3/26/08 Box Score: Sonics 99 Wizards 104
Posted on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 9:58 pm by Big Chris
Your resident box score poster is feeling like he got run over by a truck on the I-5, so I’m keeping this brief and heading to bed.
Sonics lost. No surprise there. They put up a good fight.
Roger Mason (yeah…who?) killed us with 5 3 pointers in the 4th quarter.
Kevin Durant led the Seattle Supersonics in scoring with 32 points on 13 of 22 shooting. Nick Collison tied a career high with 21 rebounds.
(37-34)
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(17-55)
| Washington | |||||||||||||||
| Starters | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts | |
| G | 39:10 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 3-3 | +4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| D. Stevenson | G | 28:56 | 3-11 | 2-7 | 3-3 | -4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| B. Haywood | C | 34:52 | 6-10 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| C. Butler | F | 43:03 | 8-16 | 2-5 | 3-4 | +11 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21 |
| A. Jamison | F | 38:56 | 6-17 | 0-5 | 5-5 | -2 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| Bench | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts | |
| R. Mason | 21:54 | 8-13 | 6-9 | 0-0 | +18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | |
| D. Songaila | 20:18 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 2-2 | +14 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
| N. Young | 6:00 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| D. McGuire | 4:57 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| A. Blatche | 1:54 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G. Arenas | DNP - Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||
| O. Pecherov | DNP - Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||
| Totals | 38-82 | 10-28 | 18-20 | 8 | 32 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 104 | |||
| Percentages: | .463 | .357 | .900 | Team Rebounds: 7 |
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| Seattle | |||||||||||||||
| Starters | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts | |
| K. Durant | G | 39:01 | 13-22 | 1-2 | 5-5 | -9 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 32 |
| E. Watson | G | 30:54 | 4-10 | 0-1 | 2-2 | +6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| J. Petro | C | 18:15 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| J. Green | F | 40:57 | 4-13 | 0-1 | 5-6 | -1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| N. Collison | F | 40:32 | 3-10 | 0-0 | 3-4 | +3 | 6 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Bench | Min | FG | 3Pt | FT | +/- | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | BA | PF | Pts | |
| D. Wilkins | 24:50 | 5-11 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | |
| L. Ridnour | 17:06 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-1 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| F. Elson | 16:46 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| D. Marshall | 11:39 | 1-5 | 0-3 | 0-0 | +5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| E. Gill | DNP - Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||
| A. Griffin | DNP - Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||
| M. Sene | DNP - Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||
| Totals | 39-85 | 1-9 | 20-24 | 16 | 49 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 99 | |||
| Percentages: | .459 | .111 | .833 | Team Rebounds: 8 |
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| Game Info | |
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Technical Fouls: Washington - A. Daniels 1 |
Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA |
Legend
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March 26th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
collison avoids the double double, 21 rebounds
March 26th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
High volume chucker.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Like what I saw from Durant, 32 points on 13-22 shooting, 5-5 FT only 1-2 3pt land and 7 boards.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
sonics were 1-9 from beyond the arch, Durant 1-2
13-22 fg
The chucker was Marshall, 1-5 fg, 0-3 3-pt.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I was at the KEY tonight … Collison was terrific & KD was very solid too.
I know this has been a brutal season on the court but IMO… KD is going to be one terrific player. Give him a few more seasons to grow & get some better talent around him & look out.
Collison can be a very solid rotation player for years to come. JG I think is showing potential. Everyone else is likely on their way out … Unless Petro really improves.
a few fans were handling out flyers tonight at the game encouraging everyone to get tickets for the last game of the season on April 13 - nice effort on their part to try & build some energy towards that game & a good attendance.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I was at the game tonite and I sat courtside next to a women who has been a sonics fan for over 35 years. I was amazed by her basketball knowledge and the love for the supersonics. she knew everybody at the key..from the usher down to security. she went on to tell me storyies about the first ever sonic game to present day. so midway threw the first half I turn to her and ask how she felt about the whole situation with the nba and cly clay..she had a long pause and started to tear up . she says she feels helpless but she going to be postitve and she not going to give up the fight. she loves her supes..she even had pictures of players kids..it bothers me that people like clay and the nba don’t care about the people..the people who support this team win or lose..good and bad..
