How many Seattle games were televised last year? I don't know. But I'm certain I never saw two live Sonics games two days in a row. But with rookie phenom Kevin Durant in the lineup, the Sonics have suddenly become primetime TV material. With fellow rookie Greg Oden out for the year, the focus will be on KD, who, one game into the season, has been crowned the NBA's Rookie of the Year. Will he earn it? This game should be an indicator.
Phoenix Suns vs. Seattle Supersonics
First Half
This game was basically a repeat of yestyerday's, with the Sonics melting down in the fourth quarter. This is expected, of course, from such a young team. They deserve credit for sticking close to the Suns, who are one of the top five teams in the L.
The Suns, though, also deserve credit for keeping the score close. They were sloppy today, and they should've blown the Sonics out. Instead, Amare had a lousy start, Nash was careless in the first half, and their defense was terrible. Marion played uninspiring ball, Diaw was tentative, and only Grant Hill played better than expected.
Good teams, however, always find a way to pull out the win. Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion all delivered in the last quarter, when the Sonics' offense suddenly sputtered. Nash had 12 assists in a what I'd consider a bad game for him. If that's how many he gets on a bad night, how many does he get when the Suns are rolling?
The Sonics, on the other hand, are a team with a future. Their bigs play hard, and play surprisingly well. Their board work is commendable, as is their defense. I'm not too thrilled about the rotation, though. I think Delonte West deserves more minutes than Wally Scerbiak, since the latter can't guard anybody. Ridnour also should be given more burn. Watson is solid, but doesn't see the floor as well. He had three assists in eight minutes. If Ridnour played as long as Nash, he'd have finished the game with 12.
KD continues to show why he's the number two pick. He played better today, but his six turnovers show how he has to learn how to play more under control. His shot selection is better now, but he got two offensive fouls today, similar to the ones that were drawn on him yesterday. He should learn to drive hard, stop on a dime, and just launch that floater that served him well in college. He also has to do something when he doesn't have the ball. Often he just stands around the three-point line waiting for a pass. He should move, try to get rebounds, cut. And he has to pick it up on D. His wingspan'll bother anyone, if he uses it well.
Here's hoping that the Sonics get their act together, soon. "Almost winning" is good, but losing takes its toll on everyone. They have to learn from their mistakes and win. Soon.
Photo courtesy of AP Photo
Phoenix Suns vs. Seattle Supersonics
First Half
- Phoenix has a small lineup. They don't have anyone over seven feet on the court, but they're used to that.
- Run, run, run. Let's see if the Sonics, true to their name, can catch up.
- Breakaway dunk and layup for KD. He looks more comfortable today. More relaxed. Guess he's settled down.
- This is going to be another high-scoring game; no D.
- Grant Hill looks good; Chris Wilcox also, who scores on an alley-oop pass from from Earl Watson.
- Amare for three? They say he's been working on this shot. He needs more work.
- Chris Wilcox is really getting the ball! He's tenacious on the boards.
- Zone against the Suns? They shoot too well for that.
- Jeff Green travels; rookie error.
- Alley-oop to Green from Luke! WOW! Wilcox almost gets a dunk from a pick-and-roll with Ridnour. Bad luck. Why isn't Ridnour starting?
- KD for three! What a sweet, sweet stroke! Sonics up by three! Chalk up another assist for Ridnour. This kid really sees the floor well. Ridnour another assist! Nick Collison scores this time.
- A thought; two white point guards playing against each other, and the assists are amazing.
- Collison schools Marion! Marion!! Sweet spin for a dunk.
- KD gambles for a steal, and Marion gets a dunk. On the other end, Nash gets a charging call against KD. The rook still needs a lot to learn.
- Another steal for the Sonics; KD gets a jump shot on the break KD fails to get the rebound; fails to box out Skinner, who scores on a follow-up dunk. Tsk.
- KD again! Step back jumper that is so, so pretty. KD can score the hell outta the ball. Then on the way back, he loses the ball! Sheesh. Still. When this guy has adjusted to the NBA game, he is going to be a beast to guard. He's confident with the ball, can create his own shot, and can shoot from ANYWHERE. Damn.
- Wilcox vs. Skinner. Battle of the "sweat" guys.
- KD already has 18 points at the half; as many points as he had in his first game.
- Damien Wilkins sinks a half-court heave; it goes in, so the Sonics end the half up by three.
- Hill on a breakaway layup. Nifty pass from Nash. Thing of beauty.
- Amare is just not playing well. He's playing with fouls and has gotten his shot either blocked or bothered by the Sonics' bigs.
- KD with a two-handed flush!
- Classic Hill. He schools KD with a crossover and layup down the center of the lane. KD has to work on his D. Lateral movement needs work.
- Hill burns Scerbiak; then on the next play, Sonics lose ball; I call an alley-oop from Nash to Marion, and Nash makes me look like Nostradamus.
- Wilcox is saving the Sonics. How many offensive rebounds does he have? I bet he has more than all the Suns combined. (A thought; is it a contract year for Wilcox?)
- Marcus Banks has practiced the three. He's shooting it well.
- Suns taking control in the fourth. Scerbiak is a liability on defense. Yeah, he can shoot. But he moves in slow mo.
- Durant shoots a two and a three. They've put Marion on him. Offensive foul on KD, just like in Denver yesterday.
- Suns up by ten. Game over.
- Suns win, 106-99.
This game was basically a repeat of yestyerday's, with the Sonics melting down in the fourth quarter. This is expected, of course, from such a young team. They deserve credit for sticking close to the Suns, who are one of the top five teams in the L.
The Suns, though, also deserve credit for keeping the score close. They were sloppy today, and they should've blown the Sonics out. Instead, Amare had a lousy start, Nash was careless in the first half, and their defense was terrible. Marion played uninspiring ball, Diaw was tentative, and only Grant Hill played better than expected.
Good teams, however, always find a way to pull out the win. Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion all delivered in the last quarter, when the Sonics' offense suddenly sputtered. Nash had 12 assists in a what I'd consider a bad game for him. If that's how many he gets on a bad night, how many does he get when the Suns are rolling?
The Sonics, on the other hand, are a team with a future. Their bigs play hard, and play surprisingly well. Their board work is commendable, as is their defense. I'm not too thrilled about the rotation, though. I think Delonte West deserves more minutes than Wally Scerbiak, since the latter can't guard anybody. Ridnour also should be given more burn. Watson is solid, but doesn't see the floor as well. He had three assists in eight minutes. If Ridnour played as long as Nash, he'd have finished the game with 12.
KD continues to show why he's the number two pick. He played better today, but his six turnovers show how he has to learn how to play more under control. His shot selection is better now, but he got two offensive fouls today, similar to the ones that were drawn on him yesterday. He should learn to drive hard, stop on a dime, and just launch that floater that served him well in college. He also has to do something when he doesn't have the ball. Often he just stands around the three-point line waiting for a pass. He should move, try to get rebounds, cut. And he has to pick it up on D. His wingspan'll bother anyone, if he uses it well.
Here's hoping that the Sonics get their act together, soon. "Almost winning" is good, but losing takes its toll on everyone. They have to learn from their mistakes and win. Soon.
Photo courtesy of AP Photo
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