Seattle vs Los Angeles: Payton Returns

Details:

Who: (15-14) vs (21-7)
Where: Key Arena
When: Fri, Jan 2nd, 7:30pm
TV: KONG, NBATV

Projected Lineups:


PG: Brent Barry/Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour
SG: Ray Allen/Ronald Murray/Richie Frahm
SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic
PF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans/Vitaly Potapenko
C: Jerome James/Calvin Booth/Vitaly Potapenko

Coached by Nate McMillan


PG: Gary Payton/Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush
SF: Devean George/Bryon Russell/Luke Walton
PF: Stanislav Medvedenko/Horace Grant/Brian Cook
C: Shaquille O'Neal/Horace Grant

Coached by Phil Jackson

Injury List:
Nick Collison: shoulder, season.
Ansu Sesay: left ring finger sprain, on IL.

Sun Injury List
Karl Malone: sprained right medial ligament, indefinite.
Janero Pargo: patellar tendinitis, on IL.
Jamal Sampson: back spasms, on IL.
Rick Fox: left foot surgery, on IL.

Analysis:
Well, what a night. Gary Payton, undeniably the greatest Sonic to play the game, returns to face his former teammates for the first time since his controversial departure. And by the noise GP has been making in the media, he doesn't want to be a part of it. It is obvious a lot of emotion has spilled out in the days leading up to this one, and this is when Payton is at his most dangerous. However, if he lets the occassion get the better of him, then Seattle will really like their chances of winning this one, especially without Malone. They traditionally play well against the Lakers, despite the fact that Los Angeles have the biggest inside presence in the league, and this should be another fascinating game of basketball. The Sonics have won two straight on the road, the Lakers got back on track with a big win over Boston.

Milestones:



999 games in Emerald Green, and among the leaders in just about every statistical category possible for Seattle, how will Payton handle this? Will he try to go off and drop 40 on his former team, or will he stay focused and treat it as just another game that needs to be won? Time will tell.

[quoteright]"It's not a big week for me. I want to see the fans. It will be big for me with the fans. But the rest of them, they can kiss my ass." - Former Sonic and franchise legend Gary Payton on his return to Key Arena.[/QUOTERIGHT]

Key Factor:
If Seattle want to win this one, their start is crucial. Get off to a slow start here, and it could be all over by quarter time - Seattle don't want to be playing catch up basketball against a team like the Lakers, who can get confident and then feed off of it. However, if the Sonics get off the a fast start, they stand a chance of disrupting Los Angeles' rythym, and this is important to beating a team like that. Last time around, the Sonics got off to a very fast start, and that left the Lakers rattled. Of course having a veteran like Gary Tempo; a master of switching the tempo, around, will do wonders for this Lakers team if they get behind early. However, it remains to be seen how he will cope with coming back to his former stomping ground. He can rave about how he doesn't care all he wants, but GP is an emotional guy.

Key Matchup: Ray Allen vs Kobe Bryant



The match-up everyone wants to see; two All-Star guards going head to head. Last season, Ray Allen had a ball against the Lakers in the two games after he came to Seattle. The first he posted a 26/13/9 statline, on debut in a narrow loss, and the second was a 22/10/10 triple double in a big win, as he continued to endear himself to Sonic fans mourning the loss of Payton. Bryant has been slightly subdued this season, sacrificing his own stats for the good of the team. But if there is one player who can explode at any given moment, it's Bryant. Ray Allen is an average defender at the best of times, and on a sore ankle, look for Bryant to penetrate as much as possible. Ray needs to have a big shooting night if the Sonics are to win this one; if he is cold, forget it.

X-Factors:





Ron Murray - after a few subpar games of late, Murray needs to stand up here. He is Seattle's best scorer off the bench, and in a game against the Lakers the Sonics are gonna need all the offensive help they can get. That means Murray needs to find his shot, and fast.





Stanislav Medvedenko - doesn't have a lot of talent, but has size, and can rebound the basketball. Nate McMillan will be breathing a sigh of relief with Malone sitting out, but if the Sonics' big men don't stay focused, Medvedenko could have a nice night on the offensive boards, and second chance opportunities are what you don't want to give Kobe Bryant and co.

