Details: Who: Seattle Sonics (6-3) vs Memphis Grizzlies (5-5) Where: Key Arena When: Fri, Nov 21st, 7:30pm TV: Kong Projected Lineups: Seattle PG: Brent Barry/Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ronald Murray/Brent Barry/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Ansu Sesay/Vladimir Radmanovic PF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans/Vitaly Potapenko C: Calvin Booth/Jerome James/Vitaly Potapenko Coached by Nate McMillan Memphis PG: Jason Williams/Earl Watson SG: Mike Miller/Wesley Person/Shane Battier SF: James Posey/Shane Battier/Mike Miller PF: Pau Gasol/Lorenzen Wright/Bo Outlaw C: Jake Tsakalidis/Lorenzen Wright/Bo Outlaw Coached by Hubie Brown Sonic Injury List: Ray Allen: ankle, expected to miss 3-5 more weeks. Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Grizzly Injury List Troy Bell: on IL. Theron Smith: ankle, on IL. Ryan Humphrey: concussion, on IL. Analysis: Both teams are coming off losses, but both have also exceeded expectations to start the season. Seattle have started hot at 6-3, and will be looking to get back on track after an unexpected home loss to Miami. Flip Murray is coming off a career high 31 against Miami, and Rashard Lewis will look to bounce back after only 16 and 4. Memphis on the other hand are sitting at .500, and many have tipped them to improve on this. The improved play of former badboy Jason Williams has been a key, but on the whole it's Hubie Brown that has turned this franchise around. Key Factor: Benchpower could be the key here. Both teams have potent starting line-ups, capable of putting up big offensive numbers. While Seattle probably have more firepower in their starters, Memphis are better defensively when their starting unit is on the floor. Memphis run deep on their bench; Shane Battier, Wesley Person and Lorenzen Wright have endured long stints as starters in the past, and former Sonic Earl Watson also provides a spark. For Seattle, Antonio Daniels, Reggie Evans, Jerome James and Luke Ridnour will all need to be on their guard, or Memphis' second unit may be the difference. Key Matchup: Vladimir Radmanovic vs Pau Gasol These two guys both share many similarities: Both are big Europeans who are capable of playing an inside/outside game, and have the ability and versatility to put the ball on the floor. The difference is that Gasol has lived up to his potential, whilst Radmanovic has only shown glimpses of his rich talents. Radmanovic is a decent post defender, and will be a good matchup with Gasol as the Spaniard uses agile movement and crafty moves to score in the post, not brute strength. At the other end Gasol has the agility to go with Radmanovic on the perimeter, and is a very good shotblocker inside. X-Factors: Memphis Earl Watson - once considered the successor to Gary Payton in Seattle, Watson is now a sparkplug off the bench for the Grizzlies. Whether it's streaking away for slam or blocking Shawn Bradley from behind, Watson is the sort of player who provides a real lift to the second unit, or can blend seamlessly into the first. Four years of College has helped him as he is solid and reliable handling the rock. Seattle Antonio Daniels - His last couple of games have been very good off the bench, and he should once again be called upon to perform a variety of defensive duties. Jason Williams and Mike Miller are both hard to stop when on song, and as good as Barry and Murray are offensively, they're not premier perimeter defenders, which is where Daniels comes in. May even see time defending Battier and Person when the Sonics go small.
Very nice preview Sir Desmond, probably the best I've seen. :thumbsup: This should be a good game. Both teams are playing good ball.
haha this is why I always leave the "dirty" work for you, you do it so well. I really am anticipating that Sonics really fight hard & get this win cuz I think they can beat the Grizzlies...
