Winnin' Ugly

No other way to describe last night's win other than ugly. With Allen out with bone spurs, the Sonics rode Rashard Lewis to a 2-point home win.

Once again, the bench failed to come through, although it was nice to see Gelabale finally get some minutes (his 13 minutes were more last night than just about any game in the past couple of weeks, and his +7 was the best on the team despite the limited minutes). In fact, you could argue that teaming Gelabale with Watson at the beginning of the 4th quarter was what won the game.

Bizarrely - in this ever-bizarre season - the next five games are all winnable, and I'm including the four-game eastern road swing. Charlotte, New York, Philly, Boston, and Toronto - none of those clubs is scaring anyone this year, with the possible exception of the Raptors, and if you look at it from the perspective that the Sonics' record against the East is better than the Raps' record against the West, well, you might let yourself get a little optimistic.

Deja Vu

You know those Sports Illustrated videos that come out after a team wins a championship? Well, if SI decides to make one for the Sonics' season - and I'm not saying anyone would buy it, mind you, but bear with me here - they could save a whole pile of money if they just ran last night's loss to the Clippers instead. After all, the pieces were all there on display:

Fourth quarter disappearing act? Check
Coasting through the first half? Check
Overreliance on Allen and Lewis? Check
No low post presence? Check
Bewildered quotes after the game? Check
Frustrated coach? Check

As Rashard Lewis put it after the game was done, "It was just one of those nights."

One of those nights, one of those seasons, man.

Game Night: Clippers

There isn’t much to be excited about if you’re a Sonics fans these days. Putting aside the stadium debate for at least one more day, and shelving all talk of Oklahoma, we’re left with an underperforming team that is coached by a man who will likely be fired this summer, a GM who is polishing his resume because his bosses are likely prohibiting him from making any moves, and a roster of players who seem incapable of taking the step from lower middle class to easy street.

Tonight, the Sonics play the Clippers. Considering how badly the year has gone in Seattle, it could be worse – we could be Clipper fans, after all. With Shaun Livingston’s horrific injury possibly keeping him out until the end of Bush’s presidency, the Clips are turning to ET tonight to lead them.

For some odd reason, the Sonics play well in LA, at least against the Clippers anyways. As I see it, the game has a couple of keys to success:

1. Containing Chris Kaman on the glass
2. Getting out of Rashard Lewis’ way

Seriously, Rashard could go for 40 tonight, I just have a feeling.

Sonics 106-Clippers 97