Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2016-17 Preview

October 21st, 2016

By Vonny Lee


The Nuggets

Previous Record: 28-54

Key Losses: JJ Hickson (FA)

Key Additions: Gerald Henderson (2yr/$10.5M), Norris Cole (2yr/$7.8M)

When we last saw them ...

The Nuggets were awful, but they did show progress. After trading away Faried and Chandler, they made their presence felt in the Western Conference.

They went into the offseason looking for good pieces to build around Mudiay and found one in Dragan Bender. Bender, who’s size and shooting is quite Dirk like, will be the Robin to Mudiay’s Batman in the future and the Nuggets are looking to win at least 33 games this season.



Storyline to Follow:

How patient can Denver be?

The Nuggets look to be taking the long road back to relevance and seem fine with waiting. But that’s right now — if they were to make an unexpected leap in the standings this season, would they try and accelerate the rebuild plans?

Pay attention to the attitudes of the players and the coaching staff as the season progresses. With the addition of more talent in Bender (and to a lesser extent Henderson and Cole), don’t be surprised if the team gets more desperate for progress.

Best Case Scenario: The Nuggets make the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario: The Nuggets lose Mudiay to a career altering injury, a Derrick Rose/Penny Hardaway fate.

Likely Scenario: The Nuggets miss the playoffs and show just enough fight to make a marquee free agent in next year’s class take a long look at them as a team on the rise.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2016-17 Preview

October 21st, 2016

By Vonny Lee


The Kings

Previous Record: 26-52

Key Losses: Rajon Rondo (FA),

Key Additions: None

When we last saw them ...

The Kings were losing, plain and simple, and jettisoned Boogie Cousins for draft picks. They managed to grab a big player in Brandon Ingram, a player they’re thinking will be a franchise star for years to come, and then let reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Rajon Rondo, go in free agency.

The Kings did nothing to replace him and are continuing to shape the roster in the image that George Karl wants it. With the contracts of Gay, Collison, and Casspi expiring at the end of the season, expect Sacramento to be players in the next year’s free agent class.



Storyline to Follow:

What will the Kings look like?

The Kings are between a couple of different rosters assembled over the years and, like a jigsaw puzzle assembled by the three blind mice, they don’t quite look like whatever they’re supposed to be.

How will they perform this season? That’s anyone’s guess but, as usual with Sacramento, expect the Kings to be kings of the NBA’s weirdest sideshow circus.

Best Case Scenario: The Kings make the … no, I can’t. They don’t have a chance at the playoffs, but they’re not an embarrassment.

Worst Case Scenario: George Karl explodes during a game.

…

Okay, maybe not but the Kings suck like a vacuum and the threat of relocation rears its ugly head yet again.

Likely Scenario: The Kings miss the playoffs, make progress, and see the roster beginning to take shape into something that resembles a George Karl team.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2016-17 Preview

October 21st, 2016

By Vonny Lee


The Jazz

Previous Record: 25-57

Key Losses: Trevor Booker (FA)

Key Additions: None

When we last saw them ...

The Jazz were the worst team in the NBA last season, a surprise to many, and ended up with the first overall pick in Labissiere, who immediately slots in as the starter at PF and who’s shooting should provide Utah with a measure of spacing.

The offseason was a quiet one for the Jazz as Dante Exum returned from injury and now looks to be the starting point guard despite the solid play of Trey Burke during last season.




Storyline to Follow:

What will Gordon Hayward do?

Hayward can opt out of his deal next summer and he’s understandably tired of losing — who wouldn’t be — and absolutely is looking to make bank.

Hayward had a career best year last season, scoring 21.7 PPG, nabbing 5.9 RPG, dishing 4.8 APG and shooting 48 percent from the field (38 percent from deep). Those are some very LeBron-like numbers and multiple teams around the league are keeping an eye on the situation.

If Utah fails to make the playoffs and disappoints yet again, expect Hayward to opt out. And expect Utah to try and trade him before he can declare publicly that he will, very much like what happened with them and Deron Williams.



