Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

[AC]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Think a difficulty raise may still be in order tbh

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Think a difficulty raise may still be in order tbh

It seems to be heading that way. I really don't want to -- HOF is so damned punishing, but if I win it all playing every other game, then there's really no choice (unless I bet that I'll do worse in the regular season, which is possible). I nearly lost this game towards the end, but I pulled it off thanks to the foul-line.

I mean, I shot well from the line this game, which is very unusual for me. Lance, Noel, and Gortat usually go 1-of-2 from the line at best, and Jennings has hot and cold streaks. RHJ shoots 76%, so he's pretty decent, but the Warriors keyed off on Jennings and he sunk his shots.

I'll also confirm the Thunder won their series (4-2) against the Clippers, so its a rematch of the heated series from last year in the WCF. And I think the Thunder got me.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The Second Round Postmortem

May 6th, 2017

By Vonny Lee





The NBA's second round has concluded and now there are only four teams left. Here's what happened to the other four and what the future might hold.

1. The Warriors

Simply couldn't overcome the juggernaut that is the Sonics. Golden State valiantly fought this series and easily could have stolen Game 1 and Game 5 ... but didn't. They were soundly beaten at Oracle Arena and the Warriors once great depth failed them here; they simply could not find anyone to man up against the brutal post play of the Sonics' bigs (namely, Marcin Gortat). Hawes played too far away from the rim, Speights was too soft, and Bogut was too slow.

With the offseason now here for the, the Warriors have to find an answer for the five spot going forward. They also must consider trading Harrison Barnes. Barnes, who averaged 13.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and shot 44 percent from the field (39 percent from deep), was a missing man throughout most of the playoffs. He only averaged 9.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and shot a paltry 36 percent from the field (but 40 percent from deep). Barnes was benched after Game 1 of the series and played as a sixth man throughout.

Barnes, despite all his gifts, doesn't appear to be the dependable option the Warriors need at the three. Only 24 and on a dirt cheap contract, Barnes is reportedly not interested at all in leaving the team, but Warriors management has to be wondering if there are better options out there. With Barnes on such an easily tradeable contract and the free agent market at the three underwhelming beyond Rudy Gay and Gordon Hayward, expect the Warriors to entertain offers.

2. The Clippers

Once again have fallen short of the conference finals. LA had its chances, taking both Game 3 and 4 at home against the Thunder, but they let Game 5 slip away (a seven-point loss in OKC) and were soundly beaten by 13-points in Game 6, at home.

Multiple questions now surround a team that seems good, but not quite good enough to crack the top echelon of the conference. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin both have opt out clauses they can exercise this season and, for the Clippers (and GM Danny Ferry), having one of them exercise it will allow the franchise some breathing room. LA is caught in a bind as far the cap goes and doesn't look to have much relief coming their way.

"The roster has gone as far as it's going to go," one league executive said. "Their problem, as it always has been, is depth and even with the expanding cap, you can't max out three guys and still surround them with the talent needed to win a title."

Griffin is unlikely to leave the Clippers now or ever, it seems, as he's incredibly happy there with his teammate and friend DeAndre Jordan. Paul, out of all of them, might be looking for greener pastures. Paul has never tasted the Finals and has more years and mileage on him than either Griffin or Jordan ... and he's aware of it. If Chris Paul is looking for greener pastures, there's one team that's always been connected with him: the Knicks. Paul and 'Melo are old friends and have professed on a few occasions a desire to play with one another. If Paul leaves the Clippers, heading to the Knicks wouldn't be a horrible choice -- the East, as this year has proven, is wide open and New York definitely could use him, especially since they'll have plenty of cap space (even after he signs a max offer).

3. The Pistons

So close, yet so far. Detroit managed to keep pace with the Raptors in Toronto, but couldn't manage to steal a game. They did crush the Raptors in Game 3, 94-69, and followed that up with an ugly 79-74 win (that set offense back a decade in the NBA). But Game 5 was the pivot point. Detroit fell behind in the second-half of that game and couldn't claw back, losing 85-80 in Toronto before flying back to Detroit to be beaten 92-77.

It was a tough way for the team to end its season, but the Pistons were one of the hottest teams of the year after the ASB and were fire in the playoffs. This team got here thanks to hot (and consistent) shooting from JR Smith and wise veteran play from Rajon Rondo.

