Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Memphis
Want to enjoy the electricity of being Live at the Hardwood even if you're thousands of miles away? SUPERSONICS.COM's Live From the Press Box in-game blog is your best bet. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame Q&As and observations from the game. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
It Is a Final
Posted at 7:37 p.m.
Shane Battier airballs and the Sonics win, 118-113. What an amazing comeback. Be sure to listen to David Locke postgame on KJR and check back with SUPERSONICS.COM for Postgame Quotes and Notes.
It’s Ray’s Ball
Posted at 7:36 p.m.
Who else would the Sonics want shooting free throws? Pau Gasol dunks for the Grizzlies, but Allen hits both free throws and time is running out on Memphis.
Yay!
Posted at 7:34 p.m.
Ray Allen hits both free throws. Sonics lead 116-111. Hubie Brown calls timeout.
Please Do Call It a Comeback
Posted at 7:32 p.m.
Ray Allen’s pullup in the lane gives the Sonics their first lead since the first quarter. Luke Ridnour subsequently strips Pau Gasol and, after an offensive rebound, gets slammed by Stromile Swift to go to the line. Ridnour hits both free throws to tie his career high with 17 points and put the Sonics up 114-11. And Ridnour rebounds Pau Gasol’s three-point miss. Ray Allen to the line with 21.5 seconds to play. This place is rightfully going nuts.
All Square
Posted at 7:28 p.m.
A Ray Allen three ties at 110-all, but there’s bad news. Nick Collison fouls out and also sends Pau Gasol to the free-throw line. Give it up for Nick, who’s held Gasol without a field goal playing him the majority of the fourth quarter. Jerome James replaces Collison.
Friends and Family
Posted at 7:27 p.m.
We’ve seen a lot of families at tonight’s game, presumably taking advantage of the Friends and Families Weekends Presented by Sprite deal. Get four tickets, four hot dogs, four Coca-Cola products and four bags of popcorn for significantly less than the regular price at selected weekend games. The deals start at just $69.
Get yours for when the Sonics return to KeyArena over Thanksgiving weekend against the New Jersey Nets and the Indiana Pacers!
Under Three Timeout
Posted at 7:23 p.m.
2:43 left on the clock at the evening’s last media timeout. Antonio Daniels (28 points) briefly tied the game with a jumper, but Mike Miller (17) answered with a long two of his own to put Memphis on top. Miller is headed to the free-throw line right now.
We’ve Got a Ballgame
Posted at 7:20 p.m.
After surrendering 100 points through the first three quarters, the Sonics have turned up the defense, giving up just seven points in seven and a half minutes so far during the fourth quarter. After a Luke Ridnour jumper, it’s 107-103 Memphis with 4:32 to play. Ridnour, with 15, is also closing in on his career high, while Nick Collison is playing Pau Gasol confidently and just came up with another block. Ray Allen dunks, and it’s a two-point game.
The Custodian
Posted at 7:18 p.m.
Last year, I conducted what I consider
the best interview of my career with Brian “Custodian” Cardinal, then with the Golden State Warriors. This summer, Cardinal got a long-term deal from the Memphis Grizzlies, who love his combination of work ethic and intelligence - and, oh, yeah, ability to shoot. I spoke with Cardinal briefly early tonight about his new team and the way he approaches the game.
You’ve gone from not expecting to make the Warriors last October to now having a long-term contrct with the Grizzlies. What’s that like?
Cardinal: It’s fantastic. It’s exciting. It’s kind of unknown, just from the standpoint of I’ve never been in this position before. It’s exciting. I’m going to continue to try to go out and play hard and play well and try to help the team win games.
Do you look at this deal as validation that you’re an NBA player?
Cardinal: You can definitely look at it that way. I don’t know if I do. I think it’s awesome. It’s an honor to be in the NBA. At the same time, it’s fantastic that I have some security for my family and to know that I’m going to be somewhere for more than a year or two is exciting. I’m just going to try to take advantage of every chance I get here and hopefully I can have continued success.
How has this season been?
Cardinal: It’s been good. It’s a learning experience, especially when you have a teacher like Hubie (Brown). He’s been awesome for my knowledge of the game. He breaks it down to where a youngster can learn. It’s been fantastic for myself and I know my teammates have loved him. It’s exciting to learn from him, it’s exciting to be on a team that is an up-and-coming team and hopefully we can build on what we did last year and carry it over into this season.
Is this an organization and a coaching staff that appreciates what you do more than others might?
Cardinal: Yeah. I definitely think it’s an organization and a coaching staff that appreciates the value of hard work. I don’t underestimate the value of hard work and I think that’s one thing that I bring to this team is hard work and work ethic. When I’m out there on the court, I give 100% regardless of whether I’m making the shot or not I go out there and play my hardest and just try to help the team win.
Speaking of helping your team win, it’s pretty well known that you had an outstanding plus-minus rating last season. How important is that stat to you?