Best Case Scenario: The Jazz make the playoffs and prove to Hayward and their players that they’re committed to winning. Hayward re-ups with the team long-term and Utah becomes an annual presence in the postseason.

Worst Case Scenario: The addition of Labissiere doesn’t stop the Jazz from losing. Coach Snyder is fired mid-season, Hayward declares his intentions to test FA, and Utah is left in a very messy situation.

Likely Scenario: The Jazz miss the playoffs and Hayward leaves, sending the franchise back a few steps in its quest to become good again.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

WHEW. And that's all the team previews. Apologies for the delay in getting them out, I had a lot going on this week (more than I anticipated). I think next time I'll aim for something a bit easier to do and less time consuming, but we'll see.

We've arrived at the regular season. It's time for some title defense.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The Grizzlies wandered into Seattle like a bear that had been hit with one too many haymakers. After a tough loss against the Suns the night before, they drew the unenviable task of trying to beat the defending champion Sonics on the night they were getting their rings. That wasn't a very nice thing for the NBA to do to the Grizzlies, but Memphis is used to drawing the tough matchups on a regular basis.

Scheduling aside, the Sonics ring ceremony (below) was a thing of beauty and one that gave this blogger a fluttering heart for the first time in a long time. (Not seen since the days of NSYNC has my heart fluttered such ... I will never give up on you Justin!)



The ring ceremony had a notable absence, that of veteran Carl Landry, who was unable to make it to the arena due to a severe case of the flu. Landry chose to have someone else accept the ring for him: Larry Sanders.

"Larry has been with us for a few months now and he's really trying to get things right, really trying to do right," Landry said after the game in a phone interview with yours truly. "He's put forth a great effort into getting back into basketball shape, in getting back into that mindset, and I wanted him to know what it felt like to get that ring, to hold it, to feel it ... I think it was big for him."

The addition of Larry Sanders and Brandon Jennings, two former Bucks players (the former out of the NBA the last year due to personal reasons including, but not limited to, drug use and depression), was seen as risky by many in the league. Me? I thought for sure it was a dynamite move.

As in, "the team will explode and we'll all die" dynamite. Mad Max (as he is affectionately referred to -- yes, it's a term of affection) let Jarrett Jack walk and replaced HOF Ray Allen (RAY!) with Lance Stephenson.

Yes, the same guy who's best defensive strategy against LeBron was blowing in his ear. That guy.

The moves were analyzed, over-analyzed, and then put through the dryer on high heat (which ruins so many things) before the controversy died down. Based on how this game went, Max looks like a damn genius.

The Grizzlies and Sonics engaged in a knock down, drag out brawl through the first three quarters, Seattle having serious difficulty containing Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol (as one would expect). The Grizzlies opened up a two-point lead at halftime, but then saw that lead disappear by the time the third quarter ended.

Seattle led 82-80 in a game that was sloppy early (the Sonics piled up 17 turnovers) but became tightly contested late. Brandon Jennings had been quiet up to that point, scoring only eight points and dishing out five assists on some paltry shooting numbers.

But LARRY SANDERS! had proved his worth off the bench, tallying six points and a couple of nice steals before the fourth hit. He and Jennings would find one another a few times in the fourth quarter and Jennings got HOT from deep in the final frame.

The Grizzlies could not stop him. Jennings dished, drove, and shot lights out from the floor, finishing the game with 22 points, seven dimes, three boards, two blocks (and five turnovers, but we'll overlook that) on 8-of-16 shooting, 4-of-6 from deep. The Grizzlies had no answers as Seattle's offense took on a form that few saw last season.

The Sonics were able to shoot from the point guard position, something Jarrett Jack was unable to do consistently, and that shooting opened up the floor BIG TIME, allowing the Sonics other players -- Lance Stephenson and RHJ (those two were beasts in transition, Seattle scored 34 fast break points, a HUGE improvement over last season) were very effective in the fourth.

The Sonics rolled out some unique lineups, too: Jennings, Lin, Crawford, RHJ, and Sanders. Don't like that? How about Lin, Lance, Bogdanovic, Noel, and Sanders? Still not your flavor? Well, what about Jennings, Crawford, Lance, RHJ, and Gortat?

