Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Portland
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.
Nifty Fifty For Sonics
Posted at 9:46 p.m.
It came down to Nick Collison. Collison was switched back on to Shareef Abdur-Rahim for Portland’s final possession. The Blazers went to that matchup, but one time too many. Collison stayed right with Abdur-Rahim, got some help from Jerome James, and forced Abdur-Rahim to miss about a six-footer with four seconds left to play. As his facemask was being knocked off, Collison grabbed the rebound and threw to Antonio Daniels, who passed it ahead to Ray Allen as the clock ran out. This is the Sonics 50th win of the season, and it’s the 10th time in franchise history they’ve won at least 50. This isn’t one for the scrapbook, but the Sonics got the win, and that’s what is important at the end of the game.
AD Splits a Pair
Posted at 9:42 p.m.
Great play by Antonio Daniels to beat Damon Stoudamire off the dribble and attack the rim. He had a chance for a three-point play, but his layup rolled off the rim. After laying motionless beneath the basket for about 30 seconds, Daniels got up and hit the first foul shot, but was unable to make the second. Portland takes over with 13.7 seconds left, trailing 89-87.
Sonics Try Weiss Ice
Posted at 9:40 p.m.
Sonics assistant coach Bob Weiss is fond of icing a free-throw shooter by taking timeout between the two foul shots. That’s what the Sonics will try here with Shareef Abdur-Rahim at the line and having brought Portland within two by making the first shot. With 29.9 seconds left, the Sonics will draw up a play in the huddle and then await the second shot.
Lakers Next Friday
Posted at 9:39 p.m.
The Sonics head on the road at the start of next week, playing at Golden State and Sacramento, but they’ll return to KeyArena a week from tonight to take on the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant in the last of four meetings this season.
Get your tickets now!
Back and Forth
Posted at 9:35 p.m.
Seeing the trouble Shareef Abdur-Rahim was giving them, the Sonics made a change at the last timeout, putting Jerome James in the game to defend Abdur-Rahim. (Nick Collison moved onto Joel Przybilla, with Danny Fortson subbing out.) Abdur-Rahim has beaten James twice, for two free throws and abucket, but James rebounded Antonio Daniels’ missed free throw and dunked it. With the game tied, Ray Allen buried a cold-blooded 3 to give the Sonics the lead. Abdur-Rahim missed a 3, giving the Sonics a chance to put the game almost on ice, but Allen missed a jumper and Portland takes possession with 39.8 seconds left.
Blazers Not Going Away
Posted at 9:30 p.m.
The old saying is that you don’t want to let a bad team hang around because they’ll gain confidence and start to play better. Well, there’s a palpable feeling of precisely that happening here at KeyArena right now, as the Blazers are playing like a team possessed and have cut the lead to just one, 82-81. On defense, the Blazers have found a matchup they like with Shareef Abdur-Rahim working against Reggie Evans. On offense, the Sonics have nothing going whatsoever right now. Portland continues to crowd Ray Allen and Allen has not responded, forcing bad shots and reacting exactly how the Blazers want him to when they double the pick-and-roll. You’d almost like to see the ball in the hands of undrafted rookie Damien Wilkins a little more here.
Can’t Shake ‘Em
Posted at 9:24 p.m.
The Sonics bench - four members of which have been in the game throughout the fourth quarter, which is more than halfway through - has played well, but they still can’t shake Portland, which has gotten a pair of 3-pointers from one-time Sonics reserve Richie Frahm to stay within five, 80-75. His outside hits seem to have reinvigorated the Blazers, who are showing energy on the bench that does not befit their 24-46 record. Some well-timed scores might quell the uprising, but for now the Sonics have to make sure they keep a hand in Frahm’s face. Nobody should know better how well the Gonzaga grad can shoot.
Blazers Worried
Posted at 9:17 p.m.
