Game Night # 16

Back in my halycon college days, I was the only Sonic fan in a university full of Blazermaniacs. It was the time of Clyde the Glide, Mercy, Mercy Jerome Kersey, and Rip City. It was also the time of the rebirth of the Sonics, with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton leading the Supes to the brink of greatness. I vividly remember the Sonics knocking off the Blazers to force a Game 5 in either '91 or '92, enabling me to blare Pearl Jam's "I'm Still Alive" at full blast throughout the dorm. The bloom has come off the Rose City, though, with the Blazers mired in scandal (bad) and mediocrity (worse). The team that sold out every game for decades has now become almost persona non grata in the Portland, and I could not be happier. Seattle hasn't won in Portland in two years, but with a 13-2 record that could change tonight.

Good Sign: The Sonics have only lost once since Opening Night.
Bad Sign: The Blazers are - as always - a weird team. They've also won 3 of 4, including a sweep in Florida of Orlando and Miami.

Questions: How is Theo Ratliff's back? Will Darius Miles' grouchiness about playing time affect his team? How is Rashard's sore left elbow? Who will shut down Zach Randolph?

Notes: Randolph has 7 double-doubles this year ... "Well, it was a win," said Mo Cheeks after Portland's 83-71 triumph over New Jersey recently ... Former Sonics Richie Frahm and Vladimir Stepania are sidelined with "injuries"; I think Ibowho Kutluay has got the same virus ...

Vegas line: Blazers by 1 1/2
Over/Under: 183
Prediction: Sonics 99 - Blazers 92
Record Against the Spread: 6-3

Go "Sonocs"!

Gee, I wonder why no one has bid on this ?

"It looks good when off and even more lovely when turn on, bright enough to shine up your whole room with eye-catching!"

Hurry "Sonocs" fans - this auction ends soon!

Sonics punish Pacers, 103-95

Rashard blocks the hell out of Croshere's weak-ass attempt.

Well, they didn't cover my spread, but the Sonics still managed to beat Indiana, 103-95, last night at the Key.

Seattle won despite another gutsy effort by the short-handed Pacers, who lost three starters in the aftermath of "Pummel-Gate". Pacers guard James Jones, making like (a not-hideously-ugly) Reggie Miller, scored a career-high 27 points, including six three-pointers.

Rashard Lewis came back from a shoulder injury three days ago to lead the team with 22 points and four blocks. 'Shard was one of six Sonics who scored in double-digits.

Seattle improved their NBA-best record to 13-2 and a perfect 7-0 at home. This is the Sonics' best start since '93-94. If this team turns out to be half as good as that one, we're in for one hell of a ride.

Game Night #15: Pacers

Well, Nussbaum usually writes these pre-game reports, but he's off doing whatever godless Canadians do on Sundays. So, here's the Paul-version of the Supersonicsoul Pre-game Show© :

Uh... Sonics play the Pacers tonight. It's a home game. The Pacers don't, like, have any players because they all got suspended or something, but they still have one of the best records in the league. Go figure.

My prediction: Sonics 248 Pacers 4
My record this season: 0-14
Stupid Question of the Night: Whatever happened to Rik Smits?

Go Sonics!

Sonics nix Nets, 92-79

It's a good time to be a Sonics fan.

The Supes clobbered the Nets tonight, 92-79, at the Key. Seattle blew the doors off the place right from the start, leading 21-8 after the first quarter, and were up by 21 at the half.

Danny Fortson had a huge game for the Sonics, coming off the bench for 20 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite poor shooting (.395 from the field), and a third quarter comeback by the Nets, Seattle hung on to improve their NBA-best record to 12-2 and 6-0 at home (and 1-0 when dressing like the Golden State Warriors).

The Sonics play the depleted Pacers at home on Sunday.

Game Night # 14

You wouldn't have thought at the end of last season that the Nets would have lost 7 in a row and the Sonics would have the best record in the NBA, but, in the words of Joaquin Andujar, "Youneverknow." To say the Nets are struggling is to say Ben Affleck's movie career is struggling. They're so bad a guy with one good kidney, not even his own, wants out of town. They're so bad, fans are calling for the return of Dennis Hopson.

Good Sign: The Sonics drove Hubie Brown into retirement - is Lawrence Frank next?
Bad Sign: The Nets were able to get the Sonics to play at their crappy level in their hideousnessfest last week.

