Danny Westneat feels the pain of Sonic fans who are watching this Bataan death march of a season, including the pain of someone named Rafael Calonzo.
What's that? Supersonicsoul.com's RC was in the paper and we're now more than 24 hours late in reporting it?
Hey, at SSS, we are nothing if not inefficient. And kudos to Westneat for describing the scene at KeyArena as "adults watching other adults listlessly engaged in bizutainment."
The NBA, it's, well, "bizutainment."
Thursday, April 3
Brand's Back, Sonics Lose
Damien Wilkins missed the game due to personal reasons. Apparently, so did a lot of Sonic fans.
Yes, Kevin Durant shined once again, but Elton Brand shined even more, and the result was yet another blowout loss for the Sonics, this time a 102-84 score to the Clippers before a KeyArena crowd announced at 10,392, but one which was definitely smaller than that.
The fourth quarter was the difference in the game, as Brand scored 13 points and the Clips outscored Seattle 33-14. Durant put up nine points in the fourth, but a simple bit of math will tell you the rest of his teammates only contributed four. Former Gonzaga star Dan Dickau also threw in nine points of his own in the fourth period, contributing to his +26 total in a mere 21 minutes.
Carlesimo, as always, looked for excuses, telling Gary Washburn of the PI that the reasons for Seattle's poor offensive output are because, "(Wilcox) is not here. He's not playing. Robert (Swift) is not here and he's not playing. (Mickael Gelabale) is not here and he's not playing."
So there you go, Sonic fans. Apparently, Robert Swift, Mickael Gelabale, and Chris Wilcox are all that is standing between the Sonics being a playoff caliber team again.
You know, because they did so well with those three on the roster earlier in the year.
Yes, Kevin Durant shined once again, but Elton Brand shined even more, and the result was yet another blowout loss for the Sonics, this time a 102-84 score to the Clippers before a KeyArena crowd announced at 10,392, but one which was definitely smaller than that.
The fourth quarter was the difference in the game, as Brand scored 13 points and the Clips outscored Seattle 33-14. Durant put up nine points in the fourth, but a simple bit of math will tell you the rest of his teammates only contributed four. Former Gonzaga star Dan Dickau also threw in nine points of his own in the fourth period, contributing to his +26 total in a mere 21 minutes.
Carlesimo, as always, looked for excuses, telling Gary Washburn of the PI that the reasons for Seattle's poor offensive output are because, "(Wilcox) is not here. He's not playing. Robert (Swift) is not here and he's not playing. (Mickael Gelabale) is not here and he's not playing."
So there you go, Sonic fans. Apparently, Robert Swift, Mickael Gelabale, and Chris Wilcox are all that is standing between the Sonics being a playoff caliber team again.
You know, because they did so well with those three on the roster earlier in the year.
Wednesday, April 2
Game Night: Clips
The worst aspect of watching your favorite basketball team pack boxes in front of your eyes?
Easy; not having an interest in the games any more.
Once upon a time, individual games meant a great deal to me. Now? Very little. Of course, a large reason for that is the team's ineptitude, but that's not as large a reason as the Bennett/Stern Show.
A mere eight games remain on the Sonics' schedule. Personally, I believe the team will still call Seattle home for at least two more seasons, but there is a strong possibility that these eight games are the final eight games in Seattle SuperSonics history.
So, yes, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, but not completely "Let's name the All-Time Favorite Sonic Team" nostalgic. Not yet, anyway.
With that in mind, let's take a look at tonight's classic encounter at the Key between the Sonics and the mighty Clippers.
LOS ANGELES
You know, I happened to watch about half of the recent Mavs-Clippers game in Los Angeles and I will say this: If you had not watched a single NBA game this season and went into the contest with fresh eyes, you would be hard pressed to determine which team was the one contending for the playoffs and which was the one headed for the lottery.
Some would say, "Yes, but Dirk was gone." Okay, so was Elton Brand. In fact, after the first quarter, so was Chris Kaman. Is it because the Mavs are becoming that bad, or is it that the Clippers are better than their record indicates?
