Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Game 1 of the new season is in the books.

The game was good. So good. Highlights and write up in the morning.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



BOOM. Russell Westbrook went off like a stick of dynamite on the basketball court, as the SuperSonics broke out against the Rockets in the fourth quarter, stifling James Harden, Rudy Gay, and Pau Gasol in the process.

We'll start off with the obvious: this game looks like a blowout, but it wasn't until the final frame. Harden and Houston fought all game to stay in range of the Sonics, and they did a fine job knocking down threes and making tough shots in the paint. Gasol and Capela were, surprisingly, effective against the frontline of Noel and Morris early.

In the first, it was Rudy Gay vs. Russell Westbrook -- James Harden apparently didn't get his plane ticket or sent his body double to stand in for him during the first three quarters of the game, because Harden was barely there for Houston. You saw the beard, but you didn't really feel his presence.

But you knew Gay was there. Rudy was enjoying himself out there, maybe for the first time since he was traded to Sacramento way back in 2013. Gay was being set up beautifully by Beverly and Gasol, spacing the floor in a way Houston has lacked since T-Mac.

This is, however, a team game, and thanks to Westbrook, Morris, and that legendary Sonics bench (now unfairly sporting Marcin Gortat and Malik Newman), the SuperSonics jumped out to a 30-25 lead after one.

In the second, Seattle would do more of the same, the new bench unit getting some court time and Lionel Hollins mixing things up a bit -- Hollins experimented with the lineup here, starting Lin, Newman, Lance, Noel, and Gortat at the beginning of the quarter, a nightmare defensively and full of thunderous jams offensively. Malik Newman nearly stole the show with his time on the floor, as the kid was ultra-efficient and super-stoked; he got much, much love from Russell Westbrook when the two shared the floor together.

But the Rockets used some voodo or something to stay in the game otherwise known as TRIPLES. Houston was nailing them from deep, going 9-18 from beyond the whole night (that's 50 percent), making Seattle pay dearly for leaving any one of their shooters opened; Beverley, Deron Williams, Harden, and Gay all were stroking it from deep -- the third quarter was pretty much Beverley and Gay keeping the Rockets in it.

In the fourth, Houston closed the lead to just four, making it look like they were about to stage a comeback. But, with a little under 7 minutes to go, Russell Westbrook decided enough was enough -- in the span of two minutes, Westbrook scored six points, assisted on three other buckets, and came up with two crucial steals. It was an assault on the senses unlike anything a Sonics fan has witnessed in years. It was like Russell was channeling Gary Payton.

That was the backbreaker for Houston. They went on a long scoreless drought, watched Harden get pick-pocketed by Lance and Westbrook, and played outright dismal transition defense. At the end of the night, Westbrook was rightfully named player of the game and his matchup with his former teammate ended up being a bit of a dud; Harden didn't look like he belonged in the same state, let alone the same court. The Beard went a face-palming 8-26 from the field, dishing out 11 assists but being responsible for three critical turnovers late.






Around the NBA

So, besides the Sonics curb-stomping the Rockets, what else is going on? Well ....

In Portland, the Blazers got demolished by the Spurs, 112-95. Can't say I'm sad.

Then we have the shocker of the night: Nuggets 92, Warriors 89 in a loss that wasn't as close as it seemed.

Out East, the defending conference champs got knocked off by the 76ers, 96-85.

Oh, and the super-duper-star Bulls got beat by the Bucks, 97-86.

The comments are yours, friends.

Go Sonics!

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

A magnificent start! Exactly what I expected from Russ. Newman sounds like he's turning into a bit of a sensation also. Nothing better that developing one of your own.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

A magnificent start! Exactly what I expected from Russ. Newman sounds like he's turning into a bit of a sensation also. Nothing better that developing one of your own.

Newman has improved his shot TREMENDOUSLY over last season. He's up by six or seven points in all shooting categories, which is awesome cause that's how I wanted him to develop and he's developing that way.

Comparatively, RHJ got a good boost in mid-range shooting, but received only a minor one from deep (which continues to be his weakness), but the dude's hyper-atheleticism and defense is still a world-beater; worried he might go the route of Tony Allen as he gets older, but he's still got many years before that becomes an issue.

With the way Newman has developed though, mostly sitting on the bench last season (minus his few weeks of starting), I'm wondering if I should plug Hartenstein on there as well, just to let him train hard to get on the court ... but I really like Hartenstein and want him to see some minutes. I think getting rookies out on the floor and allowing them to be in the games is important -- practice only goes so far, IMO, and if you keep them nailed to the bench they'll go nowhere fast.

I've simmed up to my next playable game (a Texas tussle in Dallas). The next playable game after that -- OKC, visiting Seattle, on 11-26.