March 26th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I was at the game tonite and I sat courtside next to a women who has been a sonics fan for over 35 years. I was amazed by her basketball knowledge and the love for the supersonics. she knew everybody at the key..from the usher down to security. she went on to tell me storyies about the first ever sonic game to present day. so midway threw the first half I turn to her and ask how she felt about the whole situation with the nba and cly clay..she had a long pause and started to tear up . she says she feels helpless but she going to be postitve and she not going to give up the fight. she loves her supes..she even had pictures of players kids..it bothers me that people like clay and the nba don’t care about the people..the people who support this team win or lose..good and bad..
March 26th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I was at the game tonite and I sat courtside next to a women who has been a sonics fan for over 35 years. I was amazed by her basketball knowledge and the love for the supersonics. she knew everybody at the key..from the usher down to security. she went on to tell me storyies about the first ever sonic game to present day. so midway threw the first half I turn to her and ask how she felt about the whole situation with the nba and cly clay..she had a long pause and started to tear up . she says she feels helpless but she going to be postitve and she not going to give up the fight. she loves her supes..she even had pictures of players kids..it bothers me that people like clay and the nba don’t care about the people..the people who support this team win or lose..good and bad..
March 27th, 2008 at 12:14 am
The disparity in coaching ability tonight was unbelievable. Eddie Jordan correctly pushed every button he had, while PJ couldn’t even find the remote under the sofa cushions. A big part of the joy in a Ballmer ownership group would be seeing PJ get fired.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:24 am
” A big part of the joy in a Ballmer ownership group would be seeing PJ get fired. ”
Pj, Westhead, the entire coaching staff, Presti, everyone connected to the current ownership group GONE!
March 27th, 2008 at 6:12 am
vote for the sonics dance team (clear your cookies to vote again) http://www.nba.com/features/dance08_west3_sea_v_hou.html?bid=NBADANCE08_hp
to show the nba seattle can support a (dance) team
and its the only way for the sonics to win a title this year ^^
March 27th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Nice to see KD becoming so consistent. Haven’t seen as many KD haters on as of late…that is also refreshing. It’s really unfortunate to have to hear those stories about the fans, only because it furthers the heartfelt pain that we are all feeling at this moment in time. With the fight the fans of this team have put up….how can anyone ever truly question our fanhood?
March 27th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Slade Gorton to be on the Mitch in the Morning show. You know Mitch will ask the great questions.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Durant is making field goals at a clip 53.774% during March for an average game total of 21.9 points….he got game.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Saw this thread over at Real GM. If there was another expansion draft, what 8 players would you protect?
Durant and Green are obvious…who else? Collison?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Kobe, Shaq and Iverson have been the most prolific scorers in the NBA, but Lebron and Durant are on their way to 30,000 plus points. The 2nd pick in the draft has again provided Seattle one of the few true superstars the NBA currently offers.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Way to got KD - putting up Ray-like Sonics numbers.
Now if we only had 11 other capable players on a regular basis…
March 27th, 2008 at 8:16 am
“Durant and Green are obvious…who else? Collison?”
Collison, Wilcox, Marshall, Petro, Sene and…do we have to protect 8?
Only leave Marshall unprotected if you don’t think they’ll take Watson or Ridnour anyways, just to hope to clear his salary. His value lies in the ending contract if you want to make a push for a player.
No need to protect Swift, Gelebale, Elson et al because they’re varying states of free agents.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Slade gorton on NOW.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:18 am
couple days old:
http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/03/25/sonics-last-stand/
March 27th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Slade’s on now.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:37 am
My .02 is that the Senator would not go on the air if he was not feeling fairly confident. Lawyers tend to minimize their risk in comments because they don’t ever like to be proven wrong. If he says “there is a chance” I think he means “there is a good chance”. If he says “I think there is a good chance” it means “I’m almost certain”
March 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
So which did Slade say?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Gorton seemed very confident that the NBA does not want the court case to happen.
Could the court case go deeper than just the lease agreement?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Slade pretty much said:
No team? No deal, bring on the court case..but we need to have key arena as a done deal.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Basically: We are calling your bluff David Stern.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Did Slade express confidence that the arena deal would get done?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
My impression was Slade thinks keeping this current team here is wishful thinking. It’s more about using the Sonics as a bargaining chip to land another team. He also said the replacement team must be here within a year or two of the Sonics leaving. That’s a tough order to fill.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
TNT was at the Kay last night to film the SOS movement. Guess only 8,000 people were there total, and little to no SOS chants.
