Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Boston
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Your Final
Posted at 9:28 p.m.
Boston 98, Sonics 84. I knew I’d have to end one of these like this at some point.
Lakers Tuesday
Posted at 9:25 p.m.
The Sonics will try to get back on the winning track Tuesday, when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers roll into KeyArena for a game that surely will have some extra sizzle after the comments made by Bryant and Ray Allen during the preseason.
Get your tickets before they’re gone!
That Kind of Night
Posted at 9:21 p.m.
On one end, Tony Allen follows up a miss with a resounding slam dunk. On the other, Antonio Daniels throws up an airball. You just aren’t going to win too many games when the opposition is shooting comfortably above 50% from the field and you’re substantially below 40%. Danny Fortson fouls out on an away-from-the-ball double-foul, and the Sonics have no offense left. Combined points from the starting lineup in the fourth quarter: Three. The streak ends tonight, alas.
Baddest Savior in Pig Tails
Posted at 9:19 p.m.
Two Danny Fortson layups later, the deficit is down to three. Hope springs eternal.
Powering Through
Posted at 9:15 p.m.
The Celtics appear to have weathered the storm that was the first half of the fourth quarter. A Paul Pierce dunk has given Boston an 87-80 lead with 3:47 to play, and the Sonics simply have no ability to score except for Danny Fortson. They are shooting 34.7% from the field and 5-for-21 from downtown. Luke Ridnour is having a “Growing Pains” night, and we don’t mean Alan Thicke is in the crowd; he’s 1-for-10 from the field.
Fans Loving Fortson
Posted at 9:10 p.m.
At this point, Danny Fortson may as well set up base camp at the free-throw line. He’ll be attempting his 12th and 13th free throws of the evening after this timeout. Fortson has 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench and has been key for the Sonics. The fans appreciate it, giving Fortson a loud ovation as he walked off the court.
Boston Penalty
Posted at 9:06 p.m.
With 8:17 left in the final period, the Celtics have five team fouls and the Sonics will shoot free throws the remainder of the period. That would be more reassuring if the Sonics were hitting them better - they’ve continued around 50% this quarter - but all the momentum is going in the Sonics direction right now. Doc Rivers has responded by using his bench very conservatively.
Ichiro Live at the Hardwood
Posted at 9:03 p.m.
For the second time this season, Ichiro is sitting courtside tonight as a guest of Sonics Chairman Howard Schultz. Ichiro participated in the distribution of T-shirts during the last timeout, but I think he’d rather just throw them than use the Sonics slingshot; he walked away in disgust after an off-target attempt.
Free Throw Woes
Posted at 9:00 p.m.
I mentioned at the half that the Sonics had outscored Boston 14-5 at the free-throw line; that was partially because they got there more, and partially because they shot a sizzling 14-for-15 at the charity stripe. That changed big-time in the third quarter, with the Sonics making only five of their 10 attempts. In a close game, that could come back to haunt the Sonics. They also went over five and a half minutes without a field goal, though that streak has ended and a crowd that seemed to be searching for something to cheer for is getting in the game.
Calling for a Comeback
Posted at 8:50 p.m.
There haven’t been too many worse quarters at home for the Sonics (this season, when they’re 9-0 at KeyArena) than the third tonight, as the visiting Celtics outscored the Sonics 24-13. As a result, the Sonics trail by sixth entering the fourth period and will be looking for their second win this season from that position.
GP’s House
Posted at 8:35 p.m.
Gary Payton has come to play tonight. His 18 points are a season high; last year, he had what was then a season-high 24 points in his first return to KeyArena. Clearly, the guy likes playing in front of Sonics fans and on this court. Additionally, while Luke Ridnour is having a great year, the matchup with Gary Payton does not favor him.
The starting lineup does not have a lot of energy tonight. If the Sonics are going to win this game, it’s going to be because of their bench. Paul Pierce picking up his fourth foul with about five minutes left in the third quarter helps.
Halftime Stats
Posted at 8:20 p.m.
The notable observation: Boston is shooting 54% from the field, the Sonics just 42%. The Green and Gold is winning by virtue of outscoring Boston 14-5 from the free-throw line and a dramatic 25-14 rebound advantage. The Sonics rebounding slipped a little bit against Portland, Utah and San Antonio, but it’s been the key in the last two games. There’s also a 26-13 lead in bench scoring.
Dance Fever
Posted at 8:15 p.m.