Coming up next, as far as posts are concerned, is a look at the draft class and maybe a stop in with one of our characters. As always, thanks for keeping the faith, and stay tuned.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



November 1st, 2017


The lockerroom was buzzing with cheers as the door closed behind them all, sealing it off for a few precious minutes before the press was allowed in. The victory over the Rockets was a sweet one, but made all the sweeter by the excellent performance everyone gave on the floor.

"All right, all right, let's relax for a minute," said Lionel, the victory celebration coming to a halt as the coach loosened his tie and held it up for all to see. "Who wants this? Who wants to be chief for the night?"

"CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF," the players cheered in unison.

Max leaned back against the doorway, grinning. The players and people in this room -- they were like family. They all had their differences and they had watched guys leave -- Jack, Robinson, Sanders, Jennings -- and guys retire -- Ray, Jamal -- but they were all welcome back. It was a lesson that had taken him many years to learn but he put it into practice almost instantly:

Family meant forgiveness. No matter what you did or how bad your decisions, where you went or how performed, as long as you didn't do it maliciously, you were okay. It would be okay. In the end, they'd be there for one another.

And, like all families, they had their stupid traditions -- this one with Lionel's tie started by Nate Robinson in their first training camp, over two years ago. Nate had taken it after a particularly good day of camp for him, tied it around his head, and taken off flying around the court, declaring himself 'Chief' for the day. He went around all day with that tie around his head and people called him 'Chief'.

Now, after every game, win or lose, someone would be named a chief. There were all-time rankings somewhere, but Max wasn't sure who was keeping those stats. But this was fun and exactly the thing that he wanted. It helped provide a release, win or lose.

Most players didn't tie the tie around their head (Nate was unique in that regard) but they did keep the tie. Lionel had tons of them and he liked having an excuse to buy new ones anyway.

"Now," Lionel said, breaking Max out of his thoughts, "this was a great win tonight. Everyone played well, I can't really fault anyone for anything -- other than that blown dunk by Rondae near the end of the second. You lose a shoe, Jefferson?"

The guys laughed at that, Rondae included, as the third-year starter grinned.

Lionel held the tie up higher. "Tonight's chief is long overdue for one of these; he doesn't see much action on the floor, but he's the reason we're all here." Lionel pointed at Max. "You the chief tonight, Max."

A loud whistle echoed in the confines of the locker room as Max's face flushed from the sudden attention. He pulled down on his Dr. Who shirt, trying to regain his composure, but he had thoroughly lost it as the players cheered over and over, "CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF!"

Lionel motioned for him to come up to where he was and Max, at the very back of the locker room, made his way through the taller crowd of players (well, everyone but Nate), and to where the coach was. Lionel put the slightly sweaty tie loosely around Max's neck as the locker room erupted again.

Lionel held up his hand, the room quieting. "As chief for the night, you get to decide our postgame snack -- not a meal, now. Tried that last year and we had someone puke on the plane ride back."

"That was some foul *hit you forced us to eat, Jeremy!" Carl yelled from his locker.

"Your barf was foul," Jeremy Lin deadpanned.

The players laughed again, but Lionel quieted them down with his hand.

Max, thoroughly feeling on the spot, shrugged. "Um ... pork rinds?"

Lionel thought for a second, then nodded.

A big hand shot up, though it wasn't necessary because it was coming from one of the taller players on the team, Hartenstein. "What is a 'pork rind'?"

Nate Robinson's voice could be heard. "Man, you don't know what one of them is? Jeez, what they teach you over in Europe?"

"Art history, mostly," Hartenstein said with a smirk. "Very interesting. Much to like."

When the press entered the locker room ten minutes later, they found the players changing there, as well as a bag of pork rinds next to them.

And Max, with the tie around his head.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return


The 2018 NBA Draft is so, so, so ... far away. It's in the summer and we just started the season last night! But, it never hurts to look ahead a little. Remember, the Sonics don't have a draft pick in this draft (thank you, Billy King) and, if they want to get into this derby, they'll have to swing a trade for a pick at some point.

Truthfully, the Sonics probably are lucky they don't have a pick in this class because GMs and scouts across the league are predicting this class to be the weakest in recent memory -- maybe even weaker than the 2013 class, which has so far produced ... um ... not much. That 2013 class is bad, maybe legendarily so (beating out the famed draft-class of failure in 2001, perhaps), but time will tell.

Let's take a look at the 1st round prospects in this guard-heavy draft, shall we?



1. Felton is a passing point guard, plain and simple, and is known for his ability to play well in any environment. The kid might have ice in his veins -- which also might explain how often he gets injured. Many in the NBA like his talent and his potential development, but team's will be wary of drafting him is he continues to miss games. He could fall a long-way down the draft board if things don't break his way.

2. Kaffka (no, not the philosopher), is a foreign prospect that many in the NBA see as a boom or bust candidate. His ceiling is high, if he can adjust to the NBA game (a big IF for foreign prospects, historically) and he might be better as a two-guard long-term than a one. But, he has sweet handles and constantly looks to get his teammates involved ... mostly because his shooting stroke is young-Rondo bad. He's a project, so anyone who takes him shouldn't expect to see dividends for at least a year or two, but he could be big.

