Thursday, December 02, 2004
GAME 17: SUPERSONICS 129, JAZZ 119 (OT)
SuperSonics 129, Jazz 119 (OT)
What a game. I've seen most of the Sonic games this year, and I don't think any team has shot better against the Sonics than Utah did last night. Their only downfalls were their late turnovers and the fact that they only shot 2-for-12 from downtown. Carlos Boozer absolutely could not miss, whether he was putting up hook shots, crazy leaning bankers, turnaround jumpers -- everything was falling. Also, Mehmet Okur was nuts off the bench with 25 on 9-for-12 shooting (I guess I'm peeking at the boxscore before the formal peek).
What makes this win a bit special? It wasn't just the fact that Vlad Radmanovic hit the clutch three to tie the game with 10.5 ticks left in the 4th quarter. I'll relish this victory because the Sonics had their backs against the wall to the point where they were fouling to send the Jazz to the line just to stop the clock. To me, any win where you've got to foul late and then come from behind to win or force overtime en route to a win is a great win. I remember one particular win back in Sonic lore where the Sonics were in the fouling circumstances in San Antonio and I think Gary Payton hit a clutch shot to win or tie the game.
Here's some notes I'd taken during the game...
-- First half: Sonics go on fairly torrid run in latter half of second quarter. Jazz able to get their way in the paint for much of the first half. Jazz players driving right past Sonic defenders. Vlad Rad has decent first half, even on boards. Sonics didn't really run up their defense until their run.
-- 85-82 after three quarters. Jazz hanging around. Carlos Boozer is damn good.
-- Harpring worked Vlad for a foul and one...Vlad's strength sure as hell isn't defending. Jazz don't hit a three until Okur bags one with about 5:20 left to answer Vlad's three on the other end of the floor. Sonics in the penalty on a Ridnour foul at 4:46 left in the game. Seattle can't buy a defensive stop around 3 minutes left. Fortson called for another bullcrap foul with 2:15 left to go, more free throws for Utah. Jazz 108-103 with 1:25 to go after Fortson draws charge on Raja Bell. 0:52 pass mishandled by Lewis on the break. Luckily, they got an airball three on the other end of the floor. Ray Allen almost gets the foul plus the one with 22.4 seconds left...heartbreaker; only gets the free throws. VLAD CLUTCH THREE with 10.5 left to tie at 110-110; pumpfaked Boozer as he jumped past.
-- OVERTIME...damn. Lewis ~2:40 intercepting the crosscourt pass and dunking was key. Nice play. Allen 3 with 2:15. Sonics get some bounces late...some Jazz turnovers too. 1:04 Daniels three gives Sonics 7pt lead. Fortson fouls out with :29.8 left...not earlier, thank goodness.
PEEK AT THE BOXSCORE
starters: Ray Allen 38 pts (season high)/7 ast (9-20 FG, 17-19 free throws), Rashard Lewis 23 pts (9-15 FG), Luke Ridnour 17 pts/10 ast/4 reb
bench: Vlad Radmanovic 21 pts/7 reb (7-13 FG, 4-8 3pt), Antonio Daniels 17 pts/4 ast, Danny Fortson 8 pts/9 reb
team: were outrebounded 40-35, shot 42-for-81 from floor (51.9%), hit 13 of 29 three-pointers (44.8%), bench was outscored 50-49, point guards combined for 34 pts/7 reb/14 ast
Jerome James Watch: he didn't take a single shot of any kind in 12 minutes of play. He had one assist and one turnover, and used three fouls.
This was the best night of shooting that Ray Allen has had in a while. He did manage to miss two free throws, but he did get to the line 19 times. Ray Allen has an amazing knack for driving to the hoop and drawing contact and fouls, and this skill has enabled him to be a factor even in games of the last two weeks or so when he was suffering through a cold and the jumpers weren't falling.
Another key moment tonight was when Danny Fortson got called for two very quick fouls, which I think happened early in the fourth quarter. Luckily Fortson kept his cool, and he let Coach McMillan do the arguing from the bench, and McMillan ended up getting the technical. Fortson stayed in the game, and had a key putback off a Ray Allen miss in overtime.