Today was the annual Sonics Dance/Drill Invitational with the winners performing during high school. But Live From The Press Box cries unfair! The winners were the Eastern Washington Junior and Senior Elite Teams … but Eastern Washington is a huge place! Certainly, individual high schools in Western Washington can’t be expected to compete, can they?
Yes, of course Live From The Press Box is merely bitter that the alma mater - Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines, for the record - was not selected. Ah, we’ll always have that glorious win in 1999.
Halftime
Posted at 8:07 p.m.
The Sonics score the last five points of the first half and take a lead of that same size to the locker room. Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic lead the Sonics with 12 points apiece in the first half (Radmanovic with nine in the second quarter) and Rashard Lewis adds 10.
I Don’t Get This League
Posted at 8:05 p.m.
Detroit loses on consecutive nights at home to Atlanta and Memphis? Okay, I guess their problems are bigger than Ben Wallace’s suspension … Houston beats San Antonio on Thursday, then goes down by 24 to Dallas tonight? Tracy McGrady has only two more points all game than he had in the final minute of Thursday’s game? … Chicago runs the Timberwolves out of town and is suddenly as hot as anyone in the league? Travis Best dramatically outplays Jason Kidd in a Nets win?
Higher Gear
Posted at 7:58 p.m.
With the starters back in the game, Boston is right back to their running and gunning and has reclaimed the lead. The difference between the two units tonight is difficult to overstate; it’s like the JV team and the varsity in high school. The difference is not usually so pronounced; not only is Paul Pierce (14 points, 4-for-5 field goals) shooting lights out, Gary Payton (12 points) is probably playing his best half of the season.
Spoken Too Soon
Posted at 7:48 p.m.
Typically, the Celtics score on three of their final four possessions with the reserve unit in there before Doc Rivers makes a Hubie Brown-style line shift, bringing in three more starters to leave Ricky Davis as the only reserve in the game. Two Rashard Lewis free throws give the Sonics their first lead at 35-34.
First Guessing
Posted at 7:42 p.m.
I’m not a big fan of the lineup Doc Rivers has in the game right now - Marcus Banks and Tony Allen at guard, Ricky Davis, Walter McCarty and Al Jefferson across the front line. Davis and Jefferson are the only scorers in that group, which allows the Sonics to aggressively defend them and not have to worry about giving up open looks. That puts a lot of pressure on the two of them. Now Rivers comes back with starter Mark Blount - but pulls Jefferson. Blount’s even less capable of creating his own shot. By contrast, Nate McMillan has Rashard Lewis in there with four of his reserves, maintaining plenty of scoring punch.
One Quarter In
Posted at 7:38 p.m.
With Antonio Daniels scoring the last bucket of the first quarter on a driving layup, the Sonics pulled within two of the Celtics. After scoring at a torrid pace during the first five minutes, both teams slowed down, and it’s just 2523 as we go to the second period of play. The Celtics bench - five reserves closed the first quarter and will start the second - has struggled thus far, though they’re a good unit.
Murray and Potapenko Back
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
After playing just eight combined minutes this season, guard Ronald “Flip” Murray and center Vitaly Potapenko returned to the lineup tonight and were activated from the injured list. To clear room on the roster, rookies Robert Swift (sprained right hip) and Damien Wilkins (patella tendonitis, right knee) were placed on the injured list. Sonics Coach Nate McMillan continues to maintain that he’s not sure if Murray and Potapenko will see any action tonight, and that decision will depend on the flow of the game and if he gets an opportunity to use them.
Green Light
Posted at 7:17 p.m.
I knew the Celtics wanted to run under Doc Rivers, but this is incredible. Less than five minutes in, the Sonics have 10 points - and they’re trailing 18-10. I usually have enough time to write while the ball is in backcourt, but the Celtics have scored a couple of times tonight before I’ve had time to look up.
GP Reaction
Posted at 7:07 p.m.
Most of the Celtics starters got scattered boos and cheers, but not so for long-time Sonics star Gary Payton, who gets a standing ovation in what is his only KeyArena visit of the season barring a trade. There are a few signs and Payton jerseys, but tonight the focus is not on Payton, but instead the 17-3 Sonics.
Signing On
Posted at 7:05 p.m.
I enjoyed my road trip to San Antonio and Dallas with the Sonics earlier this week, but it’s also nice to get back the home-court advantage for Live From The Press Box. The Sonics, of course, have had a huge home-court advantage this season - they’re trying to run their record at KeyArena to 10-0 tonight against the Boston Celtics. A few tickets are still left to see the first-place Sonics, 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.
