2006-2007 Season Recap The Seattle Sonics had a disappointing season, finishing 35-47 and missing the playoffs. Head Coach Nate McMillan had left the team prior to the beginning of the season to take a job opening in Portland as the Blazers head coach. P.J. Carlisemo took the job as the Sonics head coach and took them to the 35-47 record. The Sonics drew the 2nd overall pick in the draft lottery. They took Kevin Durant from Texas with their pick which was one of many additions to their team in the off season. Seattle traded Ray Allen and Glen Davis to the Celtics for Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West. About a month later they traded Rashard Lewis to the Magic for a future 2nd round draft pick and $9.5 million in which they used to acquire Kurt Thomas and two first round draft picks from the Phoenix Suns. I'm going to be using the trades that occured throughout this years real life season at the beginning of my season. Which means the Szczerbiak and West will be gone and Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble, and Adrian Griffin will be on the Sonics. Current Starting Lineup PG - Luke Ridnour (77) SG - Kevin Durant (80) SF - Jeff Green (76) PF - Nick Collison (79) C - Chris Wilcox (77) Bench Damien Wilkins (75) Sixth Man Earl Watson (78) Role Player Donyell Marshall (74) Role Player Francisco Elson (70) Role Player Ira Newble (71) Bench Warmer Adrian Griffin (70) Bench Warmer Mickael Gelabale (67) Prospect Reserves Robert Swift (66) Prospect Sear Sene (66) Prospect Johan Petro (65) Prospect
Game 1 Preview Seattle Sonics (65) vs Denver Nuggets (82) Key Matchup : Kevin Durant vs Allen Iverson
What a Nail Biter : Sonics 90 - Nuggets 89 Jordan Players of the Game : Kevin Durant - 29 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk Carmelo Anthony - 26 pts, 8 ast Degree Defensive Players of the Game : Nick Collison - 3 blk, 1 stl, 7 d.reb Marcus Camby - 4 blk, 2 stl, 9 d.reb Sprint Subs of the Game : Damien Wilkins - 8pts, 4 ast, 2 reb J.R. Smith - 9 pts Sonics Player Stats Luke Ridnour - 6 pts, 10 ast, 1 to Kevin Durant - 29 pts, 2 ast, 2 reb, 2 blk, 1 to Jeff Green - 11 pts, 2 stl, 1 to Nick Collison - 12 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk, 2 to Chris Wilcox - 20 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk, 2 to Damien Wilkins - 8 pts, 4 ast, 1 to Francisco Elson - 2 pts, 1 blk Mickael Gelabale - 2 pts Earl Watson - 0 pts, 1 ast Adrian Griffin - 0 pts, 1 stl, 1 to Donyell Marshall - 0 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk Ira Newble - 0 pts, 1 stl The Key Matchup held true as Kevin Durant's height was too much for Allen Iverson. The Nuggets kept Iverson at SG matched up with Kevin Durant despite the 10 inch difference. Kevin Durant is going to cause matchup problems all year against other teams with smaller SGs. He was pounding the ball inside and taking Iverson to the hoop all day and Iverson was unable to really even contest Durant's shot attempts. Durant was 13-18 from the field which is a great shooting percentage. Jeff Green was unable to guard Carmelo Anthony, however, which was one of the reasons Denver didn't have much of a problem scoring with Seattle's surprising offense. The game came down to the final seconds as Seattle was down 89-88 with just a few seconds to go, but head coach PJ Carlisemo called a smart play by giving the ball to Durant down low and letting him pound it in for an easy layup on Iverson, once again, giving them a 90-89 lead with 4 seconds to go which they would not give up. Denver did not get a look at the basket as Nick Collison stole the inbound pass and Denver was unable to foul him before the clock expired. This was a very solid win for the Sonics, even though it was so close, because it was against a very good Denver team, who is expecting to make the playoffs this year. Kevin Durant seems like he's going to be a stud in this league, if he can continue to play like he did tonight.
