Want to enjoy the electricity of at KeyArena 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 quotes, analysis and observations from the game. E-mail Kevin at sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Keeping it Close
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 103, Sonics 98
Looks like P.J. Carlesimo will indeed get a chance to have his team work in a close late-game situation. The Sonics still trail by five with 2:18 left as Carlesimo takes a timeout (the Sonics still have two fulls and a twenty remaining). On the floor: Earl Watson, Delonte West, Jeff Green, Nick Collison and Johan Petro. The Kings go with Orien Greene, Quincy Douby, John Salmons, Kenny Thomas and Mikki Moore.
Back In
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 101, Sonics 96
With five straight points, the Sonics have cut Sacramento's lead in half and forced Reggie Theus to take a timeout with 5:15 left to play. You have to like the resiliency the Sonics have shown throughout this game.
It's a Byrd
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 101, Sonics 91
The most interesting story on the Kings roster is training-camp invitee Rashid Byrd, who Sonics die-hards (okay, maybe just me) might remember from his playing for the Sonics in the Rocky Mountain Revue in 2005. Byrd, an athletic but unpolished seven-footer, is in his first NBA training camp with the Kings, "making my dream come true," as he described it. When Byrd hangs up his basketball shoes, an acting career might be in his future. He was featured in a "got milk?" commercial a few years ago and has a role in the upcoming Will Ferrell ABA movie "Semi-Pro," which comes out in February.
Zoning Up
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 97, Sonics 86
As far as I can tell, the Sonics have played zoned during this entire fourth quarter so far. The Kings are 4-6 from the field for 11 points - 2-2 at the free-throw line with one turnover. The Kings have four of their five starters in the game at the moment, plus Mikki Moore, who could very well end up starting at power forward. Kevin Martin now has 25 points on the evening.
Sonics Rally
End Third Quarter: Sacramento 86, Sonics 80
The Sonics closed out the third quarter on a 10-2 run to get within six points going into the final period. P.J. Carlesimo mentioned before tonight's game that he would love to see a close finish, which would give the Sonics come work in end-game situations. We might just get that.
The Sonics played zone on their second-to-last possession of the third quarter, which was, I think, the first time they've done so tonight. The result was a contested Mike Bibby three-pointer rebounded by Robert Swift.
Exhibition Goals
Third Quarter: Sacramento 84, Sonics 70
Does winning matter in the preseason? Both P.J. Carlesimo and Reggie Theus were asked before tonight's game and gave similar answers, though ones that were different in nuance.
"I'd rather win than lose, but (it means) next to nothing," said Carlesimo. "If you give me a choice, I'd rather win."
Theus pointed out that sometimes a team plays poorly and wins or plays well and loses. "I would rather us play well," is his preseason philosophy.
Look at the Numbers
Third Quarter: Sacramento 74, Sonics 64
With the Sonics starting the second half with their "second unit" - quotation marks used because that's just for tonight, not really the long-term reserves - Sacramento has pushed its lead to 10 points, the largest it has been tonight. The Sonics got great first-half shooting from Earl Watson (4-for-4) and Delonte West (6-of-8; he did miss), who combined for 23 points off the bench. Love five rebounds from Robert Swift in 13:30 of action and three assists for Nick Collison. The first half saw rookie Kevin Durant get into foul trouble - he picked up four in 11 minutes.
Jeff Green wowed the crowd a moment ago with a one-hand finish in transition. More important might have been what led to the dunk - Delonte West and Johan Petro getting down to secure a loose ball which turned into a breakaway for Green.
At the Half
Halftime: Sacramento 59, Sonics 56
Entertaining first half for a first preseason game, with the teams combining for 115 points. The Sonics shot 55% from the field and held Sacramento to a more respectable 46%, but were hurt by Sacramento's regular trips to the free-throw line. I'll have more after I get a halftime box.
Coaching Debuts
Second Quarter: Sacramento 55, Sonics 52
The coaches on both sides are making their debuts with their new teams tonight. For P.J. Carlesimo, it's his first game as an NBA head coach since 2000. He noted before the game that the preseason will be useful for him and the coaching staff - "more so than some of the players." Carlesimo described the rhythm of being a head coach - taking timeouts, making substitutions and so on and so forth before joking that Gregg Popovich's ejections gave him the chance to coach every 20 games or so.
Reggie Theus is coaching his first NBA game after coaching at New Mexico State University the last two seasons. He told reporters there are no butterflies tonight.
Both coaches have had only a week to install their offensive and defensive systems, but that hasn't really been evident from the play on the floor - fairly standard for a preseason game.
