Phoenix Phallout

Bad News: The Sonics lost to the Suns Friday night.

Good News: Thanks to Nussbaum's incensory (and quite possibly insane) rant against Steve Nash, Supersonicsoul scored career highs in comments and hits (to the website - not Nussbaum).

Just for the record, I'd like to point out that Mr. Nussbaum's views are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Chunkstyle, myself, or Supersonicsoul© . I'd also like to point out that I think Steve Nash is a fine young man and please don't hurt me.

Update: We finally found someone to agree with Nussbaum's opinion of Steve Nash: Steve Nash!

Game Night # 24: Phoenix Suns

Does anyone else remember that game back in the late 80s, when the Sonics took a 19-game home winning streak up against the Lakers in the Coliseum? It was a Sunday afternoon game on CBS - rarified air for the Sonics and their fans, with Dick Stockton, Magic, Kareem, Riles, et al invading the misty mundaneness of a Seattle January.

The first half looked wonderful, highlighted by a McMillan alley oop to the X-Man that still chills me to the bone. McDaniel slammed the ball through the hoop like a 16-year-old pounding a hammer at a county fair contest, as if to say in one motion that "I'm here, I'm bald, and I'm gonna kick your old asses all over this court."

The Lakers withstood the first half onslaught ... then proceeded to destroy the Sonics in the second half on their way to yet another championship.

Well, the Suns aren't the Lakers and ESPN on a Friday night isn't CBS on a Sunday in '88, but I'm looking forward to tonight with as much anticipation as I did as a 15-year-old those many years ago.


Good Sign: The Sonics are playing a meaningful game in December.
Bad Sign: None.

Questions: Nash v Ridnour? Stoudemire v Fortson? Rashard v Amare?

Vegas line: Pick 'em
Prediction: Sonics 109 - Suns 105
Record Against the Spread: 10-3

Why I'm Pissed Off This Week: Steve Nash for MVP

That's right, pretty boy: I'm calling you out!

You know, I had intended to start this column a couple of weeks ago. The fact I didn’t is the truest sign yet that the Sonics are off to a fantastic start, inasmuch as the grumpiest 32-year-old you’ll ever meet could not find a stitch to criticize in the jersey that is this season.

Well, let me commence this week’s epistle with a quote from our friend Eric Neel at espn.com: “You can be a wiry, hang-dog, thirty-something, 6-foot-3 point and be the center of the basketball world.” Neel is referring to, of course, the Suns' erstwhile guard, Steve Nash.

I assume that, like me, you’re still laughing at the absurdity of that comment. Perhaps you need a moment to collect yourself. I suggest grabbing an immovable object, such as a table, or Vitaly Potapenko.

Now that we’ve all gathered ourselves, let’s dissect this argument. Does Neel truly expect us to believe that Steve Nash, a player who isn’t even the second-best player on his team, deserves to have his name on the same award as Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan? Does he think we’re that idiotic?

Yes, he does.

Why does this tick me off? For two reasons. One, it’s a stupid assertion made by a ridiculous columnist who is either naïve enough to believe his own nonsense or so eager to draw in readers that he’ll make outrageously brainless claims.

Two, it speaks to an element of our society that I detest like a gardener detests weeds. It’s the idea of flaunting your intelligence by supporting an unheralded person or idea. Cheering for Steve Nash is akin to saying you like reading Kerouac, or listening to the Velvet Underground. Since nobody you’ll talk to will be able to call you on your arguments, you’re home scot-free, the resident insider into what’s truly “in.”

Well, in this case, Neel has gone too far.

Let me be blunt. I hate Steve Nash. No, I’ve never met the man, and I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy, but why I hate him has nothing to do with Nash the person. What I hate is white sportswriters fawning over him as if he carries the Da Vinci Code for decrypting exciting basketball. Add in the fact that he’s a Canadian and I live in Canada, and you can imagine how much Nash crap I have to hear every day.

I’ll admit that Nash is a fine player. In fact, he’s one of the five best point guards in the NBA. But that doesn’t make him any more of an MVP candidate than Gilbert Arenas.

Let’s face it. Nash went to a team with two bona-fide all-stars in residence, a shooting guard who is capable of scoring 20 points a game (Joe Johnson), and another shooting guard (Quentin Richardson) who is a rising talent. Did the Suns really need Steve Nash to make the playoffs this season?

Yes, the Suns are markedly better. But why does Nash get all of the credit and Q gets none? After all, Q plays more minutes (36 to 34). Doesn’t this mean he has had more of an impact than Nash, or at least as much?

Fine, Nash is more valuable than Q. But is he more valuable than Shawn Marion, a guy averaging 20 ppg, 12 boards, 2.2 blocks, and more than a 3 per game? Surely Nash isn’t more important than Amare Stoudemire, who’s at 26 ppg, with 9 boards and two blocks.