3. Ward is a tweener one. He could be either a PG or SG, and he doesn't have the skills to do either more than passably at this point -- Ward is a project, raw, but he's also an incredibly hard-worker. He came into Providence expecting to be a third-stringer bench player, but earned the starting job. NBA execs are intrigued by his passion and his raw skills, but he's not an immediate starter or even role player.

4. Patterson is another raw-tweener type, but he's also one of the best passers in this draft; unfortunately, Patterson has had a string of poor injury luck over the last season in-a-half (hence why he wasn't in the 2017 draft) and will be one of the oldest prospects in this draft by the time the summer comes around (admittedly, at only 21). There's serious worry about his conditioning and his shooting, both which we'll kindly rate as "hot garbage" until further notice. He could shoot up draft boards if he has a good season and gets himself in shape -- he could also fall out of the 1st round entirely (and maybe the draft) if he doesn't.

5. McMillan is a passing point from Duke, a pest defensively, and a player who thrives getting to the rim. He also has no outside shot to speak of and seems terrified of taking the three (a cardinal sin in today's NBA). McMillan has NBA ready skills, he could immediately come in an become a bit rotation player, but scouts are divided on his ultimate destiny -- McMillan doesn't seem to care about developing the weaker parts of his game, only wanting to get better at what he's good at, and that's a mindset that won't cut it in the big leagues.

6. Jacobsen might be the most well-rounded prospect in the PG pool, but he's also the most average. He excels at nothing but is a hardworker. His glaring weakness is defense, where he tends to be a half-second behind his rotations and man. Jacobsen will have to prove to the NBA that he can keep up with the college game, because there are valid concerns that he'd be a major negative in the pros, where the game moves much faster.




1. Brown is a guaranteed lottery pick and likely a top-five selection. He's the most well-rounded two guard to come out in years; he's a good shooter, a good slasher, he's got decent handles, makes smart passes, and isn't a liability on defense. He could easily start from day one for a number of NBA teams. The only question scouts have about him is how well he'll with other stars -- Brown is the big dog at UCLA, the best player by far, but he's had moments of immaturity on the court. NBA execs aren't sure how he'll respond with teammates who are better than him, but it's a minor issue compared to his great talent.

2. Davidson makes his living getting in the paint and being an opportunistic defender. Other than those two things, he's not known for much else -- his shooting stroke is a mess, having tried to change it since high school but succeeding in only making it worse. NBA scouts feel he doesn't have much upside, but he could be an important glue-guy down the line, as Davidson's been known to solve problems on the court and in the locker room, an intangible quality more NBA value now.

3. Blake is viewed as probably the second-best two-guard in this draft, but also the most injury prone of the bunch. He's been banged up since the surprising tourney run for Virginia Tech last season and his recovery has been slow, which isn't his fault. Blake is a solid shooter, can play off-ball decently, but lacks defensively and doesn't do well in the face of adversity; NBA scouts feel he'll need a strong locker room to mold him into an NBA player and he could slip into the 2nd round if he takes a step back this year.

4. Thompson is a teammate of Brown and is the second-best player on that team, but is frequently slotted in next to Brown as the point guard -- he's actually more of a two-guard, but lacks any distinguishing skill other than being a tough SOB. Thompson is the muscle on his team despite being just 6'3". He's a classic tough-minded, hard-as-nail guard who would better fit in the 80s NBA as opposed to today -- he's a complete project, but he's never been one to shy away from a challenge and that type of work ethic has caught the attention of the NBA.

5. Day is tall, versatile, and is decent at shooting and defense. He can pass well for a SG, but he's got a bad case of Kobe-chucker -- he'll toss up any shot you can think of. His confidence in himself is admirable, but he tends to be too confident gets tunnel vision with the ball in his hands. Day's best role is off the bench as a second-unit scorcher, but that's an adjustment many in the NBA think he'll have difficulty with. Because of that, his upside is viewed as minor and he's got a good chance at slipping down the boards.

6. Stafford is a shooter who thrives off coming off screens and knocking it down in people's faces. Unfortunately, he's also going to be 23 by the time the draft hits and he's not shown much improvement in his time at college. Stafford is a clear case of a prospect that fits in with only certain teams -- where he goes is entirely dependent on the draft order and how he does during the pre-draft process. He projects, at best, as a JJ Redick type -- useful for a contending team.

7. Hendrix is a tweener two who likes to get into the paint and bang with the big fellas. Sadly, he's not very durable -- he's frequently been in and out of the lineup at Purdue with various minor injuries and NBA scouts believe he'll never be healthy enough to be a full-time starter. As a bench leader, though, they project him to be very effective if he can stay on the floor, but that's a big if for a player with his injury past.