Someone has certainly set up the SOS movement to look like shit to the national NBA audience tonight on TNT’s NBA presentation.
Wonder who coordinated this week’s smash the SOS movement (i.e. TNT being removed from the Portland game but being allowed to film during the Wizards game)?
King David comes to mind…
March 27th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Not exactly confident, Sam, but hopeful.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I think Slade Gorton is pretty confident that we will get a team, with only 1 year being dark.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Looks like I get to save a lot of money and time starting in a few weeks then.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
jay: the NBA is a biz. They only care about profit. Wal-Mart, widely regarded as a model biz in the biz world steamrolls its consumer base ALL THE TIME, yet still comes out on top.
I’m not saying the NBA is as bad as Wal-Mart, (the NBA def seems to treat their employees a little better, heh), but its the same thing: exploit and profit at vitually all costs.
I still think the ultimate goal for Stern is to land the Sonics in Las Vegas. Financial failure over a 5-10 year period in OKC would set them up perfectly for this move. To date, the NBA’s biz expansion model (domestic and international) is unmatched by any other pro sports league, and I wouldn’t put it past David Stern to think he can establish a successful franchise in LV. People gleefully throw their money away there everyday - why not throw it away on the NBA? Plus, he seems to think Europe, the Middle East (Dubai) and China are on the verge of NBA team readiness.
The NBA is becoming a global brand, and losing Seattle for the short-term probably seems like a small price to pay for its continued expansion.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
The thing that will be interesting in terms of Seattle potentially getting another team will be, if/when another team is identified, will Bennett look at that team (whichever one it might be) and compare costs, leases, etc. to see if it might make more sense for him to sell the Sonics to Ballmer and take the other team?
For example, if Bennett found out for certain that he could sell the Sonics for $350-375 million and then turn around and buy the Grizzlies or another team for $250 million, and the date of relocation was the same either way, would he be tempted?
March 27th, 2008 at 9:37 am
He could be…but I think we are reading and thinking to much into this stuff guys. What I hear, what I feel when I read Slade Gorton’s comments is that he and his staff are going for the jugular if need be. Remember, this is an unprecedented event for the NBA and Stern’s stable of ponies. For Slade we have done this sort of thing(re-lo) twice before. Stern can throw out all the rhetoric he wants to guys…but that won’t fly in court with a judge moderating, as well as a group of Seattle lawyers that are going to destroy Bennett, Stern, and Co. ’s testimony and previous commentary within the press during the proceedings of the case itself.
I agree with previous comments. If this was a done deal on the side of OKC, conveniently timed press releases by bennett and stern to counterbalance the opposition would not be necessary or evident.
They are scared, I say go for whatever blood we can. I trust Slade. Too late to back down now.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I guess nothing will be announced this week. I am sure something will happen before the deadline. Don’t want a dark year. This whole thing just makes me sick and there is plenty of blame to go around if we lose this current Sonics team. It should have never gotten this far.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I don’t know, we might hear something in the next day. When Mitch asked Gorton when we will get word he said “stay by the phone.” That sounds like something is about to break.
I loved the most what Gorton said about Stern’s comments on the Key. “David Stern doesn’t want there to be a Seattle solution at this time. His comments are really more of hope that nothing happens here and Bennett can move on down the road. We WANT to make this a problem for David Stern. A $300 million renovation that doubles the square footage and provides a local ownership solution is a problem for David Stern!”
March 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Oh man I am really digging on Gorton and Ceis right now. Great leadership. FU STERN!
March 27th, 2008 at 10:01 am
If we lose the current team many of the existing fans will not come back. It is like a divorce. It is tough to fall in love again once your partner has demonstrated no commitment, bad faith and poor character. It is tough to sell a former ticket holder who feels betrayed by the league. Charlotte lost alot of fans in the seats. Seattle will, too. Add the long lead time in building a competitive team and you are looking at years of limited fan interest and poor team revenues. This is the best case and assumes there is an ‘adequate arena going forward.’ I don’t expect it will get easier to sell a new arena to the public or politicians after the team leaves.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Back to the topic of the Wizards game ( sort of). We talk about how PJ Carlisimo has fallen way short of pretty much all of our expectations( actually some said right from the start he would be a lousy choice). And he certainly has been subpar in my opinion( and I was one who didn’t mind the hiring of him last summer saying he was about what I expected the Sonics to get as the team was in a transition process).
