PRE-SEASON- Sonics @ Suns Game Thread

[Amare32]

Seattle Supersonics @ Phoenix Suns ​

When Friday 21st October
Time: 7.00 PT
Location: AWA, Phoenix
TV: UPN 45

Probable Starting Lineups:

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

PG-Luke Ridnour
SG-Ray Allen
SF-Rashard Lewis
PF-Reggie Evans
C-Robert Swift

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images

PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-James Jones
PF-Shawn Marion
C-Kurt Thomas

prediction match-ups

Point guards
Luke Ridnour Vs Steve Nash

Steve Nash will go up against the young and promising Luke Ridnour who is entering his 2nd season as the Sonics starter. He played a big role in the Sonics winning their divison and is the key behind their team. Steve Nash has played limited minutes so far in pre-season and with a long season ahead along with the fact Amare is out for 4 months. Overplaying him is something Mike DA needs to be careful with.

Shooting guards
Ray Allen Vs Raja Bell

Raja Bell who has two 20 point games in the pre-season so far goes up against Ray Allen who has seem limited minutes like Nash. No surprise due to the fact he is their main star and a guy at the age of 30 won't want to ware out too much. I expect he will still anything from 15-23 minutes for friday night's game. Raja will look to impress the Suns and the management as he will have a big role to play at both ends of the floor this year.

Small Forwards
Rashard Lewis Vs James Jones

The promising James Jones gets another chance to add to his impressive pre-season numbers as he goes up against all-star Rashard Lewis. Jones is averaging over 19 a game in pre-season and shooting 47% from two and 43% from three. JJ could be this years Bobby Simmons.


Power Forward
Reggie Evans Vs Shawn Marion

With Amare's injury Shawn Marion will for the 2nd straight year be the PF on the team. He has put up good enough numbers for them minutes he has got and I will be surprised If he gets more than 20 for this game. Reggie Evans is your typical energy guy and someone who will get you boards, good defense and the odd few points. Good guy to have on your team.

centers
Robert Swift Vs Kurt Thomas

Kurt Thomas will look to continue his good pre-season play against 2nd year player Robert Swift. Who has started in all of the Sonics pre-season games so far and he has yet to make an impression. He is barely getting 2 and 3. Surely he can't be the Sonics starter by the time the season tips off?

Final thoughts and predictions

The Suns have started 2-2 in pre-season with everyone getting a good run In. I'm interested to see how James Jones look to build on his previous impressive performances and how the bench continues to look. Barbosa, House, Diaw e.t.c. I don't expect Nash or Marion to play that much. Maybe they will for the fans but I certainly wouldn't want to see that happening considering how much we will depend on them for the regular season with Amare missing til the all-star break.

Here to a good game even If it is only pre-season.

 

[Amare32]

This is basically what to expect for the regular season previews.

Although for the season games I will have key's to the game like I did for the playoffs. There is no point doing key's for pre-season games. Didn't know what to put to be honest

This is the only pre-season preview I will do...did this one to show you how the format will be this year for the regular season. By the time the playoffs role around there will be more detail.

 

[JS22]

Looking good!

I for one appriciate the work.

 

[SweetD]

fyi your image you have in your sig is not working

 

[panfolk]

Potapenko will likely start during the regular season but he's been down with an injury during the preseason. The only cool thing about Swift I've heard is that he did running dunk with his heels up to his back in pregame warmups (according to a poster on justbball.com who saw the last Sonics/Suns game in Seattle).

 

[nathan]

fyi your image you have in your sig is not working

That's true for both Amare32 and WastedFate.

 

[Amare32]

That's true for both Amare32 and WastedFate.

Mine is working fine.

 

[Errntknght]

My ideas on 'keys to the game'. Of course, we could care less if they win or lose but it does matter what they are trying to do on the floor.

On defense do they appear to have a plan and if they do, is it a good plan. For example, do they know where to expect help and channel opponents toward it. Are they double teaming in the right circumstances? (The latter might be misleading because last year the Suns double teamed far too much early on then cut way back on it - like they'd been doing it for the practice at first.)

On offense, are they moving well off the ball. Are they setting any off-ball screens, and using them. I'm serious - Marion, for example, misses half the screens guys set for him. Are they running plays/maneuvers aimed at getting guys to the hoop? Near to the hoop? Is anyone working along the baseline?

How is the transition game when Nash isn't playing? Do they seem to have plan for getting the ball up floor quickly - presumeably by using two or three guys passing the ball in an orchestrated fashion.