8. Reid is a throwback 90s guard, a guy who thrives in the mid-range and operating out of the post. In today's NBA, he's a bit of a relic, but he's not a total lost cause from deep -- he's brought his percentage there up every year while at UT. Reid is also a very competent defender, despite his size, and likes to play tough. His upside might be smaller than some think, but an NBA team needing a solid rotation guy at the two could do much, much worse.

9. Cage has a sweet, sweet-stroke from deep and has been compared to Kyle Korver frequently. That's an apt comparison too because, like Korver, Cage will make his living as a deep-shooter and little else. His defense is not good, he's a liability in the paint, and he might be the most ground-bound two-guard in years. He doesn't have much athletically to offer other than his shooting, but he'll earn a living that way in a three-loving league like the NBA.

10. Webber is the best defender out of the SGs. He's a lockdown, in-your-face type with little regard for who or what you are; you will not score on him. On the flipside, he probably won't score on you either because he struggles with his shot and makes his living drawing fouls and knocking down his free-throws. He's like a young, proto Tony Allen and though he's an offensive caveman, his defense is where he'll make his initial impact IF he can convince an NBA squad he's valuable to them.



1. Porter is seen as a pretty safe pick in this draft, another guaranteed lottery selection and a strong top-five consideration. He's tall, he shoots very well, he plays decent defense and he can toggle between the three or the four. The only knock on him is his health, which has been an off again/on again thing for him since high school. When he's on the court, he's an absolute beast, but he tends to pile up minor ailments. Whomever draft him will need to be sure he can handle the NBA minutes.

2. Tuker is a physical specimen, chiseled and one of the best built players in the draft. He lives off his ability to finish inside but he's developed a bit of an outside game recently, making him a threat when left open from deep. He has plenty of room to grow, but his first few years in the league could be tough as he faces guys who are just as built as he is -- if he adjusts, he could be a big player down the line.

3. Baylor is a point-forward, a very gifted passer for the three and he play decent defense. He will never be known for scoring and relies on getting fouls to score many points at all, but the possibilities he gives you as a passer really can open up the offense for a team. He projects as a Draymond Green type, at best, if he can ever develop his shooting, which is one of the weakest parts of his game.

4. Carlos is a decent passer, a decent defender at the three or the four, and a glue-guy. His skills as an NBA player are pretty much limited to those things; offensively, he struggles getting an sort of decent shot from anywhere that isn't the paint and he's only marginally average there. Carlos could be a decent rotation player for the right team, but he's got a long-way to go before he sees any real minutes in this league.

5. Vanderbilt is a James Johnson type of player; limited offensively, decent defensively, and a glass eater. He's a tweener between the three or four, doesn't bring much to the table in terms of translatable NBA skills, but he's strong; his ability get boards might make him a Reggie Evans type if he can find a way to contribute offensively, but right now he's a project player who could be a rotation piece on a shallow bench.

6. Rodgers makes his living as a team-player. You ask him to do it and he'll do it. A decent defender and passer, Rodgers is a guy who'll keep the ball moving, keep his teammates involved, and not care a lick for his own stats. He's offensively challenged and looks to have a long road ahead in developing any sort of meaningful shooting stroke, but if a team is willing to grab him, they'll likely be rewarded down the line with a DeMarre Carroll type of player.

7. Lawson is well-liked, is a heady defender, and does an okay job at passing. He has no offensive skill other than dunking, and even that is inconsistent at times. NBA scouts are torn on what exactly he is. At 6'9" and 264lbs, he's big for a three and just the right size for a four, but he struggles a ton in the post and gets beat on the glass often. Whomever grabs Lawson will be taking on a project that won't see a payoff for two seasons, minimum, and he projects as late-1st round pick because of it.




1. Carter is heads above most post players in the class and is a traditional big man at the four. He has an array of moves in the paint and he's a likely top-five projection, depending on what teams end up where. He's a good defender, rebounder, and a great teammate. But some NBA scouts feel he's not aggressive enough with his own play, pointing out how often he sets up his teammates for points that he could get easier. He lacks a killer mentality, but with the right mentorship and coaching, should realize his full potential without much issue.

2. Ozat is the only four possibly worthy of a 1st round pick, a function of this draft being so guard heavy. Hailing form Turkey, the 21-year-old is a glass eater and a post operator. He has a middling mid-range game and looks unathletic at times, but he has games where he inhales boards and gets easy second-chance points like he was Charles Barkley. He's a buy-low candidate for this draft and he might fall into the 2nd round depending on how the college season goes here in the USA.




1. Ayton is widely viewed as the best traditional big man in years, beating out Jahill Okafor. Ayton is likely to be the first overall pick, depending on who ends up up there, and possesses supreme low-post skills, as well as having a decent mid-range game (and very soft-hands). Ayton looks like he has all the tools to be a dominating big man in the NBA, much in the same vein as DeMarcus Cousins minus all the headaches. NBA execs drool over him and he's a day one starter, without a doubt.

