Daily Roundup 1.02.07
Posted on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 at 10:30 am by Xteve
Happy New Year Everyone and Welcome Back Old Ball!
Rick Sund says Hill’s job is safe for now, writes Hughes.
Though Sonics general manager Rick Sund did not want to comment on that story, or make a comment about Hill’s job status, he did say there are extenuating reasons for the Sonics’ struggles this season – insinuating that Hill’s job for now is safe.
“As we start the new year, players, coaches and management are frustrated with our record,” Sund said. “But we’ve had unfortunate, untimely key injuries and a very difficult schedule. We have to focus on what is going to get us back to a winning stretch.”
Even before the season began, the Sonics lost starting center Robert Swift to a season-ending knee injury, altering rotations and leaving Hill still searching for a reliable starter at the position.
Then All-Star guard Ray Allen suffered a bone bruise in his right ankle, forcing him to miss nine games. And then Rashard Lewis tore a tendon sheath in his right (shooting) hand, sidelining the 23-points-a-game scorer for two months.
It is not unprecedented for a coach to be fired because some of his key players are injured. Last week, Memphis coach Mike Fratello was fired even though he did not have All-Star Pau Gasol for the first month and a half of the season.
The difference is that, like Weiss last season, Fratello had lost his players, they were not getting along, they were not responding and they were not playing hard.
Even on nights when they get blown out, the Sonics for the most part play inspired basketball, as they did against the Denver Nuggets Thursday night, when they were in the game until Chris Wilcox was ejected late in the third quarter.
Nice blog entry as well from Frank. It would really be something to see anyone on the Supes pump up their trade value.
Jan. 10th looms for Mike Wilks, Desmon Farmer and Greek Guy, one of whom at least will go. My money’s on Greek Guy being replaced by Sene. Don’t know about Farmer but don’t see any reason to keep him over Penny or a D-leaguer.
Sene isn’t likely to be shipped to the NBA Development League.
“I see Sene right where Robert [Swift] and Johan [Petro] were last year when I became the coach,” Hill said. “He’s on a mission, this kid. He wants to play. I’m going to play him. I think he’s at a point where that’s what he needs.
And it’s still day-to-day with Danny Fortson which is seemingly starting to bother everyone.
When asked if the uncertainty at center is troublesome, Hill said: “It’s not just about the coach. It’s about the coach and it’s about the rest of the team, those guys sitting in there who really want to win. It’s about understanding that the rotations of a team are important.
“So guys know or have somewhat of an idea of when they’re going to go in a game. If they’re starting or where their minutes are coming from. That’s all real stuff.”
Still, Hill has no choice except to play Fortson because he has no confidence in Petro as a starter and has tried other players with little success.
“He can absolutely fill a void because we need a starting center,” Hill said. “He’s a veteran. He’s tough. He can rebound. And he anchors the middle of your defense better than anybody we have.”
Rashard will travel with the team on the Texas two-step that begins tonight. I’ll take 1-1 and be very happy about it.
RIP Darrent Williams.
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
When asked if the uncertainty at center is troublesome, Hill said: “It’s not just about the coach. It’s about the coach and it’s about the rest of the team, those guys sitting in there who really want to win. It’s about understanding that the rotations of a team are important.
“So guys know or have somewhat of an idea of when they’re going to go in a game. If they’re starting or where their minutes are coming from. That’s all real stuff.”
LOL, this begs for a response, but I think i’m going to have to make ignoring Bob Hill quotes one of my New Years resolutions… he’s starting to make my head spin. I wonder if the players have made similar resolutions?
Hopefully this nonsense comes to an end soon.
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:18 am
It’s hard to write too much commentary on that particular quote without knowing exactly what question he was asked. I had a longer response I wrote originally but there’s just not enough background on the question to reply without making some inferences.
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
First and foremost, Andreas Glyniadakis and Desmon Farmer should both be waived by the Seattle Supersonics prior January 10th, 2007. In my opinion, neither one of them has a future in the NBA.
