Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. Sacramento (Game 2)
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.
Sonics Go Up 2-0
Posted at 10:20 p.m.
Over the next two days, before Game 3 of this series tips off Friday, you’re going to see a lot of talk about the fourth quarter of this game. My advice is to ignore it. I say that not as a Sonics employee, but as a fan of intelligent basketball discourse. What happened in the fourth quarter, on a practical level, tells us nothing about this series. Rick Adelman is not going to bench Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley in favor of Bobby Jackson and Eddie House on Friday, and the Sonics will not be trying to run clock. In many respects, tonight’s game is like a microcosm of the Sonics season - a great start, a weak finish, but in the end, the goal was still achieved. Many analysts forgot what the Sonics had done over the first five months of the season because of a lousy month. Don’t forger the great things the Sonics did in the first three quarters of this game because of a weak fourth quarter.
The number that matters right now is 2-0. By holding serve at home in the first two games, the Sonics have put a great deal of pressure on the Kings in Games 3 and 4. If the Sonics can steal one of those games, they’re in great shape. Even if not, they still need only to win at home to win the series. Game 3 should be another great one and you can catch FSN’s broadcast exclusively on KONG 6/16 starting at 7:30 p.m., so make sure you tune in.
Later Than Expected …
Posted at 10:15 p.m.
… but Bobby Jackson’s airball about sealed this game. Jerome James’ short jumper should do the trick.
There’s a Difference
Posted at 10:07 p.m.
… between being patient and being slow. The Sonics have struggled with it in this quarter, being rushed by the shot clock on several occasions. But after a Ray Allen 3-pointer and a stop, it’s now a 13-point game with four and a half minutes left. Well, make it 11 … the Sonics transition defense has also been abysmal in this quarter … but it’s looking more like the Sonics are going to hang on. Incidentally, isn’t this quarter an incredible indictment of the Sacramento starters.
Unreal, Part II
Posted at 10:02 p.m.
As unbelievable as the third quarter was, so too has been the fourth quarter, in an equal and opposite sense. Sacramento has gone on a 15-2 run to cut the lead to 11 points with still a ton of time - 8:13 - left on the game. I don’t think I’ve ever in my life seen a game turn so quickly.
Play Like You Have a Lead
Posted at 9:55 p.m.
The Sonics are really doing a poor job of putting the Kings away in the fourth quarter. While you don’t want to go into a shell with a lead the size of the one they brought into the quarter, you also have to understand how that lead changes the game and play accordingly. That means slow it down, make the solid play. Instead, the Sonics are trying to score five points on every offensive possession and make the highlight reel as well. They need to settle down and play their game. If they do that, they’ll be fine, but right now things are getting pretty nerve-wracking. If nothing else, the Kings are dramatically improving their confidence going into Game 3.
Unreal
Posted at 9:45 p.m.
I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I really can’t believe what I’m seeing right now. I never imagined Game 2 being a blowout in either team’s favor, but that’s what we’ve got after the Sonics played their best quarter of the season, outscoring Sacramento 33-18 to absolutely take command of this game and this series. Let me quickly rave a little bit about Nick Collison … the Sonics run coincided almost perfectly with Collison checking into the game and it’s not a coincidence. He just played great fundamental basketball over the last six minutes of the period and was key to the Sonics playing smart and using their lead to their advantage. Rick Adelman has all five of his starters on the bench and one has to wonder how much of that is searching for something and how much is resting them for Game 3. Those are the things you think about when it’s a 26-point game with one quarter to play.
On the Ropes
Posted at 9:37 p.m.
Nate McMillan’s timeout after the Kings mini-run proved note perfect; the Sonics have come out and scored the last eight points to push their lead to 23 points, 80-57. A lot of dejected looks on the Sacramento bench and it really doesn’t seem like their coaching staff has much to say as far as how to fix things. The Sonics are simply doing everything right right now. They’re getting easy baskets, they’re making the plays, and if Sacramento doesn’t go a run real quick, this game is going to be a blowout.
Down to 15
Posted at 9:32 p.m.
The Kings aren’t going down that easily, and they’ve gotten a couple of Mike Bibby scores and one from Brian Skinner to make it 72-57 Sonics with 4:56 to play in this quarter. Sacramento’s goal remains to get this within single-digits by period’s end. As for the Sonics, they need to play solid defense. Reggie Evans got in trouble by going for a steal on the last possession. You don’t need steals right now; you need solid defense plays. Vladimir Radmanovic checks in for Jerome James, which dramatically changes the tenor of this game.
It’s Jerome James’ World
Posted at 9:23 p.m.
We’re just living in it. Jerome continues to be unreal tonight, scoring on two straight possessions to give him 15 points tonight to go along with six rebounds. Jerome is 7-for-7 from the field. Before the game, he shared his secret with yours truly and Danny O’Neil of the
P-I: Piranha energy drink. James started drinking it before Game 1, and did so again tonight. Normally, Jerome likes coffee before the game, but he’s decided to join several of his teammates in the energy drink corner and, well … I think the results speak for themselves.
