Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. L.A. Clippers (Preseason)
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Luke=Winner
Final: Sonics 99, L.A. Clippers 93
Luke Ridnour comes up clutch for the Sonics in the stretch that won them this ballgame. With the Sonics up two, Ridnour hit a jumper off the dribble. After Quinton Ross matched for the Clippers, Ridnour had a brilliant play that was the mark of a winner. After an errant pass, Ridnour hustled into the corner, tracked the ball down and saved it inbounds . After being tapped by Nick Collison, it ended up in the hands of Rashard Lewis, who passed it back to Ridnour for a 3-pointer from the corner that brought the crowd to its feet.
After Cuttino Mobley missed for the Clippers, Ridnour secured the ball in traffic and led the break, finding Rashard Lewis for a dunk that ended the game for all intents and purposes. Ridnour finishes with a not-too-shabby line of 14 points and nine assists, while Rashard Lewis – 28 points – was just a bucket away from tying the NBA preseason high this year. Ray Allen also scored 20 points as the Sonics perimeter trio led the way to the win.
The Sonics take to the road Friday, playing at Phoenix, and then Saturday at Golden State. We’ll next be with you for Live From The Press Box on Opening Night, when the Sonics take on the L.A. Clippers on Nov. 2. Of course, there will be plenty of great coverage on SUPERSONICS.COM between now and then, so check it out.
Looking For The W
Fourth Quarter: Sonics 90, L.A. Clippers 88
While winning is a relatively ancillary goal in the preseason, all things considered most teams would still rather win than lose – especially if they’ve lost their first three. The Sonics smell the victory, leading 90-88 with 2:17 to play with possession after an unforced Cuttino Mobley double-dribble. Luke Ridnour is ready to check in for the Sonics to play the point, though Johan Petro will step in at center, replacing Reggie Evans. Ray Allen’s 3 gave the Sonics the lead at 88-86, and they’re hoping that’s for good.
Down the Stretch
Fourth Quarter: Sonics 84, L.A. Clippers 82
For the third consecutive games, the Sonics are involved in a tight preseason game down the stretch. Often, who wins and loses can be dictated by coaches’ preferences more than anything else. For example, Monday in Laredo, the Rockets had Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson on the floor, while the Sonics went with Mateen Cleaves and Alex Scales as their backcourt. The Sonics are playing their bigger guns tonight; Cleaves stays in with 5:31 to play after a timeout, but rounding out the lineup are regulars Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Reggie Evans and Nick Collison.
With his top two point guards in street clothes and Corey Maggette not playing, there’s only so much Mike Dunleavy can do, but he’s got Elton Brand in the game, with Cuttino Mobley due to check in.
Assist: Pelton
Fourth Quarter: Sonics 80, L.A. Clippers 77
Ah, the perks – and dangers – of sitting courtside. I made my first career save a second ago on an errant pass that bounced off the court and into press row on the baseline near the Sonics bench. The bad news is it was the Sonics pass that traveled out of bounds, but Mateen Cleaves has a pair of improbable whirling layups to give the Sonics a three-point lead with just under nine minutes to play.
Rashard Lewis, who just check out, has been phenomenal tonight for the Sonics. Lewis has 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting and has also grabbed six boards in 29 minutes of action. Lewis has nearly twice as many points as any other player in the game.
Luke and Lew
End Third Quarter: Sonics 72, L.A. Clippers 72
The Sonics tie to the game going into the fourth period thanks to a late third-quarter run sparked by starters Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis. Ridnour now has eight assists on the evening, as well as a dazzling lay-in off glass while falling out of bounds after a spin move to get through traffic. As Bob Weiss noted before the game, the petite point guard is his team’s third-leading rebounder in preseason action, and Ridnour came up with a good hustle board during the run as well. As for Lewis, he buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 70, then re-knotted it at 72 apiece with two free throws to end the period.
Surprisingly, the Clippers leading scorer is rookie second-round pick Daniel Ewing. Ewing, a Duke product, has 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting (including three 3-pointers) and has looked far better than the Clippers second-round pick a year ago, another point guard, Lionel Chalmers (since dispatched to Minnesota in the trade that bought Sam Cassell to the coast).
Reggie Playing
Third Quarter: L.A. Clippers 67, Sonics 64
Reggie Evans’ night off is over. Evans just checked into the game with a little under four minutes left in the third quarter. Think he’s excited to play? Evans half-ran to the opposite sideline to inbound the ball. The only problem? The Clippers took timeout, sending Evans back to the Sonics bench. Danny Fortson has yet to take the court in the second half, whether because of his toe or coach’s decision. Vladimir Radmanovic started the second half for the Sonics.
Regular-Season Form
Third Quarter: L.A. Clippers 66, Sonics 60
Sonics All-Stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis continue to be at the top of their games in October. They’ve combined for 32 points tonight -17 by Lewis, 15 by Allen – and came into the game averaging a combined 31.3 points per game during the preseason. Allen almost seems like he’s toying with defenders at times right now, and you get the feeling he could fall out of bed in the middle of July and average 20 points per game. Luke Ridnour has given those two guys a lot of help during the preseason, but he’s having an off nigh, shooting just 2-for-7.
Sonics Run
Halftime: L.A. Clippers 53, Sonics 49
After trailing by double-figures much of the second quarter, the Sonics have got within striking distance at the half with a late run. The starting lineup has actually outscored the Clippers starting five 33-25, but L.A. has gotten much more production from the bench – eight points and five boards from Chris Wilcox, seven points for Rodney White and seven for Quinton Ross.
Still plenty of time left in this one for the Sonics to pick up their first win of the preseason.