Well, it wasn’t tremendously pretty, but the Sonics have scored the first two buckets of the fourth quarter (the latest on a Nick Collison putback, giving him 14 points on the evening), pushing their lead to 74-65. In response, Kevin Pritchard takes timeout to get his team calmed down. Actually, it looks like part of his rationale might have been the opportunity to scream at the referees about something, which he did.
To the Fourth
Posted at 9:12 p.m.
The two teams played even over the last seven minutes or so of the third quarter, but the Sonics will take a 70-65 lead to the fourth quarter thanks to their good start. Tremendous defensive improvement from the home team, with Portland mustering just 15 points in the period and committing seven turnovers after just six in the first half. The Sonics bench needs to come in strong. Pushing this lead to double-digits early in the fourth quarter would be big.
Talking Trash
Posted at 9:05 p.m.
When Luke Ridnour was called for a reach-in foul recently, it drew the ire of many of the KeyArena faithful, including Sonics Chairman Howard Schultz. Down the row to Schutlz’s right, a fan wearing a cast on his left foot complained with baby in arms. (No word from here whether the baby was also complaining.) After knocking down a jumper to finish the possession, Darius Miles yelled something to the fan, who got a chuckle out of the exchange.
Also with us courtside tonight? Lauren Jackson, once again, and Detlef Schrempf, one of many players to see action for both of these teams. (Presumably, he’s still rooting for the Sonics.)
Loudmouth
Posted at 9:00 p.m.
I wonder whether Blazers assistant Tim Grgurich (who spent plenty of time on the sidelines with the Sonics) is paid by the number of times he says, “Joel!” Grgurich has spent most of the game yelling at Blazers center Joel Przybilla, exhorting him to maintain defensive position. Given Przybilla has developed into one of the NBA’s top rebounders-shot blockers this season after contributing little during his first four NBA seasons, whatever the noted development specialist is saying seems to be working.
Sonics Still Streaking
Posted at 8:55 p.m.
15 points for the Sonics during the first 4:40 of this quarter, as they’ve taken a six-point lead. 13 of those points have come from Damien Wilkins (seven) and Ray Allen (six), who have the Sonics offense running much more smoothly than it did in the first half. However, Nate McMillan was still forced to take a timeout a second ago after his team was beaten downcourt for layups on consecutive plays. From this vantage point, it looked more like the Blazers cherrypicking than poor defense by the Sonics, but I didn’t get a very good look at either play as they developed quickly.
Talking With Telfair
Posted at 8:50 p.m.
Blazers rookie Sebastian Telfair is the first point guard to go directly from the preps to the pros, but he’s made a quick adjustment, averaging 5.7 points and 2.6 assists and starting 15 games. Telfair’s final year of high school and his decision to come to the NBA were chronicled in the recently published book
The Jump, by Ian O’Connor. Before tonight’s game, the New SUPERSONICS.COM talked with Telfair about his rookie campaign.
As your rookie season winds down, do you think it’s been successful?
Yeah, I think it’s a success as far as what has happened this entire season, everything I’ve learned and experienced on the court.
How has the NBA compared to what you expected?
It’s pretty much what I expected. I knew it was going to be a lot of hard work. It’s a lot more games than high school. I expected it to be just as fun as it was.
You didn’t expect to play as much as you have, did you?
Nah. Coming in, having guys like Nick (Van Exel) and Damon (Stoudamire), I didn’t expect to play that much. I got the opportunity the last couple of months to be starting and getting some playing time.
How has Portland been as a place to break in and learn the NBA?
Great, definitely. We’ve got a great staff that works with us on a daily basis, making sure that we learn the things we need to learn to be out on the court and play.
Has the publication of the book been a distraction for you at all?
No.
What advice would you have for other point guards considering going from high school directly to the NBA?
I’ve got to know them. I’ve got to know their character, how they play to judge them. That’s all I can say about that.
Sonics Lead
Posted at 8:45 p.m.
Well, that didn’t take long. The Sonics get a layup from Damien Wilkins and a triple from Ray Allen and quickly take the lead, 51-50. We’ll see how long they can hold it.
