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WEEKLY LEADERS |
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POINTS
Lewis - 23.5
Allen - 22.8
James - 11.3
Radmanovic - 10.5
Daniels - 10.0
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REBOUNDS
Evans - 8.8
Fortson - 6.3
Allen - 5.3
Lewis - 5.3
James - 4.8
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ASSISTS
Ridnour - 4.8
Allen - 3.3
Daniels - 2.3
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SUPERSONICS.COM PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
 Jerome James
11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 0.3 topg, 21-31 fgs
During the first 54 games of the season, James scored double-figures five times. In his last four games, he's done it three times. Before the All-Star break, Sonics guard  Ray Allen commented that the Sonics needed their big men to step up in order to take their game to the next level. James has responded, taking his time in the post and shooting 67.7% from the field last week while committing just one turnover in 93 minutes. He has given the Sonics another dimension in their half-court offense.
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February 28-March 6
Record for the week:3-1
Overall Record: 41-17
Standing: 1st, Northwest Division
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Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM
Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2004
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Sonics |
32 |
20 |
19 |
29 |
101 |
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at Indiana |
20 |
28 |
25 |
20 |
93 |
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The Sonics got off to a great start Tuesday in Indiana, taking a lead as large as 12 points and seeing Pacers star Jermaine O'Neal get in foul trouble and Coach
Rick Carlisle ejected from the game. Indiana went small to get back in the game before halftime, cutting the lead to four. With O'Neal back in, the Pacers went down low and quickly took the lead in the third quarter, but the Sonics stayed in it. The score was 89-84 Indiana with five minutes left when the Sonics turned the game around with three straight 3-pointers. The defense clamped down on the Pacers while
Rashard Lewis came up with two big baskets in the post to hold Indiana at bay as the Sonics got a 101-93 victory. Lewis scored a game-high 30 points and
Antonio Daniels and
Vladimir Radmanovic combined to score 26 off the bench.
Stephen Jackson led the Pacers with 28 points.
Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2004
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Sonics |
28 |
26 |
24 |
25 |
103 |
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at Cleveland |
19 |
26 |
24 |
17 |
86 |
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For the second game of a back-to-back, the Sonics headed to Cleveland to face
LeBron James and the slumping Cavaliers. Again, the Sonics built an early double-digit lead only to see it dissipate early in the third quarter. Cleveland tied the game at 67 with just under five minutes left in the third, but the Sonics responded by with an 11-2 run as Radmanovic bookended the third-quarter break with jumpers. Seattle's defense held the Cavaliers to 17 points in the fourth quarter and 86 for the game and allowed them to cruise to a 103-86 victory. Allen was superb for the Sonics, scoring 31 points on 11-for-22 shooting. Lewis scored 20 and Radmanovic 19 (including five 3s). James was brilliant for the Cavaliers, hitting a career-high five 3s and scoring 32 points.
Friday, Mar. 4, 2004
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Detroit |
23 |
22 |
22 |
20 |
87 |
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at Sonics |
22 |
20 |
27 |
26 |
95 |
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The Sonics returned home to take on the defending champion Detroit Pistons in a game played at playoff intensity and with a playoff style. The Sonics struggled this time in the first half, shooting 41.7% but trailing by only three heading into halftime thanks to their defense. The third quarter saw seven ties and five lead changes, with the Sonics emerging with a two-point lead. A
Ronald Dupree dunk gave Detroit a 73-71 lead with 10:24 to play, but the Pistons would not score again for six minutes as the Sonics stifled them defensively. They scored 11 points during the stretch, and Detroit never got within six the rest of the game as the Sonics picked up their third straight win by a 95-87 final. Five Sonics and six Pistons scored double-figures, but no player had 20 points. Lewis had 18 points for the Sonics, James season highs of 16 points and seven boards. Allen shot just 3-for-17 from the field.
Sunday, Mar. 6, 2004
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Phoenix |
32 |
28 |
22 |
28 |
110 |
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at Sonics |
28 |
22 |
27 |
22 |
99 |
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The Sonics closed the week by hosting Phoenix in the rubber match of the teams' season series. In a hot-shooting first quarter for both teams, the Suns led most of the way. Even with MVP candidate
Steve Nash resting, they built their lead early in the second quarter and took a 10-point advantage to the break. The Sonics halved that in the third quarter, but were done in by a disastrous start to the final period. With the aid of some calls the Sonics - and particularly Coach
Nate McMillan, who was ejected for the first time all season - vehemently disagreed with, the Suns scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter. While the Sonics rallied after their coach was ejected, they could not get the big shot to fall, finishing 3-for-27 from 3-point range, a season low for percentage (11.1%) and the Suns won 110-99.
Joe Johnson led Phoenix with 30 points, one off of his career high, while both Nash and
Shawn Marion recorded double-doubles. Allen (27) and Lewis (26) led the Sonics, while Radmanovic shot 2-for-13 and 0-for-8 on 3s.
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Radmanovic shot well on the road, but struggled against Phoenix. Check out the new Photo Galleries page for photos from all of last week's games.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty
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Sonics Good as Gold
The difference between the Sonics loss at Milwaukee last Sunday to start their three-game road trip and wins at Indiana and Cleveland? Gold jerseys. The Sonics alternate road gold uniform has proven to be a good-luck charm this season, as the Sonics moved to 8-1 in the jerseys with Wednesday's win. They're 6-1 on the road in gold, helping them go 20-8 away from KeyArena so far this season.
After the Indiana game, reporters asked McMillan what he thinks of the jerseys.
"Shoot, we'll go out there butt-naked," McMillan answered. "Whatever works."
Collison Breaks Nose
Rookie Sonics forward 
Nick Collison played just five minutes of Sunday's loss after breaking his nose early in the second quarter. Collison was injured during a collision with Phoenix's Steven Hunter. He left the game and did not return. Collison will be fitted for a mask today and have the nose re-set after Tuesday's game against Houston, which he may play in, depending on how he feels.
Around the Web
Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist David Locke breaks down the Sonics offensive success in simple terms: they shoot well, don't turn the ball over and get offensive rebounds. Colleague Danny O'Neil says Allen's statistics aren't telling the story about his season.
The Seattle Times' Steve Kelley makes the case for retaining Radmanovic.
McMillan's son, Jamelle, helped O'Dea win the Washington State Class 3A Basketball Championship for the second straight season Saturday. Frank Hughes of The News Tribune reports on the McMillans' success.
The Everett Herald's Rich Myhre writes about James' bounceback season.
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