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Sonics Fall
Final: Portland 82, Sonics 75
Charles Smith finishes us off with a couple of free throws and that is that, Portland coming away with a seven-point win. Obviously, it's not about wins and losses in the preseason (though the Sonics coaching staff was working hard to get a W). We saw some promising stuff from the Sonics youngsters, and a loss is no surprise given how much more the Blazers used their key players. That wraps it up for us from the Rose Garden, but be sure to check in with SUPERSONICS.COM tomorrow for reaction and the latest from training camp.
Brendan Malone
Fourth Quarter: Portland 80, Sonics 75
You may have noticed that the Sonics announced yesterday that they have hired former Toronto and Cleveland Head Coach Brendan Malone as a consultant. Malone's actually been working with the team since before training camp and has been key in their effort to improve defensively. Malone has tremendous NBA experience and effectively is acting as an assistant coach. Because teams are limited to three assistants on the bench, however, Malone is officially a consultant and sits behind the bench (as Jack Sikma did the last two years).
Making a Game Of It
Fourth Quarter: Portland 79, Sonics 75
A late run had the Sonics within a score with possession, but Nick Collison turned the ball over and Sebastian Telfair will get two free throws. He hits the first and the Sonics call timeout. Expect to see more of that strategy under Weiss, who is a strong believer in icing players between shots. If you're going to call a timeout afterwards to set up a play anyway, there really is no downside.
Point Guards
Fourth Quarter: Portland 78, Sonics 71
With a 3-pointer a minute ago, Sebastian Telfair now has a double-double (10 points, 10 assists) and he's played better than I've given him credit for so far tonight. Mateen Cleaves has seven points in limited action, continuing the aggressive offensive play we've seen from him during training camp. This might be discussed in more detail later this month, but I think Cleaves' duly noted value in the locker room distracts people from the fact that this guy can play basketball.
My Take on the Blazers
Fourth Quarter: Portland 73, Sonics 67
I just wanted to note for the record that Ray Allen grabbed a stat sheet and studied it at the last timeout. (He's keeping busy while not playing.)
So the Blazers … the big thing tonight for them is definitely Zach Randolph, who is hitting the jumper and getting to the line. He's got a game-high 16 points. Randolph looks healthy. With a team as young as the Blazers are, you're going to have some mistakes. It's only natural. But the Blazers look like they're going to be exciting and fun. Even if they don't win, they should play hard, and the negativity that seemed to surround this team the last year or two appears to be gone.
Good Sign
Fourth Quarter: Portland 67, Sonics 60
Martell Webster's dunk in transition off a Sebastian Telfair feed gets the crowd going, but Webster is still only 2-for-6 from the field. Portland as a team shot just 30.2% in the first three quarters, though the Blazers made up some ground with 27 free-throw attempts and 15 offensive rebounds - seven of them by Joel Przybilla alone, who ha 10 points. Ruben Patters and Zach Randolph were the only two Blazers to shoot better than 50% through three quarters.
Juuuuust a Bit Outside
End Third Quarter: Portland 63, Sonics 58
The entertainment between quarters was a half-court shooting contest, and I saw one of the worst half-court shots I've ever seen, as one contestant shot it to about the free-throw line, if there.
Mateen Cleaves checks in, and that's all 15 Sonics who will see action tonight. Danny Fortson is playing it conservative with turf toe, Vladimir Radmanovic is still battling inflammation in his left foot and Vitaly Potapenko did not travel because of a strained hamstring.
Some Observations
End Third Quarter: Portland 63, Sonics 58
The Suns should take heart from the fact that Zach Randolph is a) playing and b) playing well (he's got eight points in the last couple of minutes) so quickly after having a similar microfracture procedure to the one Amaré Stoudemire had yesterday … Blazers owner Paul Allen is courtside and might not be in regular-season shape … Johan Petro's athleticism is tremendously obvious in any setting; he reminds me a lot of Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert. If Petro gets where Dalembert is right now, that will be a tremendous 25th pick … Damien Wilkins looks very good tonight … Noel Felix is hitting the jumpers, which is the big question the coaching staff has about him.