2. Brown is the flipside to Ayton -- he's not as good in the post or at defense, but he's a true stretch five. Ayton and Brown both play in the SEC and both will engage in a few battles as the season goes on, so expect their ranking here to flip flop depending on the week, but Brown is a deadeye from anywhere inside or outside the arc. He's got a deep shot, he has a great touch, and he's quite fast for a center. What he lacks on defense, he makes up for in versatility and his ceiling might be higher than Ayton's over the long-term.

3. Seymour is a distant third from the two players above. He has barely an offensive game, he plays decent defense, but he makes his living grabbing boards. He's a rebounding machine who could develop into something more down the line, but he's simply not ready at this stage to be more than a deep rotation player. He'll need a year or two of seasoning before he makes a big impact on the NBA.

4. Ryan is another center with good rebounding skills and virtually nothing else to offer at this point. His offensive game in the pros boils down to pick and roll dunks, and the frequent putback. He might have a place as a bench player down the line, but he's a project at this stage and his development has stagnated his last two years at school, worrying NBA scouts that he's reached his ceiling.

5. Johnson is a very raw prospect with a decent amount of potential. Johnson has some NBA level skills already at his disposal, namely being a natural defender in the post, and he has a decent mid-range stroke for his size and age. But Johnson is a minus on the boards and has hands of stone. He won't flash any post skills and will often find himself flustered by opponents if he tries to power around them; he's a long-term project that might pay dividends and, at only 19 by draft time, someone will take a gamble on him for sure.

[AC]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Awesome preview. Looks like a repeat of the Towns/Okafor debate.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Awesome preview. Looks like a repeat of the Towns/Okafor debate.

Yeah, it really is between Ayton and Brown. Ayton looks like he'll be a freakin beast -- High, high hopes for that kid, but Brown could easily be just as beastly five years down the line. Seeing how those two careers play out will be extremely interesting. The draft is pretty top-heavy, though, so if you finish outside the lottery you're gonna struggle finding guys who'll be an immediate impact in year one.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



This wasn't much a game to watch as the Mavericks, 4-7 entering the game, are too reliant on hot shooting and little else. Defensively, they struggled this game guarding Morris and Westbrook, and offensively the only guy who could knock down anything was Kris Middleton, who was lights out on the floor and absent as a defender.

The first quarter was the only part of this game where you thought maybe, maybe, the Mavericks had a chance to do something, but then their woeful bench came in and promptly lost any chance for the Mavs to close the gap as Seattle's super-bench, led by Gortat and Newman, just ate Dallas alive.

Just about every Sonics player had himself a game here, none more so than Newman and Lin from deep -- both players were just lights out off the bench from beyond the arc and it was great to watch ... for a Seattle fan. Unfortunately for Dallas, the season looks to be a long one. Bojan Bogdanovic AKA Bogdog was injured the game before and news came down before today's battle that he's done for 6-8 months with a torn ACL. Bogdog, essentially, played ten games this season and won't play another, Dallas' big signing in the offseason being a complete non-factor.

This was a cakewalk for Seattle for the most part, and the Sonics are now 8-3, tied with OKC for best record in the West.







Around the NBA

The Hornets are now 10-1 (WHAT?!) after defeating the Magic, 78-74, in a brawl. Charlotte has now beaten nine teams straight and its only loss comes at the hands of the Sonics earlier in the year.

The Bulls are now 7-3 after their most recent win (against Cleveland) but are now missing Butler, Wade, and Dwight with injuries -- all three are expected to be back in some capacity within the next week or two, but Chicago is paying the price for trusting so much of their team to three players.

The Pacers are now 3-8 (?!!?), losers of five in a row, as they struggle to adjust to the presence of Derrick Rose. Rose, Ellis, Turner, and Favors are all scoring well, but George looks lost out there (only 17.5 PPG so far) and Frank Vogel's seat is starting to give him burns. Indiana may be among the first to move someone between Ellis and Favors (both expiring contracts after this season) once we pass December 15th.

The Suns are now 6-3, with rookie Ivan Rabb just killing it: 17.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG on 48 percent shooting. All this is without Devon Booker as well, out with a sprained wrist for another two weeks, and PHX looks like a surprise playoff contender early.

Speaking of surprises, we have a Kings sighting! The Kings are 6-5, winners of six straight behind the hot shooting of Brandon Ingram and George Hill. It's a real team effort out in Sactown, as there isn't a 20+ point scorer on the team (yet) and the bench is really doing well. It's unlikely they can keep it up, but this is the best stretch of games the Kings have put together in at least two years -- a very positive development.

Not so positive -- the Warriors. They sit at 3-7, losers of four straight, and are offensively challenged; the Warriors are scoring only 95.7 PPG as a team and are allowing 99.1 PPG, making it not pretty out in Golden State. The team has weathered some tough things since their title year, but this slow start is by far one of the toughest. Rumblings of a potential trade of Harrison Barnes are growing louder by the day.