Questions: Will either team crack 90 points? Will the Sonics' alternate unis be their undoing? Is all yellow ever a good fashion choice for anyone but Corazon Aquino?

Notes: A rumor on the net has the Sonics showing interest in Vince Carter. Can't imagine what reason they would have. ... George Karl is rumored to be a possibility to replace Hubie Brown in Memphis ... Ray Allen had a case of bronchitis recently, the possible cause of his recent poor shooting ... Flip Murray isn't expected back for Sunday's game ...

Vegas line: Sonics by 12
Over/Under: 179 1/2
Prediction: Sonics 91-Nets 78
Record Against the Spread: 5-3

Sonics gouge Grizzlies, 93-84

"Excuse me young man, have you seen my Jheri-Curl?"

O.K., maybe "gouge" is a bit much. More like "escape with their lives".

Despite poor shooting and tired legs, the Sonics pulled out a 93-84 victory in Memphis tonight, improving their league-best record to 11-2 for the year.

The Sonics couldn't buy a shot in the first half, and looked every bit like a team on the tail-end of a six-game road trip. Luckily, the Grizzlies were in even worse shape, missing Pau Gasol, James Posey, and Stromile Swift to injuries.

After a slow start, the Sonics roared back to take a 14-point lead in the third. The Grizz made a good run late in the fourth, cutting the lead to two with six minutes to go in the game, but the Supes hung on for the win.

There was a scary moment for Sonic fans in the fourth, when Ray Allen went down with a sprained ankle. He returned to finish the game, however, as the entire city of Seattle gave out a collective "Whew!".

Game Night # 13

I give up. I know I could keep churning out negativity, saying there's no way Rashard can keep it up, that Ray Allen's a poser ... but, man, after last night's game, I'm not just on the bandwagon, I'm driving the frickin' horses. Danny Fortson sitting on Kevin Garnett? Rashard posting people up? Are you kidding me? In the immortal words of Jimmy Johnson, "How 'bout them Sonics!"

Good Sign: Beating the Timberwolves, San Antone, and Sac-town will qualify.
Bad Sign: The Grizzlies are better than their record, and led the Sonics by 20 in their first meeting before Seattle rallied to win 118-113.

Questions: Can the Griz survive without Gasol? Can Bonzi Wells continue his strong play? Will Rashard continue to impress?

Notes: Daniels had his best game of the season against Memphis a week ago (28 points) ... Kudos to Fort, et al for holding Garnett in check last night (16 points!) ... Only 2 NBA players have A:TO ratio of higher than 5; AD and Brent Barry ... Danny Fortson is tied for the league lead in T's (5) and fouls per game (5.1). Keep on bangin', Fort.

Vegas line: Grizzlies by 4 1/2
Over/Under: 197 1/2
Prediction: Sonics 102-Grizzlies 95
Record Against the Spread: 4-3

Breaking News: Supplemental Alternate Every-Other Sunday Road Uniform Variants Unveiled

And there you have it:


Sorry, no pinstripes, Hank. Nothing radical like Dirk's ensemble below, but it coulda been worse.

New Jerseys vs. New Jersey!

Dirk the Diggler Dons Dandy Duds. Similar Sartorial Splendor for Sonics?

Hey! No one told me about this:

Five NBA teams will sport a new look on the court this season as the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets and Seattle SuperSonics launch new second road uniforms for the 2004-05 NBA season. (NBA.com)

The Sonics unveil their new unis at the game against New Jersey, this Friday, the Day After Thanksgiving! It's gotta be something predominantly Sonics Gold, wouldn't you figure?

I'm tempted to go. I mean, sure, winning 10 out of 12 games, including 4 (possibly 5?!) out of six games on a Eastern roadtrip, should be reason enough to go out and show the guys some support. But hel-LOW, new uniforms, people! It'll be like a fashion show with a 94-foot runway and 7-foot tall models. FAB-ulous!

Raining on my own parade: Then again, I should know better from my experience last year where I was something like 0-4 in games where the Supes wore their "special" throwback uniforms.

Sonics tame Timberwolves, 103-92

Don't call it a comeback.

After having their nine game win streak stopped by the Celtics on Sunday, the Sonics beat the Timberwolves in Minnesota tonight, 103-92. They improved their record to 4-1 on the current road trip and 9-2 overall.

The Sonics held all-universe superstar Kevin Garnett to 5-16 from the floor. Rashard Lewis lead the team with 27 points, including 4-5 from three-point range, while Ray Allen fought off some nasty flu to play 42 minutes and score 24 points.

