Game Night # 20

"While Duncan won't score 40 against the Sonics, I'd have to imagine he'll do better this time around."

That's what I wrote yesterday, and, sure enough, the Sonics held Duncan to 39 - and still smoked the Spurs. At this point, I've given up all hope of understanding this team. There is no way in God's green earth the Sonics should lead San Antonio in Texas by 20 points at halftime, unless Tim Duncan showed up in a Paris Hilton video and had to take some time off. Yet, sure enough, the Sonics did the same thing to the Spurs they've done to every team in the league - make them play the Sonics' game.

Seriously, is there any player in the league more valuable than Danny Fortson right now? Does any of this happen if the Sonics keep Booth and don't pick up the Fort? Certainly food for thought.

Good Sign: Mavs are 1-4 at home against teams with winning records.
Bad Sign: 2nd game of a back to back; the Diggler went for 50+ a few days ago.

Questions: How much will Finley play? Will Don Nelson continue using his "big lineup" of Erick Dampier, Nowitzki, and Alan Henderson?

Notes: "I feel like now, in the NBA, I'm basically auditioning for a job." - Ray Allen after last night's game in S.A. ... Maverick opponents have committed 50 loose ball fouls to 22 by Dallas. The Sonics are at 48-48 ... The Mavs take 42% of their shots within 0-10 seconds. The Sonics take only 32% that quick. ... In Dallas' clutch win over Minny 2 nights ago, their 3 most effective players were Stackhouse, Terry, and Henderson - all at +13 while on the court. ... Allen and Lewis aren't the only guys playing major (too major?) minutes this year. Nowitzki and Josh Howard are both averaging close to 40 mpg over the past 10 games ... Despite averaging close to 30 ppg, Nowitzki's FG % is hovering near 40% in the last couple of weeks ... The Sonics are the 3rd-best FT shooting team in the league at about 80% ... The next time someone tells you that the Sonics are winning because they "share the ball" more, tell them to check the numbers. Seattle ranks 25th in team assists. The worst team in the league? Dallas. ... Oh, and the Sonics also rank in the middle of the pack in team steals (18th), so quash that "team defense" nonsense while you're at it.

Vegas line: Dallas by 5 1/2
Over/Under: 202
Prediction: Sonics 108-Mavericks 102
Record Against the Spread: 8-3

Ehlo is Mint!

In case you missed it: Ehlo is Mint!

Sonics smack Spurs, 102-96

Is it safe to call the Sonics the best in the west now?

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Ray Allen scored 29 points, including a pair of 3-pointers late in the game, as the Seattle SuperSonics ended San Antonio's 21-game home winning streak with a 102-96 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night.

The game was a matchup of the NBA's winningest teams: San Antonio came in at 16-3 and riding an eight-game streak, while the SuperSonics were 15-3 and had won six of their last seven.

Seattle looked like a runaway winner early, using 58 percent shooting from the floor to build a 19-point lead at the half.

But the Spurs came out running after the break, and eventually whittled Seattle's lead to 83-81 on a reverse layup by Malik Rose with 6:36 remaining. Allen followed with a 3-pointer and Danny Fortson made two free throws and a layup to make it 90-81

Read the rest at Yahoo!

Game Night # 19

It's been a heckuva long time since a regular season game had this much intrigue for Sonic fans. The Spurs are clearly the best team in the West, yet if Seattle wins, it'll be the Sonics with the best record in the league, not San Antonio. Add in a 20-point whipping the Sonics laid on the Spurs a month ago, and you've got yourself a wonderful early Christmas present. Having seen the Spurs play at least four times on t.v. this year, I have to say they are one of the best teams I've seen in some time. San Antonio possesses the ability to turn it on seemingly at will, a characteristic of all championship teams. The key, of course, is holding Tim Duncan in check, which Seattle was successful at doing on Nov. 7th. While Duncan won't score 40 against the Sonics, I'd have to imagine he'll do better this time around.

Good Sign: Seattle had 6 players in double figures in the first meeting.
Bad Sign: San Antonio is undefeated at home this season, and has won 21 straight on their own court.

Questions: Is Duncan ready for the multiple defenders Seattle will throw at him? Can the Sonics keep it close in an unfriendly environment? Is this where the wheels begin to come off the cart for Seattle?

Notes: Brent Barry missed 17 consecutive 3's before connecting against Chicago on Monday. He's shooting 30% beyond the arc this year ... Tony Parker went for 21 back on Nov. 7 in Seattle, but Ridnour has really improved his defense since then ... The Spurs' 5 of Parker-Ginobili-Bowen-Duncan-Nesterovic is rated as 3rd-best in the league by 82games.com. Seattle's best 5 of Daniels-Allen-Lewis-Radmanovic-Fortson is rated 10th ... San Antonio is holding opponents to 40% shooting and only 24 FTA per game ... San Antonio's ratio of jumpers to close shots is 64% to 36%, while Seattle's is 70% to 30% ... Watch out for Devin Brown. The 4th-year SG has hit 11 of his last 18 3's and has scored in double figures in 5 of his last 6 games. It appears he has replaced Barry on the team's depth chart. ... I hate plugging people who give themselves nicknames, and I think he's a crappy, new-age type writer, but if you like reading about the Sonics on major websites, read Eric Neel's column.

