how many teams can take a 20 point lead in the first half and hold it for an entire game? Teams will always have runs no matter how badly they are playing, credit this team for having the character to hold a much more experienced line-up off.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, how many teams can take a 20 point lead in the first half and hold it for an entire game? Teams will always have runs no matter how badly they are playing, credit this team for having the character to hold a much more experienced line-up off.</div> True enough, but we're talking 20pts in the 4th quarter of a playoff game, right after we gave up a 20pt lead in the game before (in the 2nd half, too, I think) But yeah we're inexperienced and the Kings have some guys. I don't expect the Kings to roll over but like Nate said in the postgame we stopped moving in the 4th and didn't run our stuff and that certainly doesn't help minimize the inevetible runs.
5 games to get 2. I don't care about the fact that we let the Kings back in the game. This is the playoffs and it doesn't matter whether you win by a point or if you win by 30, we are still up 2 games to nothing. Big Game James continues to bring his A game. No one on the Kings can handle this dude. I said earlier that I thought he was a top 10 center but I'm leaning towards him being a top 5 true center in this league. He is going to give you buckets in a variety of ways in the post and he truly has an impact on the other end of the floor. There are a lot of discouraging things that I see from the Sonics. One is Sweet Lew's ineffectiveness/passiveness. We almost have to call plays for him for him to even get a shot attempt. Another is Luke. His shot selection is questionable and the results are as discouraging as the punk in his heart. I feel bad for Fortson b/c the refs are anticipating fouls and technicals. He can't catch a break or a rebound. Right now only Big Game, Ray, Nick, and AD are playing consistent on the offensive end. Defensively I don't have too many complaints outside of our pick and roll defense. There is no question that the games will be more intense in Sacramento but we've been a good road team all season. As long as we continue to get the ball inside to that beast in the middle we should be fine. Someone should tell Nate that dumping the ball down to #13 may be our best option at this point.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">His shot selection is questionable and the results are as discouraging as the punk in his heart.</div> Ah Shieky, always saying what the masses want to hear.
Wow, this Jermome James guy has surprised me. Someone who didn't even average 5 points in the regular season explodes for 19 on 9/11 shooting. I didn't know he was capable of some of the things he did. Seattle better lock him up this offseason!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">No one on the Kings can handle this dude. I said earlier that I thought he was a top 10 center but I'm leaning towards him being a top 5 true center in this league. </div> I was laughing at the top 5 comment then I started counting them off in my head...Shaquille, Yao, Big Ben, Dampier (I guess), Dalembert is an up and comer. Brad Miller, grudgingly. Amare's more of a 4 as is Camby, although he definitely plays the 5. Well suprise suprise I can't name any others better than JJ (not even the JJ of the past 2 games, I'm talking the 5 and 3 JJ of the regular season). Pryzbilla maybe but he's only done it half a season. Jeff Foster can be an animal at times but he has nothing in the post.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, this Jermome James guy has surprised me. Someone who didn't even average 5 points in the regular season explodes for 19 on 9/11 shooting. I didn't know he was capable of some of the things he did. Seattle better lock him up this offseason!</div> New York will lock him up on a max deal. It's their way of doing things.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">Pryzbilla maybe but he's only done it half a season.</div> Whole JJ has done it for two games. Big Joel has consistently had monster games this season, if you offered me him for JJ I would kiss you.
