I have promised in the second half of the season to do a better job with the mailbag at Sonics Access. Please send your questions my direction and I will answer them here on the blog or in the broadcast. Our goal is for the radio broadcast and the web site to be super interactive. Please help me with that goal.
Honestly, I haven’t seen enough of those guys to give a definte answer. According to the scouts I have talked to, Oden would make the most immediate impact because he is a defensive enforcer. Obviously, I missed Durrant last night since we played, but after his performance how could you consider passing on him? Noah has the title, and one of the toughest skills to find in the NBA is winning. I will try to keep a closer eye on the Top 10 guys.
Blockbuster trades are hard to come by and last year, when all the deals got done at the deadline, was rare. With that said some interesting names are on the trading block. I know for a fact that last summer the Sonics went after three guys -- Marion, Gasol and Kirilenko. Gasol and AK-47 are on the block again. What would you be willing to move to get one of those guys? Would you be willing to move either of the big two or the draft choice? That is where the other teams are going to start the conversations.
The Sonics still hope to extend Rashard’s deal and Rashard has said he wants to stay in Seattle. Seems like it would take a major breakdown in those discussions before someone pulls the trigger on moving Rashard.
In regards to the lineup it is too early to make Gelabale play the point. Eventually, I love the idea or at least running that lineup out for stretches. I would agree those five seem to be our best five players. Make sure you catch Gelabale on the Locker-Room show this week.
Well, Gary, losing streaks will do remarkable things to people and in your case, it means you have lost your mind. Laugh with me, Gary. You are barking up the wrong tree when you are being critical of Ray Allen. Moreover, Ray is one of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA. For the month of January he shot 48 percent and hit 43 percent of his threes. Not to mention he set his career-high in assists one night. Sorry, Gary; wrong tree, wrong idea. Try again next time.
The month comes to an end with the road losing streak still alive. However, some other things are considerably different then when we were in Houston earlier in the month.
When we came to Houston early this month, the story was that Nick Collison couldn’t find his rhythm. I think most Sonics fans were beginning to worry that Nick was never going to be the player we had hoped for.
Instead, Nick capped off a huge month with another superb performance tonight - 25 points and 17 rebounds. Nick has double-doubled seven of the past 10 games. He is averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds per game for the past 10 while shooting over 60%.
Mickaël Gelabale was also unknown when we came to Houston a month ago. Though being thrust into a starting role is probably more than he is ready for, Gelabale has held his own relatively well. Tonight, he had the impossible task of guarding McGrady. He notched a career high with seven assists. He has had career highs in points, rebounds and assists in the month of January.
Beyond that, the Sonics can’t seem to find a way to close a game on the road. For the second straight night, the script was the same. The Sonics hung tough for three quarters but when the game went to the next level in the fourth, Seattle couldn’t follow either Dallas or Houston. Reality is those are two of the top four teams in the NBA and the Sonics aren’t at that level right now.
For the second straight time against the Rockets, Seattle was able to riddle the league’s best defense. On the defensive end, however, the Sonics did not have any answers for the long ball. That opened the floor for some easy looks inside, allowing the Rockets prevailed.
One final note: I hope no one is taking for granted how unreal Ray has been this month. On seven different occasions he scored more than 30 points. It has truly been a pleasure to watch the best shooter in the world do his work.
I am not telling you anything you didn’t know already, but Dallas is amazingly good.
Before each game I look over our opponent's team stats based on per possessions numbers. I am not sure I have ever seen a team as good as the Mavs.
On the defensive end, it is clear Avery is having an impact.
Defensive Efficiency: #6
Defensive Rebounding: #4
Defensive EFG% : #7
Defensive Turnovers: #21
Ahh, we have found the flaw.
However, there aren’t many. Here are some other notes about the Mavs.
They have won 22 of 24 games, which means Phoenix hasn’t gained a game on them in 24 games.
They are an insane 6-8 in games when they have trailed by 10. Think about that for a moment. Plus, they are 7-7 if they trail going into the fourth.