Vegas line: Spurs by 10
Over/Under: 185 1/2
Prediction: Spurs 95 - Sonics 88
Record Against the Spread: 7-3

What do you want for Christmas?

Totally not Photoshopped at all. Much.

So, wondering what to get the Sonics fan who has everything? How about some official Supersonicsoul merchandise, designed by our very own Chunkstyle 23? The kids on the street are calling it both "phat" and "dope".

As for me, I'm still holding out for that free iPod. I only need two more people to "complete their offers" and that sweet little bit of digital goodness shall be MINE! BUH-HA-HA-HA!

What the duck?

That's one of my favorite Sam Perkins expressions, uttered in response to a strange question from a reporter. It is well applied to the Sonics' season so far, and is the subject of this article at hoopsanalyst.com by author Ed Weiland, wherein he looks at possible reasons for Seattle's success. Of course, he could have just read what I had written a month ago, but, well, that would just be petty, now, wouldn't it?

Sonics bag Blazers, 99-89

"Now it's your turn, girl, to cry..."

The Sonics are MINT, baby!

SEATTLE (AP) -- While many wait for the Seattle SuperSonics' great start to fizzle out, they're finding new ways to win.

With Ray Allen struggling from the field, Vladimir Radmanovic came off the bench to score 20 points and gather 10 rebounds as the SuperSonics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 99-89 Saturday night.

Rashard Lewis added 20 points for Seattle, which improved to 15-3 -- tied with San Antonio for the best record in the NBA.

from Yahoo!

Random Crap© from last night's game:

• The Sonics are a perfect 9-0 at home this year.
• Last night was the second straight sell-out at the Key.
• Rad-man lead the team with 10 rebounds. No, I'm not kidding.

Game Night #18: Blazers

And you thought Squatch sucked!

Revenge is a dish best served cold. Like ice cream!

The Supersonics are looking for a double-scoop of payback tonight against arch-rival Portand, who robbed the Supes of a win last week.

If you're looking to get your hate on too, check out Blazersuck.com for some goodtime Blazer-bashing.

Notes

Too lazy to write a coherent column about why the Sonics continue to confound me by winning, so here's some interesting news in Larry King-style format:

Nate McMillan has been named coach of the month. Nate's also moving up the charts historically. He now ranks fourth all-time in coaching wins for the Sonics. Can you name the top 3? ... The Nuggets could look at Ibo Kutluay as a replacement for the injured Voshon Lenard. The league has given Denver a $1.625 "disabled player exemption" for the cap, and Kutluay - among a host of other similar guards - would fill the role nicely for the Nuggets. I can't see it happening, though, as Kutluay is signed through next season and Lenard will be back by then. We can always hope, though. Lord, that Ibo move was a bone-headed one. ... Up to this point in the season, the best 5 for the Sonics, statistically, has been Daniels-Allen-Lewis-Radmanovic-Fortson. According to 82games.com, that group beats the other team more than 80% of the time. The ususal 5 of Ridnour-Allen-Lewis-Evans-James only wins 53%. ... As much as Fortson has been a godsend for this team, Radmanovic's efforts are as, if not more, important. Strangely, his stats are mirror images of last season's, yet he has had more of an impact statistically on the team's success than anyone else - including Ray Allen. ... Believe it or not, Seattle's making fewer 3's per game this year (8.52), than last year (8.82) ... Anyone else worried that Ray Allen is only shooting 38% from the field over the last 10 games? ... And finally, has anyone else gotten sucked into the hype surrounding the Next Great Artist, Katie Melua? The BBC has been hyping her album and people are expecting her to be the next Norah Jones. Well, I listened to about half of it, and the whole thing is a bunch of oversweetened treacle. I normally hate it when people say that music was better in the old days, but I'd rather listen to my scratched-up LP of Aretha Live at the Fillmore anyday. Melua isn't a poor man's Norah Jones, she's a paraplegic crack addict's Norah Jones.

Antonio Daniels: 24/7

Antonio Daniels, has his own website. No, I'm not making this up.

New Alt. Uni Poll

"New Yeller. Come back, yeller! Best doggone team in the West..."

In an informal poll of ESPN Page 2 readers, almost 60% of 74,000+ respondents thought the Sonics' new alternate uniforms were better than their "old" ones.

Having participated in all 5 polls for the teams with new alt unis, I have decided that yellow is the new teal.

chunkstyle23
supersonicsoul fashion correspondent

Don't call it a comeback: Sonics top Utah in OT

The Sonics keep on figuring out new ways to win:

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle SuperSonics' confidence is growing game by game.

With the way they've been playing lately, it certainly should.

After Vladimir Radmanovic's 3-pointer with 10.5 seconds left sent the game into overtime, the surprising Sonics improved to 14-3 with a 129-119 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

``We've won lots of different games lots of different ways,'' Ray Allen said. ``A lot of different guys have stepped up and played big for us.''

Allen scored a season-high 38 points, including nine in overtime, as the Sonics overcame Carlos Boozer's career-high 36-point performance.

from Yahoo!

Some interesting things from last night:

• The Sonics not only have the best record in the NBA (14-3), but they are (dare I say) a perfect 8-0 at home.
• Ray Allen scored a season-high 38 points. Big deal, right? Well, he only had nine points at the half!
• Luke Ridnour tied his career-high with 17 points. Little Frodo was 3-4 from three-point range and had 10 assists for the second game in a row.