 

[PhxGametime]

I can't wait to see the Suns, especially Boris Diaw, James Jones, and Eddie House... I'd like to see how KT works the 2 man game with Nash, KT in New York was constantly going to both sides of court, setting screens and he can pass but man I've been watching him since 95, so I know a little more to expect. Bell I'd like to see him shut down Ray Allen and put up stats across board (rebounds and assists need to go up from last year). Grant I'd like to see how he's moving and how tough he plays in paint w/o fouling (along with every new bigman). Burke I'd like to see his shot and how he moves his feet on defense...


Diaw I want to see rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, athleticism, defense, and ballhandling that's why I wanted the Team to Draft him years back and that size 6'8 (long arms). Jones has been putting solid stats soooo I'd like him to continue that but I will be watching his defense and movement w/o ball. House I'd like to watch his defense as well and ability to run Team, a few 3PTers would be nice...


I expect KT, Grant, Burke, Tischer will rotate at Center; so I'm hoping playing skillball, the Team is still exciting to watch last year was great, more-so than 92 IMO. It's been talked about all summer how much better the Team is defensively and while I haven't been 1 to agree with that theory, I want to be proved wrong Also the Team has quite a few passers now and hopefully they have more movement and the Team is loaded 1-4 again, so I'm hoping for fast paced game.


110-80 - D expects to average 110 and if that's what he's sending out, then I'd like to see him make it happen with much improved defense

 

[SweetD]

Mine is working fine.

No it is not. You can see it but we can't

 

[Chaz]

No it is not. You can see it but we can't

Amare32,

Try http://www.photobucket.com.

You can upload pictures there and they allow direct linking.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

centers
Robert Swift Vs Kurt Thomas

Kurt Thomas will look to continue his good pre-season play against 2nd year player Robert Swift. Who has started in all of the Sonics pre-season games so far and he has yet to make an impression. He is barely getting 2 and 3. Surely he can't be the Sonics starter by the time the season tips off?



Im tellin u guys because my cousin has a good pulse for this team and he told me. Beware of Petro. Swift is a bust so far......

 

[SweetD]

Sweet No Commercials

Rare (On) Air For Suns on Friday Night
For the first time in franchise history, the Suns will broadcast a preseason game when they host the SuperSonics on Friday night at America West Arena (7 p.m.). Also, instead of normal commercial breaks, the broadcast will showcase the many exciting aspects of the fan experience at Suns games. Tune into UPN 45 starting at 6:30 p.m. for the live pre-game show from the Bud Light Paseo, hosted by Kevin Ray and Suns broadcaster Tom Chambers, with the game beginning at 7 p.m.

 

[Griffin]

Tonight's game is also televised on NBATV for those of you outside of local area.

 

[elindholm]

Tonight's game is also televised on NBATV for those of you outside of local area.

Thanks a lot for the heads-up, since it never would have occurred to me to check.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

So weird to look up and see that starting lineup....strange...

 

[myrondizzo]

So weird to look up and see that starting lineup....strange...

and only recognize two guys. its pretty funny.

 

[Amare32]

No it is not. You can see it but we can't

Odd, seems fine to me

I've been planning to get a new sig anyway.

 

[elindholm]

I can see Amare's but not Wasted's.

 

[Chaz]

So far so good.

They have some work to do but I like a lot of what I have seen in the first half.


Ray Allen is just so impressive. His release is so quick.
He is just really entertaining to watch.


For the Suns I like Diaw's defense and Jones' shooting.

Marion does look bigger this year. That is good because he will need the extra size.

 

[Evil Ash]

The Suns had 8 blocks in the first half

 

[arthurracoon]

Watching Eddie House go bonkers was fun!

 

[Chaz]

Odd, seems fine to me

I've been planning to get a new sig anyway.

Hmmm?

I couldn't see it. So I put the link into a browser and it came up ok. After that I could see it on the board.

Now I can't again. It just has a box that says hosted by angelfire.

 

[goldseraph]

Pretty good write-up, you could use an editor though for grammar and punctuation.

 

[AZZenny]

I was at the game - awesome, 4th row seats from a friend. Quick totally uninformed impressions -> Love James Jones! Wow. My friend and I were both very taken with his energy and ability. Keeper.

Liked Eddie House - he's very take-charge, has a pretty shot - but he needs to play with the B team, not the C team, who milled around in confusion a lot, to his obvious frustration. Diaw looks promising to me. JimmyJack is back where he left off - happy to see him managing the floor.

This group isn't even close to gelling yet, but maybe after 4-6 weeks together. The pace seemed significantly slower initially - Nash would get down the court and no one was there for him! But they picked it up eventually.

And finally - in art there is a concept of 'negative space' - the importance and power of the unfilled paper or canvas to make the painting work, or the unspoken, implied words/images that make a poem work - - well, Amare is our 'negative space' - his absence is palpable, it's almost visible - the observer becomes intensely aware of what isn't there. It was pretty stunning.