Re: moving on with the rest of the season

I was close, 98 to 88 was under 191 and closer to 185, Sonics covered the 8 points. No questions left in the Twolves minds, they have to go un beaten the rest of the way and Seattle would have to be sub .500I thought Rashard would have a bigger night.Vitali 10 and 8, nice.Ray and Radman were really hot in the second half.

moving on with the rest of the season

Yesterday is over, 30 games to go, conference opponent in the house, Wally "who won no Seattle fans with his childish antics during the last meeting, " is back and I'll guess he gets some treatment by the Sonics front court. I can't imagine that it was just the fans that noticed that Wally was an assclown.
preview
http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/insiderpreview050225.html
Art Thiel is wearing his Green and Gold pajamas.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/213552_thiel25.html
What does the wallet say?
stardust opened at -6.5 and people jumped for the Sonics to cover, line is now -8. With the under/over staying nearly the same 190 to 191.
What's that 99 to 91, one point under and the Sonics better than the Twolves in the eyes of Stardust. Covering 8 with the total score under 200 is a convincing win (as opposed to covering 8 and the combined score is 220). In many minds the Sonics clinch tonight.
I think that Rashard has an average night on paper and the twolves throw every defender they can at him and lose trying to stop him. Just my guess.
I'll also guess that the Sonics look to lock them down, still cover the 8 but the final is under the 191, closer to 185, 96 to 88. That would be an even bigger win and I think it is very possible. The only thing to inflate the numbers is some garbage time scoring.
With the bad knee I would look to defend KG with James for as long as James can, after KG gets tired of the abuse and floats outside I'd send Reggie after him.

No trades for Sups

Hyperbole aside, they are hovering around the Ray situation before making any other moves. They could have done something minor but what's the difference when your magic number is 16 (throwing Brian a bone).

The problem is (on this I'll be shocked to see an argument) that the Sonics don't talk, leak anything. Once in a while I'd like to have something "get out" that they laughed off a trade, who was in it, and that it should be clear to you and I that it was better to not deal. A few years ago it was refreshing to hear Wally Walker say on the radio that he literally laughed at the Knicks calling to trade Ewing for GP. We could all look at that and say "thanks for not doing something stupid". That stuff counts with fans, or at least this fan. Once in a while, they have to throw us a bone and that will go a long way to squelching some of the criticism. Sund mentioning that they were going after a couple players last summer is meaningful to me, saying that they only wanted 4 guards confirms why there were rumors from Houston that they might get AD during the BB negotiations. Brent signed with SA and the AD rumor want away.
A little more communication to support their actions would actually help support their actions (or, inactions).

Key Arena funding proposal

The climate for this isn't the best but the proposal isn't too bad. But, there isn't a mention about the 24 million from the sale of the land that the practice facility is on to the B&M Gates Foundation. In the "other" proposal the cost is knocked down by 24 from the land sale.
500 more seats, all revenue, new practice facility.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002187629_sonics23m.html

"At the request of the Seattle Sonics and Mayor Greg Nickels, a bipartisan trio of state lawmakers will introduce legislation today that would finance a $205 million expansion of KeyArena and provide millions more for King County arts programs by extending several taxes now used to pay construction debt on Qwest and Safeco fields.
The bill asks lawmakers to redirect revenues to city-owned KeyArena and local arts programs that would first be available in 2013 when the Safeco Field debt is retired.
Those revenue sources include portions of car-rental, general-sales, hotel-motel and restaurant taxes in King County. The Sonics' proposal also includes a sales-tax exemption on Arena construction costs. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle; Larry Haler, R-Richland; and Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham.
It does not include an earlier proposal floated by the Sonics to indefinitely extend several temporary taxes to pay for future renovations to Qwest and Safeco fields as well as KeyArena. "


"The bill would retire KeyArena's $58 million debt from the building's 1995 remodel. City leaders want to see a financial recovery for KeyArena because its problems create a drag on the entire city budget.
It also would help King County arts and cultural groups, which have been eyeing the same revenue sources as the Sonics. The bill would steer $4 million a year to arts, cultural and heritage groups from 2013-20. Starting in 2021, the Sonics would split the 2-percent hotel-motel tax with those groups until the KeyArena expansion is paid off.
Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said approval of the bill would make it more likely that the Sonics — who say they have lost $50 million over the last five years — would stay in Seattle when their current lease expires in 2010.
As part of the legislative package, the Sonics would manage the renovation project and assume responsibility for any cost overruns. They would also commit to a new 20-year lease and manage the new KeyArena for the city. In return, they would receive all revenues from operating the arena.
The team now splits some revenues with the city. Sonics executives say that split makes it difficult for them to make a profit.
The proposed expansion would nearly double interior space at KeyArena to 730,000 square feet, including a practice facility and team offices. It also would add about 500 seats, while eliminating roughly half of the building's 53 luxury suites in favor of more varied seating and prices.
Sonics' Vice President Terry McLaughlin said the arena's physical expansion is more about "fan appreciation" than adding to the team's bottom line through food, beverage or souvenir sales.
"It means we can sell tickets easier, he said. "It would make the fans' experience better."

A couple more things...

