Seattle vs Minnesota: Official Game Thread

Details:

When: Friday, January 21st
Where: KeyArena, Seattle
Time (Seattle): 7:30
TV: Fox Sports, League Pass

Projected Starters:

<font color="green">Seattle (27-10)</font>

Luke Ridnour
Ray Allen
Rashard Lewis
Reggie Evans
Jerome James

<font color="Blue">Minnesota (19-19)</font>

Anthony Carter
Trenton Hassell
Latrell Sprewell
Kevin Garnett
Ervin Johnson

Injury Troubles:

<font color="green">Seattle</font>

Mateen Cleaves: Strained shoulder, ruled out.
Casanova Swift: Strained hip, ruled out.
Damien Wilkins: Knee tendinitis, ruled out.
<font color="Blue">
</font> <font color="Blue">Minnesota</font>

Mark Madsen: Fractured thumb, ruled out.
Ndudi Ebi: Knee tendintis, ruled out.
Sam Cassell: Strained hamstring, unlikely.
Michael Olowokandi: Suspended.

Brief Notes:

<ul>
[*]A very important divisional battle for the Sonics, if they hope to secure the Northwest crown and the top three seeding that goes with it, with them currently enjoying a lead of 8.5 games over the Timberwolves, who are second. both teams are coming off disappointing losses; Seattle lost a game that really should never have gone to overtime against Denver, while Minnesota shot 1-14 from downtown against a Lakers team that was missing Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom for much of the game with foul trouble.
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Rashard Lewis returned to the starting line-up against the Nuggets, looking a bit rusty but still posting 17 points and seven rebounds. He has traditionally played well against the Wolves, and will look for a big game to get his dwindling All-Star campaign back on track. On the other side of the coin, star point guard Sam Cassell looks likely to miss his seventh straight game with a sore hamstring, but Minnesota also get some luck with Michael Olowokandi being suspended for his altercation with Nene, meaning the Wolves won't have play him. Trenton Hassell has moved into the starting line-up, and will give Ray Allen or Lewis a hard time, meaning Wally Szczerbiak becomes one of the league's best sixth men, joining the likes of Vlad Radmanovic, Antonio Daniels and Danny Fortson.
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Let's Draft Brad Newley: Just a quick note to Sonics officials that we should be targetting young Adelaidian Brad Newley, as he is awesomely wicked (seriously).
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Word of the day: Pulpwood; noun. A soft wood suitable for making paper.
[/list]
<div align="center">"Even if Ray Allen's contract is made out of pulpwood, chances are it won't be what he is hoping for."</div>


<div align="center">Random Family Guy Quote </div>

Glen Quagmire: Hello, 911? It's Quagmire. Yeah, it's caught in the window this time.

All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.

 

We did it once, I think we can do it again. If history repeats, this team should have no problem bouncing back from a tough defeat. Granted they will be playing against a team that is capable of being championship contenders but if the Sonics come out firing on all cylinders I think we could take this one.

 

Both Minny and the Sonics are coming from bad defeats. It's just a matter of who'll bring it more.

P.S. I just saw that thread the Bosnian made, on January 1st. I know that guy personally, and it gets worse than that.

 

We can't afford to lose two in a row at the Key, especially considering how depleted the rosters are of both Denver and Minnesota.

Teams are starting to adjust better to our style of ball. Our pick and roll action hasn't been as effective as it was earlier in the season and our defense is reverting back to being poor.

I hope that Nate can continue to make adjustments that will keep up in the upper echelon of the NBA. When teams start to figure us out it's time to throw them a wrench. I don't think that there is any doubt to what wrench I'm talking about.

If we can continue to put distance between us and our nearest competition in the Western Conference Northwest Division we will automatically assure ourselves of at least a number three seed--regardless of what teams like Sacramento and Dallas are doing in their divisions (assuming that both San Antonio and Phoenix will continue to lead their own divisions for the duration of the season). If we are able to secure home court advantage for one/possibly two series it puts in a great position to challenge for the Western Conference Championship. Who would have thought that in October? Obviously not me considering that I wrote our season preview.

 

I'm going to this game tonight. If I remember my digital camera I'll try and post some pics, just for fun. It's fun to get there early and watch the players warm up.