The bench played a big role again, accounting for 39 points. Vladimir Radmanovic led the reserve crew with 17 points.

The Supes finish off their road trip tomorrow at Memphis.

Game Night # 12

A matchup of Northwest Division superpowers in Minnesota as the Sonics tangle with the T-Wolves. Kevin Garnett is, well, probably the best statistical player in the league and is coming off a near triple-double in Minny's last game.

Good Sign: Seattle's interior presence is better than last year.
Bad Sign: The Wolves took 3 of 4 last year.

Questions: Will Danny Forston get some calls from the zebras? Is Sam Cassell fully healthy? Can the Sonics keep Garnett in some sort of check, and who's going to shut him down?

Notes: What was the name of that guy who was supposed to help the Sonics drain 3's off the bench? Ibawhat? ... Michael Olowokandi could miss the game with the flu ... Fortson pulled a trifecta in the Seattle media, as all 3 papers ran stories about his lack of respect from NBA refs ... Garnett shot 68% against the Sonics in 4 games last season ... Ray Allen has made more 3's this year (36) than any T-Wolf has attempted (35, Hudson) ... Allen is hitting only 40% from the field over the last 3 games.

Vegas line: T-Wolves by 6 1/2
Over/Under: 191 1/2
Prediction: T-Wolves 97-Sonics 83
Record Against the Spread: 4-2

Amazing

Credit my brother with pointing this out:

The Pistons get into a huge on-court fight with Indiana, it spills out onto the crowd, the game is ended prematurely, a guy gets suspended for the season, four others get suspended for lengthy terms...

and Rasheed Wallace didn't have anything to do with it.

It's Go Time

The rubber is about to meet the road. The Sonics – and their playoff-thirsty fans – are on the verge of finding out if their early-season successes are a legitimate indication of talent or just that – early-season successes.

For the first 11 games of the year, Sonics opponents were less than stellar, with a cumulative record of 48-52, for a 48% winning percentage.

Contrast that to the next 11 games, when Seattle will go up against teams with a record of 59-46 (56 %).

Utah, Minnesota, Dallas, San Antonio – they all await. Thankfully, the Sonics will meet Eastern power Indiana while the Pacers are still reeling from the Malice at Auburn Hills, but the schedule is nonetheless intimidating. This next fortnight will tell us the truth about the Sonics; if they win less than 5 games, then this team is no different than the ‘02-‘03 version that stormed out of the gate at 8-2 before crashing into the guiderail within a month.

----

Some random notes:

According to 82games.com, Seattle’s four best players are Radmanovic, Daniels, Allen, and Fortson. It’s worth noting that the Sonics produce a 73% winning percentage with AD as opposed to Ridnour’s 60% ... Using John Hollinger’s PER rating (15 is considered the league average), Seattle’s 2-guards are at 25.6 per game while opponents’ 2-guards are at 11.6 ... This isn’t about the Sonics, but it’s worth mentioning. After Vince Carter’s iPod debacle last week, Carter happened to notice Tim Duncan using same before their game on Sunday. Air(head) Carter pointed out said fact to a reporter, who ratted out Duncan. Nice work, Vince. Too bad you couldn’t score more than four points against the Spurs, though.

Streaky Sonics stopped by Celitcs, 102-83

Well, I guess winning 80 games this year was a little much to ask:

BOSTON — And on the seventh day they lost.

After enduring a week's worth of late-night airplane flights, unexpected bus trips and hotel food, the Sonics traveled to the fourth city of their six-game, 10-day odyssey yesterday and looked exhausted.

Their crisp shooting, which had been largely responsible for their nine-game winning streak, disappeared for long stretches of last night's 102-83 loss to the Boston Celtics, giving Seattle (9-2) its first loss since the season opener Nov. 3.

Read more at The Seattle Times and Celticsblog .

Now that we've seen (or heard, I guess) Gary play again, does anyone want to bring him back to Seattle? Make sure to take our Payton Poll!

New Commenting System

Due to the utter crappiness and unreliability of Blogger's commenting system, I've switched over to Haloscan. That means no more missing message pages and no more registration hassles... just straight-up trash talking! If you're looking for your old comments, you can still view them in the permalinks (the one with the time) and the Archives (lower right-hand column).

So start commenting, peoples!

Could the Glove still fit in Seattle?

