Game Thread: Utah Jazz @ Seattle Supersonics

[Det the Threat]

After suffering a tough loss in Phoenix, the Sonics will try to rebound and head into the all-star break with a win, when they face Deron Williams and his Utah Jazz.

The Sonics have won 4 of their last 6, thanks to very good contributions of guys like Chris Wilcox and Johan Petro, while the Jazz are one of the hottest teams, since aquiring Kyle Korver for Gordan Giricek and a first round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.

When and Where?

Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00 p. m. PT, Key Arena, Seattle, Washington

This game will be broadcasted by FSN NW in HD




Starting Lineups:

Seattle Supersonics


Utah Jazz


Important Role Players

Seattle Supersonics


Utah Jazz



Team Leaders

Kevin Durant 19.4 PPG & 1.08 BPG & 0.94 SPG
Nick Collison 8.9 RPG
Earl Watson 6.5 APG


Carlos Boozer 21.6 PPG & 10.8 RPG
Andrei Kirilenko 1.79 BPG
Deron Williams 9.7 APG & 1.27 SPG

Key Matchup


Chris Wilcox

vs.


Carlos Boozer

Just for the looks




Questions:
Can Wilcox keep up his good play against Boozer?
Will Williams run circles around our point guards?
Will Durant settle for jumpers against Kirlenko or will he attack the basket?
Does PJ play West more against Williams?


Discuss and Go Supes Go!

[Monkeyfeng06]

i will be there! Go Jazz!

[wiff]

Who's going to contain Deron Williams?

I wonder how much run PJ is going to give West tonight?

West held his own last time these two teams hooked up.

DAMN I just had images shoot through my head, of Kirilenko inbounding the ball that was stolen by Durant and given to West. West feeds Durant on the break and Kirilenko comes out of no where to block Durants layup to prevent overtime.

Damn that was a good game.

[djthesonicsfan]

K Durant will get a big test against A Kirilenko tonight. Here's hoping that K Durant focuses on playing an efficient game.

What the heck, let's see what J Petro can do against C Malone, oops, I mean C Boozer.

Bummer of an image, wiff. But isn't that one of things K Durant needs to improve... finishing stronger?

[kerplunk]

Good luck on the game guys. This will be the last Jazz game in Seattle before the Sonics move to Oklahoma.

Personally, I want the Sonics to stay in Seattle.

[wiff]

Green playing some SG interesting.

[D5150]

there are not many bigs in the league than can do the things petro is capable of doing. think about that.

[D5150]

is korver wearing eye liner?

[OzThunder]

man johan is a real solid player. i think finally we can feel comfortable that we got a good improving young gun in the middle. And the best part is that unlike chris wilcox, he loves to hustle down the boards and run the floor. His jumper is sweet too.
Durant has done well against AK, but needs to drive more.
Green played near flawless while he was on. Real agressive on both ends
The future is blindingly bright...

...oh, and wilkens looks like a douche with that headband

[OzThunder]

is korver wearing eye liner?

he always looks a bit like that

[OzThunder]

another 2 things.

1: why does durant always sit most or sometimes all of the 2nd

2: I may have found some reasoning why earl might get the start over luke. When earl is on he always has a few offensive players around him, mainly durant. But when luke comes on he can use all the bench players and just turn them into jumpshooters and finishers which earl can't do. In short, Luke gets the best out of the bench players by running and earl can just play half court ball with durant.

[D5150]

all of lukes problems are between the ears. all of them.

[OzThunder]

how good is petro's stroke. that 15 footer from the elbow off the curl was durant-esque. and he's a 7 foot centre. I'm officially on the Johan for 2009 All-star band wagon.

[OzThunder]

it seems like i'm the only annoying one posting but did anyone else notice durant jumped in excitment/ willing jeff green on when he went for that dunk...kinda cute. Does any one have any inside info that these 2 are really good friends. it would be cool if they developed a friendship and didn't wanna split (hopefully from seattle)

[wiff]

I noticed Durant jumping in excitement for Greens dunk too.

Petro's little one handed leaner in the paint at the end of the third was nice.

It's getting harder and harder to not give that kid more minutes.

The last thing he needs is to be sat down for some dumb "Evaluation" reason and screw with his confidence.

[sonichound16]

I was laughing about that Durant hop as well. It was like he was trying to will Green to get up and dunk it. I have done that myself on occasion in my living room hopping up off the couch. He kills me how he has those little claps and fist pumps when other players make good plays. Seems like he is going to be a good teammate.

46 minutes played tonight by Wally and Kurt that really should be going to young guys we are trying to develop. No way that Green should only get 20 minutes. Especially when he was playing well. I would have liked to have seen some Swift as well. Okur was having his way with us whenever he posted up.

As much as I have been a Luke defender and thought that he was much better running the team he is making it hard to keep up that argument. Watson has been playing great ball lately and as long as he keeps moving the ball in a timely manner he is earning more minutes than Luke. Luke just has no confidence anymore and I am not sure he is going to regain it in Seattle.

The only reason I can think of that they recalled Gelly is for trade purposes. Why else would you bring him back right before the all-star break and not even play him. We simply have too many players that need minutes to develop and are going to add even more next year. A serious consolidation trade needs to be made and the rotation shortened up. Thomas/Wally/Wilkins and one of our PG need to go.

[nwsports253]

What happened to giving Swift and Gelabale PT? Gelabale didnt even suit up tonight, anyone know why Sene was back in town too?

[djthesonicsfan]

I think they're all back in town for the trades. Calm before the storm. From here until Friday is what we've all been waiting for.

J Petro, 22 years old, has arrived. K Thomas needs to go to a veteran team now.

L Ridnour's been on the downward spiral ever since Hill convinced Sund to bring E Watson to Seattle. Being the sorry L Ridnour apologist that I am, maybe if we shipped E Watson back to Denver...

It's agony watching Brewer do so well on a contending team while Sene still hasn't made the court yet.

K Durant's still just a big kid who loves to play. I've noticed a definate shift in his game. He's trying to be a more efficient basketball player. He's making a lot of decent passes & better decisions.

J Green's going to be awesome.

[jenn_gp]

I just find it funny to read that after a few weeks a good play Petro has "arrived." Yes he's been playing awesome, but I think that's jumping the gun just a bit...we haven't seen if he can consistently play at the level he's currently playing at.

But it does give us all the reason in the world to trade or sit down Kurt...

[D5150]

pj has already stated he will shake up the rotations and give other players extended runs (swift, jello-balls, etc) after the all-star break. not a big suprise that gelable didn't play last night.