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Absolutely loved the draft preview. Your attention to detail is second to none trek. Throughly looking forward to seeing where this year goes. May even have to put some emphasis on a second team if your sonics continue their dominance.

Just a thought?

Although I'm sure you have something lined up. Either way I continue to look forward to reading this.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Absolutely loved the draft preview. Your attention to detail is second to none trek. Throughly looking forward to seeing where this year goes. May even have to put some emphasis on a second team if your sonics continue their dominance.

Just a thought?

Although I'm sure you have something lined up. Either way I continue to look forward to reading this.

A second team? Ehh. I'm getting challenged in most games, but I tend to break away during the final quarter (as good teams do). I suppose I could do a second-team, but I'm about the Sonics -- winning is boring sometimes, but that's part of the challenge of maintaining great teams like the Spurs or the Lakers (of old) or the Celtics (of old). There are just times in that franchise's history where those teams are perennial contenders.

If anything, with all the winning and the less games I'm playing (I've played four total now, which means only 16 left to go for the regular season), it gives me more time to focus on the storyline, which has taken a backseat in this dynasty more than any other dynasty I've ever done. I've never won this much this early before in a dynasty, so maintaining it is just as much a challenge anything else (one could make the case it's more of a challenge -- imagine all the hours the Spurs have put in over the last 15+ years to be as good a franchise and team as they have been).

We'll be checking in with the other side, OKC, soon on their strategy to overcome the Seattle menace (as Clay would put it).

And thank you for the compliments on the Draft preview! Yeah, that was a bit longer than I thought it'd be, but it was fun. I'll probably do a 2nd round steals preview as well, just to further flesh it out, down the line as we approach the end of the season.

As always, thanks for keeping the faith. Game 1 of the season series vs. OKC will be up (hopefully) in the morning. It was fun.

Well, for Seattle anyway. ;D

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Hey I'm all for the story side of things don't get me wrong at all.

Now that you've said it. I do agree that trying to stay at the top is quite possibly actually much harder than getting there.

So with that in mind disregard my previous statement lol.

Go sonics!

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



Perfection is rarely so beautiful, but the SuperSonics were absolutely the prettiest bell at this ball. They move to 10-4 after the destruction they wreaked upon OKC (dropping OKC to 10-4 and second in the conference) and, if this is any indication of how the Thunder might do in a playoff series, this is a good thing for the Sonics.

Let's start with the obvious: this game was a B-I-G game for one Russell Westbrook (still waiting on that bad*ss nickname!). Russ had a score to settle with a team that refused to pay him Durant money, with a team he had poured his heart and soul in for nine years. Russ played like it from the opening tip -- it was time to prove them wrong.

He did it in just about every way he could, including from beyond the arc. The Sonics were a team on a mission, led by their general in Westbrook, and they got out to an early eight point lead by the end of the first. And then the second quarter arrived, with the two squads sending in their subs.

As has been the case for most of the league this year, the bench units of teams usually have one regular starter in them -- a move that, in recent seasons, has become more common place in a copy-cat league -- and this game was no different. The Sonics bench usually found themselves with either Noel or Morris on the floor with them and this game it was Markieff.

'Kieff had a field day. He literally didn't miss from the field -- none of his shots missed. He went 10-10 overall, 3-3 from deep, 3-3 at the line and only had two fouls. He was an absolute monster and, as had been theorized for two years now, his stretch-four abilities unlocked the Sonics offense to its full potential. The second quarter was led by him and his deep shooting, and it didn't stop with just him -- everyone had the touch from beyond. Lin, Newman, and Lance all hit in this quarter.

It buried OKC under an avalanche of triples and the Thunder went down big in the half. But the second half saw a much better effort from OKC as Druant and Ibaka went to work, playing heavy minutes in order to dig the team out of the hole they put themselves in. Unfortunately, Victor Oladipo and Enes Kanter helped shoot the Thunder right back into that hole.

Kanter and Oladipo were about as accurate from the field as a blind man trying to shoot the basketball on roller skates. That is to say, they were freakin' horrible. Kanter went 3-7, not terrible, but he was absent. Oladipo tried to shoot his way around the Sonics defense, but Lance and Newman were very, very good against him. He finished 2-15 from the field with 7 points, 6 assists, and 3 boards.

There was no fourth quarter comeback for the Thunder as Russell took over, slammed the door, poured gasoline in the window, lit a match, and watched the Thunder burn as he drank Mountain Dew. He was named player of the game for his play and his statline (one rebound short of a triple-double) but he had a big assist from 'Kieff, who had his best game as a Sonic and probably his best game ever overall.







