Remember that loss to the Milwaukee Bucks just a week ago? Tonight was a rinse and repeat of that.
The first two quarters the Warriors were building something beautiful...
After the first two quarters the Warriors were up BIG 72-56. It looked like it was going to be FAN-tastic win #1,201 for Nellie.
It was looking simply marvelous!
The highlights:
- The Warriors came out firing. They were literally hitting everything. It was like watching 5 Ray Allen's out there when the Dubs were shooting: 72.7% from downtown (8 for 11) and 93.3% from the free throw line (14 for 15).
- On defense the 1-2-2 zone seemed to be working pretty well. Troy Murphy in particular looked solid. Keeping him down low with those zones masks his inability to move laterally.
- Fan favorite Adonal Foyle got some playing time!
but then it all COLLAPSED!
Uh-oh- NOT AGAIN!!
The lowlights:
- I don't know what the fellas were sippin' at halftime, but they came out and were thoroughly dominated in the 3rd quarter, surrendering 31 points and only scoring 16.
- MP2 and TMurph only managed 2 points each in the 2nd half after a nice 1st half.
- Monta Ellis couldn't be heard. It was a pretty quiet night for him.
- Andris Biedrins with 10, 5, and 5- that's 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 fouls. He looked like the Human Foul Machine of last season. Despite a few nice rolls/ cuts and finishes, it just wasn't his night.
- Mike Dunleavy just didn't looked focused out there, especially on defense. His disappearing act included more fouls than rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks-- COMBINED.
- Keith McLeod missed a free throw! No seriously, props to him for going to the line so many times tonight. I didn't realize that tonight's miss was his first of the season.
- Defense! Last I checked Damien Wilkins, Luke Ridnour, and Earl Watson weren't a three-headed 20 point scoring trio.
The Sonics were SuperSonic
You really have to hand it to this squad. It looked like they were going to get run off their own floor by halftime, but they hung in there and pulled off a big win without Jesus Shuttleworth. Denzel would've been proud of Ray's teammates. Props to Rashard Lewis (25 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, and 4 thefts), Luke Ridnour (26 points with 13 in the 4th and 9 dimes), Earl Watson (20 points, 5 assists, and one nasty fall), and D. Wilkins (22 points and 9 boards)- that's Damien, not Dominique (although the Warriors made him look THAT good tonight). They Got Game.
Denzel: "Sit this one out Ray. Your boys got you covered."
Also, props to the Sonics' great fans. KeyArena was loud and bumping all night long. If they do in fact move this proud franchise, the entire league should be ashamed. Our friends in Seattle deserve an NBA squad, like Warriors Nation deserves some serious playoff action.
10-11
Yup, for those of you paying attending to the Western Conference standings, both the Seattle Sonics and Golden State Warriors have recorded 10 wins and 11 losses. That's absolutely embarrassing for the Warriors. The Sonics are a squad most of us would have slotted with the 2nd worst record in the West at the beginning of this season. But the records indicate that these two squads are equally good or equally bad- however you want to look at it.
Seriously, can you believe that through 21 games the Warriors and Sonics have identical records? I know I can't.
Warrior Wonder
Boom Dizzle came to play tonight and his near triple double (that's back to back nights where he missed the Oscar Robertson by only 1 board) were brilliant. BD was knocking down jumpers, taking it strong to the hole, crashing the boards, and creating for others: 28 points (10-19 FG, 2-3 3pt, and 6-7 FT), 13 assists : 1 turnover, and 9 rebounds. It was a fabulous effort wasted by another team collapse.
BD gets bonus points for showing off his volleyball skills!
(AP Photo/Jim Bryant)