Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Chicago
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Chicago Wins It
Posted at 10:11 p.m.
Tyson Chandler secures Lewis’ missed free throw and splits two free throws to produce a 100-97 final. The Sonics aren’t the first team to fall victim to Ben Gordon’s fourth-quarter heroics and they won’t by the last, but that is an incredibly painful way to lose a game. The Sonics lose their third straight game for the first time since last April, when they dropped four straight from March 27 to April 2. We’re going to truly see this team’s character during the upcoming three-game road trip.
Lew to the Line
Posted at 10:08 p.m.
Rashard Lewis gets hammered and goes to the free-throw line for two shots with 1.5 seconds to play. But he misses the first. He’ll now have to intentionally miss the second and hope the Sonics can tip in the miss.
Chance to Tie or Win
Posted at 10:07 p.m.
Duhon misses his second attempt and the Sonics call a 20-second timeout, their last. They’ll have 3.9 seconds.
Need Some Luck
Posted at 10:07 p.m.
Ray Allen can’t find anything, and Tyson Chandler blocks his fadeaway attempt. The Sonics send Chris Duhon to the line with 4.5 seconds left. They’ll still have a chance to tie at worst, but they’re going to need some luck.
Gordon Brilliant Again
Posted at 10:05 p.m.
The Chicago rookie wastes no time, going right to the basket and feathering in a floater just inside the lane to give Chicago a 98-97 win. The Sonics have 12.1 seconds left to try to win this one.
Sonics Lead!
Posted at 10:03 p.m.
With an offensive rebound in between, the Sonics force a pair of Ben Gordon misses to get the ball back. Two misses by Vladimir Radmanovic, but Rashard Lewis comes up with two huge offensive rebounds and Nick Collison puts back Lewis’ miss to give the Sonics a 97-96 lead with 20.7 seconds left. Chicago takes time and we all know where the ball is going: Gordon.
Luke Playing Big
Posted at 10:00 p.m.
A little credit, if you will, for Luke Ridnour, who absolutely deserves to be playing in the fourth quarter here. After Chicago came down with the rebound leading by three, Ridnour stole the ball away from an unsuspecting Kirk Hinrich. After the Sonics missed but Chicago tipped the ball out of bounds, Ridnour found a wide-open Nick Collison under the basket for a layin. That makes it 96-95 Chicago with 1:29 to play.
Back and Forth
Posted at 9:57 p.m.
Vladimir Radmanovic three ties it. Eddy Curry post score gives Chicago the lead. Rashard Lewis tip ties it. Curry to the free-throw line. That’s Nick Collison’s fifth foul as the Sonics move deeper into foul trouble. Curry bricks the first free throw, but hits the second. 94-93 Chicago with 2:49 to play.
Fives Wild
Posted at 9:54 p.m.
Fifth fouls important right now. Kirk Hinrich just picked up his, yet Scott Skiles is leaving him in the game with 4:14 to play. Nate McMillan had his own duo with five fouls - Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic - at the scorers table when Reggie Evans went down on the last play with what appears to be an ankle injury. With assistance, Evans limped off to the locker room. Lewis and Radmanovic will replace him and Antonio Daniels, putting rookie Nick Collison on the court for crunch time. The Sonics will have it when we return trailing 91-88.
It’s Personal
Posted at 9:44 p.m.
An incredible duel right now between Kirk Hinrich and Ray Allen, who are truly battling at both ends of the court. After Allen drew an away-from-the-ball foul on Hinrich, Hinrich drew an offensive foul by Allen as they jockeyed for position. Allen then picked Hinrich up fullcourt and was run into a powerful Antonio Davis screen. Allen follws with a three to get the Sonics within four, 89-85.
Incidentally, to say this is not the Sonics usual finishing lineup out there would be an understatement: Reggie Evans and Nick Collison are out there with Allen, Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis. Now Antonio Daniels checks in for Lewis, who has five fouls.
Ben Gordon
Posted at 9:44 p.m.