I want the ’sonics to waive Mike Wilks, too, so that there’d be room on the roster for Rick Sund to sign Will Conroy. Of course, I’m a fan of the Washington Huskies; thus, I’m favorly biased toward Conroy. Yet, that notwithstanding, Conroy has done an outstanding job in the NBDL thus far this season on both offense and defense; he’s also been a solid playmaker.
Well, Mouhamed Sene should spend some time playing in the NBDL for the Idaho Stampede. If Sene performs better than fellow center Peter Ramos while he’s there, then his trade vaule will increase throughout the entire NBA. In the end, ultimately, I’d like to see Sene dealt elsewhere for somebody who’s a skilled, proficient player — or, perhaps, a future first-round draft pick — since that’d probably improve the ’sonics.
At any rate, however, the Stampede have a fairly experienced team with the starting lineup of Ramos, Jeff Graves, Eddie Robinson, Luke Jackson, and Randy Livingston. I’m surprised that the team has a record of just 7-7 so far this season.
Anyway, I still believe that Sene will never develop into a productive player at any point in his career. I could totally be wrong about that, though. Unshockingly, it wouldn’t be the first time that I was incorrect regarding something.
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Has our schedule really been all that difficult? I think that crutch has been used too much so far this season. Of course your schedule is going to be difficult when you are one of the lesser teams in the entire league.
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
The schedule has indeed been tough. If you look at the break down of the season the Sonics are front loaded with long road stretches and tons of back to back (and worse) games. There is an upcoming period later this month where in two weeks the Sonics have only 4 games, all at home. If you look back at the early season you can see where it was tough to find times to get practices in to make changes in the offense and defense. If you read old quotes you’ll find the coaching staff talking about it being a challenge. So I don’t think it is a crutch by any means, but it isn’t the only cause of the problem. Injuries have been big, and poor performances by some key reserves have really hurt too.
Big Chris
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
“Has our schedule really been all that difficult? I think that crutch has been used too much so far this season. Of course your schedule is going to be difficult when you are one of the lesser teams in the entire league. ”
There’s no question it was a tough travel schedule. There’s a couple of 8 games in 12 day stretches in there in November & December and two East Coast/Midwest road trips.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I wonder what excuses the Suns, Mavs, and Spurs have for their play?
Oh wait…I forgot, they don’t need any because they are good teams.
Valid or not valid, excuses are for losers.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
No question the schedule has been brutal…
We have had four road back to backs so far. We are 6 and 8 in those games.
We also had two home and away back to backs and are 3 and 4 in those games.
That’s 12 games that were part of back to back in 2 months. That seems like a lot ot me. And there is no question that this team could have used extra game planning and practice to help deal with the myriad of injuries. It’s a legit excuse. You would love to see the team overcome and get a few more wins in those game but look at the Denver/Minnesota back to back… BRUTAL for a team that is decimated by injuries and a bubble team to begin with.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:11 pm
“I wonder what excuses the Suns, Mavs, and Spurs have for their play?”
Go to their board and find out.
“Oh wait…I forgot, they don’t need any because they are good teams.”
They still make excuses like every other team.
“Valid or not valid, excuses are for losers. ”
Wow. Thanks Tony Robbins.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:12 pm
“We have had four road back to backs so far. We are 6 and 8 in those games.”
Should read lost 6 of 8.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 pm
“I wonder what excuses the Suns, Mavs, and Spurs have for their play?”
I’m not making excuses at all. The record is what it is and I am not offering travel as an excuse beyond the problems getting out of Denver last week. But to say the early schedule wasn’t a difficult one is simply not true.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
The Sonics are only 2-5 on the front end of back-to-backers. Maybe the anticipation of playing the next night made them feel fatigued?
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
While I can admit that travel might be somewhat of a problem for the Sonics they do get the added benefit of playing LEastern conference teams during those road games and they haven’t performed this well.
All this talk led me to do some extra research. As it stands the Sonics have 50 games left of the season. Just looking at the 16 teams currently qualified for the playoffs you look ahead and see the following things:
- 29 games are against playoff teams. This includes three games each against Dallas, SA and Phoenix who are currently 1, 2, 3 in the West. Also, this does not count teams like Miami, LA Clippers and NO/OKC who we could argue are better than the Sonics.