Yes, they've dropped eight straight on the road, and, yes, they've lost 19 of 22, but when I watched Los Angeles on Monday I was not watching a team that looked to be nearly as bad as the Sonics. Quinton Ross (a future Spur if there ever was one), Thornton, Maggette ... there are plenty of more than just average players in their lineup.
The injuries have killed LA this year. That said, they are still clearly better than the Sonics.
SEATTLE
Give Kevin Durant and Jeff Green credit - they each struggled at times earlier in the season, but both have shown definite improvement as the year has progressed. The Sonics' record doesn't indicate anything positive, but Durant's stellar March is hopeful as is Green's two 20-point games in the past week or so.
Both Damien Wilkins and Donyell Marshall will be sidelined for tonight's game (thanks to Gary Washburn for the information). That means, of course, that the two rookies will see even more time, and that Mo Sene may crack the 7-minute level in playing time.
Nick Collison went crazy in the last meeting between the two teams, finishing with 18-17 on the night in a 95-88 win over the Clippers in a game where the Sonics held LA to 34.6% from the field.
OUTLOOK
Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Tim Thomas are all going to be wearing streetclothes tonight, which is a strong positive for the Sonics. Of course, those three all sat out that Mavericks game, and the Clippers didn't seem to miss a beat. Wilkins and Marshall being out shouldn't have a huge impact on the game for the Sonics, although the irony of the Sonics going from having Rashard Lewis, Wally Szczerbiak, Damien Wilkins, and Mickael Gelabale all pass through the Small Forward section of the roster does make one laugh a bit.
The Sonics are laying five points currently, up from three earlier. As a Sonic fan, it pains me to say this, but take the Clippers and the points.
FINAL SCORE
Los Angeles 112 - Seattle 102
Easy; not having an interest in the games any more.
Once upon a time, individual games meant a great deal to me. Now? Very little. Of course, a large reason for that is the team's ineptitude, but that's not as large a reason as the Bennett/Stern Show.
A mere eight games remain on the Sonics' schedule. Personally, I believe the team will still call Seattle home for at least two more seasons, but there is a strong possibility that these eight games are the final eight games in Seattle SuperSonics history.
So, yes, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, but not completely "Let's name the All-Time Favorite Sonic Team" nostalgic. Not yet, anyway.
With that in mind, let's take a look at tonight's classic encounter at the Key between the Sonics and the mighty Clippers.
LOS ANGELES
You know, I happened to watch about half of the recent Mavs-Clippers game in Los Angeles and I will say this: If you had not watched a single NBA game this season and went into the contest with fresh eyes, you would be hard pressed to determine which team was the one contending for the playoffs and which was the one headed for the lottery.
Some would say, "Yes, but Dirk was gone." Okay, so was Elton Brand. In fact, after the first quarter, so was Chris Kaman. Is it because the Mavs are becoming that bad, or is it that the Clippers are better than their record indicates?
Yes, they've dropped eight straight on the road, and, yes, they've lost 19 of 22, but when I watched Los Angeles on Monday I was not watching a team that looked to be nearly as bad as the Sonics. Quinton Ross (a future Spur if there ever was one), Thornton, Maggette ... there are plenty of more than just average players in their lineup.
The injuries have killed LA this year. That said, they are still clearly better than the Sonics.
SEATTLE
Give Kevin Durant and Jeff Green credit - they each struggled at times earlier in the season, but both have shown definite improvement as the year has progressed. The Sonics' record doesn't indicate anything positive, but Durant's stellar March is hopeful as is Green's two 20-point games in the past week or so.
Both Damien Wilkins and Donyell Marshall will be sidelined for tonight's game (thanks to Gary Washburn for the information). That means, of course, that the two rookies will see even more time, and that Mo Sene may crack the 7-minute level in playing time.
Nick Collison went crazy in the last meeting between the two teams, finishing with 18-17 on the night in a 95-88 win over the Clippers in a game where the Sonics held LA to 34.6% from the field.
OUTLOOK
Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Tim Thomas are all going to be wearing streetclothes tonight, which is a strong positive for the Sonics. Of course, those three all sat out that Mavericks game, and the Clippers didn't seem to miss a beat. Wilkins and Marshall being out shouldn't have a huge impact on the game for the Sonics, although the irony of the Sonics going from having Rashard Lewis, Wally Szczerbiak, Damien Wilkins, and Mickael Gelabale all pass through the Small Forward section of the roster does make one laugh a bit.
