Glory Days

Am I the only one out there who’s wondering what the heck is going on in Seattle? How in the world can a 37-win team have the 2nd-best record in the league? Have they sold their souls?

Let’s look at the numbers.

From last season to this, the Sonics are amazingly consistent in almost all statistical categories. Much has been made about the improved rebounding, but in actual fact the Sonics are only averaging one more board this season than they did last year. Passing? Nope, Seattle’s getting three fewer assists in 04-05. Steals? Blocks? No to both of those. How about fouls, surely the Sonics are being smarter with the refs? Um, no, the Supes are hacking the other team an extra five times a game.

Ah, shooting, that must be it, right? Well, the Sonics are shooting 46.5% this year as opposed to 44.6% last year, which is a significant improvement, but since they’re attempting three fewer shots a game, it’s pretty much a wash. The same goes for treys, where Seattle is averaging .5 fewer threes made per game.

Despite all that, the Sonics are averaging 6 ppg more this season.

Well, jeez, man, what are the Sonics doing better? Believe it or not, only three areas.

Free throws made, opposition rebounds, and opposition FT percentage.

The Sonics are making an extra six FTs every game over last season. There are four main benefactors: Fortson (+4.8 from last season’s 0), Lewis (+1.8), Daniels (+1.5), and Frodo (+1.5). The remainder of the team is only slightly off their results from last year, meaning these four guys have made the difference.

The second area, rebounds, is even more extreme. Last year, Sonic opponents averaged 42 boards a game. This year? 32, a difference of 10 rebounds every game. It means the Sonics are averaging eight more rebounds than their opponents each night.

Thirdly is opposition FT percentage. Last year, opponents shot 77% at the line, making 19.1 per game. This year, it’s at 70%, making 18.4 per game. That’s costing opponents almost two points per game, a significant number.

Can the Sonics keep it up? Well, the FTs are something the Sonics should continue to do well. The rebounds, though, are doubtful. Being that the Pistons, certainly one of the top rebounders in the league, only averaged two more boards than their foes last season, it is unlikely the Supes could keep up a pace of four times that for the rest of the season. And, of course, it is very unlikely that Sonic opponents will continue their Reggie Evans impersonations at the foul line, unless Coach McMillan has telekinetic powers that he has – up till now – decided to keep under wraps.

To paraphrase Robert Plant, “Sonics, your time is gonna come.”

Sonics stop the Grizz, 118-113

The Supes won their sixth in a row last night, coming back from 21 down late in the third to win 118-113 over the Grizz:

``It's a 48-minute game and we've talked about that,'' coach Nate McMillan said after watching his team outscore the Grizzlies 34-13 in the final period. ``We just wanted to get slowly back into the game, get a stop and score, get a stop and score. That's exactly what we did.''

from Yahoo!

With DaFort on DaBench (serving a one game suspension for a flying elbow drop to Chris Bosh's melon last Friday), the Sonics had to rely on their small guys, and they delivered. Ray Allen had 34, and Nussbaum's boy, Antonio Daniels, had 28. Oh, and how did Frodo do?

"Ridnour -- or whatever the hell his name is -- he knocked down a lot of shots, too," Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright said. "I think we got a little relaxed when we were up 20."

from the Seattle PI

(Just for the record, "whatever the hell his name is" scored 17 and had eight assists.)

Is it too early to get excited? Probably. Is that stopping me? Nope.

R.I.P. O.D.B.

From Reuters:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, whose criminal lifestyle and strange behavior overshadowed his work as one of the founding members of rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, collapsed and died in New York on Saturday, his record label said.

The artist, whose real name was Russell Jones, was found in a recording studio complaining of chest pains, a source told Reuters. Paramedics were called but were unable to save him. A spokeswoman said the cause of death was unknown.

"Russell inspired all of us with his spirit, wit, and tremendous heart," said a statement from Roc-A-Fella Records, the label founded by rapper Jay-Z. "The world has lost a great talent, but we mourn the loss of our friend."

In the hip-hop genre, where many performers attract the attention of the law and most spare no expense flaunting their extravagant lifestyles, Jones was in a class of his own.

Jones, who was in his mid-30s, fathered 13 children, according to Blender magazine. His other stage names included Dirt McGirt and Big Baby Jesus, the latter moniker inspired by his belief that "I always been Jesus."