- Of those 29 games 15 are on the road
- The Sonics finish with an absolutely brutal April. They have 10 games and 8 of them are against the top seven teams in the West. The other two are @ Portland and @NO/OKC.
So…no I really don’t think our schedule is that big of a deal and actually predict it to be even worse going forward. February and March look like decent months but Jan and April are murderous.
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
We just aren’t very good this year. When you suck everyone looks for excuses to ease the pain. Be it schedule, injuries, coaching or just a bad team it has been a disappointing year.
Although disappointed in retrospect it isn’t entirely surprising. Except for diehards such as us on this board few picked the Supes to do anything, with several preseason reviews picking us battling with Portland to be last in the West. While we viewed the loss of Swifty as a big hit others pointed out he hadn’t done much last year and hardly torn up the summer league. The Sene pick was questionable and although we had Ray and Rashard we still lacked proven interior players or anything close to team defense….
Perhaps, excuses aside, we are as we are. It wasn’t like we were tearing it up when Ray and Rashard were both healthy….
At this point other than the annual mantra of watching the youngsters progress we can debate when Hill will be axed or when Ray will be traded. Business as usual.
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Sonicej Says:
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
“Valid or not valid, excuses are for losers. ”
It isn’t so much about an excuse as it is a recognition of the facts. How a team’s schedule is set effects a lot of things. I can’t remember a Sonics schedule in the past 8 years that didn’t involve an east coast road trip not more than 3 or 4 games out of the blocks.
It is that road trip, as much as any other, that makes or breaks the Sonics season. They were horrible last year on that stretch, losing by 20 or more on a regualr basis. This year they split a few games, and had plenty of close losses. Going into December it was reasonable to hope, based on the early road trip, that if they could get through the late November through December schedule that they would be able to actually gain some gound in February and March. Ray get’s hurt, Lewis get’s hurt, so your opportunity to not head into January in a big hole get’s thrown out the window.
BTW, the flip side to this is (if memory serves) the Clippers schedules. They have had quite a few strong starts and horrible fades, I’m willing to guess it has a lot to do with the schedules thay have enjoyed over the past few years. Their finish last season showed how good/bad they were. They did pretty well, as they did in the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I do not think they will do anything as far as trades are concerned. I do not think that the types of people they need are available. PJ Brown may be available but is 67, I think. The types of players they need will more likely be available in summer trades. Who trades a defensive, rebounding 2-3 or 5 in mid-season? If a team was willing it would be for Rashard, who has a bright future as opposed to Ray who will be hitting the shooting guard wall soon.
Firing Hill mid season would not make too much sense. A new coach could not change the future. Making Lenny coach for the remainder of the season would hurt his work on getting the new stadium deal done.
The problem with standing pat is that once things get back rolling the sonics are a 9-12 draft pick again. They are currently in the 8/9 position
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:03 pm
“Firing Hill mid season would not make too much sense. A new coach could not change the future. Making Lenny coach for the remainder of the season would hurt his work on getting the new stadium deal done.”
Plus Lenny has said he doesn’t want to coach (thankfully) and Hill’s fate I imagine is tied to Sund’s. If they decide to bring in a new GM after this season it is best practice to let that person make his own hires.
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
- If Lenny is the coach then we are in big, big trouble.
- Reason #99 why the Sonics should not send Sene to the NBDL:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2717155
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Shades of Kermit Washington …
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Myk Says:
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
“The Sonics finish with an absolutely brutal April. ”
It’s the Nuggets that have the worst in April..
Check the Nuggs 2005/06 March and April
http://www.nba.com/nuggets/schedule/results_2005.html
That was the Nugget’s “excuse” last year, and likely the “excuse” again this year. They really have to be up by quite a few games by the end of February in order to be still in the playoffs and healthy.
Evereybody has some month when they travel a lot, far away, that have the biggest impact. For the Sonics it is early/mid November to mid-December. They look like they have a rougher schedule later in the year because some of these teams haven’t traveled as far and as often by this point. Most years (again, I’m relying on memory), the Sonic have been at the top of teams that have played the most, and the most on the road.