The Sonics are laying five points currently, up from three earlier. As a Sonic fan, it pains me to say this, but take the Clippers and the points.
FINAL SCORE
Los Angeles 112 - Seattle 102
Arena Roundup
Here's how others are seeing the proposal yesterday from Fred Brown and Co.:
-Art Thiel, PI: "Brown in his NBA career spent entirely Downtown, never attempted a longer shot."
-Jim Brunner, Times: "[Port of Seattle] Commission President John Creighton said that while he admires Brown, captain of the 1979 NBA champion Sonics team, as a childhood hero, the Port has no interest in even considering the plan."
-Percy Allen, Times: "Brown said he spoke with NBA commissioner David Stern, who told him 'stop bringing me KeyArena and bring me something else.'"
- Steve Kelley, Times: "If you want NBA basketball in Seattle, their dreams, in many ways, are your dreams. But here's the concern ... The last thing we need is competing groups, fighting for the affections of the City Council, the state Legislature, the NBA and the same potential investors."
- Greg Johns, PI: "Bean and Brown began talking about their idea last summer, but waited to see if other plans gained traction first. They wanted to go public now before the upcoming NBA Board of Governors meeting in mid-April to let the league know there are other viable arena projects in Seattle, even though they admit their own effort isn't aimed at stopping Bennett from relocating his team to Oklahoma."
- Eric Williams, TNT: "More to the point was [Pete] von Reichbauer, who has been working behind the scenes to keep the Sonics in Seattle. "But just as in the advertising world, you have to ask, ‘Where the beef?’ Where is the revenue stream?”
-Art Thiel, PI: "Brown in his NBA career spent entirely Downtown, never attempted a longer shot."
-Jim Brunner, Times: "[Port of Seattle] Commission President John Creighton said that while he admires Brown, captain of the 1979 NBA champion Sonics team, as a childhood hero, the Port has no interest in even considering the plan."
-Percy Allen, Times: "Brown said he spoke with NBA commissioner David Stern, who told him 'stop bringing me KeyArena and bring me something else.'"
- Steve Kelley, Times: "If you want NBA basketball in Seattle, their dreams, in many ways, are your dreams. But here's the concern ... The last thing we need is competing groups, fighting for the affections of the City Council, the state Legislature, the NBA and the same potential investors."
- Greg Johns, PI: "Bean and Brown began talking about their idea last summer, but waited to see if other plans gained traction first. They wanted to go public now before the upcoming NBA Board of Governors meeting in mid-April to let the league know there are other viable arena projects in Seattle, even though they admit their own effort isn't aimed at stopping Bennett from relocating his team to Oklahoma."
- Eric Williams, TNT: "More to the point was [Pete] von Reichbauer, who has been working behind the scenes to keep the Sonics in Seattle. "But just as in the advertising world, you have to ask, ‘Where the beef?’ Where is the revenue stream?”
Tuesday, April 1
$75 Million Reasons
I’m sure the same thought is running through the head of every Sonic fan these days:
The only thing separating us from losing the Sonics forever is $75 million.
Don’t get me wrong, $75 million is a vast sum of money, especially to regular people working 50 or 60 hours a week struggling to make a mortgage payment. $75 million could feed tens of thousands of people in Africa, build homes for hundreds of people in America, or fund the Iraq War for about ten seconds.
But in the NBA, $75 million is chicken feed, bubkus. Heck, David Stern probably spends that much in a month on smugness lessons alone.
Let me illustrate further just how insignificant is $75 million in NBA-land. I’ll give you five words:
Calvin Booth and Jim McIlvaine.
The Sonics spent $67.6 million in salaries on those two bums, and when you figure in inflation, travel costs, health insurance, athletic tape, and the rest, they easily spent $100 million in 2008 dollars on BooMac.
To think that the Sonics would spend the next 40 years in Seattle, if only the city could come up with the amount of money the team spent on two players who contributed absolutely nothing to the team’s fortunes.
