Monday, November 15, 2004
GAME 7: SUPERSONICS 118, GRIZZLIES 113
Here's what I had typed into my computer at halftime...
Griz 71-61 at half. Just because Danny Fortson is suspended for one game doesn't mean you can slack on the boards and slack on setting screens. The Sonics got by in the Toronto game without big numbers from Fortson, so why can't they do it tonight? They looked absolutely listless on defense. I know the Sonics shot 60% from the field and got to the line a lot, but you can't let Memphis shoot 62% from the field and expect to win. Just crazy. And Memphis was moving at will in the paint on offense, not to mention Jason Williams and Mike Miller sinking a bunch of threes. No Fortson to bust the chops of Lorenzen Wright and Stromile Swift, but still, the Sonics have still got to play the type of fundamental basketball that got them to where they are so far this season.
It's also inexcusable that the Sonics' first offensive rebound came with 1:10 to go in the half (Reggie Evans). Brutal.
The Memphis Grizzlies played three near-flawless quarters of basketball and were up 100-84 going into the 4th quarter. They drove into the paint at will and were absolutely lights-out. The Sonics had no answer defensively, which is easily surmisable considering they'd given up 100 points in only three quarters of play. They'd scored 84 points in three quarters themselves, which is usually enough of a pace to win most ballgames, but the Grizzlies were in total control.
Antonio Daniels hit a three in the beginning stages of the fourth quarter for the Sonics to bring the Sonics within 13 at 100-87. At the other end of the floor, Nick Collison came up with a key block (he had another one later). Almost like a flip of the switch, the defensive pressure was pumped up, and the Grizzlies were missing shots due in part to the kicked-up D and because of the law of averages. When the Sonics pulled out the lead in the final minutes of a game they had no business winning (they were down by 21 at one point in the third quarter), they managed to surprise everyone watching in the arena and over FSNNW. By the way, the Grizzlies weren't being too smart in the final minutes when they were fouling Ray Allen to send him to the line (great FT shooter in his career; he only missed one free throw all night). The Sonics outscored Memphis 34-13 in the 4th quarter.
The Sonics are 6-1 heading into a six-game road trip taking them to Philadelphia, New Jersey, Toronto, Boston, Minnesota, and Memphis. So they get Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all on the road during this trip. I think a realistic good road trip for the Sonics here is .500. They would come back to KeyArena at 9-4, and that's still not too bad.
Boxscore time: Ray Allen with a relatively quiet 34 pts (10-for-16 floor, 12-for-13 free throws), Antonio Daniels 28 pts off the bench (8-for-12 from the floor, 9-for-10 from the line, 3-for-5 downtown), Luke Ridnour 17 pts/8 ast, Rashard Lewis 14 pts/12 reb (6-for-10 from the floor, Shane Battier had him covered most of the night)
Griz 71-61 at half. Just because Danny Fortson is suspended for one game doesn't mean you can slack on the boards and slack on setting screens. The Sonics got by in the Toronto game without big numbers from Fortson, so why can't they do it tonight? They looked absolutely listless on defense. I know the Sonics shot 60% from the field and got to the line a lot, but you can't let Memphis shoot 62% from the field and expect to win. Just crazy. And Memphis was moving at will in the paint on offense, not to mention Jason Williams and Mike Miller sinking a bunch of threes. No Fortson to bust the chops of Lorenzen Wright and Stromile Swift, but still, the Sonics have still got to play the type of fundamental basketball that got them to where they are so far this season.
It's also inexcusable that the Sonics' first offensive rebound came with 1:10 to go in the half (Reggie Evans). Brutal.
The Memphis Grizzlies played three near-flawless quarters of basketball and were up 100-84 going into the 4th quarter. They drove into the paint at will and were absolutely lights-out. The Sonics had no answer defensively, which is easily surmisable considering they'd given up 100 points in only three quarters of play. They'd scored 84 points in three quarters themselves, which is usually enough of a pace to win most ballgames, but the Grizzlies were in total control.
Antonio Daniels hit a three in the beginning stages of the fourth quarter for the Sonics to bring the Sonics within 13 at 100-87. At the other end of the floor, Nick Collison came up with a key block (he had another one later). Almost like a flip of the switch, the defensive pressure was pumped up, and the Grizzlies were missing shots due in part to the kicked-up D and because of the law of averages. When the Sonics pulled out the lead in the final minutes of a game they had no business winning (they were down by 21 at one point in the third quarter), they managed to surprise everyone watching in the arena and over FSNNW. By the way, the Grizzlies weren't being too smart in the final minutes when they were fouling Ray Allen to send him to the line (great FT shooter in his career; he only missed one free throw all night). The Sonics outscored Memphis 34-13 in the 4th quarter.
The Sonics are 6-1 heading into a six-game road trip taking them to Philadelphia, New Jersey, Toronto, Boston, Minnesota, and Memphis. So they get Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all on the road during this trip. I think a realistic good road trip for the Sonics here is .500. They would come back to KeyArena at 9-4, and that's still not too bad.
Boxscore time: Ray Allen with a relatively quiet 34 pts (10-for-16 floor, 12-for-13 free throws), Antonio Daniels 28 pts off the bench (8-for-12 from the floor, 9-for-10 from the line, 3-for-5 downtown), Luke Ridnour 17 pts/8 ast, Rashard Lewis 14 pts/12 reb (6-for-10 from the floor, Shane Battier had him covered most of the night)
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