Watching at Arco
Second Quarter: Sonics 48, Sacramento 48
This is my first trip to Arco. It is an intimate arena, though one that is showing signs of age. Speaking of intimate, the visitor's locker room is about the same size as my hotel room, I think. Good thing the Sonics only have 15 on their preseason roster. Still, Wally Szczerbiak (who is not playing tonight; neither will Kurt Thomas, and likely not Mickaël Gelabale) is sitting in a chair behind the bench and the last seat on the bench is a makeshift folding chair. (That's true everywhere during the preseason, not just at Arco.) Something interesting is that it's very light in the lower bowl here. It's the opposite of the "lights out" effect used by the Lakers at the Staples Center.
If you're looking for another sign this is merely a preseason game, know this: P.J. Carlesimo just called a timeout with Mike Bibby guarding Kevin Durant.
Best of the West
Second Quarter: Sonics 42, Sacramento 36
P.J. Carlesimo wanted to look at Delonte West as a shooting guard tonight, and what he's seen has been a
scoring guard. West has a team-high 14 points and I can't say I remember him missing a shot. West has been knocking down the midrange jumper with ease and taking the ball to the bucket. I liked the two-man game he worked with Earl Watson, who found him along the baseline for a 15-footer.
By the way, I just got the first quarter box and it shows the Sonics with 13 of their 30 points on the fast break. They've outscored Sacramento 12-3 in the period thus far.
Monarchs Head Coach Jenny Boucek - an assistant in Seattle for three years, including the 2004 WNBA Championship - just walked in along with All-Star forward Rebekkah Brunson, a member of the U.S. Senior National Team.
Sonics Running
End First Quarter: Sacramento 33, Sonics 30
I'm not sure if we'll get a box score at the quarter break - and if so I'll update this post - but I'm guessing the Sonics have a good number of fast-break points. Earl Watson pushed the ball up and down the court after getting into the game and the Sonics capped a little 6-0 spurt with a Jeff Green dunk in transition. P.J. Carlesimo is doing a lot of coaching on the bench right now, walking up and down to share a point after something happens on the court.
Luke Ridnour's night is officially done. I'll have more on his condition when additional word becomes available.
Rotation Notes
First Quarter: Sacramento 27, Sonics 23
You've already heard the Sonics starting lineup, but Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo cautioned against reading too much into the opening five.
"In some cases, it was the guy that was healthier, if it was a choice between some guys," Carlesimo explained. "In other cases it was just kinda wanted to balance the teams and look at certain combinations. Each one was different. A couple you could flip a coin. KD (Kevin Durant) had been healthier than Delonte (West). Delonte's still going to play. If his foot doesn't bother him at all in the first half, he'll start the second half. Damien (Wilkins started) because he's more experienced than Jeff (Green) and I didn't know if I wanted to start the two young guys together."
The second five tonight is Earl Watson (who may move into Ridnour's spot), Delonte West at shooting guard, Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Johan Petro. With 2:53 left in the first quarter, that is the fivesome on the floor for the Sonics.
Here's what I think preseason is about. On one possession, Kevin Martin (who has a game-high 14 points and has been very efficient) beat Kevin Durant backdoor in one of my favorite matchups (all Kevins). The next trip down, Durant overplayed a cut and Robert swift ended up with a steal.
Luke to Locker Room
First Quarter: Sonics 15, Sacramento 13
I didn't see what happened, but Luke Ridnour apparently took a shot to the face as the Sonics were defending. He stumbled around as the Sonics got a stop, then the team took timeout after securing the rebound. Ridnour seemed woozy and his nose was bleeding. He's gone back to the locker room for observation. Earl Watson has stepped in at point guard and, if Ridnour is unable to return, Jermaine Jackson would step into the rotation tonight at point guard.
Sonics Get it Started
First Quarter: Sacramento 11, Sonics 10
The Sonics opened tonight's game with a lineup of Luke Ridnour, Kevin Durant, Damien Wilkins, Nick Collison and Robert Swift. That group has been effective in the early going in transition, with Ridnour leading a couple of good-looking breaks. The half-court offense is not as well-oiled at this point, which is to be effective. It did produce Kevin Durant's first preseason bucket, a jumper from the right wing off a Ridnour feed at the 8:21 mark. Nick Collison had a really good look from the high post to Robert Swift down low for a score. Defensively, the Sonics struggled early with dribble penetration and defensive boards but have cleaned some things up since then. Robert Swift had a good hard (but clean) foul that is necessary in the paint.
Signing On
Pregame
SACRAMENTO - Welcome to Arco Arena, where the Sonics are moments away from tipping off the 2007-08 season with a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will make their NBA debuts, while Jermaine Jackson, Wally Szczerbiak, Kurt Thomas and Delonte West are playing for the first time in a Sonics uniform. Both sides feature new coaches, with P.J. Carlesimo leading the Sonics for the first time and Reggie Theus coaching his first NBA game. There's plenty of things to keep an eye on, so stay with us all night long for the latest.