April Fool’s Hijinks
Posted at 8:35 p.m.
It’s April Fool’s Day for your Seattle SuperSonics like everyone else, and the fun may even be greater in the loose setting of an NBA locker room. Led by Ray Allen and Antonio Daniels, the Sonics pulled off a doozy tonight. In cahoots with their teammates and Dwane Casey, the Sonics guards decided to convince Jerome James he was suspended by removing his uniform from his locker. When James rolled in, wearing a throwback Colts jersey (a James favorite), he was told he was suspended. He quickly headed for the hallway and was halfway out of KeyArena by the time the players gathered at the door to the locker room and yelled to James that it was a joke.
Everyone had a good laugh afterwards except Nate McMillan, who wanted to know why James believed he was suspended.
“That’s a joke he should have caught,” McMillan said.
Someone also played a trick on Sonics rookie Robert Swift, whose Timberland shoes were found in his locker all taped up. Given Swifty wears a size 19, that’s an awful lot of tape.
Halfway Home
Posted at 8:25 p.m.
After trailing by as many as 12 points during the second quarter, the Sonics mounted a nice little run at the end of the half, outscoring Portland 10-2 to trail by only four, 50-46, as we head to the locker rooms. There’s still plenty of work to be done for the Sonics, who allowed the Blazers to shoot 53.7% from the field. One of the unfortunate tendencies of fans is to blame only their own team and not give credit to opponents. I don’t want to be guilty of that. Portland’s passing has been phenomenal, led by Telfair (seven assists), and the Blazers have found the open man. But the Sonics still need to do a better job of containing one-on-one and not having to give help.
At the other end of the court, Ray Allen has once again been handcuffed by tight defense. Allen is 5-for-14 from the field in the first half. The Sonics need someone else to step up and relieve some of the pressure on Allen. Damien Wilkins could be that guy, but he did not score in the second quarter after his hot start.
Sonics Need to be Quicker
Posted at 8:14 p.m.
Usually, slow-paced games favor the Sonics because they have the opportunity to run their offense and get good shots. Unfortunately, they’ve taken that theory too far tonight, playing up to the shot-clock buzzer repeatedly and having to force up shots to avoid a shot-clock violation. It just isn’t working; Ray Allen is shooting 3-for-10 from the field largely because he’s having to force shots regularly.
Sebastian Telfair has been brilliant tonight on the other end. He had a three-point play recently, then followed it up by burying a 20-footer. The 19-year-old rookie just isn’t supposed to be able to do that. Telfair also had a gorgeous lookaway pass to Joel Przybilla for a layup. All told, Telfair has 13 points and six assists. The Sonics have to do a better job of containing him.
Fortson in the Rotation
Posted at 8:08 p.m.
After Danny Fortson was suspended for last Sunday’s Sonics game and did not join the team on its two-game road trip, there was some speculation that Fortson might have seen his last meaningful minutes this season. But Fortson is back in the rotation for tonight’s game.
“Danny is ready to go,” Nate McMillan said before the game.
Asked where Fortson’s minutes would come from, McMillan replied Vitaly Potapenko. That makes sense, as Potapenko has only joined the rotation since Fortson was sidelined. But Potapenko has played only 19 minutes in the Sonics last three games. Assumedly, Fortson will play more than that.
The key thing to note is that McMillan did not answer Nick Collison. Collison was the first big man off the bench for the Sonics tonight, and he seems to have earned McMillan’s trust to the point where he, not Fortson, is currently the top backup big man. He’ll keep that role if he continues playing like he has thus far tonight. Collison has 10 points off the bench to lead the Sonics.
Move ‘Em Back!
Posted at 8:04 p.m.
The half-court shot that concludes the Sonics Team Shop shootout seems to be a little too easy for contestants. Our second contestant tonight buried his attempt as the clock expired, making KeyArena roar its approval. We’ve had a bunch of people hit the shot recently. Are we going to need to try the opposing free-throw line to make this a challenge?
