(ThatKidInTheCorner :: Sonics - Ray-Ray = 3 Wins and Tough Defense?)

« Gears of Bedbugs | Main | Impromptu Three-Day Weekend »

December 11, 2006

Sonics - Ray-Ray = 3 Wins and Tough Defense?

I guess all it really took was an ankle injury to the Sonics' best player to convince them to play defense?

Well would you look at that! The Sonics have won three games in a row (and four in a row at home), and even gutted out a nice win last night after giving up (wait for it) 70 points in the first half to the Warriors. And they've won the last three without all-around-best-player Ray Allen, who's out with an ankle injury. Sure, the wins came against the Hawks, the Hornets, and the Warriors, but hey, for a team that hadn't beaten much of anything/ anyone this year, we'll take it.

I've spent a lot of time at Key Arena of late, attending the last five consecutive home games. It seems like a lot, but given that I didn't actually make my first trip until December, it mostly just gets me caught up on the November games.

Here's my latest on the Supes:

So why are they winning?: I'll level with you, I thought the Sonics would finally collapse on Sunday. They had won two in a row without Ray Allen, and that certainly couldn't continue -- surely they were long overdue for some reverting to the mean. Nope. They hunkered down on defense, got a little smarter on offense (more on that in a little), and pulled back the win. If you had to ask me what three things were winning games for the Sonics right now, I'd have to say (1) they're actually playing defense, especially up top (and especially from Earl Watson), (2) the offense is a lot more balanced (meaning they don't run the "throw it to Ray and wait for him to score" offense quite as often), and (3) they've played similarly craptastic teams. Mostly it's been about the defense, though. The Sonics have been attacking guards at the three-point line, jumping passing lanes, and actually collapsing into the paint on drives and balls into the post. Even Rashard! I know! It's crazy!

I didn't get the e-mail about budget cuts: not that we don't believe that Clay Bennett and co. aren't making every last effort to keep the team here and make the arena as fan-friendly as possible, but what the hell happened to the complementary roster sheets they handed out last year? Why were so many concession stands closed on Sunday night? This is suboptimal at best.

I smell a new fan favorite: I should have know that something was afoot when my boss mentioned that he'd been watching a Sonics game the night before and asked me who this Johan Petro was. In the interests of politeness, I didn't want to say something like "Yet another substandard Soncis Big Man Project who this season seems to have convinced himself that he should try to throw no-look passes around the three-point line to unsuspecting teammates." I will admit that he is playing with a little more energy and flair this season, even if most of said flair typically results in a turnover. But, given the coos from the crowd when he makes a play (or even when he bungles one), I think Petro is going to be the people's choice this season.

Like when Andy Garcia shot Joe Mantegna in Godfather Part 3: yikes, this Hawks team isn't terribly good. But I guess we knew that going in; I was mostly interested in them for imaginary basketball purposes. I have three big takeaways: (1) Joe Johnson is allowed to shoot every time he touches the ball, and he usually takes advantage of that -- he'll load up on meaningless stats this year; (2) pre-season fantasy favorite Josh Smith is kind of a stiff...didn't seem into the game at all, and looked a step slow -- also, I didn't know he wore the rec specs; (3) I had no idea who this Zaza Pachulia character was when I drafted him, but he's actually a pretty good player -- though I thought the elbow on Petro was kind of nasty and unnecessary.

A soft spot for Jelly Belly: so our French guy, Gelabele, is starting to grow on me. I was a little concerned by his silly hair and his scrawny little legs, but he pulled a follow-up dunk the other night that was pretty impressive for a guy who can't weigh more than 170 pounds. And he actually tries on defense, which helps. Call me a tentative Jelly-Belly Backer.

I wonder if they recommended good restaurants in Oklahoma City during the timeouts...: all the press on Chris Paul is true. He's far and away the best player on the Hornets, all the other guys defer to him, and he looks like a bitterly competitive sumbitch. Lots of petty scowling when things didn't go his way and whatnot. Also, he's already getting the superstar calls -- definitely a good sign for him. The Honerts are kind of thin besides him (way too many shots for the Rasual Butlers of the world), but C-Paul is going to be a gamer for a good long time.

Out of the doghouse: good for Damien Wilkins and Earl Watson. Just a couple weeks after getting torched by Bob Hill in the press, both have put together a couple consecutive games of competence and effectiveness out there -- especially Watson. Though, of course I'm going to say that.

Only trace levels of basketball IQ: I'm ashamed of how confused the Sonics were by the Warriors' silly 3-2 defense last night. Though I'm not sure what's more embarrassing: that it took the Sonics an entire half to stop trying to force the ball down the middle of the lane on the dribble, or that the Warriors didn't switch out of it when the Sonics figured it out in the second half. This is me shaking my head and muttering about Don Nelson and trick defenses in lieu of real defense. Other things you need to know about the Warriors: Troy Murphy is not a great-looking man, and the long hair + mask combo sure isn't helping; WOW that Baron Davis is quick -- his crossover move almost knocked people over more than once.

Oh, and that other NBA story from the weekend: I think I kind of covered this already, but AI has to go at this point. Big, big, big sigh. Still, I watched some Ohio State highlights over the weekend that have convinced me that if there's going to be a season to win 14 games, this is the one. Let the Greg Oden derby commence!

My Season Record As An Attendee: 4-1

Posted by thatkid at December 11, 2006 9:21 PM under C@L , Philly , Sonics , Sports

Comments

Dude,

Pretty solid analysis considering you spent half the Warriors game reading silly stories (stretching for the cheerleaders?) about the Eagles on your phone.

Posted by: micah at December 12, 2006 12:42 PM

Those are not silly stories!

It's important that I stay as up-to-date as possible on the explanation of Donte Stallworth's touchdown celebrations. If this requires using the WAP functionality on my phone, then so be it!

Like I said, it's important.

Posted by: thatkid at December 13, 2006 9:50 AM

dude, i can live with having my identity co-opted by a baller like #3. but now you're giving him my only nickname too? boo-frigging-urns.

Posted by: jcpaul at December 14, 2006 9:47 AM

Consider the nickname flattery!

I definitely realized about midway through the game that I was the only one in the conversation who referred to #3 as "C-Paul." Unless I get a new job anchoring Sportscenter, I think you're good.

Posted by: thatkid at December 14, 2006 2:56 PM

December 11, 2006

Sonics - Ray-Ray = 3 Wins and Tough Defense?

Comments

Post a comment