There was a lineup for everyone out there. I'm fairly certain that Ray Allen was in the locker room, attempting to locate his jersey, so he could come out and shoot with these guys. The duck-duck-goose of position switching was maddening to keep track of, but it freed up so much for so many different players.

Lin had nine points off the bench (including an embarrassingly open triple), Bogdog scored 10 points (with some dunks) and Crawford was his usually reliable self with 11 points. The Grizzlies just couldn't seem to keep up with the different lineups and one could almost see Lionel Hollins smiling.

Almost.

The Sonics pulled away in the fourth with just a few minutes remaining and the players on the floor were SUPER-CHARGED with the way things were going. Seattle wasn't known for battling back from halftime deficits last season (even small ones), but this team did that, held off the Grizzles, and then killed them from deep.

The Sonics, at least for one game, shot the three well. They got the W and their rings. I'd say that's a pretty successful beginning of a title defense, wouldn't you?

Go Sonics.

[DevSwerve]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Good win.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[studbucket]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Jennings + Noel is nasty. The moves at 1:45 were awesome.

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

We're right back at it! Congrats on a great first win. Thoroughly loved the write ups too but I am glad to have the regular season back.

[Cruzerr]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Sorry for not commenting on the previews, but I do like the new style of recap and I guess Jennings did do well for you. Still keen to see how he plays out, as I would have taken Conley over him (is he really going to prove me wrong?)

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Good win.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Much thanks! It was a battle all game long, Memphis could have easily pulled away if Conley/Green/MCW had stepped up a bit more, but no one else other than Randolph/Gasol was doing work (at least as a starter anyway).

Jennings + Noel is nasty. The moves at 1:45 were awesome.

They had some great chemistry out there, didn't they? Jennings passes tend to find their spots and that drive&dish with Noel will be lethal as the season progresses -- defenses are going to have their hands full keeping their eye on both of them.

We're right back at it! Congrats on a great first win. Thoroughly loved the write ups too but I am glad to have the regular season back.

Me too, lol. Those previews were major time sucks ... definitely will have to look into shortening them next offseason. Playing again was great, really was a different game than when I last picked it up (Patch 3 made some big differences for the defense across the board).

Was really excited with the way my team got on the fast break after rebounds and just bull-rushed across the court -- man, what a difference Lance and Jennings make on the fast break.

Sorry for not commenting on the previews, but I do like the new style of recap and I guess Jennings did do well for you. Still keen to see how he plays out, as I would have taken Conley over him (is he really going to prove me wrong?)

I'm glad you liked the recap, I really did want to spice that bit up this season. I tend to go with a minimalist approach for recaps just because the more involved you get, the more time it takes, but I was really pleased with how this one worked out.

As for Jennings ... man, he's got a shot that I like a lot. The Sonics are definitely going to have to think hard if they want to take a run at one of the marquee free agent PGs (assuming they hit free agency) this next season, because Jennings was great this first game. His turnovers were higher than I'd like (but that's me getting used to playing with him), but those will level off as the year progresses I think.

More to come later today. Thanks for all the comments.

[Jumpman14]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Always nice to get the win on ring night. Looks like you're going to make my guy Newman earn his minutes this season.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Always nice to get the win on ring night. Looks like you're going to make my guy Newman earn his minutes this season.

I am. Malik I really do like and I expect him fully to be part of the future -- but he's gonna have to earn his stripes this season. I'm putting him to work in player development on improving his shooting (not a strength) and I expect him to make some strides there. He's a big part of my future and I want him, Noel, and RHJ to be core pieces for the next decade of the Sonics.

But he's gonna have to study up. Right now he's got Lin and Jennings to learn under (and Nate Robinson on the bench, because that man is always necessary). He might be my PG or my SG, I'm not sure at this point.

If people get hurt, he'll see time for sure. But he's got some work to do before then.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



October 27th, 2016

The season had begun with a win that made Max feel like he was Teddy's age. His young nephew was at his side last night and had managed to stay for the first quarter of the game before he was forced to go home -- Teddy, like all children, had school, and he bemoaned it.