Of course, the team could just not spend money foolishly on ridiculous contracts and then plow that savings back into a stadium, but that’s just a silly notion, right?
The only thing separating us from losing the Sonics forever is $75 million.
Don’t get me wrong, $75 million is a vast sum of money, especially to regular people working 50 or 60 hours a week struggling to make a mortgage payment. $75 million could feed tens of thousands of people in Africa, build homes for hundreds of people in America, or fund the Iraq War for about ten seconds.
But in the NBA, $75 million is chicken feed, bubkus. Heck, David Stern probably spends that much in a month on smugness lessons alone.
Let me illustrate further just how insignificant is $75 million in NBA-land. I’ll give you five words:
Calvin Booth and Jim McIlvaine.
The Sonics spent $67.6 million in salaries on those two bums, and when you figure in inflation, travel costs, health insurance, athletic tape, and the rest, they easily spent $100 million in 2008 dollars on BooMac.
To think that the Sonics would spend the next 40 years in Seattle, if only the city could come up with the amount of money the team spent on two players who contributed absolutely nothing to the team’s fortunes.
Of course, the team could just not spend money foolishly on ridiculous contracts and then plow that savings back into a stadium, but that’s just a silly notion, right?
Question
How is it that Fred Brown and Dave Bean (the two B's in the B2 Inc. involved in the new arena proposal announced today) can so casually talk about raising $1 billion for their megaproject, and the city simultaneously have little or no success at raising $75 million to renovate KeyArena?
Since the two B's are so adept at raising cash, perhaps someone could persuade them to use their fundraising skills to raise the $75 million, inasmuch as that amount is a mere 7.5% of the figure they're tossing around.
To put it in perspective, $75 million is to $1 billion as 75 bucks is to a thousand dollars.
Since the two B's are so adept at raising cash, perhaps someone could persuade them to use their fundraising skills to raise the $75 million, inasmuch as that amount is a mere 7.5% of the figure they're tossing around.
To put it in perspective, $75 million is to $1 billion as 75 bucks is to a thousand dollars.
New Stadium Plan No Hoax
With former Sonic Fred Brown and NBA legend Bill Russell on hand, Wong Doody played host to a, well, interesting press conference on Tuesday morning in Seattle.The stadium proposal - tenatively termed the Emerald City Arena - offered, among other items:
-100 % privately funded ("the era of public funded arenas - at least in this region - is over")
-A possible retractable roof
-Locating the facility on the waterfront so that it would become the face of Seattle a la Sydney's Opera House, or near SoDo, or at the existing Seattle Center location, or on Mars, whichever works best
-Integrating an NHL and/or Arena Football team
-Eliminating luxury suites and introducing something called "private common areas"
-Pacific Northwest Sports Hall of Fame
-Open 365 days of year with all sorts of non-sports incomes
-An unknown group of investors
I'll try to put up some more information in time, but thought I should throw out a rough sketch initially. This whole thing sounds a little too vague and fantasy-land on first impression, as if it belonged more at a World's Fair than a real proposal. For example, there was no talk about specific investors and the plan is for an expansion team - not the Sonics - which the NBA has already stated it is not interested in doing.
According to Fred Brown, "We're not in competition with anybody." Well, except for the Ballmer group and every Sonic fan in Seattle who wants to see the initial plan succeed, he's absolutely right. And reality, because this plan is definitely in competition with reality.
If you feel like wasting 20 minutes of your life, you can visit www.emeraldcitycenter.com for more information.
SHOCKER: Bennett and Stern get married
It was bound to happen.Seattle Sonics owner Clay Bennett and NBA commissioner David Stern were married today in a private ceremony in Sweden.
"We've been in bed together over this whole Sonics deal, so I figured it was time to make an honest man out of Davey" Bennett joked.
"Plus, the sex is terrific," Stern added.
After the ceremony, the bridal bouquet was caught by the maid of honor, Aubrey McClendon.
"It was a beautiful wedding," said McClendon, dressed in a dazzling white evening gown. "There was nothing gay about it. This was an affirmation of two men's manly love for each other. You know, like pirates."
"Pirates who like to have sex with each other!" Stern shouted, giving McClendon a swift whack on the seat of his pants.