Dirk has notched eight consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound games, the only player in the NBA to do so this year. The next best streak is five. Four times this year he has had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Again, no one else in the league has four.
He has scored 30 in eight of the past 14 games and is averaging 30 since they brought back the leather ball. Dallas is 12-0 when he scores 30.
I am currently building my Top 100 players list for SUPERSONICS.COM. In the process I came across some interesting numbers. To fill out my Top 100 I look at offensive efficiency, time on the floor, team performance and how a team performs when that player is on the floor. On top of that is my pure gut feeling of how good a player is.
Here are some notes, thoughts and tidbits I discovered while working on the Top 100 ...
In his media session, Hill mentioned five wasted possessions that were big in last night's loss. He also talked about the plethora of little things that Nick Collison is doing defensively. “He is a genius on the defensive end,” said Hill.
Tough Loss for Sonics
Posted on January 23 | permalink
Tonight was a tough loss because the Sonics look so much better than it did two weeks ago. There is no question that this team has finally clicked in and is playing dramatically better. I was convinced that this was the night that could propel this team forward on a good run. Quality basketball with a few wins that makes the team believe and you are onto something.
When I talked with Nick after the game, he agreed that this felt like that type of game. I could feel his disappointment.
The other thing tonight is Steve Blake. Are you kidding me? Steve Blake? The headliners tonight were Iverson and Anthony and you get beat by Steve Blake. That is the reality of the NBA. The other guys are good too.
Two key plays late in the game were Steve Blake threes. On the first one Carmelo Anthony got the ball in the right block and the Sonics brought a double-team to take the ball out of his hand. Anthony passed up top to Blake, who was 0-for-4 at the time, and he hit the three.
A few possessions later Iverson drove and the Sonics formed a nice wall defensively, denying Iverson the drive, and he kicked behind him to Blake who was open because the defense sagged to Iverson. Blake again hit the dagger three.
What do you do if Steve Blake hits two threes late in the fourth quarter? I would say it is progress that the best player on the floor isn’t lighting you up.
The good news for the Sonics is that Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox continue their inspired play. The matchup with Marcus Camby tonight is as difficult as they come for Nick. Camby is 7-1 and active. However, Nick continued to play with great confidence and had his fifth double-double in six games with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Nick is 49 of his last 76 from the field - that is about 67%. Over his last six games he is averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds. The next two nights he will face Mark Blount and Chris Kaman.
Weezy had a strong game as well. He dominated Reggie Evans and had 25 points and 12 rebounds. We have talked a lot about Weezy learning how to be a starter. The next two nights are going to be big for Chris as the Sonics match up with Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand.
None of this would be complete without a mention of Ray’s unreal 22-point fourth quarter. What I love about the NBA is if you bring someone to a game and you tell them that #34 is the best player and tell them to watch him, 95% of the time he delivers. That is the same for every star in the NBA.
Casey Deserved More in Minnesota
Posted on January 23 | permalink
In NBA news today, the Minnesota Timberwolves fired head coach Dwane Casey. I find this really hard to believe. This is an average team at best and Casey had them in the playoffs if the season ended today. I don't know the inner workings since I am not with the team each day, but from a big-picture standpoint, Casey deserved more.
Last year, the Wolves lost a tremendous amount of close games, similar to this year’s Sonics. Lots of the blame fell on Casey as an inexperienced first-year head coach. It seems he was never able to overcome that in the Minnesota organization.
In the off-season, the Timberwolves brought in Randy Wittman to assist with the game coaching. What they really did was fire Casey that day, because for Casey to be fired with the Wolves in the playoffs if the season ended today, with the roster they have, tells me he never had a chance.
Minnesota is currently eighth in the West. With that roster, what is the maximum potential for the Wolves? They are not in the same class as the Big Three - Phoenix, Dallas or San Antonio. They are not in the next tier of Denver, Utah, Houston and the Lakers. I must ask Kevin McHale and the Wolves this: What do they really think they could have achieved?
