Preview Details: Who: (16-15) vs (15-16) Where: Key Arena When: Mon, Jan 5th, 7pm TV: KONG, 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: Damon Stoudamire/Jeff McInnis SG: Jeff McInnis/Wesley Person SF: Rasheed Wallace/Ruben Patterson/Qyntel Woods PF: Zach Randolph/Rasheed Wallace C: Dale Davis/Vladimir Stepania Coached by Maurice Cheeks Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Ansu Sesay: left ring finger sprain, on IL. Trailblazer Injury List Derek Anderson: back spasms, indefinite. Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje: left ankle sprain, indefinite. Analysis: Talk about a change of fortunes. After a three game winning stretch, which including road wins over Houston and Memphis, and a close victory over the Lakers, Seattle went to Sacramento and gave up 130 points, the highest in the NBA this season. However they couldn't have picked better opponents to rebound back against. Portland were the last team to win on the road this season, with a recent victory over Ney Jersey, and their road record currently stands at a dismal 1-11. Zach Randolph has the inside running for Most Improved, and is putting up All-Star numbers, while Rasheed Wallace responded to trade rumours linking him to New York by putting up 30 points in a loss to the Nuggets. Interesting stat: Both Nate McMillan and Maurice Cheeks made their playoff coaching debuts in the same season, 2001/02, and both were knocked out in the first round. Seattle lost to the Spurs in 5 games, while Portland lost to eventual champions Los Angeles. McMillan and Cheek finished 4th and 5th respectively in coach of the year voting, with Detroit's Rick Carlisle taking out the award. [quoteright]"For the life of me, I can't explain why we didn't come in here to play. You would think that we would want to at least play well against a good team like this. But nobody, and I mean nobody, came to play." Rashard Lewis on the Kings' 130-99 thrashing of Seattle.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factor: Seattle need to shoot the ball well, something they did not do in Sacramento. The Trailblazers are not a great defensive team, but they will counter this down the offensive end against the Sonics by feeding the ball to Zach Randolph and Rasheed Wallace down low, two players to which Seattle don't have an answer for inside. To counter this, Seattle need to be shooting the ball well; Vladimir Radmanovic and Rashard Lewis need to find their rythym early, and get Wallace and Randolph away from the defensive glass as much as possible. Ball movement is crucial. Key Matchup: Rashard Lewis vs Rasheed Wallace Wallace has taken to small forward well after the emergence of Randolph, and plays a similar style of game to Lewis, albeit more effective on the post. Both players love to shoot the ball, and both usually enjoy a height advantage over opponents at the position. Lewis will have his hands full here, as, despite his obvious attitude problems and mood swings, Wallace remains one of the best offensive players in the NBA on his day. Lewis was guilty of giving Peja Stojakovic way too much room against the Kings, and he was made to pay. Wallace is not the shooter Stojakovic is, but he will take and make the open shot. At the other end, Lewis will have his work cut out trying to score on Wallace in the post, but he has the speed and improved ball-handling to take him off the dribble. X-Factors: Ron Murray - Will the real Flip Murray please stand up? After an electric start to the season and some big showings as 6th man, Murray seems to have lost his confidence and shot, not a good combination. Portland aren't the sort of team to shut down backcourt players consistently, and could be the perfect opposition for Murray to rediscover his form. Ruben Patterson - made his name with the Sonics, and still remains one of the league's underrated defenders. Will likely see time on Lewis and Ray Allen, and will be the Blazers' energy guy at both ends of the floor. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
I don't like Portland, and I'm not fond of Seattle neitha, but there my hometeam so I gotta root for them. yhe Blazers have been nothin' but downhill since LA kicked there ass out of the playoffs right when they thought they had it in 2000. Seattle got whooped by Sac-Town, no suprise to me. Hopefully they"ll bounce back in this game and shut portland down. ANd I agree Ruben doesn't get credit for his D, if he guards Seattles two best offensive players, that could possibly be a problem for Seattle, considering hes capable of shutting Kobe down. My prediction: Seattle by 4
Sonics take this one by 5 Portland's D is very lackluster at times, and Seattle's shooters will enjoy that.
Should be a good game...Clearly Sonics have anyone to stop Randolph inside but the Blazers don't have no one who can stop Allen on the arc either.
Well someone tell me why the Blazers are so bad on the road when they play like this? Blazers up 64-45 at the half, shooting an astonishing 60% from the field and 66% from behind the arc. This would be a lot easier to take if they managed to play like this on a regular basis, not once a month or so.
Wow what a comeback by seattle Ray Allen is amazing. Seattle should trade one of there 2 guards they are stacked at the posistion. Seattle is looking real good with Ray Allen except for that kings stomping they took.
Great game. Seattle reminded me of the 00' playoffs, coming back in the 4th to sweep the Blazers away.Portland needs to learn how to hold onto a game, especially when you up double figures. Anyways, great game on Seattle's part.
Ray Allen proved why he is one of the best guards in this league.20 points in the 4th quarter...adding 5 three-pointers and in total 27 points in the 4th and overtime period.That is simple amazing...Sonics rally from 23 points down to claim the win.
And Ray Allen is just getting started people... I feel the best is yet to come from him, he did just get back from injury and all, justw ait till he gets comfortable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">And Ray Allen is just getting started people... I feel the best is yet to come from him, he did just get back from injury and all, justw ait till he gets comfortable.</div> I agree with you on that one KJ. Ray was like toying with the Blazers waitign for someone to gaurd him so he could just fire up that Jumper of his. Nice comeback in OT Sonics.
Blazers mistake was taking Ruban Patterson off Ray...when they did Ray went off by nailing 3 threes in the space of 4 minutes.Not good coaching by Mo Cheeks.
Wow what a game of basketball - a 50-21 scoreline in favour of the Sonics over the 4th and overtime periods, and just another freak game by Ray Allen; this cat is just C-L-U-T-C-H. Great to see Radman find his shooting touch again, and good to see AD rub it into to his former employers providing a real spark off of the bench. <font size="1">Box Score courtesy of NBA.com. </font> Next game: vs Kings, Wed.