Ira Newble was released by the Sonics, signed by the Lakers. Oh, and this is just my opinion....but I'd rather put Durant at the 3. It just doesn't feel right to have him as a guard, to me. Also, IIRC, Petro's actually getting minutes with the Sonics. And actually doing something good with those minutes, becoming a solid rebounder and sometimes okay scorer. I'm surprised he isn't on the active roster. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3951/g...zlQWk5tq4ikvLYF Just my 2 cents. Take it for what it's worth.
Well Petro is getting minutes because Wilcox is out, but I may bring him up for Newble and just put Newble on the reserves or cut him, although I can't MAKE the Lakers sign him. I saw that he was signed by them after I started the association but since it wasn't a HUGE transaction, I didn't restart it. Kevin Durant actually starts at the two as well, with Jeff Green at the 3, so it's not that strange.
Roster Update Johan Petro has been activated and has replaced Ira Newble on the Sonics active roster. Game 2 Preview Phoenix Suns (0-0) (92) @ Seattle Sonics (1-0) (65) Key Matchup : Amare Stoudemire vs Nick Collison
A Surprising Upset : Suns 97 - Sonics 104 Jordan Players of the Game : Luke Ridnour - 24 pts, 5 ast, 1 stl Amare Stoudemire - 32 pts, 13 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl Degree Defensive Players of the Game : Nick Collison - 3 blk Amare Stoudemire - 1 blk, 1 stl, 12 d.reb Sprint Subs of the Game : Damien Wilkins - 11 pts, 3 ast, 1 blk Leon Barbosa - 10 pts, 4 ast, 2 stl Sonics Player Stats Luke Ridnour - 24 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb, 1 stl, 2 to Kevin Durant - 20 pts, 7 ast, 3 reb, 3 stl, 3 to Jeff Green - 12 pts, 4 ast, 6 reb, 1 blk Nick Collison - 4 pts, 5 reb, 3 blk Chris Wilcox - 13 pts, 9 reb Damien Wilkins - 11 pts, 3 ast, 1 blk Earl Watson - 10 pts, 3 ast, 2 to Donyell Marshall - 2 pts, 4 reb, 1 to Adrian Griffin - 2 pts, 1 blk Mickael Gelabale - 2 pts Francisco Elson - 2 pts, 3 reb Johan Petro - 2 pts, 4 reb With a very surprising, and convincing, win over the Suns, the Sonics are looking very good early in the season. Luke Ridnour showed that he can hit jumpers as he scoring 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter with mid range shot after mid range shot. The Sonics had 6 players in double figures, including 2 bench players. Nick Collison was unable to get anything going against Amare Stoudemire, and was also unable to guard Amare as he went for a 30 point game. Durant scored 20 again in his 2nd game of his career. If the Sonics keep up this fantastic play, they could make a playoff run in the very competitive west, how's that for some wishful thinking? League News The Grizzlies filled a need by signing P.J. Brown (PF) to a 1 year/$930k contract. The Cavaliers have placed Delonte West on the trading block. The Nets have placed Devin Harris on the trading block. The Sonics have waived Ira Newble.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets have placed Devin Harris on the trading block.</div> Virtual-Nets fans ransack virtual-New Jersey in virtual-anger.