Luke Ridnour buries a 3-ball in the corner to snap his shooting slump and make it 70-51 Sonics with 7:13 left in the half. Rick Adelman has to take timeout as KeyArena absolutely erupts. Fans are waving the Sprite Thirst T-shirts they received before the game in they air and it’s just pandemonium. The normally stoic Ridnour is even seen yelling as he heads back on defense and the Sonics bench exploded to greet the starters. What can you say right now? Well, for one thing, you can say the Kings seem to be playing panicky basketball. Darius Songaila and Brian Skinner check in up front out of the timeout.
If You Had Third Quarter, Game 2 …
Posted at 9:15 p.m.
You win the “First Brad Miller technical foul” pool. …
I don’t know what Rick Adelman is or isn’t saying to his guys in the locker room, but for the second straight game, the Sonics have a ton more energy to start the second half. After Allen hits the technical free throw, it’s 60-46 Sonics two minutes and eight seconds into the second half with Jerome James headed to the free-throw line. The Kings have already picked up four team fouls, meaning the Sonics can make a comeback difficult by attacking the basket and picking up free points the rest of the period.
Halftime Stats Analysis
Posted at 9:05 p.m.
The pessimist rears his ugly head again … when I look at the halftime stats, the worrisome thought is that the difference in this game is all because of shooting. The Sonics are at 51.2% from the field, Sacramento 40.4%. The Kings haven’t hit a three in five attempts. That’s distinctly un-Kings-like shooting. The Sonics have a 27-21 advantage on the boards, but once you account for the fact that Sacramento has missed more shots, the teams are about even. The Sonics are getting to the line more, and they’ve allowed no points off of their turnovers (they have six, the Kings five). But a lot of the difference is shooting. The good news, I think, is that there’s not making shots and then there’s not getting good shots. The Kings first half feels more like the latter. But I could be wrong.
To Halftime
Posted at 8:51 p.m.
When Ray Allen went to the bench with three minutes left in the first half because he already has two fouls, I was nervous. I needn’t have been. Sacramento got within seven, but the Sonics responded with a great finish to the first half. Cuttino Mobley going in from the dunk, was blocked by Jerome James (okay, there was more than a little bit of contact on the arm as well). The Sonics went the other way and got a Rashard Lewis free throw. Lewis missed his second shot, but the Sonics recovered and took timeout. Another offensive rebound by Jerome James set up his lay-in to give the Sonics at 55-44 lead halfway through. Sacramento has really not shown the ability to stop the Sonics in the first half, and they’re going to have to do that to win this game. Jerome James with another great performance so far, coming up with 10 points and four rebounds.
Mismatchup
Posted at 8:41 p.m.
Rick Adelman, who is searching right now, goes small by replacing Brad Miller with Corliss Williamson. Nate McMillan goes big at the same time, bringing Jerome James back for Danny Fortson. When you have a big-time change like that, you have to figure it favors the team that is struggling, and that is the Kings. They’ve started to generate a little offense, but Ray Allen says, “I’m Ray Allen and you’re not,” and hits an off-balance 3-pointer to make it a 10-point game once again. Mike Bibby appears to have his confidence back, which is not a good sign.
Sonics Lead by 11
Posted at 8:37 p.m.
Right on schedule to get the 20 minutes he’s limited to tonight, Vladimir Radmanovic checked out at the last timeout. Nick Collison came in and immediately gave the Sonics a lift with a nice layup in traffic in transition. The Sonics lead by 11 and have all the momentum right now against a Sacramento squad that is really struggling to generate offense. It may be worth looking at Nate McMillan’s commentary tonight about the nature of playoff games.
“You can’t get too high if you have a lead; you can’t get too low if you’re behind,” McMillan said. “You’ve got to stay calm and play.”
Nate felt the Sonics may have rushed some shots during the third quarter of Game 1 when the Kings made their comeback. Will they be able to continue executing their offense the remainder of this half?
Hustling
Posted at 8:32 p.m.
KeyArena gets as loud as it’s been all night to reward a play on which the Sonics didn’t even end up with the basketball. Rashard Lewis and Danny Fortson both got on the floor to try to save a loose ball. Fortson ended up throwing it off of Lewis’ leg and out of bounds, but the fans still appreciated the effort. The Sonics lead by seven, 38-31, at the 5:49 mark, and I can’t help but feel it could be worse than this for the Kings. Everything Sacramento is getting right now is easy, either in transition or when the Sonics don’t box out or when they fail to guard a guy cutting backdoor. Meanwhile, Sacramento doesn’t seem to have any answer for the productivity of Sonics reserves Danny Fortson and Vladimir Radmanovic.
Has anyone else noticed the Kings haven’t used Game 1 starter Brian Skinner at all tonight?
Coaching Legends
Posted at 8:25 p.m.
Between me and five other people in this building, we have a good couple of thousand career wins in the NBA and the NCAA. No fair trying to figure out how many of those are mine. In addition to the teams’ respective head coaches, Rick Adelman and Nate McMillan, there are two legends in the house: The NBA’s all-time winningest coach, Lenny Wilkens, is doing live commentary for FSN. Also here is North Carolina Coach Roy Williams, who recently added his first NCAA title to his incredible resume.