I think we'll win this one, after all the Wolves couldn't even beat the Lakers without Kobe. That's not a hit on LA, but they aren't playing on the Sonics level.

 

You know, I scanned Shiek's post and was happy he didn't mention Flip. Then I read it.

If Reggie and Danny can handle Garnett somewhat, we'll have a good chance to win.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">You know, I scanned Shiek's post and was happy he didn't mention Flip. Then I read it.

If Reggie and Danny can handle Garnett somewhat, we'll have a good chance to win.</div>

Shiek will mention Flip after the game, especially when he gets DNP-CD and usually he mentions McMillan in the same sentence! Shiek is a die hard fan!
I really hope Sonics can win this game because losing 2 in a row in Key would be bad for morale.
And Jurassic I really hop that you have good seats and you can provide us some good pictures! Especially I would like to get one where they huddle after the game! Have a nice game!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think that there is any doubt to what wrench I'm talking about.</div>

Absolutely, throwing in Ibo Kutluay will really stretch opposition defenses, who won't have much idea about him. Good thinking, fam.

 

We are slowly but surely getting worse and worse defensively.

Giving up over 100 points to a undermanned Minnesota team with over 6 minutes to go in the game is inexcusable.

I hope that we can put together a run to pull this out, but I think that we have to begin to examine what adjustments that we have to make to improve defensively. Our winning ways will not continue if we don't.

(Are you pleased w/ that post, Casual?)

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Absolutely, throwing in Ibo Kutluay will really stretch opposition defenses, who won't have much idea about him. Good thinking, fam.</div>

Actually I was thinking more on the lines of activating Mateen Cleaves and Damien Wilkins while putting Luke and Ray on the IL. Cleaves will shock the opposition w/ his ability to cheerlead while playing and Wilkins will be able to distract our opponents w/ stories of his family reunion pick up games.

 

It's Wally World, we're all just living in it. I'm interested to know if Ray was guarding Wally.

 

Another poor game for the Sonics until the end. The defense in this game was worse then against Denver...which allowed Minnesota to just get hot. Overall, though Seattle did show some heart down the stretch and didnt quite come out on top...I think they will get through this semi-rut ok. Now as for Wally he shouldnt have been in the game in the 4th quarter...how he wasnt ejected in this game (and never even got a technical) is absolute crap. How Wally acted tonight is TWICE as bad as ANYTHING Fortson has done all year (and hes been ejected this year).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Now as for Wally he shouldnt have been in the game in the 4th quarter...how he wasnt ejected in this game (and never even got a technical) is absolute crap. How Wally acted tonight is TWICE as bad as ANYTHING Fortson has done all year (and hes been ejected this year).</div>

What did Wally do that was so horrible that he should have been ejected?

 

I haven't seen the game yet but I'm guessing that something had to happen for Fortson to play only 9 minutes.

I think that the Sonics faithful have some legitimate concerns that we have to worry about. I don't think that we are playing w/ the same swagger that we were earlier in the year and it seems as if we are reverting to trying to outscore people. In the beginning of the season we were able to win games when our jump shot wasn't falling. In the past couple of weeks it seems as if we are having trouble distancing ourselves from our opponents even when we are making shots.

Earn your money Nate. Get the troops to refocus their attention on defense to the point where it is everyone's priority. Instead of worrying about your contract situation and the rotation, why not get to the point where you are holding the players that are getting big minutes accountable for their lack of defensive intensity (see Ray Allen, Vladimir Radmanovic, Antonio Daniels~whose defensive has always been a bit overrated, and Luke Ridnour~whose beginning to get exploited these past couple of weeks, ie Speedy Claxton, Earl Boykins/Andre Miller, Troy Hudson).

 

This was the third game I didn't get to watch so far this season. Somehow I am glad I missed it.

I am thinking It is time to shake things up a bit. Maybe a change to the starting line-up. If Rid is getting tourched then throw AD in there to let the players know, "your job is not safe".

I think that if Allen isn't playing D then giving him a couple 28 minute nights would put a spark in him, after all he is trying to sign a big contract and stats matter regardless of what players say. I think Allens biggest problem of late is that he is trying to do too much. He is forcing shots and not trusting his teammates as much. "Pass the ball when you are triple teamed Ray."