Some people are citing the inconsistency of the Wolves as an explanation for this move. Look at who is on the roster. Other than KG, there isn’t player whose line can be penciled in every night with confidence. This league is about rosters and knowing exactly what you are getting out of guys each night. Teams at .500 are loaded with players like Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Mike James, etc. who give you a big night one night and a dud the next. I must ask Kevin McHale - how many of the players he added to the roster ever won in their previous city?
Firing a coach a year and half into his tenure amazes me. I must ask Kevin McHale, who is at the top of the Northwest Division? Shouldn’t franchises learn there is some value in consistency?
Casey is one of the best people I have known in this business. He works diligently at his task and has a vision for what he believes and how he believes basketball should be played. He is tireless. He is high quality.
When we were in Minnesota, I talked with Casey for some time about year one compared to year two. He talked a good deal about how much better he was as a head coach in his second year and what a better understanding he has of how the season matures.
In some sense that is an obvious realization and it makes me wonder if the Minnesota front office didn’t have a realistic vision of what a first-time head coach really goes through. We wait for players to mature, but we never let coaches mature in the NBA.
Nate McMillan is a far better coach today then he was in his early years in Seattle. Switch sports - Joe Torre was not a good manager in his first stints; now the Yankees' manager is thought of as one of the best.
Casey got a raw deal, but he will be fine. He is a good basketball man who has gained incredible head coaching experience. He has dealt with a superstar in Garnett and significant roster changes. He got his team to achieve and buy into his system of play. He learned each day on the job and he became a better coach.
Bottom line: Dwane Casey is going to be a very good NBA coach. The next team that hires him is going to be very lucky. He has learned the ropes. He has made mistakes and he improved. He has learned when to push and when to pull a team through an NBA season.
Good people survive bad events. Casey will survive and prosper and his next employer will be the winner.
It is All About Belief
Posted on January 22 | permalink
Today’s 
Sonics Locker Room show is all about the halfway point of the season.
The NBA season is about finding “belief.” I have always believed that the NBA consists of five great teams, five poor teams and 20 teams in the middle. The teams in the middle that find “belief” are the ones that have a successful playoff season.
Teams find belief in one of two fashions. First is how they perform in close games in the opening 20 games of the season. Winning close games makes a team believe it is good. It creates locker-room harmony and allows players to fall into their roles.
Orlando and Utah are my examples from this season where teams won early games. Obviously, we are on the other side. The Jazz went 5-0 to start the year in games decided by two possessions or less. The Magic won five straight close games, starting with the win against Seattle.
I would guess if Hedo misses the buzzer-beater against Seattle the Magic would have dropped below .500 and it wouldn’t have had the “belief” to win the next set of close games.
Another way to get “belief” is in the power of scheduling -- catching an opponent on the right night; playing an extended stretch at home; or facing a series of bad opponents. All of a sudden, a team wins four or five games in a row and belief sets in.
With that belief they go and grab a game they should have never won. The schedule presents a few more breaks and the next thing you know they think they are really good because they have won 10 of 12 or something of the sort.
Again all of a sudden the roles crystallize, the harmony develops and the team plays with a belief. They think they are good and really, they may not be any better than they were before the stretch.
Maybe the Sonics have started right now. They have won three in a row and have the next three at home. If they can link a few more then this might be that stretch.
Next time you see one of those middle teams on a little streak go look at the schedule and see if they got a break or if they really got better.
The question for the Sonics' second half is can they find the “belief” that they let sneak away in those early game losses.
Up Early and Often
Posted on January 19 | permalink
'80s Night was a blast at the Key and a third straight win added to the fun. I hope you got a chance to make it to the Key. The halftime tribute to breakdancing was fantastic and the arena had a good vibe all night.
On the floor, the Sonics grabbed a hold early, leading by 14 at the end of one and 22 at the half. They never lost control. Bob Hill called tonight's game the Sonics best defensive effort of the season. They held the Bucks to a season-low 72 points, which is also the fewest the Sonics have allowed all season as well.
