Warrior

Don't know if anyone else saw this, but Saturday night the Suns and Warriors engaged in a classic, 1980s style shootout in Oakland. You can see the box score here, but the agate doesn't do the game justice. You had Stoudamire playing like a man possessed, the arena was thundering, G.S.W. shooting 70% in the 4th quarter - it was fantastic.

Five things I learned from watching that game:

1. Steve Nash couldn't stay in front of a parade of disabled World War II vets;
2. Mickael Pietrus will never have a game like that again;
3. Zarko Cabarkapa is Vlade Radmanovic at a third the price;
4. Adonal Foyle just could be worth all the coin he's getting;
5. The Golden State Warriors are going to be fierce next year.

I've given Chris Mullin slack for some of his moves this season, but getting Baron Davis was genius. It's a shame the Warriors aren't going to make the playoffs, because they are easily one of the 3 best teams in the West right now.

Carnival of the NBA

Matt Bernhardt of the excellent Bulls Blog has started a new feature called "The Carnival of the NBA", which highlights different NBA Blogs from around the world (well, North America, anyway). Since he (and many others) have been kind enough to feature our humble Sonics Blog, I thought it was time to return the favor.

So, without further ado (whatever the hell that means), I present to you this week's CARNIVAL OF THE NBA:

- Over at Bulls Blog, Matt asks for a moment of silence for fallen rookie Luol Deng.

- Jeff from Celtics Blog speculates on Boston's possible playoff opponents.

- Over at Knickerblogger, they're comparing the Knicks recent play to the Flat Earth Society, while my other favorite Knicks blog, Larry Fleisher's "Father Knickerbocker", features a piece on Jason Kidd's recent dissing of the Knicks.

- Keven, from Maverick Blog, cranks out the stats to show who the best defenders in the NBA are.

- Kurt runs down the week in Laker-Land at Forum Blue and Gold.

- GH claims that the T-Wolves aren't dead yet!

- Matthew bemoans the loss of Tim Duncan at the Spurs Blog, while dropping lyrics from my favorite band.

- Scott (creator of the best looking basketball blog in the world, Raptor Blog) talks about Toronto's "matador defense".

- Ron Hitley, from Hornets247, has a brand new feature on his site called "Baselines". So go check it out, already!

- David Eisenberg laments the loss of Big Shaq Diesel Daddy Dude at Crazy from the Heat.

There are probably dozens of other great NBA blogs that I missed, so if I forgot your site, feel free to hit me upside the head.

Game Night: Lake Show

Is tonight the night the Sonics clinch a Northwest Division title? The Magic 8 Ball on my desk says yes, and who am I to argue?

The Sonics haven't swept the Lakers since 00-01, but with AD, Rashard, and Radman out with injuries, even this seemingly easy game looks difficult. Still, the Lakers are 11-26 on the road, Kobe's at less than full strength, Lamar Odom will be watching from the bench, and Los Angeles is obviously playing out the string. I'll take the Sonics and give the 9 1/2 points.

On a more interesting note, this comes from George Karl in Marc Stein's NBA column at espn.com:

"So much of what has happened here reminds me of when I went to Seattle," Karl told us on Tuesday night's NBA Nation, recalling his first playoff series as Sonics coach against another team (Golden State) that had fired him. "There's so much karma between the two situations that I think that's where destiny is pushing it."

Curious George is referring to the possibility of a Sonics-Nuggets first-round matchup. Now, this is going to sound strange, but watching George matched up with Wally Walker gives me mixed emotions. I love the Sonics like a fat man loves donuts, but I can't say I feel the same towards Walker, especially the way he torched a championship team of its 3 main ingredients (Karl, Payton, and Kemp). Anyone else a little conflicted about this possible matchup?

Reigned Out

The increasingly sad and bizarre Shawn Kemp story continues in this column by the P.I.'s Robert L. Jamieson:

The big city sports star was lost in a constellation of booze, clinging to a fraying string of fame.