<font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>

 

Lakers by 8

That is if healthy of course, all eyes will be on one Shaquille O'Neal, as he injured his back doing a non related basketball activity. Missed a morning shoot around this week too because of that.

Go Ray!

 

I'm going to call this one a toss up. I don't like doubting my Lakers saying they are going to lose, and I also won't predict a win against a team like the Sonics. This one will go down to the very end, like your preview, the match-up that everyone wants to see is Kobe/Ray, Kobe will have to play well in this one for the Lakers to win. Payton will be a big factor, will he perform at his old home. I don't look for Shaq to carry LA to a win, like KJ said, he has his little 'injury' , so I look for the backcourt to produce well.

 

Shame on ESPN for not putting this game on T.V. as it should be one for the ages. While Gary Payton could come out and score fifty against his former team, he could just as easily shoot one for twenty kind of like Latrell Sprewell did twice this year against the Knicks. With Rodman retired Payton is making a push to be the sideshow of the NBA. Some of his recent quotes were absolutely hysterical. People are obviously getting into his head. My prediction is that the Sonics lose by three or four points, (Afterall, it's the Lakers.) and Gary Payton has an off-night.

 

Last year or the eyar before the Lakers lost ALL four games vs. the sonics and last year kobe blew em out with that record breaking game. I thought that la would knock em down but now that i think about it its gonna be a good matchup.

 

Like I said in the other prediction thread, GP should have a good game, and the Lakers should escape.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">



Stanislav Medvedenko - doesn't have a lot of talent, but has size, and can rebound the basketball. Nate McMillan will be breathing a sigh of relief with Malone sitting out, but if the Sonics' big men don't stay focused, Medvedenko could have a nice night on the offensive boards, and second chance opportunities are what you don't want to give Kobe Bryant and co.
</div>

I think you have it mixed around. Slava has the skills, or at least great potential. Good shooter, draws out the defense, and is steadily improving in rebounding. If anything, he should add about 5 lbs. of muscle. But other than that, I like your preview!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">,all eyes will be on one Shaquille O'Neal, as he injured his back doing a non related basketball activity. </div>

Yeah I heard about that,It has been reported he had one too many burgers and tripped over fat joe on the way out.Therefore hurting his back on the door step

So remember people... when they offer you 10 extra burgers...JUST SAY NO

 

I've been very impressed with Kobe as of late, his being frightened, he tries to not let it affect his game. That's very admirable. What'll be most enjoyable on my part is watching Rashard Lewis smash Devean George if man to man defense is used. I predict Sonics take this one with an upstarting win. 89 to 85.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post"> Slava has the skills, or at least great potential. </div>

Slava has ok skills. He's not really that great of a shooter, very horrendous on his outside shooting, but he is a good force in the inside for rebounding. That's why to me if the Lakers have any chance of winning this game, Slava will have to provide the Lakers with a decent controlling edge on the rebounding categories.

 

I'm going to say the Lakers are just going to edge this one off in a nail-biter. Both teams are good but one has to be better and we'll see at the end of the 4th quater. The Sonics should put up a good fight with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. But the Lakers should fight back hard with Kobe, GP, and Shaq IMO I say Lakers by 3. BTW Great Preview Sir Dez.

 

With all the injuries Im sure it will be a close game. I think the Sonics will open out a bit of a lead, but Lakers will come back in the last period. Lakers by 3.

 

Wow, a pulsating first half of basketball. Sonics lead 56-55 on a buzzer beater from calvin Booth, Shaq has left the game injured.

Brent Barry has 12/4/5, ray Allen has 13 and 4 assists, Lewis 8/3 and Flip 7.

Gary Payton has 10 and 5 assists, on 3/9 shooting, Kobe has 10 also.

Should be a great second half.

 

yes...it was a great 2nd half...puahahaha...you guys missed out a lot...

111-109...Sonics win!!!

I would go to extremities and type up the whole thing, but it'd be too hard do describe all the highlights...since there was so many...

I'll put up the boxcore though:

Ray Allen: 35 pts., 9 assists
Rashard Lewis : 20 pts, 9 rebs.
Brent Barry: 12 pts., 5 rebs., 11 ast
Vladimir Radmanovic: 12 pts., 6 rebs,.
Vitaly Potapenko (you don't hear this often): 13 pts.