10 games in 18 days for the Sonics, 6 on the road
http://www.nba.com/sonics/schedule/
Nuggets: 11 games in 18 days, 7 on the road.
http://www.nba.com/nuggets/schedule/
Spurs: 10 games in 18 days, 4 on the road
http://www.nba.com/spurs/schedule/
Hornets: 8 games in 18 days, 4 on the road
http://www.nba.com/hornets/schedule/
Lakers: 10 games in 18 days (home and away against the Sonics), 5 on the road
http://www.nba.com/lakers/schedule/index.html
Jazz: 10 games in 18 days, 5 on the road
http://www.nba.com/jazz/schedule/
Rockets: 9 games in 18 days, 4 on the road
http://www.nba.com/rockets/schedule/
Suns: 10 games in 18 days, 6 on the road
http://www.nba.com/suns/schedule/
Suns: 9 games in 18 days, 5 on the road
http://www.nba.com/blazers/schedule/index.html
10 games in 18 days, 6 on the road
http://www.nba.com/mavericks/schedule/index.html
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Draft top 8 this summer I think you probably get, hard to miss, a good longterm player. 12th and it may still be possible but you’d better really have done the homework and found the right one. Seems pretty sketchy after about 8th. Top 8 may well be stronger than normal but after that seems more typical than exceptional.
Among prospects for an eartly 2nd selection, Anybody seem enough of Mustafa Shakur season to have opinion about NBA prospects?
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
“Valid or not valid, excuses are for losers.”
Swift went down. Ray’s ankle. Shard’s hand. Ray’s having a baby. Collison is feeling the pressure of a new contract. Blame the coach. Blame Sund. Now its blame the schedule time? blah blah blah blah blah.
I’m with swsonicsfan. We just aren’t a good team.
I’m all for making changes……but make significant ones. Acquiring an aging vet like PJ Brown doesn’t change this team. Thats on par with us getting Horace Grant back in the day. I would love more toughness in the middle too, but I want talent.
Mustafa is a late 2nd rounder IMO.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
“I want the ’sonics to waive Mike Wilks, too, so that there’d be room on the roster for Rick Sund to sign Will Conroy. Of course, I’m a fan of the Washington Huskies; thus, I’m favorly biased toward Conroy. Yet, that notwithstanding, Conroy has done an outstanding job in the NBDL thus far this season on both offense and defense; he’s also been a solid playmaker.”
AK weren’t you calling out people as “homers” a couple days ago?
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
The only thing that is more depressing than being a Sonics fan is being a fan of a team that says:
“We have a rotation that might have a different approach to the game, and maybe that’s an upgrade. But we certainly think we’re as good and possibly better. We know our lineup is much better.”
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Reports on Shakur criticized his shot and decisionmaking. His stats early this season show big improvement from his past on FG%, 3pt %, assists (3rd in Div. I) & A/TO but will wait and see how it looks after March. Has size and athleticism but wingspan at last draft camp wasnt that special.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
If we have a top 8 pick, I say we go for Marco Belinelli. This guy looks like a Reggie Miller with Ginobili’s slashing ability. He’s kind of skinny but he’s really agile and based on some videos I’ve seen, he does many things well. He creates for AND finds his teammates for nice passes, he shoots incredibly well off the pick, and he’s a good handler in the open court.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Belinelli gets a lot of press and I havent seen him to judge but I did notice earlier today checking on him that he is hitting 29% of his 3 pointers (but very good from 2 pt) and averaging 1.3 assists a game this season http://195.56.77.208/player/?id=BEL_MAR&year=2006&team=1119
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
He also apparently is about as adept a defender as Ray is. No thank you.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
If we waive two or three players like the Greek guy, Desmon Farmer or Mike Wilks and sign Will Conroy and Penny Hardaway then there be experience, leadership and depth added to this team. That would be an interesting new year’s resolution for this team. Lenny should concentrate on his role on the new stadium. Go Sonics!!