The Pistons have to decide where to go from here. Both Rondo and Smith are free agents after the season and Smith is likeliest to leave of the two. Rondo is reportedly happy to stay in Detroit, though whether SVG wants him is another question entirely. The Pistons need to evaluate whether keeping Caldwell-Pope (who's regressed the last two seasons) and Jodie Meeks (who has equally regressed) is worth it.

4. The 76ers

Stole Game 1 from the Wizards late and lost by only a point in Game 2. Game 3, in Philly, was the turning point in the series as the Wizards beat the 76ers by 11-points. Philly would take Game 4 by five-points, but proceeded to lose the next two by double-digits. It was an impressive showing for the young squad, whom no one believed would be in the playoffs this year (let alone in the conference semis).

Philly's cap sheet is relatively clean, minus the impending departure of Victor Oladipo. Oladipo was never a fan of being traded to Philly but he certainly made strides in the playoffs towards being the guy. He brought up his averages slightly across all categories, but he's still a lower 40 percent shooter and 33 percent shooter from deep. Oladipo is likely to be let go as the trade market is virtually nonexistent for him and Oladipo's potential is likely maxed out.

Philly will have to find a replacement for him and the market is thin on guards that might be an improvement on Oladipo. Philly is looking at finally bringing over Dario Saric, who would immediately slot in at the four. That would leave veteran Tobias Harris the odd man out (as Harris is a natural three, but Simmons exists there, and Saric is a better four). Harris would likely be traded and the list of suitors for an overpaid SF isn't long ... but Harris' play at the four does increase his value. Philly might find a few willing partners who value that versatility.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The Conference Finals Preview

May 6th, 2017

By Vonny Lee










1. Sonics vs. 2. Thunder


This has been the series both teams have wanted all year. The back story between these two teams is well known: the Thunder used to be the Sonics before Clay Bennett swooped them and moved them to OKC. The Sonics used to be the Nets before Maxwell Newman swooped in and bought them, moving them back to Seattle. Seattle's re-entry into the NBA was contentious at best, the vote coming down to the wire. Bennett was very much against it and the two owners have made an extra effort not to even speak with one another, or about one another. That is, until Bennett made a rather insensitive comment about Newman's brother (employed with the Sonics) and since then, the two owners have been even chillier than usual towards one another.



But the teams haven't had a chance to compete with one another in months and the time is finally here for them to engage in battle once again. The hatred is real between the owners and the dislike is strong between the players -- and only going to get stronger. Multiple Sonics players were not pleased at how Bennett took a shot at their teammate, Larry Sanders, and their owners brother. The rivalry is real and the stakes are high: for Seattle, getting this far, with their record, is a testament to the culture and organization Newman has created. There's a system in place, something that is mostly immutable, and if you don't want to be here, they'll let you walk (see Jarrett Jack). If the Sonics can win the WCF and send the Thunder home, yet again, on their way to the Finals, that gives the organization that much more fire power in poaching potential free agents from other teams.



And one such potential free agent is Russell Westbrook. For the Thunder, this series is the one they need to (mostly) guarantee a Westbrook return. The relationship between Westbrook and the organization is a bit frayed after the tense contract negotiations during the regular season. Dispatching the Blazers and Clippers was fine, but that's not going to be enough for Westbrook; he wants to be paid like a superstar and the Thunder don't want to lock themselves in with a deal that'll hamper building around Durant, their franchise player. But if the Thunder beat the Sonics, make the Finals and win -- and that's the key, winning the Finals, an easier task than ever before with the Raptors (missing Lowry) and the Wizards (a .500 team that plays inconsistently) being your potential opponents -- then Westbrook will likely swallow his pride, take a slightly less lucrative deal, and stay with the franchise he helped bring its first title.


If the Thunder lose this series, the Sonics will not only have likely dealt the kill shot to the Westbrook/Durant relationship, they'll have also put themselves in prime position to grab Westbrook in free agency (a target owner/GM Max Newman is very interested in) and deal a doubly-crushing blow to the Thunder franchise.


Prediction: The Sonics have been one of the best teams in the NBA and they're fully healthy, just like the Thunder. Both teams will go in guns blazing this series and homecourt advantage may mean nothing with how intense both sides will play. Seattle is a better team than last year's iteration, but so are the Thunder (due to lack of injuries and a slightly deeper bench). Ultimately, this series comes down to which team -- not just starters, but everyone -- can beat the other. I've got the Sonics taking this in a tightly contested seven-game series.



