Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Golden State
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.
Long Night for Sonics
Final: Golden State 109, Sonics 96
The Sonics did a good job in the closing minutes, but that was one of their only sustained runs of tonight's game, along with a 9-0 burst before halftime. The rest of the evening, the momentum belonged to the Warriors, who got off to a 17-8 lead before our first timeout and never let up. The shooting percentages ended up evening out quite a bit, but Golden State had a decisive advantage in the first half, outshooting the Sonics 47.3% to 32.7%. The Warriors also outscored the Sonics 33-6 from beyond the three-point arc. The Sonics bench offered some good energy tonight, with three reserves scoring double-figures.
The important for the Sonics will be bouncing back and coming off of this loss with a better effort. They'll have the next couple of days off before continuing their homestand Wednesday, when the Los Angeles Clippers visit KeyArena. The Sonics will be looking to answer a Clippers win in Los Angeles early in the season. 
Get your tickets now to be here on Wednesday.
Learning Time
Fourth Quarter: Golden State 104, Sonics 81
While it's too late to make a run in this game, this is valuable court time here for some of the Sonics young players. Mickaël Gelabale has gotten extended run in this game for the first time since the road trip, and Mouhamed Sene will get a chance to play down the stretch. Rookie Jeff Green is also on the floor for the Sonics. The coaching staff will look for them to execute and end a tough night on a positive note.
Lil' Boom Shines
Fourth Quarter: Golden State 88, Sonics 66
It's a "Kids at the Key Sunday" presented by Aquafina and B97.3, and that means a special appearance by Jalen, better known as Lil' Boom, with the Sonics Boom Squad. He brings the house down with his precocious breakdancing moves. If you've got kids, make sure you get them to a Kids at the Key game. This is our last one for a while - our next one is Jan. 27 against Sacramento.
Green Brings Energy
End Third Quarter: Golden State 88, Sonics 66
Nice energy off the bench provided by Sonics rookie Jeff Green. Green attacked the basket with some good results late in this third quarter. He's got 11 points and six rebounds in the game. The Sonics bench has generally played pretty well, putting up 36 points, 17 rebounds and six assists. However, the Sonics simply have not had it tonight on offense. They continue to shoot just 37.3% from the field and have made only one three-pointer all evening in seven attempts.
Nellie Unhappy
Third Quarter: Golden State 73, Sonics 53
You always know where you stand with Warriors Head Coach Don Nelson because Nellie is so demonstrative on the sidelines. It's entertaining to watch. Nelson was clearly not happy with the defense on the last play as Golden State allowed Kurt Thomas to go down the middle of the lane as the trailer for a layup on the secondary break.
Sartorially speaking, tonight Nelson is wearing his league-mandated sportcoat over a Warriors polo shirt. I can't say I've seen that before.
Collison Q&A
Third Quarter: Golden State 73, Sonics 49
Sonics center Nick Collison is not playing tonight after suffering a fracture of his right nasal wall on Tuesday against the Lakers. He's scheduled to be re-evaluated on Tuesday before potentially returning to the lineup for the Sonics. I caught up with Collison on Friday to ask him a couple of questions about the injury.
How did you suffer the injury?
I got hit on a ball when there was a rebound. Chris Mihm - it was inadvertent - his elbow (hit me); that's what broke my nose. I hit the deck for a second, kind of got stunned a little bit, got up, took about two steps and saw we had the ball. Damien hit me; I went in and then got raked across the other eye. I think Kobe got me, but that was just a poke - the elbow is what broke my nose the play before.
How is this different from when you broke your nose as a rookie in 2005?
It's basically the same thing. I have to let the swelling go down a little bit. I'll get reevaulated Tuesday and then I assume I should be able to play after that. This one's different because it's on the side - it's almost more on the orbital bone. The one before was square on the center. Once I get cleared to play, I'll have to wear the mask for probably 4-6 weeks or whatever and just go from there.
Is it worse to have it on the side?
Yeah, I think so. I think that's why I have to sit a little bit longer. There's always a risk of getting hit again. After the initial break, it's real fragile. If you get hit again, you can do some damage, so I think that's why I've got to wait a little bit - about a week. He has to let the sweeling go down before he decides if I have to reset it or not. That's where I'm at with that.
Are you wearing the same facemask you had back then?
Yeah, this is the same one. I'm going to wear it. It fits still. It took me forever to get this one made, so I'm not going to just make a new one for the heck of it. I'll have to make a new one for a backup in case something happens to this, but I'll wear this one.
Davis Snaps Sonics Run
Halftime: Golden State 60, Sonics 41
Baron Davis' final score of the first half deflated the Sonics a little after they had put together a 9-0 run they hoped to take into halftime. On the last Warriors possession of the half, Davis isolated and hit a jumper from the top of the key to push Golden State's lead back to 19 at the break. Davis is halfway to a triple-double tonight - he's got 12 points, six rebounds and six assists.
