With less than two weeks before the first game of the season, the Sonics look to be fulfilling the expectations of prognosticators around the country:
That is, they won't be very good this year.
A 20-point loss to the Lakers in Bakersfield last night highlighted: 1) the Sonics lack of an inside presence to stop bigger, stronger big man, especially with Bob Swift still recovering from his injury last year; 2) inconsistent play from young players; 3) some absolutely awful 3-point shooting.
It's ironic that a team known the past few seasons as a chuck-em-up group has totally transformed. Think about it: With whom on this team would you feel comfortable on a last-second 3? Durant? Wilkins? Quite a difference from year's past, when Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, or even Vlad Radmanovic were capable of sinking 5, 6, or 7 threes on a given night.
It's not all gloom and doom, though. Starting this weekend, if Percy Allen's intuition is correct, we'll be seeing more of the regular rotation and less of the free-for-all typical of pre-season games. I'm guessing that means more Nick Collison and Kurt Thomas and less of the French Connection. Seriously, whatever French fans of the Sonics remain, they might consider rooting for another team come November, because it does not appear Mickael Gelabale and Johan Petro are long for this roster.
I didn't need french players to become a Sonics Fan !
ReplyDeleteHaving two french guys was just a bonus, a bit disappointed for Gelabale though, I don't care at all about Petro.
I don't know why Gelly has fallen out of favor with the organization. My only thought is that because he is almost a replica of Damien Wilkins, the team is going with Wilkins because Damien is better right now. I think the best thing for Gelly is to get traded to another team where he'll get a chance to play, because I can't see him playing more than 2-5 minutes a night in Seattle, if that.
ReplyDeleteThings were looking pretty good until that 2nd unit came in, the Lakers were having problems w/ Wilcox.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think Collison would have helped in the interior, and we could have used West's outside touch.
Turiaf, Cook and Farmer were looking like all-stars.
But really, until Kobe went on his binge in the 3rd, we were in it.
Thomas looked really slow to me.
Good to see the Supes in action though!
Granted, I don't know enough about basketball to evaluate on-ball defense all that well, but from watching the game, I'd say Frodo should get the PG nod. The offense seemed to flow a little better, and was a heck of a lot more fun to watch.
ReplyDelete"Granted, I don't know enough about basketball to evaluate on-ball defense all that well, but from watching the game, I'd say Frodo should get the PG nod. The offense seemed to flow a little better, and was a heck of a lot more fun to watch."
ReplyDeleteThe point guard situation is a mess.
1. Earl Watson is a mediocre playmaker who occasionally takes ill-advised shots, but he nevertheless managed to shutdown Derek Fisher and Javaris Crittenton.
2. Luke Ridnour is a shitty one-on-one defender, as his only talent on defense is by gambling for steals while disrupting the passing lanes.
3. Delonte West is a natural shooting guard, which'll be an issue both offensively and defensively if he receives extended minutes at point guard.
Dammit, I miss Antonio Daniels.
"Turiaf, Cook and Farmer were looking like all-stars.
Thomas looked really slow to me."
Although Kurt Thomas is an experienced man-to-man defender along the high-post, he'll likely have trouble this season against finesse power forwards -- such as Brian Cook -- who've got a sweet shooting stroke.
I don't know why Gelly has fallen out of favor with the organization. My only thought is that because he is almost a replica of Damien Wilkins, the team is going with Wilkins because Damien is better right now.
ReplyDeleteThat, plus Gelabale looks like he's afraid to shoot.