Jack of All Trades
Third Quarter: Portland 53, Sonics 51
Jarrett Jack has really been impressive for the Blazers in this quarter, draining a pair of 3-pointers to give him nine points on the night. I'm not sure the rookie out of Georgia Tech might not be the best point guard on this roster. While Sebastian Telfair is certainly the more impressive athlete, Jack is a much better shooter and his size means he gives Portland more defensively.
The Sonics getting the invitees involved. Noel Felix and Roger Powell have both checked in recently, with Powell hitting a pair of free throws for his first (sorta) NBA points.
Minor Note
Third Quarter: Sonics 49, Portland 47
Nobody seems to get rookie Johan Petro's name right. It's Joe-han, not Yo-han, as you might guess and it would be if he were from a Spanish-speaking country. I suggest practicing it at home.
Nate Reunion
Third Quarter: Sonics 49, Portland 45
So … we haven't talked nearly enough yet about Nate McMillan facing his old team for the first time. I was in the gym this morning before shootaround when McMillan walked in to see his old team for the first time (yes, he said hello to me). The meetings were brief, naturally, but McMillan took a while to catch up with his former captains, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.
New Sonics Coach Bob Weiss shared that he and the Sonics coaching staff met up with McMillan last night. Weiss said he asked McMillan how long he planned to go today (an hour) and told his staff, "We're going an hour five minutes."
Weiss said he was happy McMillan hadn't said an hour and a half and forced him to retort an hour 35 minutes.
Hearing the Game
Third Quarter: Sonics 45, Portland 40
Just 1:26 into the second half, Nate McMillan takes a timeout. That gives me a chance to talk about the best perk of being courtside (and fans, courtside seats at KeyArena are still available but going fast) - hearing the game. It's a totally different experience from that perspective than being in the 200 level, as I usually am.
McMillan's most common phrase is "By yourself," which means the player on the ball does not have defensive help.
On the Sonics bench, the most vocal presence is assistant Jack Sikma, working with young centers Robert Swift and Johan Petro. He's constantly encouraging and reminding them, notably making sure they "See the ball" defensively.
Halftime Chatter
Halftime: Sonics 41, Portland 40
First, I think everyone who stayed in their seats is wondering just what that halftime show was. I know it involved people in inflatable baseball-themed suits, but that's about it. Second, there was a lot of mention of how sloppy the first half was. The Sonics had nine turnovers, which really isn't bad at all for the first preseason game, Portland 13.
True to Bob Weiss' word, the starters - with the exception of Robert Swift - are done. Invitee Alex Scales starts the second half with Flip Murray at the point, Damien Wilkins and Nick Collison as your forwards and Swift in the middle.
Halftime
Halftime: Sonics 41, Portland 40
Rashard Lewis finishes the first half with a layup with 2.8 seconds left to give the Sonics a 41-40 lead as we go to the half. Lewis had a very strong second quarter, scoring eight points (that's what my notes have; the scoreboard appears to say six, but it's surprisingly tough to read) and he and Allen (11), Reggie Evans (six points, six boards) and Luke Ridnour (six points, four boards) have acquitted themselves quite nicely in what will likely be their only action of the evening.
What Does That Say?
Second Quarter: Portland 40, Sonics 39
The Blazers video screen shows a sign reading "SABONIS IS MY HERO" and it gets arguably the loudest cheer of the evening.
Rookies at the Forefront
Second Quarter: Portland 31, Sonics 28
Rookies standing out at both ends. For Portland, that's Martell Webster. I'm really impressed with this young kid, even though his shot seems to have deserted him since his first make. Webster plays well beyond his 18 years of age and is mature off the court as well. A couple of things stand out. On the court, he successfully called out and thwarted a Sonics play a couple of minutes ago, something the Denver scout to my right took notice off. Off the court, he had to be asked to leave Blazers shootaround this morning because he was still talking to a couple of Seattle writers and a member of the Portland media. Webster is as polished as any prep rookie I've seen.
On the Sonics side, we're getting our first look at young Johan Petro. Petro had a bit of a rookie mistake as he checked into the game, removing his warmup to reveal no jersey underneath. The game had to stop for Petro to put it on as the Blazers PA Announcer intoned deadpan, "Wardrobe malfunction." Petro took a little rookie hazing from his teammates and the refs over the issue. After getting into the game, Petro quickly had an impressive blocked shot in transition.