Around the NBA

Tough loss for the Nuggets, who fall to 6-7 after dropping one to the 76ers (sitting okayish at 7-6). The Nuggets losing the game didn't matter so much as them losing Mudiay, who suffered a bad landing on a dunk and was carried off the court. He's out for the next 2-4 months with a lower-leg fracture, his season possibly done, and with it might go Denver's hope for a decent year. The point guard reigns are passed to Norris Cole now, who isn't a scrub, but isn't Mudiay.

Speaking of losses, the Clippers are piling them up -- DeAndre Jordan has been absent the last three games with a sprained knee and he aggravated it traveling with the team, meaning he's out for the next 2-4 weeks. The Clippers backup big, Ian Mahinmi, went down last game with a left humerus fracture (that's a thing in the human body, apparently) and he's out for the next month or two. The Clippers are starting Henry Sims at center and sit at a dismal 5-9 on the year. Not a great look for Lob City right now.

Out East, the Orlando Magic are facing a worst-case scenario decision; the team is sitting at just 3-7, struggling, and neither Eldrid Payton or Aaron Gordon are really performing well -- both are up for contract extensions, one won't get it, and the Magic, after making the playoffs last season, have seemingly taken a step back in the worst way. Skiles still has the support of his ownership, but the Magic players are beginning to point fingers. Someone between Payton and Gordon has to go, and the Orlando front office has an unenviable decision to make.

The East standings are a crowded mess in the middle, but clearer up top as the Cavs (sans Mosgov, Love, and David Blatt now) are 11-5, racing to reclaim the first spot in the conference from the 12-4 Hornets. LeBron is doing his usual thing, but the real story is Kyrie, who's averaging 28.3 PPG on 54 percent shooting (46 percent from deep). He's knocking down everything he sees and the duo are keeping the lackluster Cavs ahead of the pack.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



November 27th, 2017

His foot moved up and down under the table, shaking the floor slightly as he impatiently waited for the answer to his question. Sam Presti sat there, his mind working; he was one of the best in the league and Clay Bennett was never going to let the man go -- he got the job done and got it done well.

But they needed to hurt Seattle. The way that team had destroyed Kevin and the rest of the Thunder last night didn't sit well with Clay -- oh, he was angry about it, sure -- but he was more than a little concerned. Even as an early season matchup, that's a statement game for them as an organization and as a team.

And the statement they made was 'We play like *hit without Westbrook' and it was an embarrassment to everyone in OKC.

"Sam?"

"I'm considering the options." He pushed up his glasses, the gears in the man's head turning. "The next time they have any free agent free is the summer of 2019. They've locked up everyone till then."

Clay stomped his foot, sending the table shaking a bit. "Why would he do that? He'll have a little cap flexibility and that's it next summer."

"He's shrewd, I'll give him that." There was a bit of admiration in Sam's voice. A quick glare from Clay caused the man to clear his throat. "Next summer's free agent class looks weak in comparison to recent years. There won't be the need to spend a lot of money ... he can fill in around the edges, like we can."

So, no way to hurt them next summer ... "So, how do we improve ourselves?"

"We could trade someone, but the fact is I'd rather not. Our roster is very good and is young, Clay. We could upset Kevin if we trade anyone. Removing Westbrook from the equation has caused the team to close in on their own; they won't be welcoming of a new player in the locker room if it involves trading away any of the current ones."

Clay allowed himself a small smirk at that. Westbrook's defection had angered the team, Kevin especially, and they refused to talk about him to the media; they refused to remember him at all. They were just as mad as he was and he loved that. "Then that leaves free agents."

Sam gave a small shake of his head. "Again, chemistry comes into play. There's no one out there who significantly improves us. There's JR Smith, there's Mo Williams, there's many players who have experience, but not a one is better than what we have on the roster."

Clay's fist collided with the table. "We have to do something! Did you see how we played?"

"I did. I'm as concerned as you are. But we should stay the course for now."

Clay took a breath. Sam was always the voice of reason and, in this case, he was right. Clay knew it. He just hated it. "All right, let's shift to the future -- summer, 2019. Who on Seattle comes free?"

"Hollis-Jefferson, Gortat, Morris, Stephenson, and Lin. All big players. Assuming none of them sign an extension, of course." Sam leaned back in his chair. "Out of those, the only one we'd really have a need for is Jefferson and maybe Stephenson as a backup."

"If we took Jefferson, it'd be a major blow to them."

Sam held up a finger. "They'd match him, more than likely. He'll be a hot commodity if goes free, many teams will offer him."

"But we could offer him and pair him with Durant. Jefferson can play the two -- Oladipo could be our sixth man."

"Before you go and do that, we'll need to secure Cameron's services for the long-term. He comes up for an extension that same year."

Clay nodded. "Right, right. And Kevin, too." He took a breath. "I want to hurt them that year. I don't care how, but we hurt them as much as we can."

Sam took off his glasses and cleaned them for a moment. "I believe we'll be able to. But we have to be patient."