In the locker room before the game, Ray Allen was telling the Chicago media that he told his Sonics teammates last year that while UConn’s Emeka Okafor was the most dominant player in college basketball, it was Huskies teammate Ben Gordon who was the most talented. Gordono is demonstrating why tonight. He got stripped a second ago, but followed that up with a tip-in off a Kirk Hinrich miss. On two plays before that, Gordon was defended as well as a player can be and hit impossible shots with a hand in his face. Gordon has seven points here in the period and has been absolutely key for Chicago staying ahead in this game. This is the fourth-quarter “closer” role Gordon has played so well this season.
Point Guard Power
Posted at 9:37 p.m.
The Sonics get an Antonio Daniels three and a Luke Ridnour fast-break layup and, just like that, they’re back within two at 78-76 and the crowd roars to life. Scott Skiles takes timeout. A long ways left to go in this one.
Score Change
Posted at 9:34 p.m.
It appears that after all the discussion at halftime, the score has now been changed and a two has been taken away from Chicago, making it 75-69 as we start the final period. Oddly, I was reading the NBA’s rules guide this morning (no, this is not a common occurrence), and I’m pretty sure it said a score change could only be made during the same half as the error occurred. But I guess that’s wrong.
Slipping
Posted at 9:29 p.m.
You can feel this one slipping away from the Sonics right now. They were outscored 21-16 in the period and really struggled to get anything going on offense. You don’t expect the Bulls to do much from 3-point range, but they’re 8-for-16 from downtown to the Sonics 5-for-17. It’s a nine-point game right now, and the Sonics can’t afford to start this final quarter slowly. (I think that’s the third straight game I’ve written that.) Good news was provided by Vladimir Radmanovic, who fired in two jumpers at the end of the quarter to show signs of heating up. A few Radmanovic threes might be just the tonic for the Sonics offense. I’d also like to think they could do more to take advantage of Eric Piatkowski, who is matching up with Rashard Lewis right now.
Hinrich Q&A
Posted at 9:19 p.m.
Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich and Sonics forward Nick Collison played AAU ball together back in Iowa and then teamed up and were roommates at Kansas University, where they both developed into NBA lottery picks. After getting Collison’s take on their first meeting as professionals yesterday, I sat down with Hinrich in the locker room before tonight’s game to ask him about that, amongst other things.
I know you’re tired of hearing this question, but what’s it going to be like playing against Nick tonight?
It’s pretty strange. Hopefully we can win, because you always want to beat your friends - that’s the kid you want to beat the most. I hope we can get a win. It’s going to be fun. It will be different because I’ve played with him for all those years, but it will be fun.
You guys both mentioned yesterday playing against each other in pickup games. Who gets the better of those?
(Laughs) I don’t know. He’s a good player and I think he’s gradually getting more and more minutes here. I think it’s going to be good for him. Hopefully we’ll come out on top, because you want to beat your friends more than anybody.
Do you follow the Sonics because of him?
I try to. If they’re playing, I’ll usually watch to see how he’s doing, but I get upset sometimes - he should be playing more.
What has changed for the Bulls this season besides half the rotation?
I just think it’s a young team. We started out slow and not very good and I think we just stuck with it gradually, gained confidence, got some big wins which really helps a young team. We had a bunch of guys playing for the first time in the league. We just bought in defensively and whenever we play well, it’s because we’re doing the job on the defensive end.
What would a playoff appearance mean to this franchise?
I think it would mean a lot; it’s something that this franchise hasn’t been able to do for a while.
How has your role changed this season?
I don’t think it’s changed too much. I think a little bit more is expected of me from myself and from a coaching standpoint. (But I) just go out and play; no matter what’s expected of me, I go out and play hard every night. I think that’s what’s expected of me.
Reggie
Posted at 9:12 p.m.
The Sonics getting a lift here in the second half from Reggie Evans, who has buckets on their last two possessions and drew an offensive foul in between. That’s brought the Soncis within one, 60-59. Lest no one accuse Live From The Press Box from being biased, the technical foul Evans also drew on Antonio Davis looked from the replay I saw like a total flop.
Fascinating
Posted at 9:04 p.m.
