Are the Sonics The Biggest Shock This Season?

[George O'Brien]

Who'd have thunk?

The Sonics beat the Timberwolves tonight to go a half game ahead of the Suns with the best record in the NBA at 10-2. Yet this is the same team that went 2-6 in preseason and were defeated by the Suns twice.

Like the Suns, the Sonics have had a reasonably favorable schedule, but they have defeated the San Antonio, Sacramento, and the Timberwolves. Their schedule gets a bit more difficult in December, but so far they have shown a lot more than I expected.

Their stat line (prior to tonight's game) is very strange. Last season they were one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, but are out rebounding their opponents by 4.6 rpg. They need to because their opponents are shooting 46% from the field. However, the Sonics are hitting an amazing 40.3% for three as team - 96-238 led by Ray Allen who is shooting 54.5% FOR THREE. Lewis is also shooting well, 46.2% and 37.7% for three.

The other key factor is that the Sonics are taking more free throws than their opponents and more importantly hitting them 241-309.

The Suns meet them in Seattle on Dec 17th. It should be a wild game.

 

[green machine]

They are playing really well, and really only two above average players I think. (Allen and Lewis). McMillan has done an excellent job, seeing how he was probably on the verge of being canned.

 

[Errntknght]

They are the biggest surprise to me.... at least the biggest among teams that are exceeding expectations. I keep expecting them to suddenly fizzle... It's Reggie Evans and Mr. Unmentionable who are doing the board work for them so that may well continue but probably not the shooting accuracy.

Even if they don't fizzle, they're going to be in the same boat we are - teams will stop underestimating them so will be bringing their A game. Also, with all the roster shakeups defenses are slow to return to form so the teams that are winning by outshooting their opponents will have a harder time of it as the season progresses.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm a little bit reluctant to jump on the Seattle bandwagon just yet. Sure, they have beaten some good teams. I just want to see them sustain this level of play a little bit longer. They've jumped out like this several times before only to fizzle. I also want to see if Ray Allen can stay healthy.

I do think this is another team that has helped by the changes in officiating. I'm not trying to knock them for that either. Frankly I think the changes should have been made to long ago, and they have made the game much more enjoyable to watch. I only hope that the changes are here to stay. David Stern has promised they will be, but history says we will be back to overly physical defenses by April.

I really haven't seen any Seattle games yet. If they are taking and making wide-open three-point shots I think they can sustain close to this level of shooting for a long time. If it's just that several of their players are on fire I don't think they will.

I would consider them the biggest surprise so far.

Joe Mama

 

[F-Dog]

There's one major difference for the Sonics this year, and it's Vladimir Radmanovic. Previously, the Sonics could never find a way to get him on the court effectively, because Radman and Rashard Lewis got killed when either of them tried to play PF. This year, the two forwards have played very well together, so it's almost like Seattle added an extra star player this summer that nobody knew about.


I think the rest of the Sonics' success is usual thing--they start out every year by killing teams from the outside, and they always slow down as they get a little beat up. The more games they win, though, the more likely it is that they'll make the playoffs, which is an impressive accomplishment in the WC (since they'd be knocking out a team like Houston or Denver).

 

[scotsman13]

the sonics did the samething last year. and everyone was talking about ronald murray and how this little add in on the payton/allen deal is a great player in his own right. whats happened? over time the weakness of the sonics came out and in the end they missed the playoffs.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

This seattle team is a little different

Mainly it has to do with the play of the big men

Reggie Evans has worked on his game enough that he is getting minutes this year. Also Fortson gets a fair amount of time. Collison is also healthy. Jerome James is seeing his minutes drop.

All three of these guys are very good at moving around, setting screens, hitting the glass and getting after the ball. All offer a little bit offensively, where you can't leave them unguarded on a screen and roll.

These guys are setting picks freeing up whatever shooters are in the game. Usually they have 2 big men in at all times setting screens. This allows Lewis, Allen to come off the screens and shoot. In years past Lewis would screen for Allen/Barry and he would really either have to float and the entire team play iso or lewis could only catch the ball on a screen. This limited options.

The rule changes also help. Teams that benefit are those that drive the ball and make passes. Seattle does this extremely well. They even break out the weave on occassion.

Radmanovich worked hard on catching and driving. In years past he would tend to just shoot. Now he keep the D off balance.

Lewis is going to the boards as well.

The players are getting good looks, the team is playing hard and everyone is doing their jobs. They play the passing lanes on defense, but are weak at guarding on the ball and they allow a lot of dribble penetration.

They also have a tendency to get a little complacent. When they are trying to protect the lead and work the clock they play a style that doesn't fit them well and allows teams back into the game.

The rest of the league will figure out ways to slow them down, the grind of the season will probably kill some of the enthusiasm and energy this team is playing with and injuries always shape a team.

However if heatlhy and fairly rested this isn't a team I'd want to face in the playoffs. They know how to create good looks and if they get hot while shooting they can be very dangerous. Definitely a fun team to watch (love the league pass)

I don't expect them to keep this pace ... but I think they are a playoff caliber team and there are many differences between this start and the start of years past