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The Ten Questions Ten Questions, 03-04 Style Ten Answers, 03-04 Style Sonics-Sacramento Gallery Sonics News Archive

With the season winding down - the Sonics finish their regular-season schedule two weeks from tonight in Houston - we'll take this opportunity to look back at the Ten Questions and see, with the benefit of hindsight, how they've been answered.

1. Can the Sonics improve on the boards?
This question, more than any other, has produced a resounding, "Yes!" The Sonics finished a dismal 27th in the NBA in rebounding percentage in 2003-04, and knew they could better that mark this year. With the addition of Danny Fortson and a healthy Nick Collison, and with Reggie Evans playing more minutes and having a rebounding season for the ages, the Sonics have become one of the NBA's best rebounding teams.

Evans has been a key reason for the Sonics rebounding success. Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty

When it comes to the offensive glass, there is nobody better than the Sonics. They've recovered 32.5% of their own misses the best percentage in the NBA. On the defensive glass, where Fortson in particular isn't as potent, the Sonics are near the middle of the pack. That still represents a dramatic improvement over last season. Overall, the Sonics rebound percentage of 51.6% puts them fourth in the league. Rebounding alone has accounted for approximately eight games of the Sonics improvement this season.

2. How will the Sonics respond to trapping and double-teaming less aggressively on defense?
One of the biggest changes the Sonics made during training camp was de-emphasizing the trapping style they've used on defense dating back to the days when Bob Kloppenburg, an expert in defensive pressure, roamed the sidelines as an assistant coach. This season, the Sonics have used a number of different defenses, mixing in zone and man-to-man while continuing to trap at times.

The most noticeable difference might be in terms of rebounding. Because the trap requires big men to switch out onto perimeter players, it leaves them out of rebounding percentage. Might that have something to do with Evans improving from grabbing 18.9% of available rebounds to a league-best 24.2% this year?

In terms of defense, the most notable difference has been that the Sonics have defended the 3-point line better than in years past. Last year, only four teams allowed more 3-pointers than the Sonics. This year, they're in the middle of the NBA pack, ranking 12th.

3. What impact will the impending free agency of seven Sonics players have this season?
During October, the conventional wisdom was that the Sonics would be firing early and often as they looked to improve their free-agent payday during the summer of 2005, and that Ray Allen's free agency would be a major distraction all year long. On the contrary, the Sonics have maintained focus and played unselfishly precisely because of Coach Nate McMillan's mantra that if the team achieved its goals, the players would get what they deserve. While Allen's free agency continues to make headlines in cities across the league, it hasn't been an issue in the locker room.

Ridnour a starter? No problem. Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty

4. Is Luke Ridnour ready to start?
Given that Ridnour is the only Sonics player who has started all 74 games, how can the answer be anything but yes? There have been some peaks and valleys in Ridnour's development, as is to be expected with a young point guard learning the NBA on the job, but overall he's provided a relatively consistent 10 points and six assists per game. A sore back and plantar fasciitis have bothered Ridnour over the past month, but he's yet to miss a game and has generally not allowed the aches and pains to affect his game.

5. How ready is Collison?
Apparently, all he needed was a month. Collison wasn't particularly good in November, when he averaged 2.9 points and shot just 40.4% from the field. Collison was adjusting to the speed of the NBA, and once he got going, the ride has been an enjoyable one. Collison shot better than 60% from the field in January and February before "slumping" to 57.1% last month and has proven a quick study in terms of creating easy opportunities, whether off of the pick-and-roll or putbacks. Collison's 54.8% field-goal percentage for the season ranks him sixth amongst players who have played at least 1,000 minutes, and three of the five players ahead of him are some of the best big men in the league (Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Amaré Stoudemire). Collison has also been strong on the glass, averaging 12.7 rebounds per 48 minutes, and his early problems with fouls have been curtailed recently. As he becomes more comfortable and confident, expect Collison's success and role to only grow larger.

6. What role will Fortson play?
Even the most optimistic projection could not have seen Fortson making the impact he has during his first season with the Sonics. KeyArena fans quickly got a taste of what they could expect from Fortson when he had 15 points and 13 rebounds, making nine free throws, in a 113-94 win over San Antonio during the third game of the season. Fortson's intimidating physical presence down low, his rebounding prowess and his soft touch in the paint made him a key player in the Sonics 17-3 start. Injuries and suspensions limited Fortson to 13 games in February and March, but he has re-established himself as a key reserve over the last week and is getting in shape to help the Sonics in the playoffs.

7. Will Robert Swift get his chance this season?
Nope. While McMillan has expressed his confidence in the Sonics 19-year-old rookie and was willing to throw him in early in a recent game against the Orlando Magic, with the Sonics on the brink of a division championship and their big men playing better than expected, there has been no opportunity for Swift outside of occasional garbage time. In practices, Swift has shown impressive athleticism for his size, but he likely won't be able to demonstrate it to fans until next season.

Wilkins has been the Sonics breakout star over the last two weeks. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

8. What can Vitaly Potapenko provide in the middle?
Alas, Potapenko too has been a victim of the Sonics strong performance this season. After earning the starting center job with a strong training-camp effort, Potapenko was unlucky when he broke a finger in the last preseason game. With Potapenko out, Jerome James inherited the starting center job and played well enough that, with the Sonics 17-3, McMillan didn't want to mess with success when Potapenko was ready to return. Potapenko has gotten limited opportunities, particularly during Fortson's absences, and has played well, shooting 51.9% and grabbing a rebound every four minutes. Still, it will take further injury to give Potapenko regular minutes.

9. Is there a surprise breakout lurking on the roster?
Feel free to ignore the references to Ibrahim Kutluay in the original answer to that question, and focus instead on this passage: "Wilkins in particular looks to have, in draft parlance, tremendous upside potential should the Sonics be able to find room for him on the roster." The Sonics made that room and were rewarded for it, as Wilkins has broken out with Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic out of the lineup late in March and early in April. Since arriving on the scene with a career-high 21 points at Portland on Mar. 24, Wilkins has averaged 10.8 points per game and gone for double-figures four more times. In the hope of keeping Wilkins our little secret for free agency, that's all SUPERSONICS.COM is at liberty to say.

10. Can the Sonics reclaim KeyArena?
One of the very few disappointments of a splendid 2004-05 season is that the Sonics haven't been better at home. While their 25-12 home record is an improvement on last year's 21-20 mark and one win away from matching their best performance in seven seasons, the Sonics have been an identical 25-12 road team this season. Never in franchise history have the Sonics been as good or better on the road as at home. That's a double-edged sword, in that the Sonics have been outstanding away from KeyArena (they're one win away from matching their all-time road record for wins), but can play better in Seattle. A boisterous KeyArena crowd can't be blamed, but with home-court advantage likely for the first round, the Sonics need to do a better job of protecting their homecourt.