The Sonics are playing a different game of basketball since Bob Hill changed the lineup in Golden State. Nick Collison’s play at center may be the key. He has notched a double-double in four of the last five games and tonight tallied 16 rebounds. Over the last five games, Collison is close to averaging 15 rebounds a game. If Nick is truly a double-double player, that changes the Sonics team dramatically.
In the last three games the Sonics have had close wins against two division leaders and manhandled a short-handed Milwaukee Bucks team. That is how a team comes together. The next three at home will be big. The Nugs, Clipps and Wolves are on the schedule. All three are conference rivals and the Sonics have to catch all three if they are going to make a second-half run.
Carmelo will be back for Tuesday's game.
One final note on tonight’s game. Milwaukee is really undermanned, but this is the first time they have been blasted. They beat the Bobcats and had played with the Bulls in their two most recent games.
Enjoy the weekend. Talk to you Monday.
Two Close Ones in a Row
Posted on January 16 | permalink
Maybe these guys have finally popped the cork off the late game wins bottle. It is one thing to win a game when Ray is super human like Friday night. It is more impressive when Ray goes 0 for the fourth quarter from the field and the other guys make the plays.
Cleveland is the best in the East right now and Seattle came from behind for the second straight game to win a close game. The Sonics had lost six straight games that were close down the stretch until the win on Friday and they played very confidently tonight.
It has been argued the Sonics have lost 13 games this year that are in the “could have” category in the final 5 minutes.
Down the stretch the big buckets came on a three from Ridnour, a baseline jumper from Gelabale and a post move hook shot over the 7 foot 3 Z by Chris Wilcox.
In addition, Nick was big again with his third double double in four games. The Sonics bigs were at times dominate inside on the boards against one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA.
In fact, the Sonics have played two of the best rebounding teams in the NBA the last two nights and out rebounded both of them.
There was a two play sequence in the fourth quarter where the Sonics got three attempts at the bucket on each trip. This happened when the Sonics were down five and on the edge of getting tossed aside. Instead, they made the hustle plays.
The Sonics played impressively tonight. The exuded confidence in the key moments and they made the plays they needed to win. Most of all they didn’t make any of those crushing plays that have crippled them this year where they wasted possessions or lost their focus.
These guy just beat and outrebounded two division leaders while missing a guy who usually gives the team 20+ points and 7+ boards.
A few days ago, I blogged about Chris Wilcox and how he is learning how to bounce back from one game to the next and the difficulty in learning how to be an NBA starter. Tonight, he bounced back from a bad half into a great one. His third quarter of 10 points and 5 rebounds was vital to the win. That type of bounce back is another good sign in his progression.
I was at the Furtado Center for practice yesterday and it was really am impressive sight. Bob Hill runs great practices. They are smooth. The work is intense and the players respond. The sad thing is with the Sonics having played two more games then anyone else in the NBA they have had virtually no practice time.
Yesterday’s practice seemed to yield dividends tonight. The focus on practice was to make quick snap decisions and the Sonics did that well against the Cavs.
It is worth noting that it can be argued the Sonics wouldn’t have won either of the last two nights without the play of Andre Brown. He had an unreal block in the Utah game and he really sparked the Sups on the glass against Cleveland.
That is a cool story.
Hope you made it to the Key for either of the last two. If not see you on Friday v. Milwaukee for 80’s night.
Allen, Ray Allen
Posted on January 13 | permalink
The greatest part of the NBA is watching humans amaze you with their insane talent. Ray Allen had a night tonight that everyone in KeyArena will remember forever.
Re-live the highlights by clicking here.
I talked with Ray in the locker room after the game as he tried to explain the zone. Here's what he had to say.
Wilcox Learning to Deal with Starting
Posted on January 11 | permalink
A storyline that I am finding very interesting to watch as the season progresses is how Chris Wilcox is dealing with the responsibility of being an NBA starter for the first time.