The newlyweds will be honeymooning at the posh "Steer's Rear" resort in scenic Oklahoma City. In lieu of gifts, the couple requests that donations be made in their names to the NBA civic demolition department.
Monday, March 31
Wayback Machine
The Sonics stink. It’s okay to say it; we’re not exactly hurting any sacred cows by stating the obvious, right?
There’s plenty of talk about whether Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley would better help the Sonics, about which player would be the best fit via free agency, or whom Sam Presti should send packing this summer.
All of that is important to the future of the franchise (as is, of course, where the team will be playing, but we’re all a bit tired of that, right?). But part of the fun of being a Sonic fan – heck, all of the fun these days – is remembering the better days, when Shawn Kemp dunked, Gary Payton scowled, Tom Chambers gunned, and Gus Williams wizarded.
Which leads me to this, if you could pluck one player from Sonic history and transplant them to 2008, who would you grab? Would it be Payton and his non-stop talk and defense? Or would you rather see what Kemp and Durant could do in combination?
What about Spencer Haywood; he’d be a nice fit alongside Green and Durant, right? Don’t forget Jack Sikma’s scoring abilities as a big man, or DJ’s leadership as a combo guard, or Gus’ ability to score 30 points in any game. You can’t forget the X-Man, not if you’re a real fan, anyway, although the Sonics need another small forward about as much as they need out-of-state ownership.
Personally, I’m going with Payton without hesitation. You put vintage GP at the point, swing KD to the 3, use Green as a swingman between the 3 and 4, trade Earl/Ridnour/Wilcox to get a serviceable 2 in the summer and now you’ve got yourself a team.
Of course, you have to factor in Gary’s continuing desire to destroy the confidence of younger players, but I’m guessing he’d act a little different around a youngster such as Kevin Durant than he would around, say, Moochie Norris.
It’s ridiculous fantasy, I know, but when your team is on the verge of leaving for Oklahoma and entering the lottery in the same season, well, you don’t have much else, now do you?
There’s plenty of talk about whether Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley would better help the Sonics, about which player would be the best fit via free agency, or whom Sam Presti should send packing this summer.
All of that is important to the future of the franchise (as is, of course, where the team will be playing, but we’re all a bit tired of that, right?). But part of the fun of being a Sonic fan – heck, all of the fun these days – is remembering the better days, when Shawn Kemp dunked, Gary Payton scowled, Tom Chambers gunned, and Gus Williams wizarded.
Which leads me to this, if you could pluck one player from Sonic history and transplant them to 2008, who would you grab? Would it be Payton and his non-stop talk and defense? Or would you rather see what Kemp and Durant could do in combination?
What about Spencer Haywood; he’d be a nice fit alongside Green and Durant, right? Don’t forget Jack Sikma’s scoring abilities as a big man, or DJ’s leadership as a combo guard, or Gus’ ability to score 30 points in any game. You can’t forget the X-Man, not if you’re a real fan, anyway, although the Sonics need another small forward about as much as they need out-of-state ownership.
Personally, I’m going with Payton without hesitation. You put vintage GP at the point, swing KD to the 3, use Green as a swingman between the 3 and 4, trade Earl/Ridnour/Wilcox to get a serviceable 2 in the summer and now you’ve got yourself a team.
Of course, you have to factor in Gary’s continuing desire to destroy the confidence of younger players, but I’m guessing he’d act a little different around a youngster such as Kevin Durant than he would around, say, Moochie Norris.
It’s ridiculous fantasy, I know, but when your team is on the verge of leaving for Oklahoma and entering the lottery in the same season, well, you don’t have much else, now do you?
How Many Games Left?
Is it me or are the Sonics already in the off-season? Looking at the schedule, there are still some games remaining, but I'll be damned if it looks like any of the players are aware of it.
PJ Carlesimo and Sam Presti came to town singing the song of culture and defensive intensity, but here we are, almost at the end of the season, and can you honestly say that the Sonics are better at defense now than they were in September? Think how many points per game the Sonics would have allowed if Kurt Thomas hadn't been on the roster for half of the season.
