Details: Who: (26-29) vs (27-30) Where: Delta Center, Key Arena When: Tuesday, Feb 24th, 6pm and Wednesday, Feb 25th, 7pm TV: KONG, KJZZ, NBALP Projected Lineups: PG: Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ray AllenRonald Murray/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic/Ansu Sesay PF: Calvin BoothVladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans C: Vitaly PotapenkoJerome James/Calvin Booth Coached by Nate McMillan PG: Carlos Arroyo/Raul Lopez/Maurice Williams SG: Aleksandar Pavlovic /Gordan Giricek SF: Andrei Kirilenko/Raja Bell PF: Michael Ruffin/Tom Gugliotta C: Jarron Collins/Greg Ostertag Coached by Jerry Sloan Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Brent Barry: broken finger, on IL. Injury List Curtis Borchardt: right wrist surgery, on IL. Matt Harpring: right knee surgery, on IL. Analysis: Two teams barely clinging to hope of a playoff spot in the West meet in a unique back to back match up, first at the Delta Center and then back at Key Arena, in a two game set that could effectively eliminate either team from the playoff race. Seattle come in off a thrashing of the lowly Celtics, while the Jazz suffered a 14 point loss to the high-flying Pacers. Both Nate McMillan and Ray Allen placed calls to the NBA recently to complain about officiating, and ironically the Delta Center has been the source of much of McMillan’s referee gripes in the past couple of seasons. Can Seattle break their voodoo, or will the Jazz continue their against the odds season? Delta Curse Ask Nate McMillan the place he’d least want to play, and I almost guarantee he’ll say the Delta Center. Seattle have lost their last six games up in Salt Lake City, and nine of their last ten. At least this time there will be no Malone and Stockton and their physical style of play, but the conditions and high altitude factors still remain. [quoteright] "There's been questions. Them not signing Brent up to this point, if the team doesn't get better ... I put together a home (here) that I'm comfortable in, and I've started to establish myself in this community. I don't want to pick up and move again." – Ray Allen on rumours he may be traded in the off-season. [/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factors: - Get a body on AK at both ends. One of the rare guys in the league who is equally effective at both ends, Kirilenko can beat a team in so m any ways. It is imperative that someone is concentrating on him for every second he is on the floor, even if it’s just a little thing as in stopping him blocking a shot or jabbing a ball loose. - Save energy. Utah’s high altitude means that the unclimatised will always feel short of breath. Saving energy and frequent substitutions is the only way to beat this. The Sonics did it well in Denver, utilising 12th man Richie Frahm effectively. Back in Seattle, the Sonics can concentrate on their running game more effectively. Key Matchup: Rashard Lewis vs Andrei Kirilenko Probably Lewis’ toughest assignment since facing Kevin Garnett, and it remains to be seen how he will respond. Kirilenko’s uncanny defensive instincts and long, long arms contribute to him blocking almost three shots a game, not to mention over two steals and eight boards. Lewis comes off a 28 point game against Boston, and has connecting on 31 of his past 62 attempts from down town, but Kirilenko presents a different sort of challenge. He will not get physical, but he will contest every shot Lewis takes, and prod and poke at every ball to keep him on guard. At the other end, Kirilenko is a crafty scorer, both inside and outside. Lewis will have his pedigree tested in this match-up, and his abilities as a scorer will be tested, as he comes up against yet another West forward ahead of him in his quest to become an All Star forward. X-Factors: Ronald Murray – Utah would love to have a pure scorer coming off their bench, and Murray provides just that for Seattle’s second unit. While consistency is not his strong point, the Sonics will look for him to lead their second unit to some quick points while Kirilenko is not on the floor, especially in Utah where substitution patterns are vital in the conditions. Raja Bell – after recovering from a Reggie Miller knee to the groin, Utah will look for Bell to put the clamps on Ray Allen. While not listed as a starter, you can bet that Bell will see a lot of minutes off the bench in both games as the Jazz look to stifle Allen’s influence. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
Either team could win these games and it will probably end up in a split, but I will never go against the Sonics in a win-able game. Sonics by 2 and Sonics by 9.