Honestly, this is something I had never thought of before until this season. However, most players don’t have the career path of Chris Wilcox.
Weezy, as his teammates call him, went to the University of Maryland for only two seasons. In the first year, he rarely sniffed the floor and in his sophomore year he played on a stacked team that won the national championship.
With teammates like Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and Lonny Baxter, Chris had very little pressure each night. The burden of performance was on the aforementioned players. Wilcox shined in the NCAA tournament and his athleticism and potential left him no choice but to turn pro.
However, by not staying those final years at Maryland, Wilcox never became the “man.” He never had to deal with what it is like when a team is relying on your performance each night. In his first two years, Wilcox was a “bonus player.” If he performed, it was a “bonus.”
Entering the pros Chris stayed a “bonus” player for the Clippers. Sitting behind Elton Brand he rarely saw major minutes. In a recent FSN All Access show, Wilcox commented, “ I didn’t feel like I impacted the team when I was in L.A.”
When he arrived in Seattle via trade, everything was new to Wilcox. It was a pressure-free environment with the team out of the race and Chris thrived. He grabbed the opportunity and earned a contract and a place as a building block of the franchise.
With the contract and the starting job comes new responsibility. Performing every night is expected and no longer a “bonus.” At times this has been a challenge for Chris.
Gordie Chiesa had some interesting comments on this in the Sonics Locker Room program and Kevin Pelton drew the comparison to the early years of Rashard Lewis.
Recently in Minnesota, Phoenix and Dallas, Chris has had tough nights. It's no surprise these were nights when he matched some of the best power forwards in the NBA.
These inconsistencies are the reality. The encouraging sign is that Chris continues to battle. There have been some junctures this season when he could have folded up in frustration or been overwhelmed.
Instead, after a poor night in Phoenix he was terrific last night against Miami. After six points against Minnesota he answered with 24 versus Boston. It was the same after a poor night against Toronto, as he had a double-double against the Hornets.
Wilcox's averages of 13 points and 8 rebounds are adequate for a first year starter. Rather than increasing his numbers, the challenge for the final 40-plus games is trying to avoid the huge variations from one night to the other.
There are two different ways players average their stats. They can be consistently at the same level each night or they can have huge variations that cause them to average in the middle. The problem with the latter is your team never can anticipate your performance. Those players are what I refer to as “.500” players, because the team wins the night they are good and loses the night they struggle.
What a team needs is the player who gives you the same thing every night. That is what made Rashard an All-Star two seasons ago and had him headed there again this season.
What Chris is going through is a natural progression and one that is worth watching as the season continues to develop.
Trust Needed for Close Games
Posted on January 10 | permalink
Another close game goes by the wayside for the Sonics. In games decided by five or less the Sonics are now just 3-7. You can add to that number a few games that were in the winnable column that fell on the wrong side.
It is hard to put a finger on why the Sonics can’t find a way to close these close games. Is it that guys are being asked to close games for the first time in their career? Is it offensive or defensive? I am somewhat beyond answers.
If I had to put a finger on it, I would say experience and faith. These may go hand and hand. Too often guys are breaking out of the play and not executing. This is a sign that they do not trust what is happening around them. This can happen both offensive and defensively.
It can manifest itself is so many fashions and develop because of so many things. I think it really goes back to the first games of the year when the Sonics couldn’t buy a bounce to win a game. When you lose some of those close games it puts doubt inside a locker room.
This isn’t dramatic, it isn’t finger-pointing, it isn’t evil. It is the reality of a team sport.
It can happen internally within a player or in his approach to his teammates.
The process is now finding a way to grab one or two of these type of games on this Hall of Fame Homestand and gaining the faith and confidence to get better at finishing games for the rest of the season.
It was a great sign that Nick followed up his brilliance in Phoenix with an equaling confident outing.
Another really positive sign is watching Chris Wilcox continue to battle. He is starting for the first time and learning how to be a starter every night in the NBA. Numerous times this season I thought Chris could have packed it in and every time he has bounced back to put together an inspiring performance. Tonight, with 28 points and 13 rebounds, was his best yet.