1. Raptors vs. 6. Wizards


Welcome to the bizzaro Eastern Conference Finals, where the Raptors -- missing their starting point guard -- escape the Magic, beat the Pistons, and make it to the ECF for the first time in franchise history. Just as incredible a story, the Wizards are here, too, having beaten the Cavs (long-time torturers) and the 76ers, making their first ECF since 1979 (nearly 40 years ago). And, in a much lesser sense, these two teams have a history. Toronto remembers well how the Wizards took care of them in the 2015 playoffs in an embarrassing 4-0 sweep and that memory has been a driving force for the Raptors. They've wanted a rematch and now they have it.


Both teams have defied the odds (much like last year's WCF with the Sonics and Pelicans) and now have a chance to make their season magical. There's plenty at stake for both squads: For the Raptors, getting this far has removed a sizable monkey from its back. It's been a long, slow climb from the bottom of the conference. They've had two stars abandon them in their short history (Vince Carter and Chris Bosh) and they've been able to sustain success in the regular season, but have never gotten this far. Now, they have a chance to do something no team based in Canada has ever done in the NBA: make the Finals. If Toronto can do that and upset the heavily favored Western Conference team (either the Thunder or Sonics), then they'll be legendary. Much like last season's Sonics team, the Raptors have everything to gain and little to lose.



For Washington, the process has been just as painful, if not more so. The franchise has had many dark days in the years between 1979 and now, but they've rebounded. They've rebuilt, they've gone back to their root and they have the Sonics -- partly -- to thank for their current situation. Seattle's trade of Brook Lopez to them has given them a consistent offensive presence at the five that they've lacked for many years and finally finding a versatile front court player (along with a coach who knows how to use all the Wizards dangerous parts) has allowed Washington to climb this far. The regular season wasn't pretty and the Wizards are capable of making their opponents play really ugly games. If they can force the Raptors to play that way here (as Detroit did), then they'll stand a much better chance at beating the hobbled 1st seed.



Prediction: Washington is healthier, is deeper and arguably has more to prove. The Raptors have avoided facing dynamic point guards up to this point, but John Wall vs. Corey Joseph isn't a contest. Washington takes the series in six to return it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1979.

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Fell behind a little in the last few days but some very interesting results.

Thunder sonics. Could it really be anything else lol time to show Westbrook greener pastures lol. As for the east I sincerely hope my boy demar can do enough to put them in the finals. A very rare occurrence in 2k but stranger things have happened lol b

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

The Thunder came into the PAC and battled the Sonics in a tightly contested first quarter. They then unleashed Kevin Durant in the second and the Sonics were out-played in every facet of the game from that point on. Durant hit nearly every shot he took and Seattle looked rattled; no amount of timeouts, substitutions, or drawn up plays could seemingly stop the Thunder, who angrily ran roughshod over the Sonics. Durant would finish with 36 points, 12 boards, and seven dimes. Westbrook chipped in almost the same stat line of 36 points, six boards, and 12 assists. The Dynamic Duo snuffed out any hope of a Seattle comeback with their play.

The game devolved into a mess by the time halftime arrived, where the Sonics were down by 20 and the home crowd was stunned. A game like this, against the Thunder, was unexpected. But the Sonics played like a team of individuals rather than a team in the second and third quarters, a lot of poor shots and poorer passes.

Turnovers reared their ugly head against the Thunder, a team that makes its opponents pay when the ball becomes theirs. The Thunder beat the Sonics senseless with triples, fast break points, and points in the paint -- OKC led Seattle in all those stats, and ate them alive on the boards (57-40).

The Sonics couldn't keep up and they looked off all night. Was it too much rest? Was it too much confidence? Was it a culmination of things? There's no solid answer for a playoff loss that feels so bad as this. Visibly silenced, the PAC was the quietest it has been all season. Fans sat, stunned, in the stands well after the final buzzer.

The Thunder didn't celebrate. They didn't stay on the floor. They just calmly marched back to their locker room, fierceness on their face and in their steps. OKC has come to Seattle with a purpose and that purpose seems to be to destroy the Sonics at every opportunity.

