Preview Details: Who: (18-15) vs (17-17) Where: Key Arena When: Fri, Jan 9th, 7:30pm TV: NBALP 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: Jason Williams/Earl Watson SG: James Posey/Bonzi Wells SF: Mike Miller/Shane Battier PF: Pau Gasol/Bo Outlaw/Stromile Swift C: Lorenzen Wright/Stromile Swift/Jake Tsakalidis Coached by Hubie Brown Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Ansu Sesay: left ring finger sprain, on IL. Grizzly Injury List Ryan Humphrey: concussion, on IL. Troy Bell: on IL. Theron Smith: back spasms, on IL. Analysis: Both teams come into this one with seemingly reversed records from earlier in the season. Through the first 25 games, Memphis were sitting on a 15-10 record, while Seattle were around about the .500 mark. Now the Sonics are well placed with at 18-15, while Memphis sit smack bang on .500 after a 7 game losing streak dropped them to the bottom of the Midwest. These two teams have met twice already this season; Memphis took out the first meeting in Seattle early on, while the Sonics got revenge at Memphis' Pyramid recently. For Seattle, it has been a happy return for star Ray Allen, who has been huge in recent victories over the Lakers and Portland, and the team is 6-2 since he came back into the line-up. One of those victories was against Memphis, while Allen did not play in the Grizzlies' earlier win. Back to the Beginning: When the Grizzles were in Vancouver, they used the fourth overall pick of the 1997 draft to secure Daniels out of Bowling Green. He played one season there, averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 assists per game, before being traded to San Antonio. [quoteright]"When he's playing like that, it opens the court up for everybody. I first noticed it in the Portland game. He wasn't thinking so much, but just playing and letting the game come to him." Sonics guard Antonio Daniels on Vladimir Radmanovic's improved play in his last two games.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factor: Can Seattle's bench continue it's great form? Against Sacramento, their reserves racked up over 40 points, led by Daniels with 19 and Ron Murray with 15, while Reggie Evans corralled 12 boards. Memphis are a very strong team in their second unit, boasting names such as Earl Watson, Bonzi Wells, Shane Battier and Stromile Swift all in their second unit. The Sonics arguably have more firepower in their starting five, but Memphis have the ability to go deep into their reserves without missing a beat. It will be vital that Daniels and Murray keep up their intensity and shooting stroke when called upon, and that Reggie Evans and Calvin Booth hold their own against a deep and potent Memphis frontline. Key Matchup: Ray Allen vs James Posey After escaping the guard of Doug Christie and posting 22, 7 and 9 against the Kings, Seattle's sweet-shooting two guard Ray Allen comes up against another guy who prides himself on his defense. Posey won't be able to give Allen even an inch; not only is his shooting as deadly as ever, but his passing game has improved the point where he's averaging six a game. Last time these two teams met, Posey got into early foul trouble. He cannot afford to do the same here, especially if the game is late on, because Memphis will need him out there or it could spell disaster. At the other end, Posey will blend into the offense and take any open shots that fall his way, but he is in the line-up for his defensive capabilities and he will need to stay extremely focused in this one. X-Factors: Vitaly Potapenko - often the odd man out in Nate McMillan's bigman rotation, expect Potapenko to see some time here. Memphis boast a gritty front court pairing in Lorenzen Wright and Bo Outlaw who will scrap for everything, and Potapenko plays this role well. he can also hit the open jumper if defenses sag on radmanovic, Allen or Lewis. Earl Watson - former Seattle crowd favourite returns to his old home, and will likely play a key role here. Often splits the minutes with starter Jason Williams because of his steady ball handling and solid hustle defense, and he would love to get a win over his previous employers here. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
Excellent preview again Des Sonics are on a roll lately,beat the Grizzles last week..I expect the same result again on friday. How Posey defends Allen will again be a key area in this game.
Great preview, really like the looks of this one. As for the game I can't wait to see Allen and Lewis in action, they'll most probably dominate on the offensive end. Hopefully Memphis will give them a fight like they have been doing previous to other teams before them as of late. I think Sonics are overall much more stronger on both ends, they take it by 7 in my opinionated guess.
if they win this 1...it'll b a close game...right now they're trailing the Grizzlies @ the end of 1st...38-23...so many turnovers !!!
we won!!!...heading into the 4th Quarter...the Sonics were already up by four (86-82 or somethin like that)...and the final score is 122-116...ain't that sweet?
No time to do a full recap, which is just as well as the game wasn't on TV Sonics gave up 38 in the first, but scored 37 and 34 over the next two. Rashard Lewis top scored with 26 and 9, Ray Allen had 15 and 7 assists, Brent Barry had 18, 5 and 10, Vlade Radmanovic had 17 and Jerome James 16 and 6 off the bench, Potepenko 14. For Memphis James Posry had 25, Mike Miller 20 and Pau Gasol 19. 4 tech fouls in the game - Hubie Brown, Bonzi Wells, Reggie Evans and Lewis. <font size="1">Box Score courtesy of NBA.com. </font>