Elsewhere, I hope the Sonics Dance Team isn't taking notes from Portland's wardrobe … the sequined Blazer logos on the back of the dancers' tops would not be an upgrade.
Rotation Recap
Second Quarter: Portland 27, Sonics 26
With the starting lineup beginning to return to the game, we ought to talk a little about how Bob Weiss has planned to use his roster tonight.
"I felt like I was reinventing the Periodic Table trying to write all the players down - it's got the point guards, twos, threes, fours and fives - and everything is charted out through the first three and a half quarters of playing time," Weiss said.
"The last six, eight minutes I will just see who's going well and try to play the game with certain players that are left over. Ray, Rashard, Luke and Reggie will probably only play in the first half. They're going to play 18-20 minutes."
It's interesting to note that we've seen Flip Murray play both guard slots so far and that Mikki Moore was the second big man off the bench in Vitaly Potapenko's absence.
Early in the second quarter, some highlight-reel dunks from Murray off of isolation and by Moore off of a feed from an isolated Damien Wilkins.
Webster Makes an Impression
End First Quarter: Portland 21, Sonics 20
Late in the first quarter, Blazers lottery pick Martell Webster - a Seattle native and Seattle Prep product - checked into the game. His first NBA basket came on a long jumper off of a screen with 38.8 seconds left in the first quarter, and it looked very pure. Webster got a huge hand when he checked into the game, which causes me to note that I was a little surprised Portland Coach Nate McMillan didn't get a warmer welcome from the Rose Garden crowd.
Evans Intensity
First Quarter: Portland 17, Sonics 16
Mid-season intensity from Reggie Evans tonight on the boards and in the paint. Evans has five points and three boards and was largely responsible for a 6-0 Sonics run a minute ago. On the Portland side, Sebastian Telfair's quickness has stood out to me more tonight more than it did last season, but he still doesn't look like he can shoot (he did make one jumper earlier). Charles Smith, a surprise starter at the two, has displayed really impressive athleticism and is constantly near the rim.
Good Run
First Quarter: Sonics 11, Portland 11
As we go to timeout with 4:09 left in the first quarter, Nick Collison is the Sonics first sub of the season, replacing Robert Swift. It was a very encouraging run for Swift, possibly not reflected in his two points and one block. Swift altered another couple of shots and got his one score in highlight fashion, slamming home an alley-oop finish on the break.
Weiss' Goals
First Quarter: Portland 8, Sonics 7
Before the game, Sonics Coach Bob Weiss was asked his goals for tonight's game. Here's what he had to say:
"The same things we've been stressing - we want to see how well the team defense is doing, see how well the focus maintains on all the the stuff we've been working on - that's going to be number one. I want to see how well we run and our reading the flow in transition, which I expect to be a little sloppy, because a lot of the things they can do in transition are reads and playing basketball, so that's going to get better as we go. I want to see that we get out and get going. But the main thing is I want to see how we do defensively."
Allen Scorching
First Quarter: Sonics 7, Portland 4
"You ease your way in to it," Ray Allen said before the game of his philosophy on the preseason, and so far he's half right. Allen is making it look easy, draining two long jumpers, including a 3, to give the Sonics an early lead. Allen got going yesterday at practice, draining about five shots in a row, and that's carried over tonight.
Predictably for the first preseason game, this one has been sloppy thus far.
For the Record …
First Quarter: Sonics 0, Portland 0
Robert Swift starts the season by winning the opening tip-off from Joel Przybilla. We're underway.
Signing On
Pregame
It's been nearly five long months since the Seattle SuperSonics last took the court against the San Antonio Spurs in May in the Western Conference Semifinals. Now, we're ready to get going on a new season. It's the first game of the 2005-06 preseason as the Sonics take on Nate McMillan and the Portland Trail Blazers, and though it's only an exhibition game, there will be some emotion at the Rose Garden tonight.
For those of you new to Live From the Press Box, we do this all season long - at KeyArena. But we'll also sprinkle in a handful of Live From Elsewheres, and tonight is the first of them, as I'm courtside at the Rose Garden along with the Sonics radio crew. It's a lot of fun, so check us out all season during or after games.
I would be remiss if I did not take time tonight to thank the Portland PR and IT staffs, both of whom helped me get posting from courtside and spent entirely too much time worrying about me. Thanks a lot, guys.