Gary is bummed in Beantown.

Gary Payton, who faces off against the Sonics this afternoon, wants to come back to Seattle:

"I wish I could have stayed in Seattle and I wish I can go back and finish my career there," Payton said. "It's never going to be that I don't like Seattle. I love Seattle. And it might happen. It could happen and it couldn't. But I think it could. It could. That's just something that's going to have to be seen in the future."

When asked again if he's serious about a return to the city where he spent the first 13 years of his NBA career, the 36-year-old Payton reaffirmed his statement.

Yeah, because I would want the fans to come back and see me retire where I started and all of that," he said. "I would like to make my last hurrah there."

from the Seattle Times.

I wanted the Sonics to make a move for Gary last summer, but now that the team is off to such a great start, do they really want to mess with success? Granted, the guy is a fan favorite (and a Supersonicsoul favorite!) and a future hall of famer, but on a team stacked with small-fry guards, who would you deal for G.P.? Daniels? Ridnour? Murray? Take our new poll here!

Sonics rock Raptors, 101-94

Nine in a row! There's a party going on right here...

TORONTO (AP) -- The Seattle SuperSonics aren't satisfied with just having the NBA's best record.

Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen had 24 to lead the SuperSonics to their ninth straight victory, 101-94 over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Seattle is 9-1.

``We have to get better. We have to start doing some things better to continue to win,'' SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan said. ``We're not happy with just winning these games. It's a way we want to win. We're working hard and doing some good things, but to beat those good teams in the NBA you've got to have consistency in your defensive effort, your halfcourt execution, because teams will find ways to slow you down. We're finding ways to win games.''

from Yahoo!

Game Night # 10

This could be Vince Carter's last appearance in Toronto - or he might be traded before tip-off, so who knows what will happen tonight in Hogtown (Did you know that that's Toronto's nickname? Jesus, what kind of bet do you have to lose to get stuck with that monicker?). It would appear the smart money is on the Sonics, with all the turmoil surrounding Carter's rumored departure for Portland, not to mention his insistence on playing the soundtrack to "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" over the clubhouse speakers after the NBA banned him from using his iPod.

Good Sign: For crying out loud, they've won 8 straight!
Bad Sign: The Raptors hung in tough with the Sonics last week before losing by a point in Seattle.

Questions: Will Ray Allen find his shot again tonight? Will Carter and Jalen Rose be with the team? Again, why call yourself Hogtown?

Notes: The Raptors outscored Seattle 28-18 in the 3rd quarter of last week's game, nearly eclipsing the Sonics' 14-point halftime lead ... Carter's 15 ppg is the worst of his career. Not to mention his 38% FG percentage ...

Vegas line: Pick 'em
Over/Under: 200 1/2
Prediction: Sonics 97-Raptors 89.
Record Against the Spread: 3-2

The Sports Guy Scouts Supes

The ever-quotable Bill Simmons had a little blurb on our beloved SuperSonics. An excerpt:

But here's what they do have: Radmanovic and Lewis can shoot the lights out. So can Allen, who's in a contract year (and we know what that means). Luke Ridnour looked nervous on opening night, but he gives them a classic slash-and-kick point guard, like the kind that always gives USA teams trouble in international games. Antonio Daniels has evolved into one of the better bench guys in the league. So why not gear everything around those five guys and try to shoot the lights out every game? For instance, they made a whopping 18 threes in Philly Tuesday night ... you're not losing many games when that happens.

He then goes on to outline some interesting trade scenarios, none of which include Ray Allen?! The tidbit about the Suns was intriguing too--haven't caught them on TV yet, but they sound like a fun squad.

Sonics cut down Nets, 79-68.

It wasn't pretty, but the Sonics won their eighth in a row tonight in New Jersey, 79-68.

The Sonics only scored 36 points in the first half, but luckily the Nets only scored 29. Ray Allen struggled against Richard Jefferson, but in the end it was defense that won the game. Danny Fortson was a beast again, knocking Alonzo Mourning around down low (watch the kidneys!) and taking up space in the paint.

The Sonics won another hard-nosed, east-coast basketball game on the road. Who says they're just a bunch of shooters?

Sonics stop Sixers, 103-95

The Sonics are an unstoppable force of unstoppableness!

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Wide open or contested, the Seattle SuperSonics hit 3-pointers from all over the court.