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Looking further I see that Belinelli’s current 3pt % is a career low and had been good previously from that shorter international distance but this season’s assists are a career high. But I guess he could make the pass before the assist like Gelabale we are told.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
RE: Bellini
nbadraft.net says……
Weaknesses: Defensively he may struggle to defend more athletic shooting guards as his lateral quickness is average at best … Tends to get caught up in shooting from the perimeter instead of driving the lane and drawing fouls. Should concentrate on becoming more aggressive using his athleticism to attack the basket … Ball protection is a work in progress as Belinelli can get careless with the ball … Does not make much of an impact on the glass … Needs to continue to work on conditioning as he shown the tendency to get worn down as the season progresses … Court vision leaves a little to be desired … Doesn’t convert shots when contact occurs on his drives due to his lack of upper body strength … Belinelli can go through streaky periods where he struggles with shooting consistency …
I’m with Drrew. No thanks.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
How about we give the Spurs a mil or two for Robertas Javtokas. Dude is a monster.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I don’t see Coby Karl listed on the draft sites right now but he has pretty good combo guard stats (turnovers are high). He has either has long wingspan- 2 inches longer than Carney, mardy collins, bobby jones and david noel or it is an official misprint.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Tony Robbins here,
Waaaaahhhhhh!!! We are in the western conference and we don’t have enough cupcakes on the schedule to sufficiently hide our poor defense, inept rebounding, and lack of toughness.
Hey guys, we suck.
Let’s accept it so we can move forward and stop blaming the schedule for our losses.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
“Let’s accept it so we can move forward and stop blaming the schedule for our losses. ”
What’s with the “we”? I’m not attributing any losses to the schedule itself … just making an observation that it is a busy travel schedule with lots of back to backs, which is true. Actually the team did pretty well on their first East Coast trip this year.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:28 pm
“How about we give the Spurs a mil or two for Robertas Javtokas. Dude is a monster.”
Those highlights of him are from the past. He has since been in a motorcycle accident and doesn’t have hops like that anymore.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Any observations about Acie Law or kyle Visser, as early 2nd round or possible trade up a little to take?
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thaddeus Young? Might be in that 8-12 range.
SF seems crowded but things can change. Pretty good stats for a freshmen.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I accept it for the most part, but I don’t think stating some of the problems the team has faced is necessarily making excuses. You can be bad and have a tough schedule. It’s not necessarily one thing or the other. The problem comes when you try to rationalize that we are a “good team” except for our brutal schedule. I haven’t really read any comments that are suggesting that. For the most part, what I am reading is that we have a bad schedule, and we really aren’t a good team.
I accept it. We have a huge hole in the middle and can’t protect the paint. Our wings are only so so at best as wing defenders regardless of their rep. We try to shoot ourselves out of most games, on and on. We just aren’t that good. Oh well, life goes on.
What is sad imo is talking about draft position and prospects on Jan 2nd.
By the way AK, you are fond of using high grammar on this forum, and I would be remiss if I neglected to point out that “favorly” and “unshockingly” are not grammatically correct, nor are they real words.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Well if you guys wanna drop Wilks, I say that we draft a solid Poin Guard that could be a great back up.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
^ Point Guard*
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
ichiro998 says:
“If we waive two or three players like the Greek guy, Desmon Farmer or Mike Wilks and sign Will Conroy and Penny Hardaway then there be experience, leadership and depth added to this team.”
How does Will Conroy and Hardaway help again?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Since we are losing, discussing the schedule comes across whiney or as an excuse. If we were winning it would just be a discussion……actually we wouldn’t be talking about it, because nobody would care.
If people want to bring in Conroy……they might as well bring in Donald Watts, Tre Simmons, Eldridge Recasner, and Bryant Boston for try outs too. I don’t know…..I just don’t think any backcourt changes do anything for us.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
FYI: Greg Oden is on ESPN right now. Check him out if you haven’t seen him play.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Conroy is averaging nearly 9 assists and 6 rebs along with 16 pts a game in NBDL (though his 3pt % is off from last season). 6′2 195 might be useful change of size option.
