In ESPN powerrankings they underestimate us again.....Even in my wildest dreams I don't see Lakers and Bucks finishing with a better record than us. But anything can happen in basketball.
I agree, the Sonics are being underestimated again by all the so called "experts." The only two players the Sonics lost were Antonio Daniels and Jerome James. I'm sure the Sonics will end up signing Reggie Evans to the qualifying offer, since he's not getting offers from any other team. Antonio Daniels was a nice luxury to have, but Luke Ridnour is more than capable of playing increased minutes at PG. Plus the Sonics added Rick Brunson and Flip Murray to eat up the rest of the minutes. Jerome James was a non-factor in the regular season. Mikki Moore is just as good, if not better. The only question mark is the impact of Nate McMillan and losing Dwayne Casey. I don't think either is vital to the success of the team, and Bob Weiss is an experienced head coach. The Sonics will also benefit from Radman, Evans, and Flip, auditioning for next year's free agent market, since all become UNrestricted. Ranking them below the Cavs, Grizzlies, Knicks, Warriors, Lakers, Bucks, and Wizards is a slap in the face to this team. Sonic fans should print this out and rub in Stein's face. His "Special Forumula" is obviously flawed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Semmi:</div><div class="quote_post">In ESPN powerrankings they underestimate us again.....Even in my wildest dreams I don't see Lakers and Bucks finishing with a better record than us. But anything can happen in basketball. </div> The one that kills me is the Warriors. Oh well, Seattle never gets any love during the preseason. I actually have come to love watching them skyrocket up the rankings during the first month. The west is going to be a dog fight this year...actually the east probably is too. My guess is its going to take 45 wins again to sneak into the playoffs.
We did lose two very important pieces to the puzzle from last season but at the same time we were able to fill those holes with solid veterans who understand what it takes to be successful in this league. Do I think we will set the league on fire this season? No, b/c we lack the interior presence that we had last season. The team last year bonded around the fact that so many players future w/ the team was in doubt last year--in particular the leaders--Sund, McMillan, and Allen. It was a top to bottom effect. This season the head haunchos have some job security so they may not be inclined to look kindly on some of the other players. I predict that this team will finish close to 50 wins and ultimately be a middle seed in the playoff picture. Too much talent and professionalism for this team to implode but the ride won't be as smooth as last season. People will be trying to test Weiss' temperament.
The key is to trick yourself into believing this garbage. That way, if we suck you're not disappointed, but, if we kick preverbial arse again you are pleasantly surprised. Ok, that's a stupid idea. Nevermind.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting M_Cage89:</div><div class="quote_post">The one that kills me is the Warriors.</div> Why is that? At least the Warriors were beating playoff teams (Sonics, Kings (x2), Phoenix (x2), Houston, Philadelphia, Washington) at the end of the season. Most of those teams are as good or better than the Sonics, plus the Sonics slightly downgraded since last year. You should be alot more pissed that teams that are worse than your team are above you, not teams that are at least as good as yours.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Why is that? At least the Warriors were beating playoff teams (Sonics, Kings (x2), Phoenix (x2), Houston, Philadelphia, Washington) at the end of the season. Most of those teams are as good or better than the Sonics, plus the Sonics slightly downgraded since last year. You should be alot more pissed that teams that are worse than your team are above you, not teams that are at least as good as yours.</div> wait what? Warriors beat us but that doesnt mean they were equal to us last year and its a joke to sugget they were. And Philadelphia equal with us? gimme a break? The rankings are clearly BS as usual but the teams that surprised me the most were the knicks, grizzlies, and lakers. I just see absolutely no reason to why those 3 will be better then us. BTW Shiek we dont have interior presense now? As if we had it during the season last year. even if you suggest james was a force then (which he wasnt) he only played 15 mpg.