Seattle will have to adjust and step up in Game 2, else they'll be looking at a 2-0 hole heading back to the OKC. That's a hole Seattle can't afford to dig themselves into.

It was a tough night, but there's still (at least) three more games left in the series.

Go Sonics.

(Here are the few highlights.)

[studbucket]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Ouch man. Upped to HOF (aka CPU cheat code mode) or just a rough game?

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Ouch man. Upped to HOF (aka CPU cheat code mode) or just a rough game?

^Rough game. I don't play HOF because it's CPU cheat mode, but I just couldn't stop them to save my life this game. Out of all the teams in the NBA I play, the Thunder are by far the ones that give me the most trouble. Hoping the sim engine gives me a break in Game 2, because if I go into Game 3 down 2-0, I might as well pack it up.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



WHEW. That was closer than most of us would have liked, but it's to be expected when playing the Thunder at home. After the Sonics won Game 2 in convincing fashion, 103-90, the series was all tied up heading back to the Thunder's home court. "Loud City" as they like to call themselves, was every bit as loud as you'd expect for a playoff game against a hated rival.

Clay Bennett, as has been the case since Seattle's return to the NBA, was sitting in the luxury suite above, watching the action on the floor below, and what he saw must have pleased him early on. In the first, the Sonics and Thunder came out trading blows, each team trading the lead back and forth, and the Thunder draining shots from deep. Every time it looked like Seattle was going to claw out a lead, OKC drained a dagger from behind the arc and took the lead back or evened things out.

Still, at the end of one, the Sonics lead by one. That lead would grow to 10-points midway through the second quarter thanks to hot shooting from one Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdog was lights out from the field (and not half-bad on defense, either) and he helped Seattle take a six-point lead into halftime.

In the third, Bogdog again saw heavy minutes as Lionel Hollins let him shoot till he started missing -- which didn't really happen till midway through the third, at one point making eight straight buckets. Bogdog was straight-fire tonight and OKC had no answer for him. But, all streaks have to come to an end and Bogdog's did, so Hollins went back to RHJ. The game became about OKC trying to shoot their way back into it -- and they did a few times.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, OKC's shots were hitting again and Seattle was perfectly willing to let them have those shots as long as they were able to get theirs inside. And they did -- Seattle punished OKC in the paint and the Thunder had no recourse but to foul. Durant himself picked up his fifth foul midway through the quarter and the Sonics were foaming at the mouth to get him to foul out.

So they attacked, and attacked, and attacked. The Thunder gamely fouled with anyone other than Durant, sicking Enes Kanter and Steven Adams on a few of the Sonics players, but the Sonics lead held. The Thunder would hit a triple and Seattle would calmly go up the court, dive inside, and find the open man for a bucket. The Thunder fans must have felt like they were watching a repeat of last year's series as the Sonics seemed unfazed by the added pressure.

The Thunder players weren't so calm. As the fourth came to an end, Cameron Payne and Enes Kanter both got to the line on back-to-back possessions but couldn't make Seattle pay; Payne missed both his shots, Kanter hit only one, and the Sonics maintained a three-point lead with less than a minute to go. The Thunder would foul, first RHJ (he split his free throws), then hustle up to court for a shot -- a shot which they missed, letting the rebound go to Brandon Jennings. Jennings would calmly sink all his free throw shots, netting the Sonics a six-point lead.

The Thunder were able to drain a wide-open corner two from Westbrook with less than 30 seconds to go, narrowing the gap to four points, but then the Sonics quickly inbounded the ball to RHJ, who drive headlong towards the hoop and was promptly fouled by Durant. Durant wasn't the only Thunder around RHJ but he made the most contact and was called for the foul, ending his night with less than 26 seconds left on the clock.

And with Durant out, so went the Thunder's chances at the game.

Sonics lead 2-1. Another win in OKC and the Thunder have to face elimination in Seattle for Game 5.

Go Sonics.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



Game 4 should have been a Sonics win, and it still stings. A late Durant three proved the difference in that one, giving the Thunder a 97-94 win in OKC.

But Game 5 was back on Seattle's turf and the PAC was roaring from beginning to end. The Thunder started out well enough early in the first, but soon found they had a major problem: Kevin Durant was missing his shots. Easy ones, too.

Durant's struggles were many and stark in the first half. He scored only nine points the entire half, blanketed by RHJ, who himself was scoring at will inside against anyone the Thunder put on him. RHJ was an absolute beast and, I kid you not, didn't miss a single shot the entire game.

