Solid D
11-11-2004, 10:36 AM
The Spurs' "soft" loss on Sunday night in Seattle had this place stirring and flooded with criticism of the Spurs' lack of physicality.
The Seattle SuperSonics deserve major props for the way they continue to play as a unit. As I watched part of the Sonics/Kings tilt last night, I was reminded of that same confidence, extra effort and team D that Seattle had exhibited Sunday night.
They press and make entering an offense very labored, with Ridenour and Daniels in particular. Then, as the ball goes to the wing or is entered into the post, the Sonics sag into sort of a hybrid 1-3-1. Evans and Fortson really go after that ball and the whole team seems to be committed to defense.
On offense, the guards and wings do a lot of screens for each other with the first open shot, no matter how early, being their best shot. They are stroking it with confidence...and with Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson, and Nick Collison efforting every carom, and Fortson's knack of drawing major FT opportunities, they are very good right now.
Injuries happen and chemestry can be fragile with teams on a roll like this, so things could go south in a hurry. So far, however, Seattle joins Toronto and Utah as one of the surprise teams in this young NBA season.
I'm impressed.
The Seattle SuperSonics deserve major props for the way they continue to play as a unit. As I watched part of the Sonics/Kings tilt last night, I was reminded of that same confidence, extra effort and team D that Seattle had exhibited Sunday night.
They press and make entering an offense very labored, with Ridenour and Daniels in particular. Then, as the ball goes to the wing or is entered into the post, the Sonics sag into sort of a hybrid 1-3-1. Evans and Fortson really go after that ball and the whole team seems to be committed to defense.
On offense, the guards and wings do a lot of screens for each other with the first open shot, no matter how early, being their best shot. They are stroking it with confidence...and with Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson, and Nick Collison efforting every carom, and Fortson's knack of drawing major FT opportunities, they are very good right now.
Injuries happen and chemestry can be fragile with teams on a roll like this, so things could go south in a hurry. So far, however, Seattle joins Toronto and Utah as one of the surprise teams in this young NBA season.
I'm impressed.