Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Houston
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That’s That
Posted at 9:27 p.m.
The Sonics bring the ball in to Rashard Lewis, who settles for a contested three-pointer that bounces off the rim harmlessly. The Rockets get two free throws to seal it before Ray Allen hits a meaningless three to provide a 97-95 final. After a game like this, it’s important to remember that no matter how much we like to think of winning close games as a skill, it’s primarily luck; the shot that doesn’t fall, the ball that bounces the wrong way. Which is not to say that the Rockets didn’t play well; Yao was utterly impossible to defend down the stretch, and the Rockets almost didn’t need Tracy McGrady at the end of the game (you know, besides those 35 points and the go-ahead three). As difficult as any potential playoff foe is in the Western Conference, I can’t think the Sonics are too excited about the possibility of seeing Yao and T-Mac seven times.
Shocker
Posted at 9:25 p.m.
The Rockets design their inbound play for Tracy McGrady to go to the hole if nothing is open. He does so and hits the shot as Rashard Lewis fouls him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. I guess you want to let him shoot the layup, but it’s tough to think of that on the fly. Luckily, he misses the free throw and the Sonics are a three away from tying with 12.9 seconds left on the clock.
One-Point Game
Posted at 9:24 p.m.
An unguarded layup for Luke Ridnour gets the Sonics within 93-92 with 16.7 to play. They’ll have to foul now.
Three-Point Game
Posted at 9:22 p.m.
Yao Ming barrels over Jerome James in the post. No call, and Yao bounces it off glass for a 93-90 lead. Great fourth quarter for Yao, who has scored 10 of his 22 points and destroyed the Sonics no matter how they’ve tried to defend him.
Wild Action
Posted at 9:18 p.m.
Jeff Van Gundy races down the sideline to make a suggestion to the referees about Jerome James’ defensive position. As expected, the Rockets go to Yao in the post. He’s doubled, but kicks out to Tracy McGrady for the go-ahead 3. On the Sonics end, Ray Allen misses a good look at a 3, but Luke Ridnour is fouled by David Wesley going after the rebound and hits both free throws to bring the Sonics within one with just over 30 seconds left. Sound familiar? Wesley’s loose-ball foul led to Ray Allen’s game-winning free throws down in Houston. The Sonics need a stop here, but they absolutely cannot allow a 3-pointer.
Hustle Play of the Day
Posted at 9:14 p.m.
Ray Allen misses a 3 he forced, but he hustles down the rebound on the baseline and saves it over his head to Luke Ridnour. The ball is worked to Rashard Lewis in the corner, and he promptly nails an open 3 look to tie the game at 88. If this isn’t a playoff-type game, I don’t know what is.
Tough Break
Posted at 9:12 p.m.
Vladimir Radmanovic’s great D on Tracy McGrady leads to a stop, but the rebound is tipped out to McGrady and Yao Ming scores in the post. As well as Jerome James has played him, you probably have to double-team Yao when he gets the ball that late in the shot clock.
Momentum: Sonics
Posted at 9:08 p.m.
This crowd is at jet engine level after the Sonics force a Juwan Howard three-second violation and Vladimir Radmanovic drives right at Yao Ming to draw a foul. He nails both free throws to give the Sonics their first lead of the fourth quarter, 83-82. Houston’s offense has been slow lately, but as I say that, Tracy McGrady nails a quick jumper to give him 30 points and his team the lead.
Great D
Posted at 9:05 p.m.
Jerome James, switched out on Tracy McGrady in an obvious mismatch, forces McGrady into a desperation 3 attempt with the shot-clock running down. It barely catches glass. A Luke Ridnour layup later, the Sonics are within one point. I feel pretty good about their chances down the stretch.
Huh?
Posted at 8:58 p.m.
One of the strangest calls we’ve seen in a while a second ago, not for what was called but how the decision was made. Danny Fortson bear hugs Dikembe Mutombo after a Mutombo rebound. Jack Nies, watching the play unfold from the baseline with a clear view of both players, calls jump ball. Derek Richardson, working the sideline and only able to see Fortson’s back, calls a foul and his call sticks. Whatever the call, I’d rather see the referee with the better view make the decision, not the one with seniority.
The Rockets have decided to quell the uprising, with Tracy McGrady scoring a couple of buckets and Yao beating Fortson in an obvious mismatch (Jerome James now replaces Fortson, who just doesn’t have a good matchup right now). Ray Allen’s three gives the Sonics nine points in the quarter, but they still trail by six halfway through the quarter.
Ugly Numbers
Posted at 8:54 p.m.
During the third quarter, the Sonics committed seven turnovers and shot 3-for-14 from the field. Tellingly, they did not attempt a single free-throw attempt (and have just five for the game), a sure sign they need to be taking the ball to the rack more often (though they attempted just three 3-pointers during the quarter). But all will be forgotten if the Sonics come back and win this game. They’ve scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and trail by just two, 72-70, with 8:57 on the clock.