If you don’t believe me, listen to the stathead websites. Over at dougstats.com, the site’s author uses a complicated method he terms MyTendex to evaluate players based upon their overall contribution to the team. Where does Nash rank on the Suns?

Third, behind Stoudemire and Marion.

How about Points Above Replacement (PAR), which tracks how many points a particular player produces above and beyond what a replacement level player would contribute. In the offensive side of the equation, guess where Nash ranks in the NBA?

Ninth, behind, among others, Marion and Stoudemire.

Look, Nash is a neat player who hustles and throws cute passes and likes to flick his hair. So what? The bottom line is this: If you’re an NBA GM, and you’re allowed to sign any player in the league for this season only, with money as no object, how long before Steve Nash’s name comes up?

Exactly.

Let’s try one final example. Listed below are the stat lines from two NBA players for this season:

.....Min.....ppg.....apg....to/g...3pm...ftm...st/g...reb
A....34.0....15.6....11.0.....3.1.....29.....52....1.0....3.3
B....38.6....19.8.....8.6.....3.0.....33....103....1.5....3.0

Player A is the “MVP.”

Player B? Stephon Marbury.

Ibrahim Kutluay: Behind the Music

Does anyone remember Ibby?

You know, Ibrahim Kutluay? The guy I was calling the "Turkish Larry Bird" last summer? The guy Nussbaum called slower than "maple syrup in Edmonton"?

Well Supersonicsoul's favorite non-playing player is off of the IR and onto the Q&A: Check out the exclusive interview at Supersonics.com.

Sonics lick Lakers, 108-93

The Sonics beat the Lakers 108-93 Tuesday night behind a big night by Rashard Lewis, and the big behinds of Danny Fortson and Jerome James:

SEATTLE (AP) -- Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points, and the Seattle SuperSonics improved to 18-4 with a 108-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.

It's Seattle's best start since beginning the 1993-94 season 20-2 on the way to 63 wins. The SuperSonics have the second-best record in the NBA and will host league-leading Phoenix on Friday night.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 35 points. Ray Allen added 26 points for Seattle.

from Yahoo!

Sure, that's all and good Mr. Yahoo, but did you see that nasty spin move by Jerome James? DID... YOU... SEE IT?

Game Night # 22

There's something satisfying about being on the top of the standings. A certain swagger that envelopes a team and elevates each game to playoff-level intensity.

Regardless of the animosity between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant, tonight's game looms large (so large that Dime Magazine labeled it the "Game of the Day.") The Lakers, while not a great team by any stretch, were certainly expected to be better than the Sonics. Because of the Sonics' record, other teams will face them with an intensity lacking from Key Arena since the days of Kemp and Karl, so from this point of the season on, the Sonics will need to elevate their play to match that intensity.

Here's to hoping that the Kobe-Karl feud supersedes the Kobe-Ray feud, and that Mr. Vanessa hoists a few errant 27-footers.

Good Sign: Kobe was 6-for-23 in his last game.
Bad Sign: Ray-Ray couldn't hit Puget Sound - let alone a basket - in the final 3 quarters against the Celtics.

Questions: Will the Sonics rebound from a horrid performance against the Celtics on Saturday? Will the Kobeaires continue to contribute to the Lakers as they did against Orlando? Did you know that someone named Tierre Brown has played 20 games for L.A. this season?

Notes: With a win the Lakers will have put together their first 3-game win streak of the season ... Kobe has 3 triple-doubles this year ... The leading scorer for the Lakers against Seattle last year was, believe it or not, Gary Payton (20 ppg). Bryant only averaged 17 ppg vs the Sonics in 03-04 ... Rashard threw down 21 ppg vs LA last season ... Bryant is shooting only 39% from the floor in his past 10 games ... Laker opponents have only committed 41 offensive fouls, to 70 for L.A.

Vegas line: Sonics by 6
Prediction: Sonics 100 - Lakers 89
Record Against the Spread: 9-3

Talking in L.A.

Kobe sure looks excited about the new Lakers.

With the Sonics set to face off with the Lakers for the first time this season, Kurt ( from the excellent Lakers blog Forum Blue and Gold) and I agreed to exchange views on our respective teams. - Paul

This seemed like such an easy thing when we came up with the idea: Have a person who has followed a team all season tell you Sonics fans what you can expect see when you play the Lakers. My name’s Kurt and I’m the guy behind Forum Blue and Gold, I’ve watched and blogged on the Lakers all season, so telling you about my team and what you can expect to see out of the Kobe 2.0-led Lakers should be a piece of cake. Right?

