Details: Who: Seattle Sonics (2-0) vs Portland Trailblazers (2-2) Where: Key Arena, Seattle When: Fri Nov 7, 7:30pm TV: ESPN, 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 Portland PG: Damon Stoudamire/Jeff McInnis SG: Bonzi Wells/Derek Anderson(?)/Qyntel Woods SF: Rasheed Wallace//Qyntel Woods PF: Zach Randolph/Rasheed Wallace/Dale Davis C: Dale Davis/Vladimir Stepania/Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje Sonic Injury List: Ray Allen: ankle, expected to miss 5-7 more weeks. Nick Collison: shoulder, out for the season. Antonio Daniels: back spasms, 50/50 Blazer Injury List Ruben Patterson: left Achilles tendinitis, on IL. Travis Outlaw: bilateral patellar tendinitis, on IL. Derek Anderson: back spasms, doubtful. Analysis: Seattle look to keep their place with the Lakers as the only unbeaten teams with their Key Arena opener against the Trailblazers, who have had a mixed start to the season. The Sonics have not missed a beat with Ray Allen's injury, cruising to a pair of oriental victories behind the explosive scoring of Rashard Lewis and the clutch play of surprise packet Ronald Murray. Brent Barry and Luke Ridnour have handled the point guard duties admirably, and the return of Antonio Daniels to face his former team adds to their backcourt depth. Lewis will look to continue his hot streak that saw him pick up player of the week honours, and will join Sonic bigmen Calvin Booth, Jerome James, Vitaly Potapenko, Reggie Evans and Vladimir Radmanovic in an attempt to curb the influence of a Portland frontcourt conisting primarily of Rasheed Wallace, Dale Davis, Vladimir Stepania and the impressive Zach Randolph. Key Factor: Seattle's defensive set-up is the key here. McMillan has instilled a fast paced defensive style based on pressure defense and playing the passing lanes, and it worked a treat against the Clippers who committed 18 turnovers in game one. A lot of Seattle's offense relies on baskets in transition, and for this to happen Murray, Barry, Daniels and Ridnour need to pressure Portland's guards and stop the ball going inside to Randolph and Wallace as much as possible. This will be tough as Stoudamire, McInnis, Wells and Anderson are more reliable with the ball than Eddie House, Keyon Dooling and Marko Jaric, and the effectiveness of Seattle's perimeter defense will play a big role in the outcome. Key Matchup: Vladimir Radmanovic vs Zach Randolph (PF) Radmanovic has bulked up over the off-season and remains the Sonics best post defender. Coming off a reasonable start to the season in japan (12 and 9) he will have his hands full with former Michigan prodigy Zach Randolph. Randolph has endured a hot start to the season and likes to bang it down low, crashing the boards and scoring prolifically on the low block. Radmanovic will need help from Booth and James on the defensive end, but on the offensive end will be able to drag Randolph out to the perimeter and clear the lanes for Lewis and Murray to drive. A lot hinges on this matchup, as Randolph holds the key against a weak inside team such as Seattle, but will be forced out to the perimeter on defense where he is unfamiliar. X-Factors: Seattle Luke Ridnour - may have his minutes reduced a bit by the return of Daniels, but his passing and court vision in transition and quick hands on the perimeter mean Portland's guards will have to be very wary while handling the rock Portland Jeff McInnis - one of the most underrated PGs in the NBA, McInnis may have an increased role with Derek Anderson doubtful to play, and is capable of providing instant offense and playmaking off the bench. He is also Portland's best defensive match-up for Brent Barry, who is in very good form.
Outstanding preview SD. I'm picking the Blazers in this one though, the size may give Seattle some trouble, Portland is getting better with that zone D.
Yeah interior size is one area I'm really worried about in this one, especially with no Collison. Sonics will have to force a lot of turnovers and score a lot of points in transition if they wanna win this, something they're capable of mind you.
Excellent preview SD Controling Randolph inside is the key to this game..Rashard has to stay hot..and keep shooting the ball.Murray to stay consistant and Sonics might come away with the win.
I agree...SD did a good job :mrgreen: ...hopefully Sonics will have some DEFENSE as well do well on the offensive end ...