And With That …
Posted at 8:47 p.m.
… the Sonics have set a new franchise low for fewest points in a quarter, scoring just six points in the third. Pretty amazing after they scored 33 in the first and 26 in the second. We’ll get you a full breakdown of how awful the Sonics were in that quarter in a minute when we get an updated boxscore.
A fan named Lawrence turns out to be hotter than the Sonics, hitting from halfcourt in the MGD Shootout.
The Sonics certainly aren’t out of this one, trailing by seven going to the fourth, but they can’t start this quarter as poorly as they did the fourth against Phoenix.
Seriously
Posted at 8:43 p.m.
What does Nick Collison have to do to get a call in his favor?
Everything
Posted at 8:39 p.m.
Pretty much everything going against the Sonics here in this third quarter. On offense, they’re impatient, they’re not executing and they’re turning the ball over. Defensively, the Rockets have done exactly the opposite, waiting for good looks and breaking down the Sonics defense for easy opportunities in the lane. The Sonics defensive rebounding has absolutely disappeared; after getting one of 14 offensive rebound opportunities in the first half, Houston has four offensive boards in the second half. We’ll see if the bench can provide the Sonics a lift this half - three reserves are now in the game along with Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen as Nate McMillan looks for a spark.
Who’s that tall blonde in the Danny Fortson jersey cheering on the Dunking Ushers? Why, it’s Storm star Lauren Jackson, who has become a regular as she prepares for the upcoming WNBA season here in Seattle.
Nate on Ejections
Posted at 8:34 p.m.
One of the topics Nate McMillan addressed during tonight’s pre-game media availability was Sunday’s ejection against the Suns. McMillan says he never tries to get ejected to fire up his team, thinking it a bad sign if he can motivate them better from the locker room than from the bench.
“I can’t fake that,” McMillan said. “I don’t know if Don Nelson fakes it or not, but he does that.”
McMillan simply believed Antonio Daniels had been fouled on a couple of plays, though he wasn’t as certain after watching the replay.
Slow Start
Posted at 8:28 p.m.
Not much flow early in this second half, with the teams combining for nine points in four and a half minutes. For the Sonics, turnovers are becoming something of an issue. They already have three in this quarter and 11 for the game, which is a ton against a team that only forces 13.4 per game on average. They’ll have to take better care of the basketball, as they’re no longer getting the fast-break points they thrived on in the first half. Houston is very, very much in this game.
Halftime Three-Dotter
Posted at 8:18 p.m.
How many games do the Rockets shoot 54.3% and trail at halftime? … Probably about as many as they allow opponents to shoot 56.1% … 9-for-12 shooting from three-point range for the Sonics; couldn’t they have gotten just one or two of those to go against Phoenix? … Okay, they might need them here tonight … 11-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for Luke Ridnour … four turnovers for Mike James … Rashard Lewis: 8-for-10 shooting, 5-for-6 from three … only one offensive board for Houston, just three for the Sonics … Yao a total non-factor in this game, probably more because Jeff Van Gundy has decided to go small and play fast than because of anything the Sonics are doing defensively … alright, I think that’s all I got here.
Halftime Update
Posted at 8:08 p.m.
Big three from Luke Ridnour on the Sonics last possession to give the Sonics a 59-50 lead heading to halftime. Juwan Howard had a chance to make it closer, but could not get off his layup before the buzzer. As well as the Sonics have played, they should probably be a little concerned that Houston is still within 10 points, but not too concerned. It’s worth noting that the Rockets only gave up 10 more points all game in Sunday’s 90-69 win over a Dallas team depleted by injuries. Luke Ridnour has already tied his season high with 11 assists, and Rashard Lewis leads all scorers with 21 points.
AD to Locker Room
Posted at 8:03 p.m.
On the last play, Sonics guard Antonio Daniels was going through a Yao Ming screen when his hip caught Yao’s (well, Yao being more than a foot taller, it was more likely Yao’s lower thigh). Daniels immediately collapsed to the ground holding his left hip, and favored it as he got up and the Sonics called timeout. AD has gone to the Sonics locker room. We’ll have an update when we get one.
Collison Un-Masked
Posted at 7:59 p.m.
Nick Collison spent the last couple of minutes playing without his mask, apparently losing it in contact. (I didn’t see anything, but a ballboy retrieved it and handed it to Collison during the timeout and trainer Mike Shimensky strapped him up a little tighter.) Collison seemed more comfortable without the bask, scoring his first basket, but he’s going to have to learn to play while masked. He told reporters before tonight’s game that he may have to wear the mask the remainder of the season.
What Do You Do?
Posted at 7:53 p.m.