But I see in the New York Daily News that it’s rumored that the Memphis Grizzlies are looking at hiring Larry Brown as coach for next season. They are very dissapointed in Iavoronni as head coach. And he was a coach that was sought by more than one team.
Not that it’s any consolation to us Sonics fans but it shows that there really wasn’t much out there to hire last summer. Rick Carlisle made it known he wanted to take a year off. Perhaps Dwayne Casey might have fared better. Paul Silas has always worked better with a veteran team. So even though PJ has been a dissapointment I’m hard pressed in hindsight to come up with who Seattle should have gone after. Maybe the guy from Detroit( can’t remember his name).
March 27th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Funny thing about losing all your fans in Seattle, you win games and they all come back.
I remember how many people were disenfranchised by the Hawks…till they started the climb back to being top flight.
Right now Willingham sucks, give him a bowl team next year and a team fighting to get back to the Holiday Bowl/Rose Bowl in a few years and everyone will have ‘been there the whole time’.
You know how many idiot Mariner fans I’ve had to tell that as good as Edgar Martinez was, he wasn’t close to Griffey’s level…simply because they didn’t jump on the wagon till after Kenny had left.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Well, as far as Gar goes, i was always a fan of the guy. Nonetheless, that is neither here nor there.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Scott Says: “Funny thing about losing all your fans in Seattle, you win games and they all come back.”
Your point is taken but was invalidated when you used the word ALL.
Proof?
The Griffey/RJ crap ticked me off. The A-rod escape ended it for me. I left baseball. Don’t even know what year that was but I have not seen a game in person since. I have seen EXACTLY 2 pitches since that day (both were game ending Ichiro ground outs I ran across while channel surfing, btw). I will never be back to baseball. Couldn’t care less about it. If the league folded it wouldn’t register on my radar other than having less pages to skip through in the sports publications.
Should I decide to give the NBA the same level of committment they are giving me then it is a permanent decision.
No ALL.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Seattle fans are fairweather indeed.
The Sonics are just a victim of their (the majority of fans) fickle mindset and two loserass franchises getting expensive, undeserved stadiums in the recent past.
Supes/Storm should have gotten an arena all along. Only Seattle pro sports teams to win ANYTHING worth a damn (i.e. 2 WORLD championships between them, AND the opportunity to battle Jordan’s Bulls in the ‘96 finals) are far greater than the M’s or Streakhawks.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:06 am
The difference is, Both of those teams got the ’stadium’ requests in when King County and the Nation’s economy was booming. There was ALOT of money flowing around.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:08 am
“Your point is taken but was invalidated when you used the word ALL.”
To you maybe, only because you’re going to microscope it.
This town you sell 70K tickets when you win, 35K when you lose and you start winning again you sell 70K again. Is it going to be the same 70K exactly, no but if you’ve sold all your seats its close enough.
You might be one of those outside the deviation, congrats.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Patches Pal Says:
If we lose the current team many of the existing fans will not come back. It is like a divorce. It is tough to fall in love again once your partner has demonstrated no commitment, bad faith and poor character.
I swore off relationships after my divorce. After five years of cleansing, I was ready to jump back into the game. My second marriage has been a dozen times better than my first.
It won’t be that difficult to put the Walker-Schultz-Bennett era behind me. A new young cutie may be just what the doctor ordered. Hopefully they’ll be called the Sonics.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I am torn, part of me is angered by what has happened…but I am a sports freak, and I don’t know how much of the NBA I could actually stop watching. So, in the in the end I will be part of both those ticket sales 70k and 35K. And for all those who think we are SO fairweather as a total fan base, just think about how many people actually admitted to be Celt’s fans before they became a force this year and/or were proud of that heritage when they had that fantastically arduous playoff drought.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Scott Says: To you maybe, only because you’re going to microscope it. This town you sell 70K tickets when you win, 35K when you lose and you start winning again you sell 70K again. Is it going to be the same 70K exactly, no but if you’ve sold all your seats its close enough.”
But you didn’t say all fans would be replaced. You said all fans would come back.