Inserting Collison at center over James would change the look of our line-up quite a bit. While I am not the biggest Collison fan, he strikes me as the kind that tries his best all the time, which is more than I can say about some of our players lately.

One thing I have always liked about Nate is that he isn't scared of his players being upset with him. It's his way or the highway so to speak. Well, his way is defense and that isn't what we are seeing right now, so look for a change to come.

 

As Nate said in the post game teams are adjusting to the Sonics style of play - now matching up small vs. small; defensively they can't stop anyone off the dribble and we have no shot blockers.

Teams are playing Ray Allen by having a big guy guard him on the perimeter to take away the open look 3 - hell Cleveland put Ira Newble on him - and when he drives to the hoop he's prone to wild turnovers, dribbling with his head down on his forays to the hoop.

Plus they jump the pick and roll now so that a big guy is in front of him and the other guy trailing his shooting hand. I think the other teams will take their chances with the screener (Evans, James, Fortson, Collison) recieving the ball on the move.

One other pet peeve of mine is watching AD pound the ball - it seems he's one dribble too late on the pass - call it the Gary Grant syndrome, he has to put the ball between his legs one last time before giving it up.

Sadly, right now I have to say the Sonics are a 'good' team -better than expected for sure, but not as good as their current record.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">What did Wally do that was so horrible that he should have been ejected?</div>


you didnt see the game did you? Well for starters there was a call Wally didnt like so he got in the refs face started screaming (literally jumping up and down) and ran off with the ball still screaming. It was absolutely amazing he didnt get T'd up at that point. Then 5-10 minutes later we shot a full court heave at the end of the 3rd quarter and wally grabbed the rebound as the buzzer sounded took the ball and slammed it 50 feet into the air at half court. He was constantly talking crap back with the Sonics fans. and thats just what I saw on tv.

 

Odde. Luke was nowhere near the problem in this game. Most of the points Hudson went off were when Daniels was on the court. Ridnour played most of the 2nd half and that wasnt when Hudson decided he wasnt going to miss. But to be fair He was shooting shots 3-4 feet behind the 3-point line. Also as for switching Collision into the starting lineup for James I dont understand that move either because James was truly 1 of the reasons we were still in the game. This game was a case of bad defense and Ray Allen AGAIN handicapped us into losing.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">He was constantly talking crap back with the Sonics fans. and thats just what I saw on tv.</div>

1 - Their are plenty of players who talk to fans during games. I didn't see or hear any obscenities, so that's that.

2 - I did see "jumping" incident and thought it was humorous. How often do you see a person over the age of.........6 do that. I thought it was funny and sad, so he could have been given a "T" then.

3 - So are you saying that there should not be a difference in fouls (regular vs. flagrant)? The reason that a "T" wasn't, and shouldn't have been called, is because of intent. He was not frustrated and losing his composure for bad plays of missed calls, he was showing his exuberence for coming out of his slump and being efficient. He did not do in the face of any of the Sonics and it was well after the buzzer sounded.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">1 - Their are plenty of players who talk to fans during games. I didn't see or hear any obscenities, so that's that.

2 - I did see "jumping" incident and thought it was humorous. How often do you see a person over the age of.........6 do that. I thought it was funny and sad, so he could have been given a "T" then.

3 - So are you saying that there should not be a difference in fouls (regular vs. flagrant)? The reason that a "T" wasn't, and shouldn't have been called, is because of intent. He was not frustrated and losing his composure for bad plays of missed calls, he was showing his exuberence for coming out of his slump and being efficient. He did not do in the face of any of the Sonics and it was well after the buzzer sounded.</div>


Wally was in the refs face and was screaming...could have been given a tech???? Honestly have you seen Fortson or any other Sonic make a display like that and not get T'd for it?!?!?!?? I mean I really dont understand where your going with could have been called for a tech..it was simply outrageous that he wasnt called for one.

As for this thing about me saying their shouldnt be a difference between between fouls and flagrants im not quite sure I understand. You take the ball during the game and slam it 30 feet in the air...you should get t'd up. I dont care if he didnt stare at a Sonic player when he did it...that should be an automatic T. Please explain to me how saying doing certain things to warrant a tech means that by commiting a touch foul and punching someone in the face ralates to that???