He went a perfect 13-of-13 from the field, finishing with 26 points, six boards, and only a single foul. That was the story of the game, primarily, as RHJ dominated and the Sonics followed him. He got help, of course, from his bellow Break Brother (trademarked!) Lance Stephenson, who himself was streaking in the first half.

The Sonics slowly began to crawl away in the third quarter as Brandon Jennings didn't even really bother to try and shoot -- he just passed. Jennings knew well enough to not force his shot, a lesson he's had to relearn a few times this season, and he kept his teammates in the flow of the game. That passing was contagious and there's no doubting Jennings steady hand contributed to Seattle's win. (His six turnovers were concerning, but many of those came early, so it's forgivable.)

The fourth is where the fireworks really started. The Thunder finally got Kevin Durant to start knocking down shots and Duran just kept knocking them down -- the Thunder's offense ran through him almost exclusively and the MVP made the Sonics pay repeatedly (he finished with 28 points), but he couldn't get his deep shot to fall. The Thunder largely were unable to do anything from deep, only 4-of-13 as a team from behind the arc.

But they kept shooting it and the Sonics kept letting them. That was the difference in the game and Durant's cold shooting in the first half. If KD hits a few more shots in the first quarter, if the Thunder play more inside, we might have a different result.

The Sonics now lead 3-2 heading back to Oklahoma City. Closing out the the Thunder, on the road, will be monumentally difficult, but they can do it. If not, Game 7 will be back at the PAC and it will be the first Game 7 in the PAC's history.

Go Sonics.

[AC]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

66% from the field, wow

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

66% from the field, wow

When I get going, man, that pick and roll is lethal.

Also, the Raptors made the Finals. Don't ask me how.

[AC]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Well now my requests to turn up the difficulty are going to seem disingenuous! Good thing I can be as transparent as I want about wanting you to play every game of the finals now, though

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Well now my requests to turn up the difficulty are going to seem disingenuous! Good thing I can be as transparent as I want about wanting you to play every game of the finals now, though

Assuming I make it. I lost Game 6 in the sim, so I'm playing Game 7 now.

We'll see who comes out on top in this ultra-heated affair.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



It's finally done. No, this isn't Lord of the Rings, but it sure felt like a journey that took three movies to complete. The Sonics beat the Thunder, 115-100, in a dominating home win. It was more than I expected, especially after the Sonics fell short in OT in their Game 6 loss (that 124-121 loss was hard to take).

Game 6 was exhausting for both teams, but Game 7 was thankfully two after. Both teams came out looking fresh, but only one drained everything it shot: the Sonics. Seattle came out hot and just couldn't really miss. The biggest factor early, and all game, was Lance Stephenson. Good Lance once again showed up and Good Lance flirted with a triple-double (he finished with 20 points, seven boards, and eight dimes) and Good Lance was a monster in the transition game.

He and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made their impact on defense and on the fast break. The Thunder couldn't keep up as their triples weren't enough to overcome the Sonics lead (they went 8-of-18 for the day). Largely to do with this game's lopsided score was the Sonics bench mob, who scored 41 points (not a typo) against the Thunder's 19.

And even more largely to do with this win was the lack of Kevin Durant. Durant was missing bunnies out there and he looked tired -- KD went 8-of-18 from the field, 2-of-6 from deep, and affected the game in lots of ways (finishing with 19 points, eight boards, and six dimes) but the Thunder needed him to score more to win.

Westbrook was scoring, left and right. He went for 28 points (and only five assists) and he got help from Ibaka and Morrow (both finishing with 17 points each) but Kanter was a missing man out there, and the Thunder's bench was woeful.

Seattle grabbed the lead and was up at the half by 17 points. They extended that lead to 20 points at the beginning of the fourth, then watched the Thunder trim that lead down to 12 before resuming the bludgeoning, grinding style that got them here. Somewhere, Memphis Grizzlies fans are holding up their lighters in a sign of solidarity as their grit-and-grind style eliminated a long-time foe for them.

For the Sonics, this victory was the hardest fought one of the entire year and in their short history as a resurrected franchise. They now move on to face the Toronto Raptors (say what?!) in the first international NBA Finals in league history.

What a win. Go Sonics.