Cardinal: I think it’s great. I think it’s exciting to know that you’re our there and you’re doing the best for your team. You’re out there and you’re able to be successful and get something accomplished. Hopefully I can continue that success that I had last year with the plus-minus and when I’m out there on the court, hopefully I can increase the lead and do something to help the team win.
The Grizzlies Answer
Posted at 7:11 p.m.
Earl Watson hits a three and Pau Gasol - as prophesied pregame by Dwane Casey - draws a charge. But Nick Collison drops in an fast-break layup - he looks a great deal more comfortable right now - and the Sonics are back down eight. Incidentally, both teams have backup point guards, Antonio Daniels (24 points) and Earl Watson (16) nearing their career highs - 30 for Daniels and 21 for Watson. A Luke Ridnour j makes the deficit six and prompts a Hubie Brown timeout - he has only one remaining. Could be another great finish.
Hello, Momentum
Posted at 7:08 p.m.
Momentum is all on the Sonics side right now as the crowd begins to get into it. The Sonics forced a 24-second vio when Earl Watson airballed on a jumper out of the timeout, then followed with Luke Ridnour throwing in a running scoop shot that had no business going in the basket. Watson turned it over again and the Sonics are in business. WHOA! Nick Collison goes behind his back to Rashard Lewis for a dunk and the lead is just seven. But Lorenzen Wright answers with a layup to stifle the bleeding.
Let’s Not Call This Game Just Yet …
Posted at 7:05 p.m.
The Sonics start the third quarter well, with Antonio Daniels scoring a three and a layup - giving him 22 points on the evening - and Nick Collison coming up with an impressive rejection on the defensive end of the court. The Memphis lead is now 11, 100-89. In unrelated news, the Sonics Dance Team really turned up the heat with their performance during the quarter break and did so again during a Hubie Brown-called timeout.
Through Three
Posted at 7:03 p.m.
Memphis did finally cool off a little near the end of the third quarter, allowing the Sonics to pull within 16 at period’s end, 100-84. The telling statistic through three quarters, Nate points out, is that the Grizzlies have 27 assists on 36 field goals. They’re working the ball for open looks in the paint, layups and dunks (11 at last count), while the Sonics are trying to create off the dribble.
Not Our Night
Posted at 6:50 p.m.
This just doesn’t look like the night for the Sonics. Memphis is still unstoppable on offense and used an 11-2 run to take a lead of 21 points a minute ago. With a little over a quarter left to play, the Sonics are going to really need to turn things around if they’re going to earn their first true comeback win of the season.
Momentum
Posted at 6:38 p.m.
The Grizzlies are still hot on offense, but the Sonics reclaimed some of the momentum on their last possession with a pair of offensive rebounds, one on an and-one free throw, to end up with four points. But on the next Memphis possession, Pau Gasol - who’s up to 18 points on the night - gets a dunk and one. We’re keeping a running tally up here, and we now have the Grizzlies at an even 10 dunks.
First-Half Stats
Posted at 6:25 p.m.
A couple of corrections where the scoreboard was incorrect: Only four Memphis players in double-figures, while Antonio Daniels has 15 for the Sonics. Both teams shot at least 60% from the field, 60% from three-point range and 90% from the free-throw line. That’s pretty incredible. Equally incredible: 18 fouls were called and 25 free throws shot during the second quarter.
At Halftime
Posted at 6:20 p.m.
Break out the leg-warmers and turn on MTV, because the 1980s are back at KeyArena … on the floor, at least. At halftime, the Sonics have 61 points, their season high for the first half, but they trail by 10, 71-61. The Grizzlies scored 42 points in the second quarter, a new franchise record. They were a three-pointer away from tying the franchise record for a half. Yeah, the Sonics have struggled somewhat on defense, but it’s more been a case of Memphis shooting the lights out and moving the ball very well. At least five Grizzlies players have scored double-doubles, while Ray Allen has 18 and Antonio Daniels 13 in the first half for the Sonics.
Evans Paying Attention
Posted at 6:10 p.m.
Clearly, Reggie Evans was watching earlier as Ray Allen demonstrated the fundamentals of free-throw shooting during a timeout video on ArenaVision; he knocks down a pair. The Sonics are getting their points, but the Grizzlies are putting on a clinic of their own, scoring on I don’t know how many straight possessions before Jason Williams finally missed trying to one-up Ray Allen by faking the pass and then shooting the layup.
Empathy
Posted at 6:02 p.m.
Nate comments the Sonics need a stop, but Mike Miller upfakes his defender and steps inside the three-point line to beat his defender with a two and then gets loose for a three. Saying the Grizzlies are hot on offense right now would qualify as a major understatement. I’m beginning to understand how other teams felt playing the Sonics earlier this week.
Quick Thinking
Posted at 5:57 p.m.