Gary Payton: 24 pts., 5 rebs., 5 ast.
Kobe Bryant: 32 pts., 6 rebs., 6 ast.
Stanislav Medvedenko: 14 pts.

http://www.nba.com/games/20040102/LALSEA/boxscore.html

 

yes...it was a great 2nd half...puahahaha...you guys missed out a lot...

111-109...Sonics win!!!

I would go to extremities and type up the whole thing, but it'd be too hard do describe all the highlights...since there was so many...

I'll put up the boxcore though:

Ray Allen: 35 pts., 9 assists
Rashard Lewis : 20 pts, 9 rebs.
Brent Barry: 12 pts., 5 rebs., 11 ast
Vladimir Radmanovic: 12 pts., 6 rebs,.
Vitaly Potapenko (you don't hear this often): 13 pts.

Gary Payton: 24 pts., 5 rebs., 5 ast.
Kobe Bryant: 32 pts., 6 rebs., 6 ast.
Stanislav Medvedenko: 14 pts.

http://www.nba.com/games/20040102/LALSEA/boxscore.html

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah I heard about that,It has been reported he had one too many burgers and tripped over fat joe on the way out.Therefore hurting his back on the door step

So remember people... when they offer you 10 extra burgers...JUST SAY NO</div>

hahaha...sad poor guy. funnyness

 

Seattle 111 Los Angeles 109

It came down to two guys, both superstars, and it was Jesus who somewhat fittingly came out on top.

Ray Allen, aquired in the controversial Gary Payton trade, showed Seattle doesn't need the Glove's love by nailing the game winning lay-up with five seconds to go, as part of a 35 point, nine assist night. Allen and Kobe Bryant, who finished with 32, went toe to toe in the final minutes, scoring a combined 32 points in the final stanza (Bryant 18, Allen 14). Seattle had a lead of nine in the last, 100-91, before Bryant took over, singlehandedly pulling the Lakers back through a combination of jumpers and freethrows.

The Lakers lost Shaquille O'Neal in the second quarter to a calf injury, but managed to stay with the Sonics, down 56-55 at the half. In the third quarter it became the Gary Payton/Rashard Lewis show; Payton scored 11, including a stretch of seven straight Laker points, whilst Lewis scored 10. The Sonics still took a slim lead into the last quarter, and extended this, before Bryant's heroics fell just short of the mark.

Payton recieved a standing ovation from the Seattle crowd, and rightly so, as he endured an intriguing battle with former backcourt partner Brent Barry. Payton finished with 24 points and seven assists, but more importantly showed he could still be a team player by stepping aside to let Bryant work his magic late on. Barry showed just how valuable he is to Seattle with 12 points on 4-7 shooting, including three treys, and added 11 assists. Other key contributions for the Sonics included Vitaly Potapenko with 13 points and Vladimir Radmanovic with 12 and six, whereas Los Angeles got 14 points from Stanislav Medvedenko, on 6-7 shooting.

In what will be remembered for a long time as one of the great games of basketball, Ray Allen's star shone brighter than anyone else's. He continued his love-affair with the Lakers, and continues to endear himself to Sonic fans still bitter about Payton's departure.

<font size="1">Box Score courtesy of NBA.com.</font>

Next game: @ Kings, Sun 4th Dec

 

What a game of basketball that was.Neck and neck through the 4th quarter..Allen came up with big shots to help Sonics get the win.Kobe played a great game in the 4th quarter...Really showed what he was made of....One of the games of the season.

 

And you could just tell that Kobe had in the back of his head that 'Ray owns' him, as he showed up to play one of his best games of the season, just too bad the Lakers came up short.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">And you could just tell that Kobe had in the back of his head that 'Ray owns' him, as he showed up to play one of his best games of the season, just too bad the Lakers came up short. </div>

I have no problems admitting what a champion Kobe is, and he showed it again tonight. Both he and Ray combined for 32 in the last, and both made shots that no one would have stopped. In the end I'll give my credit to Vladimir Radmanovic for setting such a good screen to get Ray into the lane for the final shot, and sometimes you have to tip your hat and say "too good". That last trey wasn't far off either, and I can tell you I was holding my breath on it.