Game Thread: Portland Trailblazers @ Seattle Supersonics

[Det the Threat]

The Sonics, losers of eleven straight, will open their seven game home stand with a game against their I-5 rivals, the Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers, who're missing #1 pick Greg Oden, started the season very well, but have come down to earth during those last couple of weeks and aren't really in playoff contention anymore.

The Sonics, on the other hand, are looking like a team that's just hoping that the season finally ends, as they don't look competitive anymore. They also lost a couple of players for the season in Robert Swift and Mikael Gelabale and aren't sure if Chris Wilcox and Earl Watson will be able to play.

When and Where?

Monday, March 24th, 7:00 p. m. PT, Key Arena, Seattle, Washington

This game will be broadcasted by FSN NW in HD





Starting Lineups:

Seattle Supersonics


Portland Trailblazers


Important Role Players

Seattle Supersonics


Portland Trailblazers




Team Leaders

Kevin Durant 19.6 PPG & 0.96 BPG & 0.99 SPG
Nick Collison 8.8 RPG
Earl Watson 6.7 APG


Brandon Roy 19.7 PPG & 5.9 APG & 1.11 SPG
Joel Przybilla 8.00 RPG
LaMarcus Aldridge 1.26 BPG

Key Matchup


Kevin Durant

vs.


Brandon Roy

Just for the looks




Questions:
Will we be able to contain Roy and Aldridge?
Can Green have another solid outing?
Will Durant keep up his solid shot selection?


Discuss and Go Supes Go!

[Relientk101]

Jeff Green drops 30 tonight.

[djthesonicsfan]

Success tonight is M Sene plays 20+ minutes.

Tale of two franchises... both building towards next season. For T Blazers that means wins. For Sonics that means loses.

[J~Rush]

Sonics within 1 with 2:39 in the 1st half.

[wiff]

Well Luke's played well tonight, but there is still the second half. Let's hope the Sonics keep it close.

[D5150]

please dont any one tell me kd hasnt improved this season. he had a wide open three (he had just hit one from the same spot) but he took one dribble stepped inside the line, improved his angle and hit the jumper. that is a higher percentage shot and shows that he is figuring it out.

also, i really like the energy tonight. after denver this team looked like it had quit and could have mailed in the rest of the season. but they are still fighting even though they are short handed and really have nothing left to play for except pride. that says something about these guys.

[D5150]

solid win.

btw: who was it that said that kd may have to be designated a role player on this team, or something to that effect? yeah, i think his role will be go to guy/star player.

[wiff]

Wow they actually won.

Luke had 15pts and 9 dimes if only he could do that every night.

[D5150]

yeah, it only took him 43 minutes to put up those numbers. he had a nice game but i still have not changed my opinion on him.

[Hiphophead101]

Just got back from the game.. atmosphere was amazing, my date was quite impressed. Thank god we won! Luke was a monster tonight he made all the big plays!

[SeattleAirick]

been to quite a few sonics games, but i have to say, the atmosphere, close game through most, and my two favorite teams playing, that was one of the best games i have seen

[djthesonicsfan]

solid win. btw: who was it that said that kd may have to be designated a role player on this team, or something to that effect? yeah, i think his role will be go to guy/star player.

Damn your unnatural ability to remember stuff that makes me seem like a (Please Use More Appropriate Word) monkey. For the record the complete rant was...

- K Durant has got to gain at least 15 lbs of upper body strength or else be demoted to a role player. Nothing but a shooter. He sure isn't playing any defense. His rotations on the zone are no existent. He's just not strong enough, athletic enough or interested enough. He's literally pushed around by every one who guards him. Having said that, I'm also wondering when this SG experiment is going to be over. It's not working.

Yes, K Durant looked great tonight. Nice passing. Better decision making. Smart game. He's growing into his role nicely. Still I don't take back what I said. Dude's got to gain some weight & spend some time in the weight room. Just like R Lewis did. And the defense so not there yet. But if K Durant works on it, & the Sonics get the D Rose in the draft, the situation is looking good next season.

By the way, I thought J Green had a good game tonight. Take away a few J Przybilla impersonations of H Olajuwon & J Green has a great game. The more J Green plays the more I like that #5 pick.

[D5150]

yeah i knew it was you dj, i just couldnt remember where you posted it.
i hear what you are saying but i will make a couple of obsevations.

kd has gone from being a gunner/volume shooter with poor shot selection, to a more economical scorer. he is taking it to the rim more often, he is not jacking up threes. he is taking what the defense gives him. that is pretty impressive to make that transformation during the season. he is also becoming a good passer and is starting to hit the boards. he still tends to float out on ther perimiter and drift into the corner and just stand there at times, but to quote from george karls book, "i would rather see a guy take an offensive possesion off than take a defensive possesion off". so that leads me to his........

defensive. look, kd needs to bulk up, no question. that will help him on both ends. that will take some time. but people knocking his d should take a closer look. its like barkley saying he shoots 30%, he is not paying attention. kevin definately gives an effort on d. he tries to stay in front of people and he is learning how to use his length to bother guys and recover quickly. he will never be a banger and be able to out muscle guys, but once he figues that end of the floor out and figures out how to use his body more effectivlely, he will likely be a very good defender.
durant has the tools and attitude to be a terrifc player in the league.

and yeah, green is starting to figure it out as well. he didnt shoot a good percentage last night but he was agressive and showed poise. once he finds his post game a little he is going to be a tough cover. i said it very early in the season and i will say it again, green is going to be solid.

[Hiphophead101]

Why is Johan Petro SO DUMB? I swear he has no basketball IQ at times...

[djthesonicsfan]

D5150, I agree with everything you said. Probably the best part of K Durant's game is that he's coachable. That's saying a lot. Feedback is the breakfast of champions. But he needs 15 lbs of muscle. That's not much, but it'll take real work for him because his frame is slight.

And ya, I can see him putting out some effort on defense. But not like some of the leading players in the league do. The question is will K Durant commit to wanting to be a leading player in the league? Starts with adding 15 lbs of muscle.

I'm hoping a group of them (N Collison, K Durant, J Petro, J Green, et al) stick around this summer & work out together like Portland did.

[D5150]

great point about durants coachability dj. that says a lot about the guy. i think he wants to be great, not just very good. two way players are kind of rare in the league, i mean great scorers who can also be lock down defenders. thats a lot to put on a guy. so i think the next couple of years will tell us a lot about weather or not kd wants to be an ok defender or a lock down guy. im not worried about the offense. remember, it took kobe a while to figure out how to play solid d. in fact, didnt gp have something to do with that? didnt gary work with kobe during an all star weekend on his d? you want to focus on defense, how about the glove as an assistant coach?