Exactly 42 seconds into the second half, Adrian Griffin replaces Andres Nocioni. Not a great start of Nocioni - he traveled and ran over Rashard Lewis during Lewis’ follow-through, though he did not draw a foul - but isn’t that a bit quick?
(Edit - I guess Nocioni had some kind of minor problem. A minute later, he’s back in.)
Delay
Posted at 9:00 p.m.
We have a delay here coming out of halftime as the referees and Sonics Video Coordinator Walt Rock are going over something at the scorers table. We seem to have it resolved and will get going now. There appeared to be some discrepancy with regards to the score, but no change was made.
Halftime Stats
Posted at 8:55 p.m.
My back-of-the-starting-lineup calculations are that the Sonics are getting 20% of their offensive rebound opportunities and 62.5% of their defensive rebound opportunities for an ugly 41.1% total rebound percentage. The Bulls are a pretty good rebounding team, but that can’t continue. One has to wonder, with Vladimir Radmanovic continuing to struggle with his shot (1-for-4 in the first half) whether the Sonics might not be better served going big instead of small.
The best news from the first half was the Sonics getting to the free-throw line, where they were 15-for-16. Chicago made all 11 of its attempts. 10 Chicago turnovers at the half to the Sonics six.
It’s Halftime
Posted at 8:42 p.m.
The Bulls get consecutive 3-balls from Eric Piatkowski and Kirk Hinrich to take a 56-53 lead to halftime despite two Rashard Lewis free throws. What is it about Piatkowski that he always seems to go off against the Sonics? Well, being open helps, and after Luke Ridnour smothered him on one possession and forced him to miss an off-balance layup, the Sonics left him alone on the ensuing inbounds pass and Piatkowski buried the triple. This is gut-check time for the Sonics: Two straight losses at home, down at halftime … how will they respond?
Tonight’s halftime entertainment: the Seattle Police Department versus the Fire department in Dodgeball. Well, not all of them - only six for each side.
Nice Shooting
Posted at 8:32 p.m.
After a blocked Luke Ridnour shot in the lane, Rashard Lewis recovers the loose ball with one on the clock and fires up an off-balance jumper that finds all net. Think he’s hot? That would have been only the second most improbable shot of the night if Howard Schultz’s son had managed to hit the backwards halfcourt shot Squatch invited him to try at a first-quarter timeout.
Jerome James has been active tonight, with three blocks and some good work on the glass. Nate McMillan gets him out for the final minute of the half to keep him from picking up a third foul.
Chicago Gets Turnover-Prone
Posted at 8:25 p.m.
After committing just two turnovers in the first quarter, the Bulls already have six a little more than halfway through the second quarter. This shouldn’t be a surprise - Chicago turns the ball over more per possession than any other team in the league. It’s imperative, then, that they take advantage of the Chicago miscues by converting fast-break opportunities and not making silly turnovers of their own.
An interesting lineup right now for the Sonics, who have a three-guard lineup of Ridnour, Allen and Daniels along with Rashard Lewis and Jerome James up front. Daniels still looks bothered by his quad, but he’s gritting his way to the free-throw line anyway.
Bad Sign
Posted at 8:15 p.m.
I would describe myself as a big believer in the “shooting evens out” philosophy. The Sonics are a better shooting team than the Bulls, naturally, but the disparity is not as wide as it’s been so far today. The Sonics are at 48.0%, Chicago 34.3%. So for the teams to be tied at 34, that means that the Bulls have to be winning the other aspects of the game, and they are. Scott Skiles and company have to feel pretty good about being even right now.
Bad Sign
Posted at 8:15 p.m.
I would describe myself as a big believer in the “shooting evens out” philosophy. The Sonics are a better shooting team than the Bulls, naturally, but the disparity is not as wide as it’s been so far today. The Sonics are at 48.0%, Chicago 34.3%. So for the teams to be tied at 34, that means that the Bulls have to be winning the other aspects of the game, and they are. Scott Skiles and company have to feel pretty good about being even right now.
Antonio Daniels blows an open-court dunk attempt and is obviously hurting because of the quad strain he suffered against Houston when he ran into a Yao Ming pick. This is followed by Luke Ridnour turning the ball over on another fast-break chance when he’s called for a double-dribble (really?). That’s followed by a third consecutive Chicago turnover, and this time the Sonics complete the break with Luke Ridnour scoring and drawing the foul.