But Max had promised him to bring Teddy the game film, which the boy watched voraciously: with popcorn, of course. Teddy was infinitely more interested in the players on the court than some of the scouts in the Sonics organization.

It amused Max and made him curious all the same; he liked watching the players, too, but Teddy had a curiosity about that Max had never had. The boy was instinct driven -- he saw things developing just a second or two before they did -- and it was a little scary how good the seven-year-old was at seeing the movements on the court. He didn't know the names of the plays or the strategies, but he saw it all the same.

There was a knock at his office door and 'Ricka was leaning in, a look of annoyance plastered on her face. "Still here?" She stepped inside the room and moved over to his desk, sitting at the edge of it, her eyes narrowing at him. "I told you to go home an hour ago."

He blinked and looked at his watch. "Oh, wow." Completely lost in thought, he had lost track of time. He wasn't even sure what hehad been doing over the last hour other than reading sports articles and taking down notes.

"When Ray Allen heads home before you, you have a problem," she continued, her tone missing any hint of amusement. She picked up one of his pens and capped it. "Go. Home."

He held up his hands and stood. "All right, all right ... I got a trip to Portland in the morning anyway." The Blazers would be welcoming Seattle on Halloween night and Max was going to show up their a few days earlier to spend some time with Paul Allen. The two hadn't had much a chance to catch up since the end of last season.

'Ricka rolled her eyes. "Well, I do have one piece of business we need to discuss before you go." She crossed her legs and relaxed her pose. "I've arranged a date for you."

He blinked again, this time much harder. "A ... date?" A sense of anger permeated his very soul. "I don't need a blind date. I don't need a date, period." He scowled at her.

She looked on passively. "You spend too much time here. Or with Teddy."

"He's my nephew!"

'Ricka nodded. "Yes, and he's just seven, Max. Do you remember any adult spending that much time with us at that age?"

Max frowned.

That gave her the answer she needed. "Exactly," she continued. "You need a life outside work, outside family ... you need a social life and I know you hate the very idea of it."

"I think 'hate' is an understatement." He went over the coat rack and ripped his coat off it, donning it in one, fluid motion. "People know my face and my name now. How can I trust if a woman is really interested in me and not my wallet?"

She laughed at that. "Don't play that card with me. You know, as well as I do, that you never liked dating and you're not particularly good at it." She smirked. "You've always been better at your job than anything else."

He frowned again, a mixture of guilt and anger at her words stirring within him. "I think I've been a good friend."

"But you're better at your job, right?"

He felt his stomach knot. "Historically, that's true," he admitted. He felt like he was at confession -- which only made him feel more guilty because he was overdue for one. "But I'm trying to do better."

'Ricka smiled. "I know. But you need to try it outside your comfort zone." She took out a card from her pocket and left it on his desk. "That's the restaurant and the time. Her name is Ashley. You'll like her."

He eyed the card with suspicion. "How do you know her?"

"We have mutual friends," was all she said. She hopped off his desk and straightened the collar on his jacket. "Please, for the love of God, get someone to help you dress for this."

He felt a grin appear on his face despite it all. "You could help me."

She laughed. "I could, but you'd just ignore me." She brushed off his shoulder and began to walk out. "Remember to have fun," she said over her shoulder.

He picked up the card and sighed.

Dating wasn't -- and never would be -- fun.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



The Seattle SuperSonics moved to 4-0 after a thrilling, heart-attack inducing win in Portland. It was a game that made Lionel Hollins look simultaneously congested and like he was passing a kidney stone at points.

Let that image sink in.

...

Good, now, the game wasn't that bad but it was way too close for too long. Seattle fell behind early in the first, going down by as much as 10 points before getting their second unit in there. And boy, did the second unit provide some big minutes towards the end of the first and beginning of the second.

Led by Jamal Crawford, who had himself an outstanding game overall (15 points, five boards, four assists and three steals), he and Jeremy Lin helped calm down a Sonics team that was feeling a bit too jittery.

The Sonics came out like a kid who just drunk a liter of Dr. Pepper and then followed that up with ice cream: they were wired and the energy was clearly there. The focus, however, was not and the Sonics tallied up six turnovers in the first quarter alone (Brandon Jennings was responsible for five of them -- partially why he found the bench).