Speaking of impossible groups to defend … the Sonics just had a possession where the ball was thrown around the three-point line from Vladimir Radmanovic to Ray Allen to Rashard Lewis. When Lewis missed the three, Nick Collison was down low for the offensive rebound. What do you do with that group? To his credit, Sonics pregame host David Locke has been looking for more of this group together. Of course, individual scorers are a nice thing to have too, and Tracy McGrady seems determined to take over this game. He’s got 17 points after draining two free throws. Then again, so does Allen, and Rashard Lewis leads all scorers with 19.
Surprisingly Scary Second Unit
Posted at 7:48 p.m.
You don’t think of a group of five players whose leading scorer is Mike James (12.0 ppg) as difficult to defend, but that was the case with the group of four reserves and Juwan Howard the Rockets put out on the floor. With the perimeter players moving the ball and running hard off screens, they got plenty of open looks from the perimeter. James (when did he learn to shoot this well?) and Jon Barry both took advantage. As strange as it sounds, putting Tracy McGrady - the NBA’s leading scorer each of the last two seasons - in the game actually made the Rockets easier to defend, because the Sonics knew where the ball was going. The result: Vladimir Radmanovic gets an anticipation steal and fast-break layup (despite fumbling his dribble) a second ago as the Sonics extended their lead back to 10 points, 44-34.
Houston Counter-Punches
Posted at 7:42 p.m.
Any bench with Jon Barry on it is going to be known for the energy it provides, and the Rockets reserves are no exception. With both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming on the sidelines, Houston has blitzed the Sonics with a 7-0 run during the first minute and a half of the second quarter. Between Barry and Ryan Bowen - who has to run harder without the ball than any player in the league, even if there are players who do so more effectively - this unit has really changed the tempo of the game. We’ll see what Luke Ridnour getting back in will do for the Sonics.
Sonics Up 12 After One
Posted at 7:35 p.m.
Remarkably, outside of the Sonics run, Houston outscored them 15-5 here in the first quarter. But that 28-6 run was dominating enough that the Sonics still lead by 12 going to the second quarter after Ray Allen drove the lane for a layup with .2 seconds left on the clock. Ray had a true “I’m Ray Allen and you’re not” play during the quarter, running the shot clock down, crossing over David Wesley and stepping into a fadeaway jumper. Wesley did et his revenge, stripping Allen on his next shot attempt. Allen has 15 points already, while Rashard Lewis has 10.
Straight Balling
Posted at 7:25 p.m.
Not to succumb to hyperbole, but this might be the best I’ve seen the Sonics play all year. That run has extended to 28-6 as the Sonics are torching the league’s fourth-best defense. They’re doing a great deal of their damage in transition, with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis leaking out for easy buckets. Someone has to get them the basket ball, of course, and that someone is Luke Ridnour, who already has eight assists and we’re not even through the first quarter. Defensively, the Sonics are doing a great job of keeping Yao Ming from establishing post position, and Yao only has two points from the post thus far.
Highlight Reel
Posted at 7:22 p.m.
Great hook-up between Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis, who finishes an alley-oop in traffic and celebrates by slapping the backboard with both hands as the crowd erupts like Mt. St. Helens (*groans all around*). Jeff Van Gundy takes timeout as the Sonics lead 18-10 halfway through the first quarter. It’s Jon Barry time for the Rockets.
On the Run
Posted at 7:17 p.m.
The Sonics took a second to warm up tonight, allowing Houston the first six points of the game, but they’ve been on fire ever since, going on a 13-2 run to take to the lead. The surprising source of the offense has been Reggie Evans, who’s scored seven points already, making a couple of nice moves in the post.
Clock Malfunction
Posted at 7:11 p.m.
Slight delay two possessions into the game as the clock stopped three seconds into the game and did not run at all while Houston had the ball. It’s been fixed, and we’re already back underway.
Collison Will Play
Posted at 7:07 p.m.
Sonics rookie Nick Collison is in uniform and is expected to play tonight two nights after suffering a broken nose against the Suns. Collison is wearing a clear protective facemask that led teammates to jokingly compare him to Hannibal Lecter, but it appears to be the only obvious sign he broke his nose. (As opposed to Storm guard Sue Bird, who sported a shiner for some time afterwards.) Collison said he spoke to Sonics center Vitaly Potapenko, who broke his nose during the 1998-99 season while with Boston, about wearing the mask and discovered during this morning’s shootaround that he will have to look the ball into his hands while catching a pass or rebounding.
Signing On
Posted at 6:53 p.m.
We’re minutes away from the tip-off of this matchup between the Sonics and the Houston Rockets, a potential first-round playoff preview. The Rockets bring a pair of starting All-Stars to KeyArena tonight in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. These teams have met just once this season, with the Sonics coming from behind to steal an 87-85 win in Houston last month in both teams’ first game after the All-Star break. This one should be just as competitive, so stay tuned all night long and be sure to hit refresh to make sure you’re getting the latest.