Williams, apparently in town scouting, took some timeout to watch his former player, Nick Collison, play in the playoffs. Collison only heard about the visit from Sonics GM Rick Sund, but said before the game he planned to talk to Williams afterwards.
As if that wasn’t enough coaching talent, we also have L.A. Clippers head man Mike Dunleavy here doing color commentary for TNT.
Bizarre Substitution
Posted at 8:19 p.m.
Yesterday in the Sacramento papers, Rick Adelman talked about shortening his rotation with his players getting healthy. So naturally, to start the second quarter of Game 2, he brings in the one player he didn’t play in Game 1, swingman Maurice Evans. Evans looks like he’s been assigned the job of shutting down Vladimir Radmanovic. Evans isn’t in there for his offense, but he’s attempted a shot on each of the Kings first three second-quarter possessions, missing all three. Ease your way into the playoffs, my friend.
Through One Quarter
Posted at 8:14 p.m.
The Sonics take a 26-22 lead to the second quarter. Vladimir Radmanovic missed his final shot of the period (cleaned up by Nick Collison, who grabbed the long rebound and went right back up with it to draw a foul. He hit both shots), but drained a third one before that to give him six points in about four minutes. The Sonics hold a 14-11 rebounding advantage after one quarter. They can do a better job defensively by simply sticking their man.
The hot shooting at the end of the period transferred over to the Southwest Airlines Shootout between quarters, as one of our shooters nailed his first shot from halfcourt, not needing the allotted 60 seconds. Now that’s impressive. But remarkably, the other contestant hit his shot on the other basket seconds after. Tonight, there are no losers, as both will win a flight on Southwest.
At Last, Some Offense
Posted at 8:09 p.m.
For the first eight minutes, this game started out as a defensive affair like Game 1. But since Vladimir Radmanovic checked into the game for the Sonics, both teams have picked up their offense. Rashard Lewis got a 3-pointer in transition, followed by a pair of jumpers from Radmanovic. Getting Vlade going would be a great development for the Sonics. On the other end, the Sonics are breaking down one on one right now, and it’s probably not a coincidence that things have changed since Jerome James left the game. Jerome can clean up mistakes by perimeter defenders; Reggie Evans and Radmanovic cannot.
Locked On Game 2
Posted at 8:03 p.m.
KJR’s David Locke is once again posting a dueling blog during tonight’s game, and I encourage you to
check it out and interact with Locke. He provides a different perspective on the action from his seat courtside.
I also ask you bear with Live From The Press Box a little bit tonight, as my Internet connection is abnormally spotty.
The Pessimist
Posted at 7:58 p.m.
Alright, I’m going to indulge my inner pessimist a little bit here. The Sonics lead 11-10 going into our first timeout, but I still see some worrisome signs in terms of the one-on-one nature of the Sonics offense. Pretty much all their offense so far has been isolation and post-ups, without a lot of meaningful passes (passes that could lead to a shot). Ray Allen in particular continues to force it and isn’t trusting his teammates. That’s unfortunate, because Jerome James is playing excellent basketball right now, picking up where he left off Saturday night. James has four points and three rebounds in the early going. On the Sacramento side, Brad Miller gives them another dimension offensively, but they haven’t been able to get Peja Stojakovic free much thus far. The Sonics are doing a very good job defensively once again.
Early Action
Posted at 7:50 p.m.
If you’re not in the Seattle area, you haven’t seen the first two minutes of tonight’s game as the Nets and Heat wrap up Game 2 of their series in Miami. But so far, so good for the Sonics, who have a 6-2 lead after two free throws from Rashard Lewis. The Sonics have come out aggressive, as Nate McMillan said he wanted, and have gotten scores from each of their perimeter players. Ray Allen does seem to be forcing it in the early going, committing a pair of turnovers.
Miller Starting
Posted at 7:45 p.m.
Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman told the media before the game that we would find out whether Brad Miller was starting when lineups were handed out. And indeed we did, and indeed he is. Miller’s minutes tonight are apparently only limited by what he feels capable of playing, so the burly big man from Purdue could play a big role in this game. For the Sonics, Vladimir Radmanovic remains limited to 20 minutes of action. And yes, to your next question, he is still wearing his hair in braids, this time with green and gold beads. Yikes.
Signing On
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
We’re minutes away from Game 2 at KeyArena, with both teams shooting around on the court before the game. There isn’t the same level of energy in the building right now as there was at this time before Game 1 - in no small part because fans are a little later arriving for a 7:30 weekday game - but as soon as the ball goes up, I’m sure KeyArena will turn back into the madhouse it was for Game 1. With a win tonight, the Sonics could put a lot of pressure on Sacramento as this series heads for ARCO Arena on Friday. Meanwhile, the Kings still have the opportunity to achieve the usual road team goal of getting one win on the road. It should be a barnburner, so stay with us all night long and make sure you hit refresh to get the latest.