One final note before the articles...at least Andrei Kirilenko was on the shelf for the Jazz. Yes, Utah had the AK-47 locked away in its case.
What a game. I've seen most of the Sonic games this year, and I don't think any team has shot better against the Sonics than Utah did last night. Their only downfalls were their late turnovers and the fact that they only shot 2-for-12 from downtown. Carlos Boozer absolutely could not miss, whether he was putting up hook shots, crazy leaning bankers, turnaround jumpers -- everything was falling. Also, Mehmet Okur was nuts off the bench with 25 on 9-for-12 shooting (I guess I'm peeking at the boxscore before the formal peek).
What makes this win a bit special? It wasn't just the fact that Vlad Radmanovic hit the clutch three to tie the game with 10.5 ticks left in the 4th quarter. I'll relish this victory because the Sonics had their backs against the wall to the point where they were fouling to send the Jazz to the line just to stop the clock. To me, any win where you've got to foul late and then come from behind to win or force overtime en route to a win is a great win. I remember one particular win back in Sonic lore where the Sonics were in the fouling circumstances in San Antonio and I think Gary Payton hit a clutch shot to win or tie the game.
Here's some notes I'd taken during the game...
-- First half: Sonics go on fairly torrid run in latter half of second quarter. Jazz able to get their way in the paint for much of the first half. Jazz players driving right past Sonic defenders. Vlad Rad has decent first half, even on boards. Sonics didn't really run up their defense until their run.
-- 85-82 after three quarters. Jazz hanging around. Carlos Boozer is damn good.
-- Harpring worked Vlad for a foul and one...Vlad's strength sure as hell isn't defending. Jazz don't hit a three until Okur bags one with about 5:20 left to answer Vlad's three on the other end of the floor. Sonics in the penalty on a Ridnour foul at 4:46 left in the game. Seattle can't buy a defensive stop around 3 minutes left. Fortson called for another bullcrap foul with 2:15 left to go, more free throws for Utah. Jazz 108-103 with 1:25 to go after Fortson draws charge on Raja Bell. 0:52 pass mishandled by Lewis on the break. Luckily, they got an airball three on the other end of the floor. Ray Allen almost gets the foul plus the one with 22.4 seconds left...heartbreaker; only gets the free throws. VLAD CLUTCH THREE with 10.5 left to tie at 110-110; pumpfaked Boozer as he jumped past.
-- OVERTIME...damn. Lewis ~2:40 intercepting the crosscourt pass and dunking was key. Nice play. Allen 3 with 2:15. Sonics get some bounces late...some Jazz turnovers too. 1:04 Daniels three gives Sonics 7pt lead. Fortson fouls out with :29.8 left...not earlier, thank goodness.
PEEK AT THE BOXSCORE
starters: Ray Allen 38 pts (season high)/7 ast (9-20 FG, 17-19 free throws), Rashard Lewis 23 pts (9-15 FG), Luke Ridnour 17 pts/10 ast/4 reb
bench: Vlad Radmanovic 21 pts/7 reb (7-13 FG, 4-8 3pt), Antonio Daniels 17 pts/4 ast, Danny Fortson 8 pts/9 reb
team: were outrebounded 40-35, shot 42-for-81 from floor (51.9%), hit 13 of 29 three-pointers (44.8%), bench was outscored 50-49, point guards combined for 34 pts/7 reb/14 ast
Jerome James Watch: he didn't take a single shot of any kind in 12 minutes of play. He had one assist and one turnover, and used three fouls.
This was the best night of shooting that Ray Allen has had in a while. He did manage to miss two free throws, but he did get to the line 19 times. Ray Allen has an amazing knack for driving to the hoop and drawing contact and fouls, and this skill has enabled him to be a factor even in games of the last two weeks or so when he was suffering through a cold and the jumpers weren't falling.
Another key moment tonight was when Danny Fortson got called for two very quick fouls, which I think happened early in the fourth quarter. Luckily Fortson kept his cool, and he let Coach McMillan do the arguing from the bench, and McMillan ended up getting the technical. Fortson stayed in the game, and had a key putback off a Ray Allen miss in overtime.
One final note before the articles...at least Andrei Kirilenko was on the shelf for the Jazz. Yes, Utah had the AK-47 locked away in its case.
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