Ray Allen scored a season-high 37 points, Rashard Lewis had 21 and Vladimir Radmanovic added 20, leading Seattle to its seventh straight victory, 103-95 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The Sonics are off to their best start since opening 10-0 in 1993. They haven't lost since dropping their opener to the Los Angeles Clippers by 30 points after going 2-6 in exhibition games.

``Everybody stepped up and played their part,'' Allen said. ``We had it working on all cylinders.''

from Yahoo!

Bring on the Sixers

It's less than an hour to tip-off. A win tonight against the Sixers will give Seattle their best start since the '93 squad started 10-0. That team, of course, went on to win 63 games, and advanced all the way to game seven of the Western Conference Finals.

Danny Fortson returns to the court after serving a one-game suspension for head-butting Chris Bosh last week. As Fortson said yesterday, "If Danny Fortson tones it down, then Danny Fortson is a non-factor."

Wait, did he speak in the third-person TWICE in one sentence? That's bordering on Ricky Henderson territory. Sweet.

Smack This

Reggie Evans on Pau Gasol refering to an exchange of elbows and words during the game this weekend:

"I don't know what's wrong with that girl."

¿Cómo usted ahora tienen gusto de mí, Pau?

The True Test, version 8

"It's early."

There should be a way to bet on when it is officially okay to stop saying that.

Each time the Sonics win, everyone has to revise their "True Test" criteria ("The True Test of this team's character will be apparent when they...")

Witness the team's past performance in previous True Tests:

• ...Play a team they should beat at home. Pass: Win 106-85 vs. ATL
• ...Play the San Antonio Spurs. Pass: Win 113-94
• ...Play the Sacramento Kings. Pass: Win 108-78
• ...Play on the road. Pass: Win 108-88 @ DEN. Double bonus points for winning in the second of a back-to-back!
  
• ...Have a close/poor shooting game. Pass: Win 88-87
• ...Get down big/early. Pass: Win 118-113 vs. MEM

and so on...

Tomorrow's True Test: Go On The Long-Ass East Coast Road Trip. SURELY this six-games-in-10-days stretch will expose the Sonics as pretenders, eh, doubters? Everyone's got their "I told you so's" in their back pockets, ready to whip out when the Sonics streak ends in Philly or Toronto.

And if by some miracle the Sonics pass this test, we've got these Future True Tests ready to go:

• Do the Texas Three-Step
• Hit the January Dog Days
• Lose a star to injury
• Get their team bus bombarded by radioactive meteors
• Are featured on a Sports Illustrated cover (won't happen)
  

The beauty of the True Test is you can just keep coming up with more and no one, our Supersonicsoulselves included, ever, ever has to go on record saying the Sonics are any good and risk having to retract some ludicrous statement like...

"Seattle SuperSonics: NBA Champs 2004-2005!"

I bet Pistons fans would have been pegged as crazy if they said anything like that about their team this time last year. Just sayin'...

Glory Days

Am I the only one out there who’s wondering what the heck is going on in Seattle? How in the world can a 37-win team have the 2nd-best record in the league? Have they sold their souls?

Let’s look at the numbers.

From last season to this, the Sonics are amazingly consistent in almost all statistical categories. Much has been made about the improved rebounding, but in actual fact the Sonics are only averaging one more board this season than they did last year. Passing? Nope, Seattle’s getting three fewer assists in 04-05. Steals? Blocks? No to both of those. How about fouls, surely the Sonics are being smarter with the refs? Um, no, the Supes are hacking the other team an extra five times a game.

Ah, shooting, that must be it, right? Well, the Sonics are shooting 46.5% this year as opposed to 44.6% last year, which is a significant improvement, but since they’re attempting three fewer shots a game, it’s pretty much a wash. The same goes for treys, where Seattle is averaging .5 fewer threes made per game.

Despite all that, the Sonics are averaging 6 ppg more this season.

Well, jeez, man, what are the Sonics doing better? Believe it or not, only three areas.

Free throws made, opposition rebounds, and opposition FT percentage.

The Sonics are making an extra six FTs every game over last season. There are four main benefactors: Fortson (+4.8 from last season’s 0), Lewis (+1.8), Daniels (+1.5), and Frodo (+1.5). The remainder of the team is only slightly off their results from last year, meaning these four guys have made the difference.

The second area, rebounds, is even more extreme. Last year, Sonic opponents averaged 42 boards a game. This year? 32, a difference of 10 rebounds every game. It means the Sonics are averaging eight more rebounds than their opponents each night.