"Don't you know who I am?" he asked a woman who happened to sit next to him in a Belltown bar a few months ago.

The pretty woman shook her head.

"I'm the Reign Man," the gentleman boomed, a bucket hat slung low over his head like an uneasy crown.

"The weather man?" replied the woman. She thought the guy was a meteorologist or something.

Read the rest here.

I am so depressed. If this keeps up, we're going to be talking about how levelheaded Danny Fortson is!

In related news, it turns out Kemp got busted about a mile away from my house. I can't believe he was in my neighborhood and didn't even stop by - how rude!

Dare We Ask?

This is going to sound crazy coming from a Sonic blog, but I'm going to say it nonetheless.

I hope the Sonics lose tonight.

I know, it's blasphemy, but of the following three teams, who would you rather play in the 1st round: Houston (Yao! T-Mac!), Denver (17-2 since the break), or Sac.?

That's what I thought. And, with Denver and Houston both within 2 games of the Kings and only a week to go, maybe the Sonics ought to give Sacramento a helping hand toward locking down that #6 slot.

So, if Mac-10 is reading this, don't worry about Rashard missing the game, give Ray some rest, and how 'bout taking a look at that Swift kid?

Breaking News: Reign Man Reigned In

"Turn to the right..."

Story forwarded to me by alert reader, B. Soto. Thanks, B!

Not an April Fool's joke. Unfortunately.

Kings Preview, Part II

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m all for the big hype. Boxing, football, playoffs, whatever the game, the more hype preceeding it means the more excitement in watching it. That said, here’s a detailed look at the Kings’ roster, who I expect the Sonics to face in the first round, starting with the guards.

GUARDS
Mike Bibby
I spoke a bit about Bibby on Thursday, but as he’s the absolute catalyst for this team, he bears a bit more scrutiny. According to 82games, the Kings lose 6 points per 48 minutes when he’s off the court, and gain 3.5 points when he’s on. Bibby can take it to the hoop or launch from the outside with equal ease, and he obviously stands out from Frodo in this aspect. However, the rest of his game is really not that much better than Ridnour’s. Bibby has been stellar in the playoffs, averaging 18 points and providing more than his share of clutch baskets. His 3-point and FT percentages are higher in the playoffs than the regular season, meaning anyone waiting for him to choke is going to have to be extremely patient. He’s suffered from a sore right ankle this year, but it’s nothing that should inhibit him come playoff time. His defense is less than stellar, especially on the ball, something Frodo may be able to take advantage of.

Against the Sonics: 17 ppg, 5 apg, 4 rpg, 13% 3-points
Entire year: 20 – 7 – 4, 37%

Cuttino Mobley
Acquired in exchange for Doug Christie earlier this season, Mobley’s posted impressive stats with the Kings since the trade. That said, the Kings actually play better with him on the bench, at least on the defensive end. With Mobley sitting, the Kings allow 3 fewer points per 48 minutes as opposed to when he’s playing, and the team’s offense doesn’t change regardless of if he’s wearing a warmup jersey. Mobley likes to put the ball up early in the shot clock, so the Sonics would be wise to make sure to find him in transition defense. In his limited playoff experience, Mobley put up some good numbers for the Rockets (14-5-3) in their first-round loss to the Lakers last year. The Kings occasionally use Mobley at SF, with Jackson/Bibby in the backcourt, but he will get the majority of his minutes at the 2. He went crazy against the Sonics from long-range in their game in February, hitting on 6 of 11 from 3-point range. Of course, Ray Allen lit Cuttino up in turn, scoring 34 on his end.