(Speaking of the lack of D, has anyone noticed the increasingly bitter tone emanating from Gary Washburn's keyboard at the PI? Doesn't G know this is Seattle, where reporters never criticize and fans either cheer for the home team or else go for a hike?)
Anyhow, it's all well and good to blame this on youth, but Collison, Ridnour, Watson, Wilcox, etc. aren't rookies by a long shot. No, the blame has to fall squarely upon the shoulders of Carlesimo for not being able to convince his roster to play some D.
On Carlesimo, he finally remembered last night that Mo Sene is on the roster and no longer in Idaho, and the young Senegalese center managed to play 4 minutes last night in a 120-107 loss to the Kings at the Key.
Also at the Key, normally when a politician decides to take a position only for political gain it's called grandstanding, but what do you call it when a Republican candidate for governor takes a position at sits court-side? Is it courtsiding? Whatever you call it, Dino Rossi made sure all the newspapers knew he was taking the controversial position of supporting the new arena plan.
In other news Rossi also announced he backs puppies, recess, and sunsets.
PJ Carlesimo and Sam Presti came to town singing the song of culture and defensive intensity, but here we are, almost at the end of the season, and can you honestly say that the Sonics are better at defense now than they were in September? Think how many points per game the Sonics would have allowed if Kurt Thomas hadn't been on the roster for half of the season.
(Speaking of the lack of D, has anyone noticed the increasingly bitter tone emanating from Gary Washburn's keyboard at the PI? Doesn't G know this is Seattle, where reporters never criticize and fans either cheer for the home team or else go for a hike?)
Anyhow, it's all well and good to blame this on youth, but Collison, Ridnour, Watson, Wilcox, etc. aren't rookies by a long shot. No, the blame has to fall squarely upon the shoulders of Carlesimo for not being able to convince his roster to play some D.
On Carlesimo, he finally remembered last night that Mo Sene is on the roster and no longer in Idaho, and the young Senegalese center managed to play 4 minutes last night in a 120-107 loss to the Kings at the Key.
Also at the Key, normally when a politician decides to take a position only for political gain it's called grandstanding, but what do you call it when a Republican candidate for governor takes a position at sits court-side? Is it courtsiding? Whatever you call it, Dino Rossi made sure all the newspapers knew he was taking the controversial position of supporting the new arena plan.
In other news Rossi also announced he backs puppies, recess, and sunsets.
Saturday, March 29
Sonics Drop Game to Bobcats
The end of the season can't seem to come soon enough these days. Normally, a team mired in losing inspires thoughts of draft-day gems in the minds of its fans, but not this team, not these fans.
The Sonics were down a point with 50 seconds left, but Earl Watson's turnover keyed the Bobcats' win, and yet another loss for Seattle. The Sonics won the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but it was the 1st and 4th quarters that killed them, especially surrenduring 38 points to Charlotte in the opening period. PJ Carlesimo was less than thrilled with the starters' intensity in the first quarter, something we as fans are just a little bit familiar with.
Once again, Mo Sene sat glued to the bench for the entire game, a mystifying experience for the young center, and a frustrating one for those of us trying to figure out why exactly he was promoted to Seattle from Idaho. Watson had a good night offensively, but allowed Ray Felton to go for 23 points on the defensive end.
The Sonics were down a point with 50 seconds left, but Earl Watson's turnover keyed the Bobcats' win, and yet another loss for Seattle. The Sonics won the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but it was the 1st and 4th quarters that killed them, especially surrenduring 38 points to Charlotte in the opening period. PJ Carlesimo was less than thrilled with the starters' intensity in the first quarter, something we as fans are just a little bit familiar with.
Once again, Mo Sene sat glued to the bench for the entire game, a mystifying experience for the young center, and a frustrating one for those of us trying to figure out why exactly he was promoted to Seattle from Idaho. Watson had a good night offensively, but allowed Ray Felton to go for 23 points on the defensive end.
Friday, March 28
Poll
The next “injury” to be suffered by a member of the Sonics’ roster will be:
A: Donyell Marshall – Dust Allergies
B: Francisco Elson – Dutch Elm Disease
C: Nick Collison – Excess Grit
D: Luke Ridnour - Emergency Pigment Augmentation
E: PJ Carlesimo - Chokes Himself
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