There's still plenty of time left in this one, but the Sonics will have to step up their defensive effort and put together some extended runs to come back against a Warriors team that is pretty well locked in right now.
Sonics Hoping to Make Dent by Halftime
Second Quarter: Golden State 58, Sonics 37
With 1:39 left in the first half, the Sonics have put together five straight points and have a chance to feel a little better going into the locker room. P.J. Carlesimo has been searching for a good combination to counter the Warriors and seems to have found one late in the period with Earl Watson, Damien Wilkins, Chris Wilcox and Kurt Thomas. The fivesome has been rounded out by first Mickaël Gelabale, who had a solid run off the bench, and now Jeff Green.
Spotted in the house tonight, actually sitting just behind us at the media table: one-time Sonics big man Vladimir Stepania, who makes his home in the area.
Sonics Not Able to Make Inroads
Second Quarter: Golden State 53, Sonics 30
The Sonics bench has come into the game and brought some offense, combining for 18 of the team's 30 points, but the Sonics haven't been able to cool off the Warriors. Golden State continues to shoot 53.5% from the field and has hit six three-pointers. The Warriors have gotten balanced scoring, with all five starters and reserve Kelenna Azubuike scoring at least six points. The backcourt of Baron Davis - who has rested the entire second quarter thus far - and Monta Ellis have combined for 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, shooting 9-for-14 from the field.
Pietrus Out
Second Quarter: Golden State 42, Sonics 22
Warriors forward Mickaël Pietrus headed for his team's locker room after taking a charge from Earl Watson. Looking at a replay, Pietrus appeared to take an elbow from Watson as the Sonics guard changed directions while going up. Pietrus was down on the ground in obvious pain, and he left with Athletic trainer Tom Abdenour holding a towel to his nose, which was apparently bleeding.
Sonics Get Some Momentum
End First Quarter: Golden State 35, Sonics 18
The Sonics were able to improve their shooting percentage late in the first quarter, finding some kind of a rhythm. Johan Petro has come off the bench with energy for the second straight game - he's got four points and three rebounds. For the Warriors, Andris Biedrins already has his seventh double-double of the season. Biedrins played the entire first quarter and has 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 10 rebounds. The Sonics will have to do a better job of being aware of Biedrins on the offensive glass.
Congrats to the kids who defeated Squatch in a tug-of-war at center court during the timeout. Credit veteran official Bob Delaney with a little bit of an assist for the kids.
Slow Start Continues
First Quarter: Golden State 29, Sonics 12
After resolving the issue with the scoreboard and a brief warmup period, we're back to action, but the break hasn't slowed down Golden State's momentum. The Warriors continue to hit 57.1% from the field and have made all four of their three-point attempts. Meanwhile, Chris Wilcox remains the only Sonics player with any kind of flow going on offense. He's got eight points and four rebounds, but the Sonics are shooting 18.2% from the field. That's surely not going to continue, so the Sonics have to stay with it, particularly on defense, and give themselves an opportunity to make a run.
Slow Start for Sonics
First Quarter: Golden State 17, Sonics 8
As advertised, the Sonics have emphasized Chris Wilcox in the post in the early going, and Wilcox has gotten to the free-throw line twice and scored six points. However, the Sonics haven't been able to put the ball in the basket on a regular basis, shooting just 18.2% from the field (2-for-11) over the first five minutes. On the other end, the Wariors have gotten out running and have hit seven of
their first 11 shots to take a nine-point lead before a P.J. Carlesimo timeout.
The Sonics will get an extended break here to regroup because of some technical difficulties with the scoreboard unit.
Matching Up with the Warriors
Pregame
Few NBA teams present more matchup problems than the Warriors, what with Don Nelson's fondness for small lineups and the fast-paced style Golden State employs. Still, P.J. Carlesimo would prefer not to let Nelson dictate the game and doesn't want to completely match up with the Warriors. While Jeff Green will see plenty of time at power forward in the Sonics own small lineup, the Sonics will stick with their bigger starting lineup of Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox.
"I just think that we have a better shot of Kurt and Weezy beating them for offensive rebounds and Weezy scoring in the paint than we do of going small and beating them 123-118 or something like that," Carlesimo explained before the game. :I think they're very difficult to beat at their own game. If we're going to win, I think we're going to need a lot of offensive rebounds and points in the paint."
Give the Warriors credit for showing the ability to beat all kinds of teams during their current hot streak. Golden State beat up-tempo Phoenix on Monday, then took care of a very different style of team on Thursday, defeating Houston in a slower-paced game.
Signing On
Pregame
We're back at KeyArena tonight as the Sonics continue their homestand by hosting the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors come into this one on a tear, having won eight of their last nine games and five in a row. Golden State is playing the kind of basketball that resulted in last spring's upset victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the teams' first-round playoff series. The Sonics will try to cool them off tonight and win their second straight game in the process.