Collison's Career Day
Posted on January 9 | permalink
After tonight's game, I asked Nick if it felt like a month and half worth of frustration exploded out of him tonight with career highs of 29 points and 21 rebounds. While Collison said no, the smile on his face said, "Don’t you know it."
Nick was terrific this evening. With four All-Stars on the floor at times, he was the best player on the court. He saw the angles and got free. He played confidently inside the traffic. He sold his pump fake with authority and had guys acting like jumping jacks.
It was fantastic to see. It was in Dallas that I interviewed Nick after the tough night on the boards and he was such a class act to answer the questions, but as he answered you could tell if he could have broken everything around him, he would have loved to. The frustration was boiling over.
To see one of the good guys in the league bust out of a slump that was wearing him out in this fashion had to make every Sonics fan cheer.
Why is He the MVP?
Steve Nash has the dribble at the top of the key. Another Phoenix player comes to set a pick on Nash’s defender. The defender has two choices. Go on the basket side of the pick (under) and prevent Nash from driving or try to fight to stay on the ball side of the pick (above) and take away the three-point shot.
What do you do? If you go “over” the pick, Nash turns the corner off the pick and gets into the paint where he draws fouls or penetrates and kicks to an open shooter for a three - or he penetrates and dishes to Marion or Stoudamire going to the basket.
If you go “under” the pick, as the Sonics opted to do tonight, Nash takes one dribble back and shots the three. Coming into the night Nash was hitting 50% from behind the arc and he was even better this evening. He nailed four of his first five from three and had 20 points in the second half.
Pick your poison; when you are playing the MVP, they both kill you.
A few times the Sonics switched and tried to go over the pick and Nash promptly pulled up and hit a 15-footer and another time dished it away for a basket.
The Suns have now won 25 of their last 28. If they keep up this pace it is conceivable that Nash could win his third straight MVP.
The hooper from Victoria, B.C. looks to be on the verge of joining the rarest of NBA company.
Road Games without Stars are Tough Sledding
Posted on January 6 | permalink
An 11-game road losing streak seems hard to fathom - until you really think about what is going on with the Sonics.
The last time the Sonics played a road game with Ray and Rashard they lost to one of the best teams in the NBA, Utah, on a buzzer-beater.
Since then, the Sonics have played 10 straight road games without either Ray or Rashard. Superstars win on the road. Universally around the NBA, the special players are the ones that can be consistent from one night to the next. Whether it is home or road, the Allens, the Nashes and the Iversons put up the same performance.
The middle-range player traditionally plays much better at home and is on and off on the road.
This is what is happening to the Sonics. In the past you could pen in what Ray and Rashard were going to give you and then if Wilcox, Luke or any one else gave you a really solid night then the game would fall in the Sonics favor.
However, without Rashard you need someone to step into his shoes. This usually takes two players and then another guy to have a strong evening. Basically, it comes down to needing three guys if not four to elevate their game at the same time on the road. That is an unlikely scenario.
Tonight in a game where the Sonics battled and stayed with a good Warriors team until the final horn the game was lost on two sequences where Seattle had to go deeper into the bench.
Ray Allen’s foul trouble limited his time on the floor in the third quarter and the Sonics started committing turnovers and no longer were getting good shots. At the close of the first half, Chris Wilcox left the game briefly with a shin contusion and it forced the Sonics to play Andre Brown . Again, the Warriors went on a surge.
It was two good examples of how road games are won by your primetimers and the Sonics don’t have the depth to combat not having one of their primetime guys on road games.
Thoughts While Watching the NBA
Posted on January 4 | permalink
Watching the NBA a few things jumped out at me.
Watching Dallas disassemble the Indiana Pacers in the 4th quarter was the exact replay of what they did to the Sonics a few nights ago. They dominated the glass. They had a play where they had 4 offensive opportunities. They made every play and Indiana looked like they folded their tents.