Thirdly is opposition FT percentage. Last year, opponents shot 77% at the line, making 19.1 per game. This year, it’s at 70%, making 18.4 per game. That’s costing opponents almost two points per game, a significant number.

Can the Sonics keep it up? Well, the FTs are something the Sonics should continue to do well. The rebounds, though, are doubtful. Being that the Pistons, certainly one of the top rebounders in the league, only averaged two more boards than their foes last season, it is unlikely the Supes could keep up a pace of four times that for the rest of the season. And, of course, it is very unlikely that Sonic opponents will continue their Reggie Evans impersonations at the foul line, unless Coach McMillan has telekinetic powers that he has – up till now – decided to keep under wraps.

To paraphrase Robert Plant, “Sonics, your time is gonna come.”

Sonics stop the Grizz, 118-113

The Supes won their sixth in a row last night, coming back from 21 down late in the third to win 118-113 over the Grizz:

``It's a 48-minute game and we've talked about that,'' coach Nate McMillan said after watching his team outscore the Grizzlies 34-13 in the final period. ``We just wanted to get slowly back into the game, get a stop and score, get a stop and score. That's exactly what we did.''

from Yahoo!

With DaFort on DaBench (serving a one game suspension for a flying elbow drop to Chris Bosh's melon last Friday), the Sonics had to rely on their small guys, and they delivered. Ray Allen had 34, and Nussbaum's boy, Antonio Daniels, had 28. Oh, and how did Frodo do?

"Ridnour -- or whatever the hell his name is -- he knocked down a lot of shots, too," Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright said. "I think we got a little relaxed when we were up 20."

from the Seattle PI

(Just for the record, "whatever the hell his name is" scored 17 and had eight assists.)

Is it too early to get excited? Probably. Is that stopping me? Nope.

R.I.P. O.D.B.

From Reuters:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, whose criminal lifestyle and strange behavior overshadowed his work as one of the founding members of rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, collapsed and died in New York on Saturday, his record label said.

The artist, whose real name was Russell Jones, was found in a recording studio complaining of chest pains, a source told Reuters. Paramedics were called but were unable to save him. A spokeswoman said the cause of death was unknown.

"Russell inspired all of us with his spirit, wit, and tremendous heart," said a statement from Roc-A-Fella Records, the label founded by rapper Jay-Z. "The world has lost a great talent, but we mourn the loss of our friend."

In the hip-hop genre, where many performers attract the attention of the law and most spare no expense flaunting their extravagant lifestyles, Jones was in a class of his own.

Jones, who was in his mid-30s, fathered 13 children, according to Blender magazine. His other stage names included Dirt McGirt and Big Baby Jesus, the latter moniker inspired by his belief that "I always been Jesus."

Sonics edge Raptors, 88-87

Whew!

SEATTLE(AP) -- Antonio Daniels' driving 8-foot shot with 7.2 seconds left gave the Seattle SuperSonics an 88-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Vince Carter of the Raptors missed a driving reverse layup as time expired.

The Sonics (5-1) won their fifth consecutive game after a 30-point, season-opening road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ray Allen, who fouled out with 5:20 to go and the Sonics trailing 76-75, led his team with 29 points, including five 3-pointers.

Read the rest at Yahoo!

At the half: Sonics lead 48-34

In the first half, Ray Allen: 19 points, Vince Carter: 3. Supes up by 14.

Ray-Ray vs. Vinsanity!

After tonight's game, be sure to vote in our new poll:
Ray vs. Vince: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Sonics Clobber Kings, 108-78

"Mommy, the mean man took away my ball!"

Spank, crush, clobber... if the Sonics keep playing like this, I'm going to run out of adjectives!

SEATTLE (AP) -- Even Ray Allen is surprised at what the Seattle SuperSonics are doing.

Allen scored 20 points and Rashard Lewis added 18, leading the Sonics to their fourth consecutive victory, 108-78 over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Allen, a four-time All-Star, knows Seattle's roster isn't the best in the NBA, but he and his teammates are outworking the opposition.

``Every year you talk about who's going to win the championship and who's going to come in last place, but that's based on talent,'' Allen said. ``It's not who works the hardest, and who works the hardest is going to win a game every night.''

The Sonics, who won only 37 games last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight year, got 16 points and 13 rebounds from reserve power forward Danny Fortson. His inside presence has been a key to Seattle's 4-1 start.