Lin and Crawford helped calm everyone down and the Sonics only went into the second with a deficit of three points. The second quarter was the Jamal Crawford show -- he put on a clinic as he drove, shot, and juked past multiple Blazers defenders.

Portland was getting frustrated and they were fouling a lot in the second, which only put Jamal on the line, where he calmly sunk all his free throws. It was just another day at the office for JC.

The second unit got mixed and matched with the starters in the second quarter, Lionel Hollins trying out some interesting lineups featuring Lin, Lance, Bogdog, RHJ, and Sanders -- it wasn't ineffective (Lin's passing made it all work), but there were some definite easy shots some guys missed. Lance, surprisingly, was not one of them: Bogdog had difficulty stroking it from anywhere on the court and the Sonics long-range game absolutely abandoned them (much like certain Blazers fans abandoned the arena later in the game ...).

The Sonics went into halftime trailing 54-53, down a measly point. They would come out of halftime playing really, really good defense and frustrating the hell out of the Blazers inside. They tallied up a lot of steals and blocks in the third.

The Blazers tallied up a lot of fouls, one in particular that really got the Sonics bench boiling. Midway through the third, Lin was playing defense against Gerald Green, but he got destroyed on an illegal screen by Noah Vonleh. Lin went to the ground, writhing in pain.



The Blazers had their shot blocked despite the Sonics playing 4-on-5 ball and the stoppage immediately sent the Sonics training staff out onto the floor. Lin was able to get up and go to the bench, but his game was done. He would be diagnosed with only a pinched nerve and was held out of the game just to air on the side of caution.

Brandon Jennings was subbed back in and Jennings shot hadn't been falling. Jennings might have taken up a part-time job as a construction worker with all the bricks he was shooting. It wasn't a great game for him on multiple levels up until that point.

But Lin going down flipped a switch for the Sonics and they gritted their teeth, pulled down their chin straps, and went to work. Defensively, there was a serious fire lit under the Sonics and Jennings was among the players who came up with some key plays down the stretch.

The Sonics went into the fourth with only a four point lead, but they had that lead. Then they lost it, then they had it, lost it ... it was a back and forth affair, so head spinning you'd swear you'd gone through a spin cycle.

The fourth became a test of whether the Sonics could hold onto the lead and the usual hero of Seattle basketball came up with big shots: the Polish Hammer.

Marcin Gortat not only came up with shots, he came up withBLOCKS, nine of them by the time the game was over, two in the last 24 seconds of the game. After he scored a clutch layup while he had multiple defenders draped around him (the pass from Jennings somehow got in there), the Blazers ran it back. The Sonics had a 109-108 lead, the game could have been won by Portland thrice over towards the end.

They had an early transition three from Terrence Ross, who was a flamethrower from deep in the second half (4-of-5 from deep up to that point). The trey clanked off the back rim, went high, and fell into the hands of Ed Davis. Davis went back up for the layup.

The Polish Hammer sent it back, the ball went bouncing into the hands of Lillard. Lillard took it back inside, pulled a nifty spin and went to the rim.

Gortat sent it back AGAIN and this time it went into the hands of Jennings, who was promptly fouled with 11 seconds left. The Blazers were in the bonus, Jennings went to the line and sank both his free throws, and they were down by three.

They called a timeout, advanced the ball, and ran their play, only to have the ball tipped by RHJ and fall into the hands of Lance. Lance was fouled. Lance went to the line and iced it with two free throws, capping off a well-rounded day for him (11 points, six boards, and eight dimes).

That was the end for the Blazers and they now fall to 1-2 on the season, as Seattle moves to 4-0 (beating the Grizzlies, the Lakers in back-to-back games, and now the Blazers). They face the Jazz tomorrow night before taking a day off and resuming play again at the PAC against the hated Thunder.

Go Sonics.

[Trent Booty]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Solid start to the season. Haven't played NBA in a while, just went and picked up GTA V and BO3 so haven't had the time to play as much as I want. This is making me want to play asap lol