After One
Posted at 8:02 p.m.
The Sonics have fought their way back into this game, trailing by a 28-26 count as we go to the second quarter. The Blazers have done a lot of their damage from the perimeter thus far. With Derek Anderson not dressed, one has to think that’s not really going to continue. If the Sonics continue to play their game against the younger Portland unit in the game right now, they have the opportunity to take the lead.
Big Cheers
Posted at 7:58 p.m.
Applause all around at the last substitution, as the Blazers brought former Sonics fan favorite Richie Frahm into the game and Danny Fortson checked in for the Sonics. This is just The Baddest Main in Pig Tails’ second game since March 15, both against Portland. (That says something, but I’m not sure what.) We’ll have more on Fortson in a little bit here.
Update
Posted at 7:50 p.m.
We’ll go quickly as I catch up after some headaches trying to get Live From The Press Box on the homepage. First off, if you somehow thought this game was going to be a walkover because the Sonics have clinched a playoff spot and the Blazers have already been eliminated, you couldn’t have possibly been more wrong. Portland has come out with a ton of energy and leads it 24-18 a little more than three-quarters through the first period.
Darius Miles was questionable for tonight’s game after he broke his pinky finger a couple of games ago. He’s playing - with a massively picked out ‘fro - and the injury seems to have helped him find his shooting stroke. Miles has seven points thus far on long jumpers, including a 3-pointer. Damon Stoudamire also has eight points for Portland.
For the Sonics, Damien Wilkins continues to be a breath of fresh air. He’s got eight points thus far and has been active at both ends. Can you believe this guy didn’t get drafted? Ray Allen has been aggressive, but he hasn’t quite found his touch, scoring six points on 3-for-7 shooting. Allen is wearing a sweatband on his left wrist, something I don’t recall ever seeing him do before.
Perhaps the latest call of the season came earlier this quarter, when Damien Wilkins looked to draw a charge on a driving Darius Miles in the open court. Initially, it looked like a block was going to be called, but after the referee who called the foul (on the sideline) made eye contact wit his counterpart on the other side of the court, it was changed to a charge to the delight of the KeyArena crowd.
Starters
Posted at 7:35 p.m.
The Sonics will make a change tonight in their replacement for the injured Rashard Lewis. Flip Murray started both games on the road trip with the Sonics going to a three-guard lineup, but it will be rookie Damien Wilkins making his first career start at small forward tonight. Wilkins earned a start with his fine performance off the bench the last five games, including a career-high 21 points against these Portland Trail Blazers eight days ago when Lewis played only 10 minutes.
“We’ll give it a shot,” said Nate McMillan. “We have to look at something else.”
Lewis Out
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
We begin tonight, alas, with some unfortunate news. Rashard Lewis was expected to make his return to the lineup tonight after missing both games on the Sonics road trip because of a bone bruise in his right foot. However, Lewis’ foot has not responded to treatment, forcing the Sonics to take a deeper look at the problem. Lewis underwent an MRI today and will have a bone scan performed tomorrow and a CAT scan Monday to assess the situation. In the meantime, Lewis will not play tonight and will not travel with the Sonics on their two-game road trip that begins Sunday.
“He jammed it into the floor a few games ago,” said Nate McMillan. “He continued to play on it afterwards, but it became too painful to continue.”
By Monday or Tuesday night, the Sonics will have a better idea of a timetable for Lewis’ return. Stay tuned to the New SUPERSONICS.COM for the latest.
Signing On
Posted at 7:15 p.m.
The Sonics wrap up the season series with the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at KeyArena, and I’m courtside for all the action. I think this is about my sixth time courtside this season, so I’ll again be able to provide an up-close look at events. Even though Portland is in the midst of a disappointing season, the Blazers have played the Sonics tough, so this should be a good battle. Stay tuned to Live From The Press Box all night long for all the details and remember to hit refresh to make sure you’re getting the latest.