Read the rest at Yahoo!

The Sonics started fast the last couple years, but it was mostly due to streaky shooting. This year, however, The Supes are winning because of (gasp!) defense and hustle. You know the Sonics are playing tough D when that big pussy Brad Miller starts bitching about Reggie Evans playing "dirty".

At the half: Sonics 53, Kings 39

The Kings are shooting .268 in the first half. Reggie Evans has 10 boards. Frodo has five assists and is 2-2 from three-point land. Life is good.

Sonics crush Nuggets, 108-88

Danny "The Fortress" Fortson puts the clamps on Kenyon.

The Sonics Smackdown Express just keeps on a-rolling:

DENVER -- There was a team that didn't play much defense here last night.

A team that looked out of touch with its coach, resembled little more than a speed bump as its opponent raced to 100 points and was incapable of matching up with a strong breeze beneath the basket.

Sounds like the Sonics a week ago, right?

Not anymore. They have won three in a row after giving the Denver Nuggets the business end of the stick in a 108-88 skewering at the Pepsi Center last night.

Ray Allen scored 30 points, Rashard Lewis had 27, and the Sonics (3-1) led by double figures the final 17 minutes to win their third game in a row by 19 or more.

Read the rest at the Seattle PI

So, is this team for real, or are they just another early-season mirage for desperate Sonics fans like me?

Sonics Spank Spurs, 113-94

"Damn right I got the ball, bitch!"

Wow.

The Sonics cruised by the Spurs 113-94 last night. Yes, this is the same Sonics team that was picked by almost everyone to finish near the bottom of the NBA this season, that had their worst pre-season record in 20 years, and got waxed by the Clippers last week by 30 points.

Yes, those same Sonics shut down the perennial powerhouse Spurs by 19. The Supes looked good on both ends of the floor, shooting near 50 percent for the second game in a row, while holding Tim Duncan to 4-16 from the floor.

Danny Fortson had his best game as a Sonic, getting his first double-double of the year (15 points, 13 boards), and setting some bone-crushing picks on anyone dumb enough to get in his way.

Fortson wasn't the only Sonic on the hustle board. Jerome James got four blocks for the second game in a row, and I swear to god, I saw Ray Allen diving for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter with his team up by twenty.

I know it's early in the season, but... wow.

Sonics win suckfest

"Gimmie that ring, Frodo!"

In a battle of two of the suckiest teams in the NBA, the Sonics stepped up and put the smackdown on Atlanta, 106-85 last night at The Key.

After getting their gills handed to them Wednesday by the Clippers, the Sonics came out last night looking to put the hurt on someone, even if that someone was the lowly Hawks.

Like an abused child who turns into the playground bully, the Supes kicked Atlanta to the ground and stole their lunch money. Despite a slow start (actually, a slow first three quarters), The Sonics played defense like Ye Olden Days, highlighted by a career-best five blocks from Rashard Lewis (Yes, that Rashard Lewis!).

Are the Gods of Basketball© finally listening to Nate's defensive prayers? Will this new found toughness carry on tomorrow against the Spurs? Probably not, but it beats the hell out of losing to The Clippers.

Sonics get Clipped, 114-84

Ouch.

If there's one thing we pride ourselves in here at Supersonicsoul, it's our brutal honesty. And the brutal, honest truth is I stopped watching this game at halftime:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bobby Simmons scored a career-high 30 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Seattle SuperSonics 114-84 to win their season opener for the first time in eight years.

The win also was the most lopsided in an opener in franchise history for the Clippers. Their previous most one-sided victory to start a season was a 133-112 win over Milwaukee in 1976, when the Clippers were the Buffalo Braves.

Read the rest at Yahoo!

Not only was it a Clippers record, but it was the worst opening night loss for The Sonics since 1977.

Still, I feel a little bad for turning the game off. I should've been there for the team on opening night. When the team's down to the Clippers by a couple dozen, though, and you just got the Buffy: Season Five box set from the library... I mean, really, which would you rather watch?

(If anyone out there DID actually watch the entire game, please share your thoughts. It's part of the healing process.)

Halftime...

The all-new Sonics "D" held the Clippers to "only" 60 points in the first half. Seattle trails by 19 heading into the second half.

Oh yeah, and Craig Ehlo sucks.

Game One: A Bad Start

8:00 left in the 1st quarter, Sonics down 8-0 already...to the Clippers!