Hardaway could play 4 positions … if he has rehabbed and renergized.
if not him Dijon Thompson has a nice nbdl line- 20pts 9rebs 4assist a game.
nbdl is way different and way lesser but somebody is likely to give him 10 day contracts and see what happens up here.
either make a nice catch or they can move on.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
If Hill does get fired should we bring in Lynn Nance or Bob Bender?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Key word is “play”. Would Conroy or a Hardaway get any tic? I doubt it. So what is the point?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Jawad Williams 6-9, hitting 38% of his 3ptrs and scoring 20 a night.
What do Sonics scouts think of him as a bench scorer option?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
TK what is Hardaway’s 4th position? Center or PF?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:19 pm
“If Hill does get fired should we bring in Lynn Nance or Bob Bender?”
I say we force Lenny Wilkins to coach.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
hahhah
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Sonics looked briefly at Fizer last season. Would they have any interest in Andre Brown 6-9 PF 24 pts 64% FG 11 rebs a game in nbdl? I think a guy like that might be worth a look and possibly fill a niche on the future bench (with Fortson gone after this year)
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
“if not him Dijon Thompson has a nice nbdl line- 20pts 9rebs 4assist a game.”
Property of PHX
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hardaway might be able to play some shooting PF. Hill said he was bigger and stronger. If he is over 220 lbs now he might be able to play spot duty there in small ball.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
“Property of PHX”
Nope. they didnt retain Dijon Thompson after last season then Golden State looked at him but waived him in October.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
“Andre Brown 6-9 PF 24 pts 64% FG 11 rebs a game in nbdl?”
Yeah, the kid is for the Skyforce here in South Dakota, I have heard good things about him and hopefully I can get a ticket to a Skyforce game. I am not sure if we can get him because of the system that the NBA and DL has. Isn’t it you can only pick up players from the teams that are assigned to you like us with The Idaho Stampede?
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Phoenix declined second year team option of his contract as a second round pick. May have been related to signing Piaktowski.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:43 pm
it is my uinderstanding that anybody can pick up anybody except those players who are assigned there by an nba team. their rights stay with the assigning team.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 pm
“Key word is “play”. Would Conroy or a Hardaway get any tic? I doubt it. So what is the point?”
Conroy probably wouldnt play any more than Wilks right now but the experience might make him better going into next season and could give the preview necessary before a Watson trade if Sund became inclined.
Hardaway is a now option if you felt that he could help 10+ minutes a game, maybe in the 4th quarter in particular, pushing for the 8th seed. Maybe he helps a bit in practice, talking to the guys, passing on some of his understanding of moves, situations to Wilkins and Gelabale.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:58 pm
nbdl pickups are mainly about the possiblity of filling a backup role cheaply. Becomes even more important beginning next season and the forseeable future. I am not implying they would change this year’s prospects.
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Swift, Petro, Collison, Wilcox probably will be scheduled to play almost all the time at C/PF next season with Sene as center depth. A 6th big is the minimum and a 7th isnt unusual though Lewis might get counted as that. Looking to nbdl, or trade or draft for a tough guy (rebounder/defender possibly with some deep post coring) or a shooter/driver seems appropriate.
I’d be surprised if Sund made a trade from within Swift, Petro, Collison, Wilcox before Feb. 2008. Maybe he won’t have to. The 6th or 7th big might help address some of the defficiences in that core. But if they arent playing reliably above .500 by then, then seeking to upgrade that core would seem necessary. Either this big man core gets it together by then or I’d tweak it. I’d probably tweak it now but 13 more months seems like that should be enough data even for those that believe in the promise of development.
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Lenny should concentrate on his role of keeping the Sonics here instead of becoming the coach for a second time. Conroy would add depth like he had when he was at UW. Penny would contribute and help make decisions like Ray.
January 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
?????
January 2nd, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Menace Says:
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
“How does Will Conroy and Hardaway help again?”
Nothing, just as the hand wringing this past summer on who they Sonics would keep as the 14th man. The problem is in the rotation, and not in the garbage time, takling dummies.