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!

Sonics on TV tonight. Woo.

Say hello to our new (fake) dance team!

The Seattle Supersonics close out their pre-season tonight against the Portland Trailblazers at Key Arena. Because most of the roster is injured, The Sonics will be starting only three players: Damien Wilkens, Mateen Cleaves, and Squatch.

The "game" will be shown on FSN tonight, and I will be watching because I am too stupid not to.

New kids on the block.

There's a new Supersonics fan site in town : Sonics Nation. So go check them out already, will ya?!

Could it get any worse? (Don't answer!)

Couldn't we just bubble-wrap him?

Add another name to the Sonics' mile-long injured list.

Ray Allen sat out last night's 117-91 exhibition loss to the Lakers. At first, it was believed he might be sitting to avoid any more Kobe-Gate incidents, but it turns out he might actually be hurt:

A few around the Lakers wondered if Allen's injury was legitimate, but unfortunately for the Sonics, it likely will keep Allen out of tonight's game in Phoenix, and he may not play again until the regular-season opener Nov. 3.

Allen didn't practice Sunday because of a sore lower back, an injury that has caused him to miss as many as two workouts since the start of training camp.

read the rest at Yahoo!

Sonics' forwards stuck in reverse.

No wonder he can't shoot: He's only got 3 fingers!

Going into the preseason, everyone knew the Sonics had a mammoth, Benoit Benjamin-sized hole in their frontcourt. Now, with Rashard Lewis injured, Vladimir Radmanovic missing shots, and newly acquired Danny Fortson on the "too flabby to play" list, that hole has turned into a... well, something bigger than a hole:

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Nick Collison and Vladimir Radmanovic were picked at the same number in the draft, chosen No. 12 overall by Seattle, albeit two years apart.

They were both born in 1980, and at times share the number on the floor, playing the "four" which is basketball-coach code for the power-forward position.

Collison and Radmanovic shared one more number this weekend in San Antonio: zero. As in oh-fer since neither made a field goal in Seattle's loss to the Spurs, a less-than-encouraging sign for two players figured to be prominent parts of Seattle's frontcourt rotation. Just where they'll fit into that rotation is a question looming beyond tonight's preseason game against the Lakers at the San Diego Arena.

Read the rest in today's Seattle P.I.

Sonics Put Bad Foot Forward?

Sonics' forward Rashard Lewis has a bum wheel, and he could miss half the season. Ouch.

Rashard Lewis has missed three practices and two preseason games in the week since he was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

He was out again yesterday and still doesn't know when he might be able to play again. In fact, no one does, which is precisely what makes it such a difficult situation, said Sonics coach Nate McMillan.

"That's exactly what is hard about it," McMillan said. "What I've experienced with that injury is you don't know how long it will take to get better."

Lewis went through a shooting workout on Monday and said his foot was sore and tender afterward. He was told yesterday by Mike Shimensky, the team's trainer, that he probably won't be ready to play on Saturday against San Antonio, and McMillan said it wouldn't be a problem if Lewis missed the remaining four preseason games.

Plantar fasciitis kept Wally Szczerbiak out the first 3 1/2 months last season as he missed 44 games. The injury bothered Mateen Cleaves for half a season in Sacramento, getting so severe he couldn't walk without limping.

Read the rest in the Seattle P.I.

They are the champions, my friend.

"I'm not sure what it is, but we won it!"

A much belated congrats is due to the Seattle Storm, who did something last week no Seattle team has done since 1979: win a championship.

Meanwhile, our beloved Sonics (You know, the other Seattle basketball team?) lost their third straight pre-season game, 100-84, to the Utah Jazz last night.

Hmmm. I wonder what the NBA/WNBA policy is regarding inter-gender trades? Maybe Jerome James for Betty Lennox?

Sonics Open Preseason Tonight

Frodo is ready to RAWK!

The Sonics open their preseason tonight against the Shaq-less Lakers. The game will be heard tape-delayed on KJR-AM after the Storm game (insert snide remark here).

This will be the first chance to see (or hear, I guess) newly signed Danny Fortson and Ibrahim Kutluay, and rookies Robert Swift and David Young in action.

After last year's preseason ankle injury, let's hope Ray Allen doesn't see ANY action tonight. In fact, I'd feel a lot better if they kept him in bubble-wrap until the real season starts.

You Go, Girl(s)!

Betty Lennox carried the Storm (and the ball) on Sunday.

Say what you will about the quality of the WNBA, but the Storm did two things on Sunday that our beloved Sonics haven't done in ages: sell out the Key, and win a meaningful game:

SEATTLE, Oct. 10 (Ticker) -- Betty Lennox won her shootout with Nykesha Sales and extended the WNBA Finals to a decisive game.

Lennox scored 27 points as the Seattle Storm survived a record-setting performance by Sales and held on for a 67-65 victory over the Connecticut Sun that evened the WNBA Finals at one game each.

Read the rest here.

I know my two colleagues have been dissing The Storm, but if they win their next game, Seattle will have it's first sports championship since 1979. And that, surely, is worth raising The Goblet of Rock.