I know what you mean. I’m just grumpy.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:32 am
It might be ok to support the new Sonics team but in reality you will be supporting Stern and Bennett with their share of the $$. I’m not sure I can do that.
Using the relationship analogy further, how many times you see the battered wife on TV and she always says she takes a beating but goes back to hubby? You scream at here “leave the bum!” or “if you keep going back you get what you deserve”.
This time we are the battered wives and Stern/Bennett is the battering husband. We keep going back to get hammered again and they learn nothing other than they can do it again. They have all the power. We are their bitches.
Like I said, not sure I can do it.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:33 am
“I know what you mean. I’m just grumpy.”
Me too. If I weren’t i owuld just have let it slide and gone back to the work grind.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hey, this Watson/Ridnour thing could very well continue next year. Depending on draft order, we may not pick a point guard until the late first or second round. In other words, we may not draft a point guard who is better than Watson and/or Ridnour.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I loved the most what Gorton said about Stern’s comments on the Key. “David Stern doesn’t want there to be a Seattle solution at this time. His comments are really more of hope that nothing happens here and Bennett can move on down the road. We WANT to make this a problem for David Stern. A $300 million renovation that doubles the square footage and provides a local ownership solution is a problem for David Stern!”
- Im just happy that Gorton understands that you can stick it to David Stern and still get what you want. You might not care for his politics…but I wish there were more people like him in our Legislature (either way)…maybe more things would get done.
It won’t be that difficult to put the Walker-Schultz-Bennett era behind me. A new young cutie may be just what the doctor ordered. Hopefully they’ll be called the Sonics.
- I know it isn’t going to happen…but…I’d be very happy if that young cutie was a player that over the last two nights put up:
31pts, 14asts, 3rebs, 3steals
15pts, 20asts, 3rebs, 2steals
The guy shoots 5-17 last night and 9-19 the previous night and his FG% is still 55% (44-80) over the last five games. That means the three games before he shot 68.2%!! As a PG
March 27th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hey, this Watson/Ridnour thing could very well continue next year. Depending on draft order, we may not pick a point guard until the late first or second round. In other words, we may not draft a point guard who is better than Watson and/or Ridnour.
- I think a “dark” year would be preferable to seeing that combo at PG here next year. Probably why Presti wont trade either of them if the lawsuit keeps the team here.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Presti will draft the best available PG with the Sonics top pick - you can count on that. It won’t be too hard to find an upgrade over Watson and Ridnour…either Rose or Mayo should do the trick.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
isn’t this year with the Earl and Frodo the dark year?
March 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
isn’t this year with the Earl and Frodo the dark year?
- Aint that the truth
March 27th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
This is apparently the year where Watson has turned himself into the #1 offensive option….teams like the Kings and Bobcats are lining up for the services of Mr. Wats.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Is it time to start following the progress or lack thereof of Rudy Gay and Mike Conley?
March 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Anyone hear Percy Allen on with the Groz just now? He said he just got off a conference call and said that the overall message is that Seattle is not going to be left in the lurch. While Stern didn’t come right out and say it, he hinted strongly that expansion will be in our future.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Supporting an expansion team isn’t in my future.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
future? expansion?? Those r last resorts in my book, and at this point I might just prefer fighting the NBA to the bitter end, and then bein’ done with em 2010. That’s just me, but Durant, and Rose 4 2 years coupled with the prolonged embarrassment of the NBA for a couple years might be fine by me at this point. I REALLY want to see how that court case turns out as well, especially after all we’ve been through, and r still going through. In regards to the name, there’s no way in !!!! that they’ll keep the name Sonics anyway, as it would be too dark for them, and a constant reminder of how they got the team, and the folks in Seattle as well, so don’t cave in just for the name, bcuz they won’t use it anyway imo, and if they won’t give up the rights that’s fine imo. We’ll just start over with a new team, and all those former players whose jerseys hang in the rafters could still hang there in honor of the them, the Sonics, and the 41 years “they” were here…
March 27th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I don’t want a expansion team. Let Bennett have the expansion team. Here is a deal. Bennett sells to Ballmer and then Bennett buys another team or he get an expansion team. And because Bennett sold the team to Ballmer then the city will be kind and drop the lawsuit against him. We need to keep the Sonics and do everything we can. Then in the end if we can’t keep the current Sonics then maybe look at an expansion team.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Expansion here and Bennett keeping the organization and moving it to OKC just makes zero sense. Interesting enough that Stern is already moving his stance? It’s just so flippin’ obvious they don’t want to go to court. Slade and his group KNOW what they are doing. They are basically staring down the NBA, and the NBA is already changing the stance from “the NBA will never return!” to Katz saying “Seattle deserves a team, David even said so.” I’d sure love to hear Brian’s take right now!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
If the do go with expansion, why would they put the expansion team here? That make no sense.