When you see this from the same time twice in a week it is time to tip the hat. It changes my perspective on the Sonics performance in Dallas.
In that game Diop played and earlier in the night I watched Tyson Chandler all while I was prepping for the Knicks who have Eddy Curry. What do all of these guys have in common? All are high school big man who were drafted straight into the NBA and here is the kicker. All of them are having success with their second team.
That is the concern about what the Sonics and other teams in the NBA have done when they draft young bigs. Thus, far in most cases the team that drafts the big is only developing him for the next team he will play for. The Lakers might become the exception with Andrew Bynum.
This is the challenge the Sonics will have with Swift, Petro and Sene.
On the Sonics front check out these numbers on Ridnour. Luke at home is averaging 17 points and 7 assists while shooting 52% from the field and 48% from three point range. In contrast on the road he is averaging just 12 points and 6 assists while shooting 41% from the field and 34% from three.
See at the Key for Friday Night Live.
Thrilled and Pained and Knowledged
Posted on January 4 | permalink
My first hope everynight is that the Sonics win. The second is that they compete and finally I hope that the great players in the NBA put on that special performance unique to an NBA player. While we didn't get the win last night, that was a great game to be a part of. Ray and T-Mac were unreal. They both had moments I will tell my kids about. They both had those wow moments that just make you shake your head and wonder what it would be like to be that good.
That is what makes the NBA so great. The best in the game almost always bring that special performance. T-Mac's drive from the right wing when we brought the ball around his back and sliced through traffic to hit the lay-up was unreal. Then Ray's 4th quarter had him hitting shots that are not supposed to go in.
We should have a lot of that coming this month at the Key with what I am refereing to as the Hall of Fame Homestand.
The number 1 issue in my mind for the Sonics right now is does it pain them to lose? You will lose that is the reality of the NBA. You will lose more when you are young and one of your stars is injured as the Sonics have endured for the past 15 or so games.
It really isn’t a surprise that the last time the Sonics won a road game was one of the last times they had both Ray and Rashard on the floor together for a road game.
But what can’t happen is that you become a team that accepts losing and isn’t pained by it. This is when losing becomes your culture. The most dangerous thing that can happen to a franchise in any sport is if their players realize the checks come regardless of wins and losses.
I am glad to say that after talking to numerous people today around the Sonics that every indication is that the losing still pains this team. The internal reactions to the recent losses have been what you would want to hear about. Remember the external reaction and the internal reaction is two totally different things.
Let’s move onto a different topic. During last night’s game I didn’t really understand why Gelabale didn’t get more time guarding Tracy McGrady. Gelabale’s defensive work this year on some of the league’s best players, namely Richard Hamilton, has been really dynamic.
Thus my thought was Gelabale at 6’8 could guard the long McGrady. When I asked some coaches about that today I was enlightened to a deeper understanding of the game.
If you isolate the issue the way I did then it makes some sense, however the game is not isolated into those match-ups. Instead, the issue is how does that one player impact the harmony of the 5 on the floor.
In last nights game the 5 on the floor were playing really good basketball and playing very unselfish with great ball movement. Maybe Gelabale would have integrated himself and maybe not.
However, what I learned is that so often I isolate the one substitution or the one move but what I am missing is the impact it has on the entire unit and the flow of the game.
The learning continues and hopefully I am passing it on in an understandable manner.
Clearing the Notebook in Houston
Posted on January 3 | permalink
A few notes left over from last night.
Sene played very well and seems to be making progress each time he is on the floor. His offensive game is non-existent so he is not able to log large minutes. Defensively, he is very active, maybe even too active, but that is a nice place to start.
In the locker-room after the game, Earl Watson was icing his groin area and is having some significant pain in the groin or sports hernia area.
I talked with Nick after the game and the frustration was palpable. He was classy enough to talk, but as he was answering you could tell he just wanted to scream or explode. It might not be a bad idea for him to explode. On the floor he looks paralyzed by his mind.
