Milwaukee Bucks @ Seattle Supersonics, 1/19

The Sonics have officially started going uphill again, putting up their largest leading win of the season, 99-72. They have won all three of their recent games, all at home, and have done it as a team. Again, the Sonics outrebounded their opponents, much thanks to Nick Collison (16 rebounds). I sense that the Sonics are turning around, and may well be on their way to rising through the standings... slowly, of course, but this is a start. Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson split time well, each doing well in their time, combining for 13 assists. Nick Collison, as I mentioned earlier, was killing on the boards, with 16 rebounds grabbed. This is very significant, as I mentioned in my last post, as to preventing opponents from getting second chances, and giving ourselves second chances by getting rebounds. This is good, and good to win at home. May the Sonics continue to win and defend the "HARDWOOD"!

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Seattle Sonics, 1/16

Well, the Sonics managed to hold on until the end this time, pulling out a 101-96 victory over Cleveland and LeBron James, who scored 30 and dished out 8 assists. Ray Allen had 22 points and 11 assists. Here are some key reasons for the Sonics' victory tonight, and these are matters that have been preventing them from winning this season:
- Rebounds: The Sonics OUT-REBOUNDED the Cavaliers tonight 46-39. Preventing second-chance points has been hard for the Sonics, who are usually outrebounded in their losses. But tonight, they crashed those boards, and they grabbed the ball. Most notable - Nick Collison: 12 rebounds (6 offensive rebounds, giving US second-chance points) and Chris Wilcox: 12 rebounds (9 defensive rebounds to prevent THEIR second-chance points).

- Free Throws (fouls) - Something that has often given other teams a chance are free throws (the Sonics lead the NBA in the foul differential between them and their opponents), and the fact that the Sonics lack getting to the line (22nd in the NBA in free throw attempts). Tonight, the Cavs only scored one more free throw than the Sonics. Not incredible, but the balance helped.

- Turnovers. This one just kills. One slip-up at a crucial moment, and we're in the gutters again. Square one, on the defensive, and hoping that they don't score and take a chunk off of our lead, or that they don't extend their own. The Sonics are 11th in the league in overall turnovers. But tonight, they only had 13 total turnovers. Compared to some games (losses, in particular) where they had 20 or 25 TO. It's quite simple: The less turnovers we have, the more opportunities to score that we have, and the less opportunities our opponents have to score on us.

Good job, SuperSonics. This is where we stand now: 2 games in a row won, 4 games more remaining on our 6-game homestand. Hopefully, we will at least take two of these next 4, but we have no easy competition ahead. The Milwaukee Bucks and Michael Redd. The Denver Nuggets and Allen Iverson, The Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett, Los Angelas Clippers and Elton Brand. After that, it's back on the road to Dallas, to take on the red-hot Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki. Then, to Houston, where we challenge the Rockets, who have pulled themselves together quite well, and have been winning with the leadership of team captain Tracy McGrady. If the Sonics (big "if") can win a majority of these games, then they will gain respect in the league, and finally we will not be ignored for the team we truly are. An All-Star team. Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen, Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox, and (in our prayers to heal) Rashard Lewis.

Utah Jazz vs Seattle Sonics: Live at the Hardwood

Last night, at Key Arena, a miracle occured. The Sonics, down by 7 with two minutes remaining in regulation, pulled out a comeback fired by Ray Allen, who scored a career-high 54 points *(second-most in Sonics history), and shot 8-12 from the 3-point line, his best this season. Nick Collison had another career night, and he continues to grab rebounds, left and right, offensive and defensive, to prevent opponents from ripping the Sonics out of a game by second-chance points. Collison: my salutes to you.
Allen: keep shooting.
Earl Watson: keep playing as smart as you are now, because you are valuable when you play smart.
Luke Ridnour: do as much as you can when you play.
Chris Wilcox: keep grabbing rebounds, and take Nick as an example to model yourself after.
Mickael Gelabale: continue to try hard, and prove that your hustle deserves a spot on the starting roster.
Wilks, Farmer, everybody else: develop, and be ready to jump into games when needed.

Let us hope that the Sonics can overcome their next opponent, the Cleveland Caveliers, and make up some ground on our 6-game homestand. This, hopefully, was the beginning of success for this stand.

Nick Collison: Our future hope?

Collison has recorded two huge games lately, including his current career high in scoring and rebounding (29 points, 21 rebounds). He is actively getting in the paint and competing for rebounds and shots. He's playing more smart on defense, and by grabbing the defensive rebounds, he is preventing second chance points (especially in the paint) by opponents. Second-chance points have been the key in most of the Sonics losses, and the key to second-chance points are rebounds. So thankfully, we have Collison to start coming to the rescue. Can he become a real role-leading player on the team? We will find out soon. Because so far, he is the only one doing something about the Sonics' lack of rebounding. Here we go, as the Sonics play the Utah Jazz tonight, and that means one of the league's top five rebounders, Carlos Boozer. Can we prevent the second-chance points? Soon we will find out.

And the stone still rolls downhill...

Hope falling, players failing, the Sonics are simply being dominated in the paint by opponents. Lack of rebounds, lack of defense. Eddie Curry last night just scored 27 points on 9-9 shooting in the paint. No misses. He also went to the free throw line often (due to the lack of good defense) and made 9 of 12 from there. Sonics total rebounds: 43 (total includes team rebounds). Knicks total: 53. 10 rebounds makes a nice big difference in the game. Especially offensive rebounds, which lead to second chances, and points that shouldn't be scored. If the Sonics are going to get anywhere this year, and dig themselves out of this ditch, they're gonna need to get big, jump high, and bring that thing down! Otherwise, these losses are just gonna keep piling up.

Boston Celtics @ Seattle Sonics, 12/31

This was a nice way to end the year- with a win. The Sonics overcame the Celtics (without Paul Pierce, their leading scorer) by a score of 101-95. Chris Wilcox lead the Sonics in scoring, with 24 points, as well as 8 rebounds. Thankfully, Damien Wilkins stepped up yet again to fill another injured star's place (Rashard Lewis) by scoring 20 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, passing for 5 assists, blocking 2 shots, and picking one steal. Thank you Wilkins! Just as I had hoped, you stepped up in the place of one of our finest players. Luke Ridnour did a great job at point guard, passing 11 assists, scoring 17 points (7-7 from the free throw line), stole the ball 3 times, and even blocked a shot (Ridnour is only 6'-1", by the way). Ray Allen was struggling, unfortunately, with 15 points that came off only 7-20 shooting from the field, (1-5 from the 3-point line) and he turned the ball over five times. But he did grab 3 offensive rebounds, and 3 defensive rebounds, as well as stealing the ball twice. Also very mentionable was Earl Watson, who scored 13 points on 5-8 shooting, got two steals, and blocked a shot. Good job starters, and keep up the great bench effort!

Lost two in a row

I'm trying not to focus on these losses, because the obvious answer to the losses is: We need Rashard Lewis back. So hopefully, either Wilkins will catch on fire again, or Wilcox will become dominant yet again in the paint. The Sonics are currently 12-19, in last place of the Northwest Conference. The Sonics need a turnaround, and now.