Game Night #17: Utah

The Canadian Mounties just informed me that Nussbaum was too high to write tonight's Supersonicsoul Pre-Game Show©, so I'm going to have to make this a Supersonicsoul Pre-Fourth Quarter Show© :

At the end of the third, Sonics lead the Jazz 85-82.

Big Prediction of the Night: Carlos Boozer is going to score at least 40 points (because he already has 32 points!).

Fortson: Friend or Foe?

"I think it's time for an intervention, Fort."

It's no secret that the Supersonicsoul Crew© has got much love for Danny Fortson. Da Fort has added muscle and toughness to the otherwise wallflower Sonics. Kinda like that "My Bodyguard" movie. And, like the bodyguard in that movie, Fort is a little bit nuts, and some of his teammates have taken notice:

PORTLAND — The Sonics pride themselves on their unselfishness and team unity, but in the wake of blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, several players expressed a growing disdain toward Danny Fortson and his antics, which might have cost them a game they believed they should have won.

They love his defensive aggressiveness and the way he gobbles up rebounds, but it's times like last night, when Fortson gets drawn into a verbal confrontation with the opposition and refuses to walk away, that his teammates shake their heads in disgust.

Read the rest of Percy Allen's column in The Seattle Times.

So, what do you think? Is Da Fort worth the risk, like a Bulls-era Rodman? Or is he a team-busting cancer, like a Lakers-era Rodman?

Sonics slip in Portland, 100-94

Damn you, Portland!

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Shareef Abdur-Rahim methodically stayed with his game and didn't let the theatrics get to him.

Abdur-Rahim scored 25 points and was 10-for-10 from the free-throw line to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a come-from-behind 100-94 victory over Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday night.

The Sonics, who entered with a league-best 13-2 record and a four-game winning streak, but unraveled after taking a 13-point lead in the second half. Trash talk, technicals and a couple of key flagrant fouls aided the disintegration, and Danny Fortson was ejected.

All the while, Abdur-Rahim kept his cool.

Read the rest at Yahoo!

Game Night # 16

Back in my halycon college days, I was the only Sonic fan in a university full of Blazermaniacs. It was the time of Clyde the Glide, Mercy, Mercy Jerome Kersey, and Rip City. It was also the time of the rebirth of the Sonics, with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton leading the Supes to the brink of greatness. I vividly remember the Sonics knocking off the Blazers to force a Game 5 in either '91 or '92, enabling me to blare Pearl Jam's "I'm Still Alive" at full blast throughout the dorm. The bloom has come off the Rose City, though, with the Blazers mired in scandal (bad) and mediocrity (worse). The team that sold out every game for decades has now become almost persona non grata in the Portland, and I could not be happier. Seattle hasn't won in Portland in two years, but with a 13-2 record that could change tonight.

Good Sign: The Sonics have only lost once since Opening Night.
Bad Sign: The Blazers are - as always - a weird team. They've also won 3 of 4, including a sweep in Florida of Orlando and Miami.

Questions: How is Theo Ratliff's back? Will Darius Miles' grouchiness about playing time affect his team? How is Rashard's sore left elbow? Who will shut down Zach Randolph?

Notes: Randolph has 7 double-doubles this year ... "Well, it was a win," said Mo Cheeks after Portland's 83-71 triumph over New Jersey recently ... Former Sonics Richie Frahm and Vladimir Stepania are sidelined with "injuries"; I think Ibowho Kutluay has got the same virus ...

Vegas line: Blazers by 1 1/2
Over/Under: 183
Prediction: Sonics 99 - Blazers 92
Record Against the Spread: 6-3

Go "Sonocs"!

Gee, I wonder why no one has bid on this ?

"It looks good when off and even more lovely when turn on, bright enough to shine up your whole room with eye-catching!"

Hurry "Sonocs" fans - this auction ends soon!

Sonics punish Pacers, 103-95

Rashard blocks the hell out of Croshere's weak-ass attempt.

Well, they didn't cover my spread, but the Sonics still managed to beat Indiana, 103-95, last night at the Key.

Seattle won despite another gutsy effort by the short-handed Pacers, who lost three starters in the aftermath of "Pummel-Gate". Pacers guard James Jones, making like (a not-hideously-ugly) Reggie Miller, scored a career-high 27 points, including six three-pointers.

Rashard Lewis came back from a shoulder injury three days ago to lead the team with 22 points and four blocks. 'Shard was one of six Sonics who scored in double-digits.

Seattle improved their NBA-best record to 13-2 and a perfect 7-0 at home. This is the Sonics' best start since '93-94. If this team turns out to be half as good as that one, we're in for one hell of a ride.