Bob Hill seemed as perturbed as I have seen him after a game all season. He held it together with the media, but you could feel real frustration.
These frustrations are built up from past games, because you can’t anticipate coming into Dallas and getting a win. The disappointment is likely from how good the second quarter was in contrast to the lack of effort in the fourth.
If we played a line-up solely based on +/- it would be Ridnour, Allen, Wilcox, Fortson and Petro. Heck, who knows, it might work.
According to NBA.com, our best five on the floor this year is Ridnour, Allen, Lewis, Wilcox and Collison. Interesting that, despite all the struggles, it is the group we anticipated it to be.
I Have Seen It All
Posted on January 2 | permalink
They played a box and one. When Ray Allen got hot the Mavericks played a box-and-one. I am certain that in my 15 years in the NBA I have never seen someone play a box-and-one.
They only played it a little, but the point was still made. The box-and-one is played in high school when there is a one dominant player and four guys who can’t beat you. It is inconceivable to play it in the NBA because it the floor is too big to allow 4-on-4 for the rest of the guys. Obviously, if Rashard is healthy you can’t play the box-and-one, but the fact the Mavericks coaches thought that it might work and would be a good idea is astounding.
The Sonics second quarter, led by Ray Allen’s 18 points, was the best I have seen the Sonics play this season. After the game, Ray called having the new ball back a “blessing.”
The game also featured the one of the best two-play sequences I have seen all season. The Mavericks had a possession where they made eight passes, penetrating and dishing, swinging it around the outside and it finished with Dirk at the top of the key for an open three. The Sonics answered with their own version, making numerous extra passes until Johan Petro hit a free-throw-line jumper.
Unfortunately, it was one of the last times the Sonics moved the ball for the remainder of the night.
The Mavericks teamwork was very impressive. They worked hard to get the ball moving and continually get a better look. I can’t recall a possession where a player went and “got theirs.”
The other story of the night was how the Mavericks dominated the Sonics on the board. The Mavs are the best I have seen at tapping balls out of the paint to the guards. The Sonics simply didn’t have the manpower to combat the Mavs size on the boards.
The Sonics defensive rebounding has dropped into the bottom five in the NBA and is a major issue. The other problem is the Sonics once were a good offensive rebounding team, but over the last five games that has disappeared. They have been under 20% on offensive rebounding the last five games.
Off to Houston for a date with McGrady and the Rockets.
Dallas is Very Very Good
Posted on January 2 | permalink
We are in Dallas getting ready for the Mavs. The Mavs have won 10 straight and they are manhandling people. Avery Johnson has them playing defense. They rank sixth in the NBA in defense. That is the value of 7-footers. They are able to play 48 minutes of 7-footers between Dampier and Diop.
Offensively, they are very balanced. Impressively, each of their starters is in the top 10 in NBA Efficiency Rating at their position.
The most impressive thing about this team is how well they play when their stud is not on the floor. Last year, they were the only team who still outscored their opponent when their #1 guy was on the bench. This year they are not quite there yet, but are just -0.3 per 48 minutes Nowitzki is off the floor.
Last game, they beat the Nuggets in Denver without Dirk. Josh Howard has become a bona fide all-star. Keep an eye on Devin Harris tonight. I think he is the glue on this team. He is able to penetrate and give them unreal three-point looks. The Mavs are living behind the arc recently.
There is a strong argument that can be made that Dirk should have won the MVP last year. He had equally as good of numbers if not better than Nash. His team won more games. He doesn’t have any teammates that are as good as Shaun Marion.
Truthfully, any argument for Nash can be countered for Dirk. Talking to people in the Mavs organization they rave about Dirk. His work ethic is off the charts. He is also one of the nicest guys you will deal with. They all have stories of Dirk getting off the team bus to sign jerseys and making the entire team wait while he does it.
MTV and Punk’d tried to take advantage of Dirk’s niceness in a hysterical Punk’d episode where they send a kid to get autograph after autograph after autograph. The amazing thing is Dirk never really breaks. It is flat-out hysterical.
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