Halftime, Utah by eight, 54-46. Arroyo has 17 (someone shoot this Seattle defense, they'd do a better job dead) and Kirilenko has 14. For Seattle, Daniels and Radmanovic have nine each, Murray and Ray have eight. Vlade also has eight boards. A second half run is needed, although I have my doubts to whether the Sonics have it in them.
a 30-19 quarter by Seattle, instigated mainly by Antonio Daniels and Ray Allen. A three point ball game going into the last after Gugliotta of all people hit a trey
^With the shot clock running out to rub it in. Gordon Giricek is shooting 0-10. Kirilenko had a double double in the 3rd qtr. Nate McMillian just got ejected. This one might be slipping for Seattle.
Typical Seattle performance, completely collapsing in the last quarter in a winnable game. Even Raja Bell has 23 so far, that pretty much sums up our defense. Bring on the damn lottery, I am sick of this. Nothing from Murray, nothing from Lewis, nothing from Booth, nothing from James.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 24 (Ticker) -- Raja Bell had a lot better fourth quarter than the Seattle SuperSonics did. Bell scored 13 of his 23 points in the final period to lift the Jazz to a 99-86 comeback victory, their eighth in a row at home over the SuperSonics. Seattle, which managed just 10 points in the fourth quarter, has not won at the Delta Center since February 1, 2000. The teams meet again Wednesday at KeyArena. All-Star Andrei Kirilenko contributed 27 points and 10 rebounds and Carlos Arroyo scored 23 points for Utah, which had lost four of its previous five games and eight of 11. Seattle held a 76-70 lead after Antonio Daniels split a pair of free throws with 1:12 left in the third quarter. The SuperSonics had made their first 30 free throws until Daniels missed his second attempt. Utah scored the final three points of the period before opening the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run. The Jazz took the lead for good, 77-76, on a jumper by rookie reserve Maurice Williams with 10:34 to play. Seattle trailed, 79-76, when coach Nate McMillan was ejected for picking up his second technical foul of the contest with 9:14 to play. </div> <font size="1">Full Story and Box Score courtesy of NBA.com.</font>
It is becoming increasingly obvious that the only keepers on this team are Ray, Ridnour, Daniels and Nick Collison (be default). Maybe be a busy summer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BallerAK47:</div><div class="quote_post">Not Lewis?</div> A lot could depend on how he plays out the rest of the season. It would take a very good offer to tempt management, but I wouldn't put Lewis in the 'untouchable' basket. Obviously Allen, Ridnour and Collison aren't going to be moved - AD's small contract and level of play this season would seemingly ensure that he's a keeper too.
The advantage of course is that we can field offers for either small forward. It could very well be Radmanovich on the way out...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">The advantage of course is that we can field offers for either small forward. It could very well be Radmanovich on the way out...</div> I would say this is Vlade's last season in Seattle's colours, while Lewis is around anyway. I've always been a big believer that the guy could blossom as a small forward, maybe even moreso than Rashard. However that's management's call.
Amazing, after another big third quarter from the Sonics, a last quarter collapse allowed the Jazz to take the game to OT, and win it 93-92. These fadeouts are becoming the norm in the Emerald City now, and it is unbelievably frustrating.
I know its been said alot lately, but these are times when we need a vet like Brent Barry in there who will keep the team focused on the win instead of allowing a team a team to come back and win...especially at home, what is that bs.
^ 100% spot on. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SEATTLE (AP) -- Andrei Kirilenko scored two critical baskets in overtime and the Utah Jazz beat the Seattle SuperSonics for the second time in two nights, 93-92 Wednesday. The first-time All-Star from Russia hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Jazz ahead 91-89 with 1:28 to go, then got an offensive rebound after a miss by Tom Gugliotta and scored with nine seconds on the clock. Seattle's Antonio Daniels made a 3-pointer as time expired. The Jazz won despite a 40-point outing by Ray Allen, seven short of his career-high. Kirilenko finished with 22 points and Carlos Arroyo added 16 for the Jazz, who beat the Sonics for the third straight time this season. Rashard Lewis had 15 points for the Sonics.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of ESPN.</font>