good early two wins, hopefully you can keep it up and become even more competitive as the season goes on
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Seattle Sonics had a disappointing season, finishing 35-47 and missing the playoffs. Head Coach Nate McMillan had left the team prior to the beginning of the season to take a job opening in Portland as the Blazers head coach. P.J. Carlisemo took the job as the Sonics head coach and took them to the 35-47 record. The Sonics drew the 2nd overall pick in the draft lottery. They took Kevin Durant from Texas with their pick which was one of many additions to their team in the off season.</div> This is a little bit off. McMillan left Seattle and joined the Blazers in 2005. Seattle has gotten rid of Bob Wiess and Bob Hill as head coaches since then. Carlisemo didn't join until this past summer, and had nothing to do with last year's record. He was an assistant coach in San Antonio through 06-07. Bob Hill coached the 06-07 team to a 31-51 record, not 35-47. But I'll be following. I have a couple of questions: 1. How many games are you playing per season? Minutes per quarter? 2. Do you play each game, or do you sim some? 3. Are you looking to make any roster changes soon?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Mar 30 2008, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> 1. How many games are you playing per season? Minutes per quarter? 2. Do you play each game, or do you sim some? 3. Are you looking to make any roster changes soon?</div></div> 1. Full Season. 9 minute quarters. 2. I will be playing each game. 3. If I do make a few roster changes, it'll be closer to the deadline unless it's a minor free agent pick up. I will make moves, however, if they are offered to me by the computer and I happen to like them. As for everything else, I guess that's what I get for using Wikipedia as my source, haha.
Game 3 Preview Seattle Sonics (2-0) (64) @ Los Angeles Clippers (1-0) (75) Key Matchup : Nick Collison vs Elton Brand
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dark Defender @ Mar 31 2008, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How did Elton Brand get on the Lakers?</div> Where does it say that? Loss at the Buzzer : Sonics 95 - Clippers 97 Jordan Players of the Game : Elton Brand - 35 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast Jeff Green - 24 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk Degree Defensive Players of the Game : Chris Kaman - 10 d.reb, 1 blk, 1 stl Chris Wilcox - 8 d.reb, 2 blk, 1 stl Sprint Subs of the Game : Tim Thomas - 14 pts, 5 reb Damien Wilkins - 9 pts, 3 ast Sonics Player Stats : Luke Ridnour - 9 pts, 10 ast, 1 stl Kevin Durant - 24 pts, 4 ast, 2 blk, 1 to Jeff Green - 24 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 1 to Nick Collison - 6 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast Chris Wilcox - 13 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 1 to Damien Wilkins - 9 pts, 3 ast, 1 to Johan Petro - 4 pts, 1 reb, 1 blk Earl Watson - 2 pts, 4 ast Donyell Marshall - 2 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl Francisco Elson - 2 pts The Clippers lead throughout the duration of the game until Kevin Durant hit a layup with 4 seconds to go to put the Sonics up 4 in what they thought would be their 3rd victory of the season. Sam Cassell wasn't having any of that. The Clippers inbounded to Corey Maggette and he drove into the lane, drawing off Cassell's defensive man, Luke Ridnour, in which Maggette dished it out to Cassell for the go ahead, game winning 3 pointer. Elton Brand played his heart out and exposed one of the Sonics many weaknesses, Nick Collison's defense. Rumor has it that Nick Collison was in danger of getting replaced in the starting lineup by Damien Wilkins, which would allow Kevin Durant to play at SF and Green to play at PF, and he did not help his case any in this game, allowing Brand to go for 35 points. He has also allowed Amare Stoudemire 32 points and Kenyon Martin put up 18 points in the Sonics first game.
Player Evaluations are in -I must admit, I'm returning from my recent scouting trip pleasantly surprised. Michael Beasley showed that he is a smart player who plays with a level head. From the looks of things, he looks like he might be a very good player, one who we should look into investigating further. -After spending a good week checking out Roy Hibbert of Georgetown, I can confidently say that his skills are up to par for what we expect out of our draft picks. We still have a lot to learn about him though so if you are seriously interesting inRoy, let's take another couple of looks at him. -With our initial scouting trip done, I really think Tyler Hansbrough is a solid player who can make some noise in the NBA right from the get go. We should invest some further scouting time to learn some more about him.
Jeff Green at power forward? That'll get exposed for sure, especially in the West, where there's so many elite big men.
Oh sweet, you imported the draft class. I'm even more interested now. Which guys are in this class? Is Rose? Mayo? Gordon? Lopez? Etc. My advice to you is to upgrade your point guard situation. Maybe you like Ridnour/Watson and play well with them, but if not I'd shop them. Especially Watson, with his big contract.