lmfao @ all those weak teams above us..god man i hope the Sonics win alot of games to make these people look dumb again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Why is that? At least the Warriors were beating playoff teams (Sonics, Kings (x2), Phoenix (x2), Houston, Philadelphia, Washington) at the end of the season. Most of those teams are as good or better than the Sonics, plus the Sonics slightly downgraded since last year. You should be alot more pissed that teams that are worse than your team are above you, not teams that are at least as good as yours.</div> Sigh... just another hater...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">wait what? Warriors beat us but that doesnt mean they were equal to us last year and its a joke to sugget they were. And Philadelphia equal with us? gimme a break? The rankings are clearly BS as usual but the teams that surprised me the most were the knicks, grizzlies, and lakers. I just see absolutely no reason to why those 3 will be better then us. BTW Shiek we dont have interior presense now? As if we had it during the season last year. even if you suggest james was a force then (which he wasnt) he only played 15 mpg.</div> Wow, calm down Sonic fans I didn't know opinions weren't allowed on this forum. All I'm saying is how is it all that surprising that the Warriors, who were beating alot of playoff teams at the end of the season, are ranked ahead of the Sonics, who barley beat the injury riddled Kings in the playoffs? And why are the Warriors the most appalling when you've got LAL and NY ahead of your team as well? As much as you Sonic fans will reject the idea, the Warriors were playing at least as well as the Sonics were in the latter half of the season. If you need anymore concinving, the Sonics were 14-14 the last 2 months of the season while the Warriors went 18-9, since then the Sonics have lost Jerome James, Anonio Daniels, and Nate McMillan. I dont care if you call me a hater, or say I'm only looking at your team on paper. It only makes you look like the one who is making up the BS.
Out of interest BJM, how many times have the Warriors promised and not delivered? They always suck until the All-Star break, then ruin their draft pick by burning up the last month or two of the season, and leave their fans optimistic for the next season, when they promptly let them down again. It's like a vicious cycle. The Warriors are the media's love affair at the moment, but if Diddy doesn't stay healthy (and has he ever stayed healthy?), I don't see them finishing above Seattle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">the Sonics, who barley beat the injury riddled Kings in the playoffs?</div> 4-1 is "barely" these days? The Sonics were injury riddled in the second round too, and went within a Ray Allen missed trey of forcing the eventual champions to a seventh game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Out of interest BJM, how many times have the Warriors promised and not delivered?</div> Admittedly quite a few times. I know the Warriors have sucked for many years, what's your point? I guess you dont have anything to say that ads to the discussion other than "well your team sucks", I know we've sucked. Sorry to all Sonic fans if my argument is pissing you off, you dont have to accept it and I may be wrong thats why we have a forum; to discuss topics related to basketball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Admittedly quite a few times. I know the Warriors have sucked for many years, what's your point? I guess you dont have anything to say that ads to the discussion other than "well your team sucks", I know we've sucked. Sorry to all Sonic fans if my argument is pissing you off, you dont have to accept it and I may be wrong thats why we have a forum; to discuss topics related to basketball.</div> You obviously can't recognise a counter argument then. My point is the amount of times Golden State have ended a bad season well should make people a bit sceptical that they are going to be a playoff team next year based purely on what they did after the All-Star break in 2004/05. People are jumping all over their jock just because they did well with Davis, who isn't even a 50% chance to stay healthy for a whole season these days. Seattle didn't have a healthy team from the All-Star break until the end of the playoffs, yet they still won 52 games, their division and took the Spurs to six in the second round. Yet you seem to imply we only beat the Kings in the first round because they were "injury riddled"?!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">You obviously can't recognise a counter argument then. My point is the amount of times Golden State have ended a bad season well should make people a bit sceptical that they are going to be a playoff team next year based purely on what they did after the All-Star break in 2004/05. People are jumping all over their jock just because they did well with Davis, who isn't even a 50% chance to stay healthy for a whole season these days. Seattle didn't have a healthy team from the All-Star break until the end of the playoffs, yet they still won 52 games, their division and took the Spurs to six in the second round. Yet you seem to imply we only beat the Kings in the first round because they were "injury riddled"?!</div> Your points are valid. The Warriors do have a tendency to disappoint after a strong end to the season. That being said these are still power rankings based off of the latter part of the season and how teams have changed during the off-season. I dont think its that bad, my point to begin with was that someone said the Warriors were the least deserving to be ahead of Seattle rather than the Knicks, Bucks, or Lakers. Its all good though, I guess we wont know until the season starts (or maybe until the season ends).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Well we'll both finish ahead of the Knicks, that's a given. What a horrible franchise.</div> I'm glad we've found a commonground.
You could argue that the Knicks are the worst team in the league. Take payroll into consideration and they are an absolute joke.