Against the Sonics: 18 ppg, 3 apg, 3 rpg, 41% 3-points, 40% overall FG
Entire year: 17 – 4 – 3, 45% 3-point


Bobby Jackson
Jackson has been sidelined since January with a bum left wrist, and many in Sac are starting to wonder if the injury is as bad as he says it is. Jackson incurred the ire of King fans last post-season with his less-than-frenetic play. He chalks it up to injuries, and says he won’t return to the lineup until he’s at 100%. All that said, you might wonder why so many make such a big deal about the 6th man on a team that’s fading from the playoff picture. Here’s why. When Jackson got hurt the Kings were 17-7. Today, they’re 45-30, meaning in the interim they’ve gone 28-23. Put another way, if the Kings had maintained the pace they set with Jackson in the lineup, they’d be 53-22 right now, or three games better than the Sonics. A lightning-quick player with a never-ending stream of energy, Jackson is very capable of taking the ball to the hole, and the thought of him matched up against Frodo’s matador defense has any Sonic fan worried sick. Jackson has been a key player in the Kings’ playoff success of the past 3 years, and if he returns for the post-season, it will be a definite blow to the Sonics’ chances.

Against Seattle: 10 ppg in 21 mpg
Season: 12 – 3 – 2, 85% FT

The Rest
Eddie House
House put up some decent numbers earlier this year in Charlotte, before moving on to the Kings by way of Milwaukee. Now on his 5th team in 4 years, House was a standout performer at Arizona State, averaging 23 ppg his senior year. At 6’1”, he’s a bit small for a 2-guard, and Ray Allen should have no trouble finding his range with House in his face. When paired with Jackson (6’1”) or Bibby (6’2”), the Kings will have difficulty containing Allen. Don’t expect House to score anything in the paint beyond fast-break opportunites; 90% of his shots come from the outside.

Maurice Evans
After 3 years out of the league, Evans has found a role on the Kings in the absence of Jackson. At 6’5”, Evans is an exceptional rebounder for a guard, has no trouble scoring anywhere on the floor, and could see time at both guard spots and the 3. If Rashard is healthy, don’t expect to Evans matched up with him, though, unless Rick Adelman has designs on playing golf a little earlier than usual this offseason.

Kevin Martin
The “other” K-Mart, he’ll likely be very comfortable on the bench in the playoffs. Other than the month of January, Martin has been seeing most of his action from the sidelines. When he did play, Martin (6’7”) spent his time at the 2 and 3 slots, and the rookie from Western Carolina showed he’s not much of a foul shooter or a 3-point bomber.

Hall of Crap

The Basketball Hall of Fame has done it again. I wrote about this before, but this is beyond the ignoring of Artis Gilmore. Today the Hall announced the inductions of Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim. Guess who got left out?

Dominique Wilkins.

I'm sorry, but this is beyond ridiculous. Apparently, Lynette Woodward, Dino Meneghin, Aleksandar Nikolic, Antonio Diaz-Miguel, and Denise Curry are not only more worthy than the A-Train, they're more worthy than the Human Highlight Film. The man who ranks in the top ten ALL-TIME in points scored in the NBA.

Folks, there's a train leaving for Springfield, MA tomorrow and I expect all of you to join me with a bag full of (EDITED). Cuz any Hall without 'Nique doesn't deserve to stand any longer.

(Editor's note: While we at Supersonicsoul love 'Nique in a deep and heterosexual way, and are outraged at his exclusion from the Hall of Fame, we would never in any way condone violence. Except for the time Danny Fortson sat on Brad Miller. -Paul)

Return of the Reign Man

Shawn Kemp, the cornerstone of the Seattle Supersonics during the 1990’s, is returning to the team where it all began.

Kemp, 36, signed a 10-day contract with the Sonics Friday morning. Kemp was an all-star for the Sonics from 1993-97, before being traded to Cleveland in 1998, where his career took a quick, downward spiral. Plagued by drug, alcohol, and weight problems, the man once called “a 6’11 Jordan” vanished from the league without a trace.

While most people assumed the NBA legend was gone for good, Kemp was secretly training with Shaolin Monks in an underground warehouse in Seattle, beneath the old Chubby and Tubby site on Aurora Avenue, living on a strict diet of raw meat and pig’s blood. After withstanding the monk’s grueling regiment, Kemp was declared “fit for duty” last week, and signed with the team this morning, just in time to make the playoffs.