Antonio Daniels has clearly noticed how the referees are calling the game; he’s going to the basket hard and five of his eight points have come from the free-throw line. On the other end, the Grizzlies athleticism really appears to be underrated. They’ve gotten loose for several dunks. Memphis is also setting the kind of screens on the Sonics they’ve been setting on other teams early this season. The Grizz look great, and they’ve got a 51-40 lead.
Practice Your Free-Throw Shooting
Posted at 5:54 p.m.
With still well more than seven minutes left in the second quarter, both teams are in the penalty, meaning free throws should loom large the rest of the way. That’s probably good news for the Sonics, as the Grizzlies are having great success scoring on them in the halfcourt. Memphis leads 44-36.
Foul Spree
Posted at 5:45 p.m.
In the first 125 seconds of the second quarter, both teams have picked up four team fouls.
Fortson Suspended
Posted at 5:39 p.m.
The Sonics got word this morning that they would be without forward/center Danny Fortson for tonight’s game after Fortson was suspended for a flagrant foul in Friday night’s win over Toronto. Fortson elbowed Raptors forward Chris Bosh while going for a rebound. On the court, the play was just called a loose-ball foul, but it was ruled a flagrant foul when referees or the NBA reviewed the tape of the game Friday night or Saturday.
Reviewing the tape himself, Sonics Coach Nate McMillan admitted he felt the foul was flagrant, but said he expected a fine, not a suspension.
“He is a guy the league is watching,” McMillan said. At the same time, the Sonics did get something of a break - had a flagrant foul been called during the game, the Sonics might have lost what proved to be a one-point game. “I’ll take the win,” said McMillan.
Unfamiliar Position
Posted at 5:36 p.m.
The Sonics find themselves in the unfamiliar position of trailing after one quarter, 29-27. The last time they were behind after 12 minutes of play was in the season opener against the L.A. Clippers. The bench has done its trademark good job for the Grizzlies, with Stromile Swift contributing a pair of dunks, Brian Cardinal and Dahntay Jones a three apiece (Jones also held Ray Allen scoreless after checking into the game) and a surprising nine points from Earl Watson.
Sonics Smallball
Posted at 5:31 p.m.
The Sonics have gone to their smallest real lineup of the season so far, pairing Antonio Daniels and Luke Ridnour in the backcourt with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis as the forwards and Vladimir Radmanovic as the center. After two Memphis baskets, Nick Collison is up off the bench. This brings up a point I’ve neglected to make thus far - the Sonics are without forward/center Danny Fortson because of NBA suspension, meaning Collison is the backup center tonight and Radmanovic will see more action at power forward.
Bonzi Back
Posted at 5:26 p.m.
After injuring his wrist early in the game, Bonzi Wells is back in the lineup before the quarter is much more than halfway done. He’s slid down to small forward to allow Grizzlies defensive specialist Dahntay Jones a crack at Ray Allen. You may recall that in his NBA debut last November in Seattle, Jones shut down Ronald “Flip” Murray down the stretch as Memphis pulled out a narrow win. Grizzlies backup point guard Earl Watson is also in the game, and the former Sonics guard got a nice hand from the KeyArena crowd.
Two vs. Two
Posted at 5:24 p.m.
The Grizzlies are doing a great job of screening for Mike Miller (who, we should note, replaced Bonzi Wells, who is back on the bench). Miller’s gotten two open jumpers and Ray Allen was also forced to switch into a mismatch on another screen. But Allen’s doing his thing on the other end. On one fast break, he feigned a behind-his-back pass before going in for the layup. Shortly thereafter, Allen was on the receiving end of a Luke Ridnour alley-oop. Something I can’t recall him ever doing before. Allen has 11 points, the Sonics lead 16-6 and Hubie Brown is taking another timeout.
TO, Baby!
Posted at 5:18 p.m.
After Ray Allen follows a gorgeous three-point play (on a reverse layup) with a silky jumper to make it 9-2 Sonics, Hubie Brown takes an early T. Hubie is probably the anti-Phil Jackson when it comes to taking timeouts during runs.
Dude, I Loved Your New CD!
Posted at 5:13 p.m.
No, that’s not Eminem, it’s Memphis point guard Jason Williams. The resemblance is pretty remarkable, though Memphis Director of Media Relations Stacey Mitch assures it was even closer early in the season. Memphis starts Williams/Bonzi Wells/Shane Battier/Pau Gasol/Lorenzen Wright, the Sonics their usual lineup of Ridnour/Allen/Lewis/Evans/James, but a couple minutes in Wells has gone to the locker room holding his left wrist. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear something.
Signing On
Posted at 5:02 p.m.
It’s the Sonics and the Memphis Grizzlies tonight as the Sonics look to stay hot and pick up their sixth straight win. I’m joined tonight in the press box by Nate, who’s job shadowing for David Locke, but can’t join him during the game because of his radio duties. A few tickets are still left, so come on down if you’re in the house, or pull up a chair and get comfortable as we keep you updated all night long. Remember to hit refresh so you get the latest.
