As the Sonics continue to stumble through a difficult road trip, I'm reminded of David Halberstam's book "Summer of '49," which detailed the incredible 1949 season from the perspective of the Yankees and Red Sox.
One story in particular stayed with me. The Yankees' pitching staff had a term for when a starting pitcher was forced to stay in the game in order to preserve the overall health of the staff, even though said pitcher was getting hammered and losing badly. They called it "your turn in the barrel," in that it was going to kill your ERA and you had no chance of winning, but you did it regardless.
From my perspective, the last four games have been the Sonics' "turn in the barrel." Even in a best-case scenario - a healthy Ray Allen, Robert Swift, and Earl Watson - the Sonics would have struggled on this trip. But with all 3 of those folks MIA for some or all of the trip, the Sonics really didn't have much of a chance. It kills us as fans, but it happens in the NBA. There are trips that you just have no chance in and you just have to muddle through.
That turn in the barrel ends tonight, though, when the Sonics travel to Memphis. The Grizzlies are just that - they've lost 6 straight and are a 2-point win over the Celtics from a 10-game losing skid. Memphis is a terrible rebounding team, and Pau Gasol's return from injury has yet to pay dividends.
If ever there was a team ripe for a home loss, it's the Memphis Grizzlies. The Sonics MUST take care of business tonight, regardless of it being the 2nd of a back-to-back on the troad. A loss tonight would put this club in full-fledged desparation mode, and Chris Wilcox has to be able to take advantage of the weaker Grizzlies for a bona-fide 20-10 night. Luke Ridnour has to punish Mighty Mouse and look more like the guy who went for 26 and 9 assists against the Warriors than the imposter who went for 2 and 1 against the Cavs a couple of nights ago.
Otherwise, with the Mavericks coming to the Key on Wednesday, Christmas could start to get ugly for Bob Hill.
Amen. The Sonics should get this one tonight. A loss could propel this team into a freefall.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else wondering who the Sonics would pick up as the mystery "veteran big man" Frank Hughes was talkinga bout in the News Tribune today? Dale Davis was floated as a possibility ...
ReplyDeleteI thought we weren't going to blame any part of this pathetic showing on not having our wonderful center Swifty available? How soon we forget what a mediocre pre-season he had - he would have made zero difference on this team.
ReplyDeleteI agree - to a point. I think we've seen that Petro has been useful this season, and that the Sonics are in desparate need for somebody in the middle who can play some defense.
ReplyDeleteEverybody on the Sonics seems to think that Swift was further along than Petro, so if Petro's been decent, Swift would have done at least as well.
Still, you're right, Swift would not have made the difference between the Sonics making the playoffs this year - he's just not good enough yet. I just think that on long road trips against better teams, you need every piece in your arsenal, and the Sonics were -3 on this trip.
Apparently, Gelabale's channeling his inner Tony Parker tonight - he's got 8 points in 8 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:
ReplyDeletewww.americanlegends.blogspot.com
If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.
Thanks,
David
Hey, is that a fat chick I hear singing? Another fine showing from the Kansas City Sonics.
ReplyDeleteHey, I heard that the supes worked out Penny Hardaway yesterday. Any chance they might pick him up?
ReplyDeleteHow about Spreewell in Seattle? I have a feeling if he choked our coach that Hill out lay his ass out...