To make room on the roster for Kemp, Vitaly Potapenko was beheaded in a ritualistic sacrifice. Team owner Howard Shultz said it was part of the “deal with Satan thingy”.

Playoffs R Us!

We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.
-- Aesop (620-560 BC)


Anyone else ever have a birthday where you didn’t exactly get what you were hoping for? I remember one year where instead of a caseload of Topps baseball cards I got a matching sweat suit. Maroon, I think.

Well, that’s kind of how I’m looking at the playoffs this year; equal parts anxiety and zeal. Mix in the fact that the Sonics will likely draw the Kings in the first round, a team that has weathered all sorts of injuries and turmoil this year, and my anxiety dial ratchets up to 11.

Let’s look at these Kings, then, in the first part of what I hope to be a series of articles on who the Sonics can expect to face in the playoffs this spring.

----

These are not the Kings of five years ago, a team so deep that they inspired fans to wear “Da Bench Mob” t-shirts in honor of their substitutes. With Bobby Jackson sidelined with a sprained left wrist, Brad Miller out with a broken leg until the 2nd round of the playoffs, Chris Webber in Philly, and Vlade in L.A., Mike Bibby has been forced to pick up the slack.

And while he’s been a rock for the team since Webber was dealt, Bibby’s minutes are approaching a Latrell Sprewell-in-Golden State level. After never playing more than 36 mpg in any season in Sac, Bibby’s at 39 this season, and above 40 over the past two months. After an incredible February that saw him average 26 ppg on 49% shooting, Bibby has crashed back to earth, averaging 19 points on 39% shooting in March (including 30% from beyond the arc).

While Bibby is helped by Cuttino Mobley’s offense, he sorely needs someone to come of the bench and provide him with some rest. Recently, that player has been Eddie House, a decent long-ball threat but not the spark that Jackson has been throughout his career.

Here’s some numbers. In their past four games, the Kings have gotten the following point totals from their bench: 17, 20, 11, 16. Compare that to the Sonics over the same four-game span: 36, 27, 42, 18.

Now, that’s an admittedly small sample size, and the Lakers never got a bunch of scoring from their bench in the midst of three consecutive titles, but even when he’s healthy, Brad Miller ain’t Shaq, and Mike Bibby isn’t Kobe Bryant (ed. note: insert joke here).

To me, the Sonics’ depth speaks to their ability to withstand foul trouble and injuries. If Ray Allen misses a game, Flip Murray steps up. When Rashard goes down, Wilkins comes in and takes charge. For crying out loud, does anyone even remember what Radmanovic even looks like?

Even better for the Sonics, the Kings are a team with high expectations, and after a dismal showing in the playoffs last season and pulling a 6 in the playoffs this go-around, some in Sac are getting a little antsy.

Add in the fact the Sonics are 3-0 against the Kings this year, and you can’t blame the Sonics for wishing that Sac falls into their lap.

On Monday: A look at the Kings, player by player.
On Tuesday: How the Kings and Sonics match up.

Nate Dogg: Love Him Now

You can't deny it. He's a (gosh darn) rider.

Hold up, heyyyyyyyy
for my (contemporaries) who be thinkin we soft
We don't, playyyyyyy
We gon' rock it til the wheels fall off
Hold up, heyyyyyyyy
for my (peer group) who be actin too bold
Take a, seeaaaaaat
Hope you ready for the next episode

Item 1: ESPN NBA columnist Mark Stein endorses Nate McMillan's candidacy for Coach of the Year.

Item 2: Speaking of the next episode, THE SONICS JUST CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT.

Uh, contract extension?

~chunkstyle23

Oh That Danny! Part Three

Not only did the Sonics miss a chance to clinch a playoff spot in last night's home loss to the Wiz, they also missed Danny "What For?" Fortson due to (wait for it) his third suspension!

According to the Seattle Times, thing's have gotten so bad that Fortson may not play another game for the Sonics.

Oh that Danny, will he never win?