Clay let out a sigh. He wasn't a very patient person. But if it meant dealing a major blow to Seattle, he'd try his best. He'd rather kill them with one, gut-wrenching blow than a thousand cuts, but the end result was all he really cared about. He wanted them dead and gone.

It was what they deserved.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return



There's a saying in the NBA: Good teams can get a lead, but great teams know how to keep it. If this game is any indication, the Sonics might be a great team this year. The new-look Sonics and Heat both entered the game at near the top of their respective conferences: Miami sat at 10-6 and in third place out East, Seattle at 13-5. This is that rare inter-conference series that actually means something, as neither Miami nor Seattle really like one another after the Polish Miracle of 2016.



That was a game till the very end. This one ... wasn't so much. The Heat battled the Sonics fiercely in the first half -- Chris Bosh was ENFUEGO, the man was putting on an MVP worthy show in the first half. He got steals, he got blocks, he got big boards and bigger shots, he showed off the versatility that makes him such a lethal weapon. The Sonics were disturbed by his play -- they had lost to Memphis two nights before thanks to a similarly stellar effort from Marc Gasol and this looked like a repeat.

In the first half, the Sonics piled up 10 turnovers and flustered. The bench was a mess, multiple missed shots and lazy rotations, the starters were out of rhythm, and only Westbrook finished the first half with a positive plus/minus score. Seattle was only up by three after two quarters and Miami had dictated the pace.

They would not dictate the pace in the third, when the Sonics finally saw the Nerlens Noel of last season. Noel has struggled adjusting back to playing the five, only scoring 9.3 PPG and grabbing 9.2 RPG so far this season; offensively, he's not quite as involved as he was last year and his post work needs work. But the Sonics made a concerted effort getting him involved in the third, letting him feast off the pick and roll as poor Al Jefferson was relegated to guarding him (as Bosh was guarding Morris out on the line).

Noel had a great game in that quarter, becoming the focal point of Seattle's offense and helping everyone settle down as they fed the big man and the big man took it home. Miami was down by nine entering the final frame, but they were far from done.

Chris Bosh came back alive and started knocking down triples; Dragic (who's thrived as a two again), started making those impossible shots at the rim and Miami trimmed that lead down to six, then to five, then to four midway through the final frame.

And that's when Russ decided to end it. He closed it out, it was him in the fourth, as he made his mark. He dunked, he knocked a deflating triple, he got tough layups and made some pinpoint passes as Miami couldn't get any of their guards to slow him down; the cycled through Dragic, Collison, Larkin (former Sonic), and Ellis, but not a one could stop the raging bull (is that Westbrook's nickname? This calls for a poll later!).

Miami couldn't handle that man's heat, they folded, and the Heat fans (predictably) left before the game was decided.








Around the NBA

The Milwaukee Bucks now sit at 11-6, winners of four straight, and look to finally resemble the team everyone thought they were getting two years ago. But their feel-good season took a turn for the worst as the Greek Freak went down, hard, in their win the night before against the T'Wolves. Freak had taken off for a big dunk, but collided in mid-air with Pekovic, and hit the floor. Immediately, he grabbed his leg and it just got worse from there. Giannis is out, 2-4 months, with a fractured leg and the Bucks just can't seem to catch a break. Monty Williams will have to figure out who fills in his place during the long absence, but the Bucks season might have just gone from good to bad.

The Hawks are the next team the Bucks play and their season isn't going so well -- they sit at 7-11, losers of three straight, and the divorce from Jeff Teague for the younger, German Schroder looks like a bad choice for the franchise. Schroder is struggling (scoring only 7.3 PPG on 38 percent shooting) and the team, as a whole, is just not clicking. The Hawks might have to press the panic button sometime between now and the trade deadline at this rate.

The Boogie Cousins drama continues out in Boston, where the Celtics just lost to the Kings on their home floor, 94-77, and their record sits at 10-11. Boogie reportedly blew up behind closed doors, but whatever was said didn't seem to upset any of Boston's players, which might be a problem. League sources are saying Cousins is "a near-lock" to go into free agency. Boston needs the playoffs badly this year.

Out West, the T'Wolves have problems; a loss to Milwaukee was followed by a last second loss to Philly, and the team is now 9-12. The Shabazz Muhammad sixth-man experiment seems to be killing the team's chemistry, despite how well Shabazz is doing. The T'Wolves are watching Ricky Rubio have a very down year, going only for 10.8 PPG on 37 percent shooting, and his name is in trade rumors. A move could be brewing for this team as they're just on the cusp of playoff contention.

Another team with playoff hopes is the Pelicans, who are killing it the last few games. Winners of three straight, they now sit at 12-9; their recent victories include the Spurs, Thunder, and Lakers, and they've won all games with a decently convincing margin. Anthony Davis is thriving, as well as rookie Jayson Tatum -- he's contributing a huge 20.5 PPG on 44 percent shooting, and he looks like the real-deal. If Davis ever leaves NOLA, the Pelicans have a fallback option with Tatum.