Sonics crush Nuggets, 108-88

Danny "The Fortress" Fortson puts the clamps on Kenyon.

The Sonics Smackdown Express just keeps on a-rolling:

DENVER -- There was a team that didn't play much defense here last night.

A team that looked out of touch with its coach, resembled little more than a speed bump as its opponent raced to 100 points and was incapable of matching up with a strong breeze beneath the basket.

Sounds like the Sonics a week ago, right?

Not anymore. They have won three in a row after giving the Denver Nuggets the business end of the stick in a 108-88 skewering at the Pepsi Center last night.

Ray Allen scored 30 points, Rashard Lewis had 27, and the Sonics (3-1) led by double figures the final 17 minutes to win their third game in a row by 19 or more.

Read the rest at the Seattle PI

So, is this team for real, or are they just another early-season mirage for desperate Sonics fans like me?

Sonics Spank Spurs, 113-94

"Damn right I got the ball, bitch!"

Wow.

The Sonics cruised by the Spurs 113-94 last night. Yes, this is the same Sonics team that was picked by almost everyone to finish near the bottom of the NBA this season, that had their worst pre-season record in 20 years, and got waxed by the Clippers last week by 30 points.

Yes, those same Sonics shut down the perennial powerhouse Spurs by 19. The Supes looked good on both ends of the floor, shooting near 50 percent for the second game in a row, while holding Tim Duncan to 4-16 from the floor.

Danny Fortson had his best game as a Sonic, getting his first double-double of the year (15 points, 13 boards), and setting some bone-crushing picks on anyone dumb enough to get in his way.

Fortson wasn't the only Sonic on the hustle board. Jerome James got four blocks for the second game in a row, and I swear to god, I saw Ray Allen diving for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter with his team up by twenty.

I know it's early in the season, but... wow.

Sonics win suckfest

"Gimmie that ring, Frodo!"

In a battle of two of the suckiest teams in the NBA, the Sonics stepped up and put the smackdown on Atlanta, 106-85 last night at The Key.

After getting their gills handed to them Wednesday by the Clippers, the Sonics came out last night looking to put the hurt on someone, even if that someone was the lowly Hawks.

Like an abused child who turns into the playground bully, the Supes kicked Atlanta to the ground and stole their lunch money. Despite a slow start (actually, a slow first three quarters), The Sonics played defense like Ye Olden Days, highlighted by a career-best five blocks from Rashard Lewis (Yes, that Rashard Lewis!).

Are the Gods of Basketball© finally listening to Nate's defensive prayers? Will this new found toughness carry on tomorrow against the Spurs? Probably not, but it beats the hell out of losing to The Clippers.