ducks
11-15-2004, 10:44 PM
after watching the Seattle SuperSonics lose to the Lakers in a preseason game last month, I left the San Diego Sports Arena thinking the Sonics could be the worst team in the league.
They were small, didn't defend well and lacked any semblance of an inside presence offensively. They weren't particularly fast and didn't exactly scare you with their outside shooting. Other than that, they looked pretty good.
Seven games into the season, Seattle stands 6-1 and atop the Northwest Division. So much for my analysis. Of course, Ray Allen didn't play in that exhibition game in San Diego, and perhaps I underestimated his impact.
The Sonics are averaging 103 points per game with Allen leading the way at 26 points a night. He's posting amazing shooting numbers – 52 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the three-point line. Allen is getting plenty of help from Rashard Lewis, who's averaging 21.1 points per game, and Antonio Daniels, who has been a major factor in the fourth quarters of games by hitting big shots and making plays.
Of course, the Sonics shot out of the gates last season at 6-2 and faded quickly, so it's too early for Nate McMillan to get excited. But this squad has more reason for hope because it is much better on the boards.
A year ago, Seattle fielded the worst rebounding team in the NBA, but so far, the Sonics are leading the league in rebound differential with 8.1 more boards than the opposition. Most of the credit goes to Danny Fortson.
Fortson's unforgiving style down low has given Seattle a physical presence. In last week's blowout of Sacramento, Fortson scored 16 points – many of them off his nine offensive rebounds – and was a force in the paint. Although he's not a traditional back-to-the-basket player, his strength and aggressive offensive rebounding have given the Sonics the toughness they lacked last season.
In Sunday night's stunning comeback win over Memphis, Seattle played without Fortson, who was suspended for elbowing Toronto's Chris Bosh on Friday. The Sonics gave up 71 first-half points and trailed by 21 late in the third quarter before shutting the Grizzlies down in the fourth, holding them to just 13 points while scoring 31 themselves. Without Fortson, Seattle relied on the energy and physical play of Nick Collison, who ignited the comeback run with great defense on Pau Gasol.
Collison missed his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury, but he's healthy now and playing well. Fortson and Collison have instilled some toughness into Seattle's front line, and that physical play has led to better defense.
The Sonics' shooting and scoring will eventually tail off, and they will undoubtedly hit some bumps in the road. But after showing some grit and determination the first couple of weeks, it appears McMillan's team is better equipped to handle an offensive slump. We'll find out soon enough – the Sonics embark on a six-game, 10-day trip Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
They were small, didn't defend well and lacked any semblance of an inside presence offensively. They weren't particularly fast and didn't exactly scare you with their outside shooting. Other than that, they looked pretty good.
Seven games into the season, Seattle stands 6-1 and atop the Northwest Division. So much for my analysis. Of course, Ray Allen didn't play in that exhibition game in San Diego, and perhaps I underestimated his impact.
The Sonics are averaging 103 points per game with Allen leading the way at 26 points a night. He's posting amazing shooting numbers – 52 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the three-point line. Allen is getting plenty of help from Rashard Lewis, who's averaging 21.1 points per game, and Antonio Daniels, who has been a major factor in the fourth quarters of games by hitting big shots and making plays.
Of course, the Sonics shot out of the gates last season at 6-2 and faded quickly, so it's too early for Nate McMillan to get excited. But this squad has more reason for hope because it is much better on the boards.
A year ago, Seattle fielded the worst rebounding team in the NBA, but so far, the Sonics are leading the league in rebound differential with 8.1 more boards than the opposition. Most of the credit goes to Danny Fortson.
Fortson's unforgiving style down low has given Seattle a physical presence. In last week's blowout of Sacramento, Fortson scored 16 points – many of them off his nine offensive rebounds – and was a force in the paint. Although he's not a traditional back-to-the-basket player, his strength and aggressive offensive rebounding have given the Sonics the toughness they lacked last season.
In Sunday night's stunning comeback win over Memphis, Seattle played without Fortson, who was suspended for elbowing Toronto's Chris Bosh on Friday. The Sonics gave up 71 first-half points and trailed by 21 late in the third quarter before shutting the Grizzlies down in the fourth, holding them to just 13 points while scoring 31 themselves. Without Fortson, Seattle relied on the energy and physical play of Nick Collison, who ignited the comeback run with great defense on Pau Gasol.
Collison missed his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury, but he's healthy now and playing well. Fortson and Collison have instilled some toughness into Seattle's front line, and that physical play has led to better defense.
The Sonics' shooting and scoring will eventually tail off, and they will undoubtedly hit some bumps in the road. But after showing some grit and determination the first couple of weeks, it appears McMillan's team is better equipped to handle an offensive slump. We'll find out soon enough – the Sonics embark on a six-game, 10-day trip Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.