Battle of the Benches
Posted at 8:10 p.m.
Tonight’s game matches the NBA’s two highest-scoring benches, but they’ve been going in very different directions lately, and that’s continued tonight. The Sonics bench, bothered by injury, has been much less productive since the All-Star break. Until Nick Collison’s three-point play a moment ago, the Sonics bench had just four points so far tonight. Meanwhile, Tyson Chandler and Ben Gordon are beginning to dominate for Chicago. They’ve got a combined 13 points. The Sonics are doing a very poor job on the defensive glass, with Chicago already coming up with six offensive rebounds - not counting a couple of loose-ball fouls they’ve drawn.
After One
Posted at 8:03 p.m.
The Sonics haven’t been spectacular thus far, but they’ve gotten the job done and executed their offense much better than in recent games. The result: the Sonics hold a solid 27-21 lead. The Green and Gold has done a good job of holding Chicago’s bench in check, as the Bulls got only one score from a reserve in the first quarter, Tyson Chandler’s tip-in just before the buzzer.
During the Gatorade Skills Challenge, our first competitor tries to showboat and finish with a dunk. Result? Time runs out after he misses a follow layup.
Final from the STAPLES Center: Arizona 90, Oregon State 59. Will the Huskies play the Wildcats for the third time in tomorrow’s Pac-10 Championship? We’ll know in a little more than a couple of hours.
Nice Call
Posted at 7:55 p.m.
Nate McMillan, seeing that his star is a bit frustrated, draws up a play to get Ray Allen a shot coming off of a screen coming out of the last timeout. Ray knocks down the triple and follows it by scoring on a drive as the Sonics temporarily extend their lead to 10. A new line is ready to check in right now - Antonio Daniels and Vladimir Radmanovic for the Sonics and Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon and Othella Harrington for Chicago.
“Ice” on Fire
Posted at 7:50 p.m.
Okay, nobody’s used that nickname for Rashard Lewis (to Desmond Mason’s fire) in a good couple of years, but I wanted to make a pun. What’s it to you? As he has in recent games, Nate McMillan emphasized tonight that the Sonics need to be the aggressors, but Chicago came out taking it right to the Sonics, driving the lane on offense and playing physical defense. It worked, but the Sonics have come back to take a 14-9 lead thanks to Rashard Lewis, who has 11 of the Sonics points. Lewis has hit back-to-back 3s, and Chicago rookie Andres Nocioni is going to have to learn that he can’t give Lewis any airspace from behind the line when he’s going well. Not going well is Ray Allen, who has been frustrated by the Bulls defense and has been stripped two or three times. He’s scoreless thus far.
Fortson Out
Posted at 7:38 p.m.
Danny Fortson is not dressed tonight and will not play after being asked to leave yesterday’s practice. Sonics Coach Nate McMillan met with Fortson this morning and the decision that Fortson would not play - one McMillan termed “discipline” as opposed to a suspension - was made afterwards.
“Things went good in that morning, very good,” said McMillan.
Fortson is styling tonight on the bench, donning a suit for what appears to be the first time all season. He did, however, have to borrow cufflinks from Ray Allen. Fortson declined to comment before the game.
Signing On
Posted at 7:27 p.m.
It's the Sonics and the Chicago Bulls tonight at KeyArena in a battle of two mid-90s powers who are seeing the returns from their rebuilding efforts this season. While the Sonics were able to go young without slipping out of playoff contention, it's been a long road back for the Bulls. As recently as last year, they posted the league's second-worst record. But behind a dynamite defense, the Bulls are challenging for home-court advantage this year, so this should be an outstanding game. It's a bit of a divided Live From The Press Box tonight as I try to keep one eye on the game, one eye on my laptop and a third eye on the Pac-10 Tournament. With tonight's game the first home matchup of the season not televised either locally or nationally (outside of NBA League Pass), turn on the radio and stay with us all night long to get the feel of the action from KeyArena.
