The Sonics will look to make it consecutive wins against teams in desperate need of their own wins with a game tonight against the Mavericks in Dallas. Game time is 5:30 Seattle time.
When I think of the Mavericks and Sonics, I think of, naturally, the classic series from 1987 when Seattle whipped Dallas in four games, including three in a row to close out the series. Everyone remembers three Sonics averaging 20+ points per game (and if you don't know their names, why are you reading this site?), but do you remember the fourth-best scorer in the lineup?
Tonight's game will be interesting, but the oddsmakers are not as impressed with the Sonics' stellar effort against the Nuggets as the rest of us are. The Mavs are an 18 point favorite tonight, and I'm inclined to agree. Even being a Sonic fan, you only have to look at the two games these teams have played to see how badly Seattle has done against Dallas. The first game was a 90-70 shellacking, and the only reason the Sonics came close in the second was because the lopsided first half score and some nice shooting from Wally Szczerbiak.
The Sonics have gone 2-22 in their past 24 road games, and have lost nine consecutive away from home. Obviously, the trend will continue tonight, my guess for the final score: Dallas 119-Seattle 90.
Tuesday, April 8
Tuesday News
It appears the four horsemen who rode in to save the Sonics may be headed back to the corral, at least if one believes what one reads in Greg Johns' PI article today.
Matt Griffin, speaking for the group, indicated, however, that should the April 10th self-imposed deadline pass, the group will not necessarily give up on helping the team out in the next year, should the city win its lawsuit against the NBA and a funding plan for the missing $75 million come to fruition.
Eric Williams at the TNT chimes in with a note that the city will hold a press conference this morning to discuss the health status of the KeyArena revamp.
Ironically, in another story penned by Johns, we find out that Dave Bean and Fred Brown aren't having any trouble finding money for their project, they're just having trouble finding a spot in which to build it.
UPDATE:
It's now official - the Ballmer group deal has fallen through. See Times story here and TNT story here. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels reiterated that the pending lawsuit against the team will not be rescinded, despite the city's problem in coming up with $75 million for the KeyArena revamp. Jim Brunner at the Times made this insightful comment at the end of his story:
"Nickels was asked several times at the morning news conference whether the city will reconsider letting the Sonics out of the KeyArena lease in exchange for a larger cash payment or the promise of a potential future NBA franchise.
"Nickels repeatedly answered 'We have a court date in June' and refused to elaborate."
Color me pessimistic, but when politicians refuse to answer yes and no questions with a yes or no answer, that usually means that they are positioning themselves to make an unpopular decision. Does this mean that Nickels is getting ready to accept a cash payment from Clay Bennett in exchange for letting the Sonics out of their KeyArena lease? For now, only the mayor knows the answer.
Matt Griffin, speaking for the group, indicated, however, that should the April 10th self-imposed deadline pass, the group will not necessarily give up on helping the team out in the next year, should the city win its lawsuit against the NBA and a funding plan for the missing $75 million come to fruition.
Eric Williams at the TNT chimes in with a note that the city will hold a press conference this morning to discuss the health status of the KeyArena revamp.
Ironically, in another story penned by Johns, we find out that Dave Bean and Fred Brown aren't having any trouble finding money for their project, they're just having trouble finding a spot in which to build it.
UPDATE:
It's now official - the Ballmer group deal has fallen through. See Times story here and TNT story here. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels reiterated that the pending lawsuit against the team will not be rescinded, despite the city's problem in coming up with $75 million for the KeyArena revamp. Jim Brunner at the Times made this insightful comment at the end of his story:
"Nickels was asked several times at the morning news conference whether the city will reconsider letting the Sonics out of the KeyArena lease in exchange for a larger cash payment or the promise of a potential future NBA franchise.
"Nickels repeatedly answered 'We have a court date in June' and refused to elaborate."
Color me pessimistic, but when politicians refuse to answer yes and no questions with a yes or no answer, that usually means that they are positioning themselves to make an unpopular decision. Does this mean that Nickels is getting ready to accept a cash payment from Clay Bennett in exchange for letting the Sonics out of their KeyArena lease? For now, only the mayor knows the answer.
Monday, April 7
Ewing in the Hall
We all remember the incredible, marvelous season Patrick Ewing spent in Seattle, don't we?
Of course not. But Ewing has become the second former Sonic player to be inducted in the Hall. In addition, two (or three, depending on how one looks at it) former Sonic coaches are also in the Hall of Fame.
It's bizarre, in a way, that a franchise with 40 years of history has such little representation in the Hall. Dennis Johnson was denied this year, but he may get in someday. Gary Payton is a lock, but Shawn and Det and all the other great guys from the 90s, or X or Chambers or Ellis from the 80s, or Gus and Haywood and Downtown and the 70s contributors - none of them will get in.
Sadly, if Clay Bennett manages to yank the team out from Seattle, 100 years from now there won't be much to remember of these 40 years of Sonic basketball, will there?
If you know the other three Sonics HOFers, prove your smarts in the comments section.
Of course not. But Ewing has become the second former Sonic player to be inducted in the Hall. In addition, two (or three, depending on how one looks at it) former Sonic coaches are also in the Hall of Fame.
It's bizarre, in a way, that a franchise with 40 years of history has such little representation in the Hall. Dennis Johnson was denied this year, but he may get in someday. Gary Payton is a lock, but Shawn and Det and all the other great guys from the 90s, or X or Chambers or Ellis from the 80s, or Gus and Haywood and Downtown and the 70s contributors - none of them will get in.
Sadly, if Clay Bennett manages to yank the team out from Seattle, 100 years from now there won't be much to remember of these 40 years of Sonic basketball, will there?
If you know the other three Sonics HOFers, prove your smarts in the comments section.
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