Monday, July 9
Summer League, Game Two
Another Summer League tilt tonight, and this time it’s the Knicks. Like every team in the Vegas League (motto: “Trying as hard as we can to train your young players while simultaneously seducing them with every evil known to man”), the Knicks have a multitude of Who’s That? guys, with a few Oh, I Know Him folks.
In the latter category, you’ll find Nate Robinson, of whom, as every New York newspaper will tell you, we Seattlites are in lust for even more than our flannel shirts, beards, cups of cappuccinos, and laptops. In fact, we’ll trade every player on our roster just to get the opportunity to bask in all 5’9” of Nate’s glory!
Please. The Sonics want Nate Robinson about as much as the Knicks do. I’ll let you read between the lines on that one.
Anyways, alongside the Mighty Mite are Renaldo Balkman and Randolph Morris, who would have been a first round pick last month if the Knicks hadn’t swiped him from college earlier this year.
Better yet, Olu Famutimi is listed on both teams’ rosters. From what I understand, it’s part of his agent’s plan to get him listed on all 30 rosters at some point this summer with the hopes that someone will forget that he’s there, he sneaks into the opening day roster, and then it’s all gravy from there. It’s really the American Dream for the 21st Century if you think about it – fame by association. If you think about it, there’s a little Olu Famutimi in all of us, isn’t there?
But enough about the flippin’ Knicks. How about the Sonics tonight? Well, Mickael Gelabale is supposed to be around after spraining an ankle and he should be a big help in providing some stability to the offense, which looked as erratic as could be expected in Friday’s opener. Unfortunately, Gelabale doesn’t play the point, where the Sonics were sorely lacking help on Friday. Here’s to hoping supersonicsoul favorite Zabian Dowdell was able to watch some Mo Cheeks classic video over the weekend and puts forth a better effort on tonight. We’re pulling for you, Little Z!
Elsewhere, Gary Washburn lists some possibilities for the vacant assistant coach positions for P.J. Carlesimo and informs us that Robert Swift has added a machine gun to the ever-growing artwork collections on his right and left arms. Watching Swift on the bench on Friday, he’s definitely bigger (270? Wow), and his hair might even be longer than before. Hard to believe he used to look like this. Quite frankly, if Swift broke his left leg and rolled up and down the court in a wheelchair, he’d still be an improvement over Sene and Petro. Man, did those guys stink it up on Friday or what?
As always, the game will be “broadcast” on nba.com (here’s the link). Game time is 7 pm. Hey, it’s going to be hot as hell today in Seattle (and Vancouver, as well), so why not grab yourself a nice glass of something cold and avail yourself of the best the internet has to offer?
About 5 guys on the Sonics full summer league list are Vegas only and about 5 are Salt Lake City only. Some guys who are longshots want to be seen two places.
ReplyDeleteHa! Chester "TRE" Simmons on the Knicks roster.
ReplyDeleteNate Robinson is a good friend ...
The Puget Sound Business Journal had a front page article in it's current addition saying that the Sonics can be profitable in Oklahoma City. It's worth reading if you haven't seen it.
ReplyDeleteTo Save this franchise, we need a groundswell to contact the legislature. I sent my e-mail, today.
ReplyDeleteNice article. What you seemed to have missed however, is that the Sonic's Olu Famutimi is listed as 6-5 220, while the Knick's version is 6-4 207. The conclusion is obvious: we are witnesses to a basketball cloning experiment. The NBA's falling ratings have finally done it, David Stern is finally desperate enough to clone star players in order to spark interest in the sport. He's making the smart choice of testing things out on an unknown player. As if that wasn't enough evidence, the Knicks bost a Olu sporting the number "30", while the Sonics feature Mr. Famultimi as #23.
ReplyDeleteYou heard it here: 2011 NBA champion Knicks win with a roster of Iverson, Kobe, Brand, Durant and Magic Johnson over a Celtics team of Ray, Pierce, Barkley, Ewing, and Spudd Webb.
Mike: Hadn't seen that article; since I'm not a subscriber, I can't access the complete story. Can you give us the gist of it?
ReplyDeleteBrian: Nice catch. Maybe Olu's agent is seeing if his client is more attractive as a leaner 6'4" guy, or a bulkier 6'5" guy. Tune in tomorrow when they change his name to Famutimi Olu, just to mix things up some more.
They are not real good about posting their content online. I might have to copy the article and paraphrase from it.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, call your legislator. It can only help!
Don't forget fish tossing Seattle fans! Every time they show a MNF game or nationally televised game from Seattle all we see are fish tossed at Pike Place Market.
ReplyDeleteWhen I try to watch the game I keep on getting the feed for the Cleveland/Phoenix game. This happening to anyone else?
ReplyDeleteYep! The links are switched - try the Wolves - Hornets link...
ReplyDeleteIt's another anti-Seattle conspiracy!
ReplyDeletePlease, do not mention Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan together in the same sentence again.
ReplyDeleteEVER.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the game tonight but the lack of rebounding from Green and Durant is making me a little nervous. Green and Durant have a combined 6 rebounds in two games. For playing in the front court against semi-scrubs, it's unacceptable. Also, the fact that there is no blocks, one steal, and zero assists between the two of these guys, it's not a good sign for the coming season. Yes I realize that it is Summer league but still...
ReplyDelete-Dan
9-for-36 is bad.
ReplyDeleteAgree with anonymous Dan and Ben Q. Rock. 0 assists and 4 rebounds combined between Durant and Green is quite worrying. But then again, no one else on the team can score, so the coach is probably telling them to shoot away. Following their shots is probably the last thing on their minds when they're expected to carry the offensive burden of the whole team. At least we know Durant's not scared to shoot--that's gotta be worth something. 18 pts on 19 FGA. That's not too bad...
ReplyDeleteI was able to watch parts of the 1st half and entire second half. I think Durant is pressing a little too much. However, I'm not too worried about him. What was great about the game, at least the broadcast that I saw, was that we got the MSG network crew of Gus Johnson and Walt Frazor. They did a great job with the game and made a usually unwatchable summer league intriguing.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is clear, the Sonics are going to play defense this season. I saw them switch really well in the second half and I ever saw Petro completely shutdown Might Nate on a drive by stepping on an establishing a good defensive base. Nate jumped into him and bounce off like he his a wall. I saw Durant make an excellent block on Morris lay-up where he blocked it (more like deflected it) and the shot was off and went long of the rim right to Green. Also, I though Green's shot look better tonight and that Gerabale looked solid. And one last Durant note it's good to see him be aggressive and get to the foul line, because that's something Lewis didn't do enough of.
I really wouldn't worry too much about Summer League stats. Summer league is garbage.
ReplyDeleteI mean Shammond Williams was a summer league god. Shit, Master P got run in the summer league. Uhhhh
I have written to one of my legislators and posted an article on my blog http://www.mvbarer.blogpsot.com
ReplyDeleteThat is one crazy tattoo Laura Dern has there.
ReplyDelete...
What? That's NOT Laura Dern? Well, then who--?