Problem is, these Lakers don’t know exactly who they are. They change personalities and styles like a high school sophomore. For example, they came into the season saying it was a return to “Showtime” and up-and-down the court basketball. Except that the Lakers actually averaged fewer possessions per game than they did last season. Or there was Sunday night, when fast-becoming-fan-favorite Jumaine Jones had 22 points and went 6-of-6 from three point range all in the second quarter. So, what do they do in the second half? He doesn’t enter the game until there is less than four minutes left in the third and his teammates don’t get him a good look at any shot until there are two minutes left in the game.

That said, with each game the Lakers seem to be maturing, getting a little better at figuring out what they want to do – the offensive sets have become less ugly – and there defense is improving. But, like our sophomore, they have a long way to go.

Here’s what we can tell you for sure: This team runs through Kobe Bryant. But you already knew this. What has been a relief to Laker fans is that Kobe didn’t turn into a taller version of Alan Iverson (taking 35 shots a night, most off balance, and making 10). There are some ugly moments, but for the most part he’s been a guy with double-digit assists of late, playing defense, grabbing rebounds -- basically doing all the little things you can want. Plus, two or three times during the game, he’s going to do one of those jaw-dropping/take-your-breath-away/crazy-stupid good plays that you’ll talk about tomorrow no matter how much you hate the Lakers.

The challenge has been chemistry -- no one started out quite sure how to fit it around Kobe. Lamar Odom is the poster boy for this. Last season in Miami the offense ran through him and he flourished, this year the Lakers can’t even consistently find a good place for him to set up, one game its on the wing, the next it’s inside, and in neither has he found a home. That said, Odom is working hard, averaging a team high 10.7 rebounds per game and is still putting up 14.4 points per game (second behind Kobe).


There have been pleasant surprises – Chris Mihm has been solid and even occasionally spectacular inside and Jumaine Jones and Brian Cook have combined to become the spark off the bench – and three point specialists – that nobody expected.

Lucky for you Sonics fans, where the Lakers may be weakest is perimeter defense. Kobe is a great defender, but for a team that is unselfish and passes the ball, there are great chances to exploit the Lakers from the outside (or on penetration, Chucky Atkins couldn’t stop penetration from the point in your local pick-up game at the YMCA). I’m curious to see the on-fire Sonics, but fear the Lakers defense is not tougher test than you’ve already passed this season. Several times.

-Kurt
Forum Blue and Gold


Be sure to check out my Sonics preview on Kurt's Lakers Blog.

If you run a blog for another NBA team and would like to take part in our exchange program, let me know!

Gary and Celts school Sonics, 98-84

The Glove's still got it.

I can never go to another Sonics game again.

Chunkstyle and Nussbaum were kind enough to buy me a ticket to the game last night, but the Sonics lost because I was there. Don't believe me? The Supes haven't won a game with me in attendance since the '93 playoffs. Call it the Curse of Paul.

For the good of the team, I will watch the rest of the season from the safety of my bombshelter.

Supersonicsoul at the Key tonight!

Yes, it's true: The Supersonicsoul Crew© will be in full effect at the game tonight. Chunky, Nussbaum, and myself will be milling about with The Sonics Peoples, wearing our ultra-dope Supersonicsoul T-shirts, and trying not to get crushed by giant, drunken Sonics fans. If we can figure out the whole Wi-Fi deal, we might be sending updates throughout the game. If not, we will give a full report (hopefully with pictures) after the game. Pray for us.

Game Night #21

Nussbaum is currently being smuggled into the country from Canada to attend tonight's Sonics game against the Boston Celtics, and since I'm too much of a lazy-ass to write the pre-game stats, I'll direct your inquires to The World's Greatest Celtics Blog.

Sonic Nation

I'm beginning to think that this blog has become redundant, inasmuch as the internet sports world has become so enamored with the Sonics.

To wit:
1. ESPN has not 1, not 2, but 3 articles/votes on the Sonics.
Here, here, and here.

2. Bill Walton, or as I like to call him, "The Idiot," talked up the Sonics on his weekly NBA chat.

3. Fox Sports ranks Seattle 3rd in the league in its Power Rankings.

These are heady days, my friends.

Sonics dump Dallas, 107-102

The Sonics beat the Mavericks in Dallas last night, 107-102. It was almost an exact replay of Wednesday's victory over the Spurs: Go up big in the first half, blow lead in the third, deliver knock-out late in the fourth:

DALLAS (AP) -- Rashard Lewis refused to let the Seattle SuperSonics give away a game they'd dominated.

The small forward erased a fourth-quarter deficit then protected the lead with a high-flying baseline dunk, a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and two free throws with 18.5 seconds to go in a 107-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

One night after becoming the first team this season to win in San Antonio, Seattle won its fourth straight and ninth in 10 games to reclaim the NBA's best record at 17-3.

from Yahoo!

Oh, and did we mention Flip Murray is returning this weekend?