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.

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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?

New York, New York!

Frodo a go-go!

Larry Fleisher, of the excellent Knicks blog "Father Knickerbocker", has done us the honor of writing a preview of tonight's game:

About the Knicks:

The Knicks (29-37) have won eight of 12 since the deals for Maurice Taylor and Malik Rose added useful bodies and depth. But only three of those games were on the road, where theKnicks only wins in 16 away games in 2005 were against Atlanta and Utah.

Unlike the last long trip, the Knicks are healthy. Only Penny Hardaway is hurt and Kurt Thomas, their best defensive player is likely to return from his sore left elbow.

New York is battling with the Sixers, Nets and Magic for the final playoff spot in the East. The Knicks currently sit 3 1/2 games behind the Sixers, who host the Raptors tonight.

Earlier in the year, defense was a problem for the Knicks. But they have allowed less than 100 points in eight straight games and in 11 of their last 15.

The Knicks are coming off a pair of impressive home wins vs. division leaders.

On Monday, they didn't have to face Tim Duncan and used a 25-1 run in the second half to beat the Spurs, 88-75. Stephon Marbury scored 31 points, including the last 13 of the third quarter.

Two nights later, the Knicks didn't back down from the Celtics cockiness and rolled to an 107-82 victory.

Jamal Crawford led six Knicks with 21 points. Two of those points were a pass to himself off the glass resulting in a dunk.

Probable Starters and comments about them:

F - Tim Thomas, 11.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG - Play has picked up in the last two months as has willingness to attck the basket.

F - Mike Sweetney, 8.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG - Biggest body on the low block but prone to foul trouble.

C - Kurt Thomas, 11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG - Knicks most consistent performer with 24 double-doubles and skills to hit mid-range jumpers on pick-and-roll plays.

G - Jamal Crawford, 17.2 PPG, 4.2 APG - A Seattle native, who is a streaky shooter. But recent effective play at the point has made him an even bigger weapon. Should also be hyped to be playing in front of family and friends.

G - Stephon Marbury, 21.2 PPG, 8.1 APG - Can take over a game at any given moment when he attacks the hole.

Last Meeting and Series History:

The Knicks last met the Sonics on March 13 at the Garden. They took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter but were handed a 90-80 loss ending a seven-game home winning streak.

Knicks have lost their last two visits to Seattle and five of their last games here.

I wrote a preview of the Sonics for his site - check it out here.

Damien Wilkins: This is your LIFE!

Damien Wilkins scored 21 points to lead the Sonics over the Portland Trailblazers Thursday night, 96-91.

Let me say that again.

Damien "1.2 points per game" Wilkins scored 21 FREAKING POINTS to lead the Sonics over the Portland Trailblazers Thursday night, 96-91.

"The Omen" (as Damien Wilkins shall now be referred to as), filling in for an ailing Rashard Lewis (noooo!!!), sealed the deal with a steal and a dunk to end the game.

Damn.

Ringy-Dingy!

We have a ringer! And now you too can have the official t-shirt of the unofficial Seattle Sonics blog. Go. Buy. Now.

Three. It's the magic number.

According to today's Seattle P-I, three is a magic number:

The Sonics are only days from clinching their first playoff berth in three years. Any number of Seattle victories and Minnesota losses that adds up to three will make the Sonics the third team in the West to clinch a playoff spot.

O.K., so we were off by four... big whoop!

Rashard for Mayor

Fanfreakintastic win last night for the Supes, with Rashard Lewis well on his way to making sure all of us remember that Ray Allen isn’t the only superstar on this team. Rid did his job in hitting open shots, Shard passed out of the double-teams he’s going to start seeing all the more, and, well, nobody else really stepped up so I’ll quit while I’m ahead.

And, more importantly, Rashard laid two more classic quotes on us after the game. To wit:

"It just feels like no one man can stop me.”

And, in reference to the previous game between the Bucks and Sonics:

“They kind of laid us on their laps and just spanked us.”

Great stuff there. Anyway, here’s a stat I’ll bet you hadn’t heard. The Potato has played 10+ minutes in five games for the Sonics this season. Seattle’s record in those five games?

5-0.