The Sonics are one of the 5 odest teams still in their original cities, why pull them & 41 year old roots put them in OKC, just to give Seattle an expansion team- when it would be so much easier to give Bennett & expansion team & have him sell to Ballmer.
Also, I think OKC would prefer their own expansion team over the Sonics, anyway.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
kba, sounds like the ideal scenario to me.
BTW at the Wizard’s game did anyone notice Ballmer smile when the SOS chants came up near the end?
March 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
WillDerting51, I didn’t me to repeat you- your post wasn’t on my screen when I was typing mine.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Rudy Gay is tight. Shoot - anyone who comes out of UConn is tight.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
bah…even with admin rights i can’t post the link…
Percy has it on the blog…
Stern was not strong on expansion. He did however say that there is a growing feeling among his owners that some of the teams are in cities that cannot support the teams and due to revenue sharing should be moved to cities that can (Seattle is the hint). I think the potential owners and the shifting tides here have swayed opinion from just walking out of Seattle. It still sounds like we lose the team though.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Percy’s blog at SeattleTimes.com is now updated with info from the call. I guess Percy sounded a little more certain about Seattle not being left out, but still, some interesting comments.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I don’t want a expansion team.
- Isn’t the only difference between an expansion team and this team Kevin Durant and a bunch of not that great contracts?? It intrigures me to have a good/creative GM and the same set of rules that Charlotte had when they came into the league. Charlotte if they were smart should be one of the best teams in the league right now.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Isn’t the only difference between an expansion team and this team Kevin Durant and a bunch of not that great contracts?? It intrigures me to have a good/creative GM and the same set of rules that Charlotte had when they came into the league. Charlotte if they were smart should be one of the best teams in the league right now.
Durant, Green and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. I want that more than an expansion team.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
“Isn’t the only difference between an expansion team and this team Kevin Durant and a bunch of not that great contracts?? ”
No! It is more like new Coke and Classic Coke. When you have spent 41 years following a team and identifying with it you don’t want to start over. There will be a period of without a team. The branding will change. The older fans will say, “Ya, know! I am done with the NBA. Let someone else support this new team.” Like in Charlotte, the core fans will be disgusted and will not return.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
That would be a double dip for the owners, relocation money for moving from Seattle and expansion money for a new team in Seattle. Money, money.
Bennett does not want the name/colors/history. There was a rebrand story in AdAge a month ago, in short, what part of this does he want to be reminded of everyday that he owns a team?
The Rustlers should sport the name and color that represent the fires of Hell, or blue, whatever, but it is not going to look anything like this nightmare.
Stern has to cut a deal. Hint all he wants, put it in writing.
Bennett should trade down in cost of ownership an get the expansion team, let him take his managers and that coach. But NO break in a team named the Sonics playing in Seattle.
They will rebrand the franchise no matter which one ends up there.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Scott Says:
March 27th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Funny thing about losing all your fans in Seattle, you win games and they all come back.
not this fan. if sonics continuity is broken im out and off to college basketball. at least it has a sense of history and people actually do support their TEAM.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
No! It is more like new Coke and Classic Coke. When you have spent 41 years following a team and identifying with it you don’t want to start over. There will be a period of without a team. The branding will change. The older fans will say, “Ya, know! I am done with the NBA. Let someone else support this new team.” Like in Charlotte, the core fans will be disgusted and will not return.
- If the colors/team name/records all remain the same then what is the difference? Do you not consider what the Sonics are doing right now completely starting over?
Durant, Green and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. I want that more than an expansion team.
- With the rules that Charlotte had it would be exceptionally easy to do what the Sonics did this year to get Kurt Thomas and additional picks. I don’t think people realize how skewed the rules were to make Charlotte successful…they just were cheap and had poor management, and a touch of bad luck.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
not this fan. if sonics continuity is broken im out and off to college basketball. at least it has a sense of history and people actually do support their TEAM.