Rule of Four
Second Quarter: L.A. Clippers 51, Sonics 45
One of the changes you can expect from Bob Weiss’ rotations the remainder of this preseason is that Weiss will be thinking more about combinations of players on the court. Weiss told reporters before the game he’d like four shooters on the floor at all times, which means having one of Nick Collison, Mikki Moore, Vitaly Potapenko or Vladimir Radmanovic up front. The Sonics briefly had five shooters out there a while ago, with Radmanovic and Collison up front alongside the starting backcourt. The Sonics offense got more untracked during that period than it has the rest of the night, though turnovers were still a problem.
Johan Petro with a nice block shortly after replacing Collison in the game.
Fortson Foul Trouble
Second Quarter: L.A. Clippers 45, Sonics 34
While I doubt Bob Weiss is too concerned about the score right now, more of an issue might be the four fouls Danny Fortson has picked up in 10 first-half minutes. Weiss spoke before the game about trying to get Fortson to back off a little. While the Sonics have enough depth to play through Fortson’s foul trouble, they also want him in the court for his combination of efficient scoring down low and rebounding.
“One of his main focuses in the preseason is to get the target off his back,” Weiss said. None of Fortson’s fouls has been egregious, but that illustrates what Weiss wants to work against. When there’s a close call, Fortson’s opponent will usually get the benefit of the doubt, something the Sonics have worked against by sending tapes to the league office throughout Fortson’s time in Seattle.
Of course, this crew could just be whistle-happy. Chris Kaman had three early fouls for the Clippers, while both teams are currently in the penalty with five minutes left in the first half.
Yuta Sighting
Second Quarter: L.A. Clippers 34, Sonics 24
Yuta Tabuse has replaced Daniel Ewing at the point for the Clippers, and that set up what is already one of the funnier moments of this season – a jumpball between the 5-9 Tabuse and 6-9 Sonics big man Nick Collison (Collison won, needless to say).
Fun Sonicsvision feature during the timeout – the best five calls of the 2004-05 season by Kevin Calabro, capped by Ray Allen’s game-sealing fadeaway 3-point dagger in Game 4 of last year’s series with Sacramento. Though I didn’t hear it, I’m personally partial to Rashard Lewis’ offensive rebound and driving dunk at Dallas. I was at the game, and we watched that a half-dozen times on Video Coordinator Walt Rock’s laptop on the plane home.
Familiar Names
End First Quarter: L.A. Clippers 28, Sonics 20
A couple of familiar names to die-hard Sonics fans amongst the group of training-camp invitees battling for a spot on the Clippers roster. Fred Vinson spent a season with the Sonics that was, amazingly, now six years ago. Forward James Singleton’s stay in Green and Gold was even briefer – Singleton played for the Sonics 2004 summer-league team. The coaching staff liked Singleton, and he seems to be likely to make the L.A. squad.
Sam Cassell is providing some running commentary from the bench, including yelling, “Slick Rick the Ruler” when former Clippers guard Rick Brunson checked in the game for the Sonics. Brunson either didn’t hear or ignored him. After Cuttino Mobley drew a technical (for what, I’m not quite sure), Cassell offered, “Cat, don’t say nothing. Just play ball.”
Hot Shooting
First Quarter: L.A. Clippers 22, Sonics 12
The two teams have combined to hit all five 3-pointers attempted thus far tonight. The bad news for the Sonics is four of them have been made by the L.A. Clippers, two apiece by Daniel Ewing and Walter McCarty. Ewing has looked pretty impressive in running the point for the Clippers thus far, though he does not have an assist. The Sonics have gone to their bench, bringing in Flip Murray, Damien Wilkins, Vladimir Radmanovic and Johan Petro.
Giving Aid
First Quarter: L.A. Clippers 17, Sonics 11
During the last timeout, Sonicsvision showed footage of Sonics legend Slick Watts and former Storm forward Alicia Thompson delivering donations of money and goods to agencies assisting evacuees from New Orleans fleeing Hurricane Katrina in Houston Monday. You can take a look at
photos from the event or
read more here.
“I was proud to represent the Sonics organization. This was one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” said Watts.
Starting Five
First Quarter: L.A. Clippers 13, Sonics 10
A new look to the Sonics starting lineup tonight, as Nick Collison and Danny Fortson get the nod up front. It’s the third time the Sonics have changed starting centers, while the rest of the lineup had previously gone unchanged. Reggie Evans will likely sit out tonight’s game, allowing Bob Weiss to give Fortson a nice long look in his first preseason action of the year. Weiss has repeatedly said he likes playing the duo of Collison and Fortson together, and before tonight’s game, he elaborated to explain he thinks the two are tough to defend on the offensive glass. They’re also probably the Sonics best screening duo, though Weiss wouldn’t commit to that.
On the Clippers side, Daniel Ewing gets the call at the point. Sam Cassell is sitting out after playing yesterday, while Shaun Livingston has been bothered by a sore lower back. Corey Maggette is also sitting down tonight, and Walter McCarty got the start at small forward in his place. The backup small forward job is still wide open for the Clippers.
Before the game, the Sonics had a moment of silence for late Atlanta center Jason Collier. It goes without saying that the Sonics organization sends its deepest condolences to the Hawks and Collier’s family after his untimely passing.
Signing On
Pregame
It’s the Los Angeles Clippers and your Seattle SuperSonics tonight at KeyArena in the Sonics second and final preseason game at KeyArena and fourth overall, with four left to play. For the second straight year, Japanese sensation Yuta Tabuse will be visiting the Sonics for the preseason, bringing with him a large Japanese fanbase. It should be a fun one as the Sonics look for their first preseason victory, so stay with us all night long for the latest.