Game Night #15: Pacers

Well, Nussbaum usually writes these pre-game reports, but he's off doing whatever godless Canadians do on Sundays. So, here's the Paul-version of the Supersonicsoul Pre-game Show© :

Uh... Sonics play the Pacers tonight. It's a home game. The Pacers don't, like, have any players because they all got suspended or something, but they still have one of the best records in the league. Go figure.

My prediction: Sonics 248 Pacers 4
My record this season: 0-14
Stupid Question of the Night: Whatever happened to Rik Smits?

Go Sonics!

Sonics nix Nets, 92-79

It's a good time to be a Sonics fan.

The Supes clobbered the Nets tonight, 92-79, at the Key. Seattle blew the doors off the place right from the start, leading 21-8 after the first quarter, and were up by 21 at the half.

Danny Fortson had a huge game for the Sonics, coming off the bench for 20 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite poor shooting (.395 from the field), and a third quarter comeback by the Nets, Seattle hung on to improve their NBA-best record to 12-2 and 6-0 at home (and 1-0 when dressing like the Golden State Warriors).

The Sonics play the depleted Pacers at home on Sunday.

Game Night # 14

You wouldn't have thought at the end of last season that the Nets would have lost 7 in a row and the Sonics would have the best record in the NBA, but, in the words of Joaquin Andujar, "Youneverknow." To say the Nets are struggling is to say Ben Affleck's movie career is struggling. They're so bad a guy with one good kidney, not even his own, wants out of town. They're so bad, fans are calling for the return of Dennis Hopson.

Good Sign: The Sonics drove Hubie Brown into retirement - is Lawrence Frank next?
Bad Sign: The Nets were able to get the Sonics to play at their crappy level in their hideousnessfest last week.

Questions: Will either team crack 90 points? Will the Sonics' alternate unis be their undoing? Is all yellow ever a good fashion choice for anyone but Corazon Aquino?

Notes: A rumor on the net has the Sonics showing interest in Vince Carter. Can't imagine what reason they would have. ... George Karl is rumored to be a possibility to replace Hubie Brown in Memphis ... Ray Allen had a case of bronchitis recently, the possible cause of his recent poor shooting ... Flip Murray isn't expected back for Sunday's game ...

Vegas line: Sonics by 12
Over/Under: 179 1/2
Prediction: Sonics 91-Nets 78
Record Against the Spread: 5-3

Sonics gouge Grizzlies, 93-84

"Excuse me young man, have you seen my Jheri-Curl?"

O.K., maybe "gouge" is a bit much. More like "escape with their lives".

Despite poor shooting and tired legs, the Sonics pulled out a 93-84 victory in Memphis tonight, improving their league-best record to 11-2 for the year.

The Sonics couldn't buy a shot in the first half, and looked every bit like a team on the tail-end of a six-game road trip. Luckily, the Grizzlies were in even worse shape, missing Pau Gasol, James Posey, and Stromile Swift to injuries.

After a slow start, the Sonics roared back to take a 14-point lead in the third. The Grizz made a good run late in the fourth, cutting the lead to two with six minutes to go in the game, but the Supes hung on for the win.

There was a scary moment for Sonic fans in the fourth, when Ray Allen went down with a sprained ankle. He returned to finish the game, however, as the entire city of Seattle gave out a collective "Whew!".

Game Night # 13

I give up. I know I could keep churning out negativity, saying there's no way Rashard can keep it up, that Ray Allen's a poser ... but, man, after last night's game, I'm not just on the bandwagon, I'm driving the frickin' horses. Danny Fortson sitting on Kevin Garnett? Rashard posting people up? Are you kidding me? In the immortal words of Jimmy Johnson, "How 'bout them Sonics!"

Good Sign: Beating the Timberwolves, San Antone, and Sac-town will qualify.
Bad Sign: The Grizzlies are better than their record, and led the Sonics by 20 in their first meeting before Seattle rallied to win 118-113.

Questions: Can the Griz survive without Gasol? Can Bonzi Wells continue his strong play? Will Rashard continue to impress?

Notes: Daniels had his best game of the season against Memphis a week ago (28 points) ... Kudos to Fort, et al for holding Garnett in check last night (16 points!) ... Only 2 NBA players have A:TO ratio of higher than 5; AD and Brent Barry ... Danny Fortson is tied for the league lead in T's (5) and fouls per game (5.1). Keep on bangin', Fort.

Vegas line: Grizzlies by 4 1/2
Over/Under: 197 1/2
Prediction: Sonics 102-Grizzlies 95
Record Against the Spread: 4-3

Breaking News: Supplemental Alternate Every-Other Sunday Road Uniform Variants Unveiled

And there you have it:


Sorry, no pinstripes, Hank. Nothing radical like Dirk's ensemble below, but it coulda been worse.