- I’m a UW Alum and love my school…but this statement is completely false…
March 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Like in Charlotte, the core fans will be disgusted and will not return.
- The core fans are disgusted because the team sucks…and in fact I would argue that the core fans are not disgusted as all because they are still bringing in 13K fans a night.
I’ve said that if the team leaves I will not support the NBA. However, if the team leaves and an expansion team is immediately granted and/or there is just a year off…I highly doubt enough people will stop supporting the league to make a difference.
Like I’ve said though..i’m somewhat biased towards starting completely fresh because I think it could be so much better than what we have now. A few threads ago I showed how with even a reasonable amount of luck we could currently be watching a team with a starting line up of:
Chris Paul/Brandon Roy/Danny Granger/Brandan Wright/Dwight Howard
And about 30 Million in cap space…that is hands down better than what could happen with the current roster.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Funny thing about losing all your fans in Seattle, you win games and they all come back.
- Also, except for about 10 teams in all of sports (Cowboys/Steelers etc.) this is true about ALL fans in the 21st century. Even the Celtics had bottom of the league attendance numbers a few years ago.
The age of the “die-hard” fan who supports the team no matter what is over guys…lets wake up.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
“If the colors/team name/records all remain the same then what is the difference? Do you not consider what the Sonics are doing right now completely starting over?”
Any expansion team would not arrive for several years after the arena is replaced with a new one. The new owners will rebrand the product. Even if they don’t the history is tainted by the move to OKC and the rebranding there. We would identify with the OKC players for awhile.
What the Sonics are doing now is similiar to what Chicago went thru after Jordan retired. I don’t like the rebuild, but I can accept it on some level.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Myk Says:
March 27th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
- I’m a UW Alum and love my school…but this statement is completely false…
well ill admit im not american, so i dont have the inside track that you do, but to me my statement holds. it just feels that way to me. and whilest were on this whole continuity thing, you are correct, the days of the die hard fan are over, sad but true, i fully agree with you, however us die hards that are still around are fighting for THIS team no matter how much it sucks. its OUR nature to support the good and the bad (and i will say that makes us seem like idiots to most, but that is a die hard). my point is this: durant, green and co were drafted sonics, i want to watch their journy in a sonics uniform, good or bad, stay or leave through free agency or trade. an expansion franchise will most likely succeed in seattle, but even if it has sonics on the uniform to us die hards (not all) it is NOT the sonics. its hard to explain why we get so defensive about this except to say to me it will still feel like the sonics are in okc even if the expansion team says sonics if you follow me. its just fundamentally wrong, i almost feel like i should support both, but i cant, and i also felt at the time that i should have switched teams and followed kemp to cleveland, but i couldnt because it felt wrong, same with payton and allen. im a seattle sonics fan, history and all. through the good and the bad i have always been there and to have an expansion or replacement team feels wrong to me.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
If the NBA is willing to make this a fair trade (not $$ fair, but fair as in serious reparations for them taking our team) then I’d consider a new team.
What is fair? I don’t think giving Clay the Sonics and Seattle the history and a new team is enough. Seattle the city and we the fans deserve something on top of that for losing our 41 year investment.
A fair trade to me would be something like this…
Clay, OKC and NBA gets:
This team, these coaches, office staff, dunking ushers, boom squad, forum whiners (apostle, pittssteelersguy, etc).
Seattle and the fans get:
Expansion team (we’re not OKC a-holes willing to rob another city for a retread), guaranteed in writing (by everyone under the sun - Stern, his little dog toto, all owners, BOG, Tim Donaghy, Judge Ito, etc), and in place and playing the same year as OKC begins play.
Standard expansion draft.
As compensation the teams gets half of OKCs top 10 picks over the next 5 years. Also, no luxury tax penalties as long as OKC has a team.
As compensation the city gets, Sonics name/history, squatch, paid off Key, large financial contribution (lets say 500m) towards rebuilding the Sea Center (split 40% Sterns pocket, 40% Bennetts pocket, 20% NBA), and a iron-clad agreement that the NBA will not allow relocation for new Seattle team. Ever.
As compensation all Seattle fans get ticket prices half off as long as Durant or Green is in OKC. The new Sonics owners will get full going rate for tickets but Bennett, city of OKC and Stern subsidize the other half.
As compensation for me I get to have a vote when OKC is asking for relocation.
For these I am willing to let my Sonics go. What ya say Clay? Your turn, Stern.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
well ill admit im not american, so i dont have the inside track that you do, but to me my statement holds. it just feels that way to me. and whilest were on this whole continuity thing, you are correct, the days of the die hard fan are over, sad but true, i fully agree with you, however us die hards that are still around are fighting for THIS team no matter how much it sucks.
- As little as 5 years ago the UW Men Basketball team drew crowds in the HUNDREDS…people here do not support the college teams any stronger than the pro teams until there is sustained success
March 27th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I’m more with Myk on this one. It is hard because I don’t feel I really have that deep a connection with any of the current players on the roster. I barely know Durant and Green … the two players with the most history on the club are Luke and Nick and it’s not as if many of the posters here would cry if either one of those guys got traded.
“Durant, Green and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. I want that more than an expansion team. ”
Not interested. I already saw it in Chicago from 2001-2005.
All those draft picks just mean a 90s Clippers/00s Bulls roster where the team’s constantly churning around high draft picks trying to figure out which ones are true building blocks and which ones aren’t.
Myk is also right about Bob’s Cats. If Charlotte hadn’t been so cheap and had used their cap restrictions to their advantage they could be owning the East right now and for quite a while to come.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
“As little as 5 years ago the UW Men Basketball team drew crowds in the HUNDREDS…people here do not support the college teams any stronger than the pro teams until there is sustained success ”
True … Gas & groz actually brought up a story today that I had forgotten … remember Bob Bender’s second tourney team, the one that lost to Wally Z? They couldn’t get any Dawg fans to come to their game and that was their second consecutive tournament appearance in as many years. People just weren’t interested.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
“As compensation the teams gets half of OKCs top 10 picks over the next 5 years. Also, no luxury tax penalties as long as OKC has a team.” {Laporbo}
It wouldn’t work that way, genius.
Anyway, what’s with the recent influx of biased homers?
I, in all honesty, am sick and tired of the bitching about how most of y’all would never root for a damn expansion team. Unlike some tools around here, I’m understanding of the process — in which David Stern and Clay Bennett have the upper hand, no matter your collective disdain for them — thus, we ought to deal with this whole situation in a REALISTIC manner.
Okay, that’s the end of this rant.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
ok let me throw it at you this way, i know wake forest will be wake forest in 20 years time, unc will be unc, temple will be temple etc (i know this isnt certain, nothing is in life, but the chances are greater) i dont want to follow the nba travelling circus in 10 years time when all the teams i grew up with arent there anymore. and dont get me started on euro expansion. i enjoy sport to escape business, not because it is a business, and i think the nba is too much business now and has lost the sport all together. its just not fun to be a fan. the only reason i still am is because of the sonics.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Just my personal response….If the NBA takes the current Sonics to OKC & promises a different team either immediately or in the near future I am 100% done with the NBA. It would be a matter of principle at that point - the NBA should not screw around with us like this and then try such a switch just ot keep Clay B. happy. The whole thing would reek of such hypocrisy and corruption that i would simply find other things to do that follow this league.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Principle and professional sports in general don’t mix. I got over that idealism a long time ago. Hypocrisy and corruption are commonplace. I think some tend not to be bothered by it unless it effects them personally.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
AK1984 Says: “It wouldn’t work that way, genius.”
Did I say it WOULD work that way, cs? I can make crazy demands just as your hero Clay can.
I’ll take genius, you take idiot.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Wilkins stop shooting the ball the whole league is laughing at us because your one of our scoring options.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
“Did I say it WOULD work that way, cs? I can make crazy demands just as your hero Clay can.” {Laporbo}
I took shots at Clay Bennett before most anyone else around here — which was when Brian R. and him had some weird grace period with each other — so take a step back, relax, and recognize that fact.
While Bennett is definitely a sleazy carpetbagger, he seemingly has a strong set of cards to play with during this hand. Yeah, my pessimism apparently comes across as premature to some folks (e.g., you); yet, it’s not like the blinded optimism from people of your ilk has held its own in the past.
Either way, though, we’ll see how this plays out in the long run.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Optimism? Go read my posts for the last few weeks. I’m the one saying the current Sonics are gone and a new team MAY come but I don’t know if I can support them if they do.