This is where I lunge at to wheel and swerve the bus nearly off the road.
The Front Court, Nick, Danny, James are foul magnets.
All Stars get calls in the playoffs.
Both given.
The difference between before the break and after is that the league says that Rashard and to a lesser extent Luke are either All Stars or future All Stars. Ray was, is and All Star. It will be interesting to see if more calls start going Rashard's way and, more importantly, do they start going Luke's way a little? I'll guess that they do.
This team is so lucky to have 2 young guys picked by the league to be showcased over the past week end. I think it pays off a little the rest of this season, a little in the summer and into the future.
Keys are Rashard rebounding 1 or 2 more balls a game, Luke getting some and-1 calls on some of his adventures in the paint.

Sonics All Stars

The Sonics All-Stars kids looked unimpressive. They are not #1 options, other than Ray Allen, but do a lot of things to help a team win. I think Ricky Davis would look good in an All Star game, he's not going to win many games though. It is a subset of the All Stars that both can put on a show and win games doing it, like Iverson. I'm glad that some good players were invited to play with the All Star subset.
The closer to the playoffs we get the easier it will be for you to go on vacation. This team is young and the veteran teams will be gearing up. The Sonics were geared up in November.
On Ray, I think the Sonics know what the market is and will hold to it.
In the end they will either sign Ray or only take back in SAT that 68 mil. Just guessing at the number of team that would want Ray at his price and eliminating the teams with nothing to send back in trade I think the number is much smaller than any of us thinks.
I was hoping to have an idea of what the new CBA (contract) would look like by now though I'll guess that the Sonics management has a pretty good idea.

Radmanovic off the bench

Vladi isn't starting at PF against Tim Duncan or Chris Webber, not like last year.
Lot's of players play out of "position" coming off the bench to fill a role and it depends on matchups. Sometimes he plays SF, sometimes the other team doesn't have a C or PF coming off the bench. If the other team isn't putting a PF on the floor and Vladi is on the floor with Lewis I'm still not calling him a PF. At some point, usually with bench players, the idea of players fitting the 1-5, PG, SG, SF, PF, C positions goes out the window.
Playing 3 guards and a SF and a PF to match another team playing 3 guards and a SF and a PF doesn't mean to me that anybody on the floor is a C.
I'm not putting up an argument, I just don't go for the definition with bench players.

Iverson Wants Out

Having all the money is never enough, but it's a start.
The 76'ers team has made questionable moves for the past few years trying to put or keep something around Iverson. It might be a good idea if they did worry more about having a good team and less about propping up a below average team, but that's not gonna happen.
I like how these guys suck the cap space out of these teams and then cry that they don't have supporting players. I know they signed guys to some horrible contracts but looking closely those other deals are for 4 or 5 mil a year. There is a Tim Thomas on the roster.
There isn't a trading partner that pops into my head that the 76'ers could partner with that would return a player that would put buts in those seats.

I wasn't going to bring this up

I wasn't going to bring this up but Mitch on KJR was harping on this this morning. He was wondering who was the guy that with 3 seconds left was inbounding the ball and missed a wide open Ridnour and then a wide open Allen. I was the guy driving down I-405 yelling at his car radio "It was Daniels!"
Of the players on the floor with 3 seconds to go AD was the last guy I wanted to throw the ball in. He does a lot of good things on the floor, making that pass isn't one of them. As it is, if Allen is curling off a screen and has to wait for the pass then what's the point of having the screen?
And another thing, he picked up his dribble a couple times in the first half when he would cross over the half court line that left me scratching my head.
If this is what I have to worry about with a team that is 35-14 then that's ok.
Oh well, game shouldn't have come down to that anyway against a team like Dallas.
It's going to be a long couple of days of crummy writers making bad trades and very little actual news will come out.

Fear not the Kings

4.28 to go and Webbers running down the court with that stupid scowl after he made a 3 pointer like they had just won the game. The only thing keeping the Kings from winning that game was fear, the Sonics just don't have any. I'll call it the All-Star Rashard Lewis taking it to the Kings down the stretch, fearless, not to be stopped.
As for Webber, he handles the ball enough to get a triple-double and is an All-star on one end of the floor. His lack of mobility doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Watching Lewis and Webber on both ends of the floor leaves me with the impression that the right guy is going to Denver. Game on the line is where the All-Stars shine.
Nick Collison was very good. That's all there is to it.
I was pretty happy to see Radman have the guts to get in the paint when Fortson went out and help on the boards. He could have floated outside on the offensive end, but no, he went to the glass.

Boozer on the Block?

I think he is a hustle guy. He's a pretty good all around player but doesn't have a singular talent that he uses to out perform others at his position, he's often out hustling.
If he were on the Sonics team making that money I'd be unhappy.

Swift?

I think that if Robert Swift saw 2 or 3 minutes a game average the rest of this year that next year he couldn't produce 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, 3.8 fouls per game if he were forced the play 14.8 minutes a game next year.
I do think the Sonics need a player to bridge next year and possibly the following year of Swifts development. But, if that didn't happen and he were forced to play 14.8 minutes a game next year I don't see a big team drop off.
I wouldn't mind having Aaron Williams here for next year to be the one year insurance policy. He's got a player option for next year at 3.375 mil.

Capital Call

I'll put this up front. Last summer I thought that when John McCaw sold his Conucks hockey team for 200 million that he would turn right around and buy into the Sonics. I still believe that. I dont' have any information, no news story, no connection, just a feeling.

"Sharing the burden
By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter
Wally Walker, Sonics president and CEO, confirmed yesterday that the franchise has issued a mandatory capital call to its shareholders to raise funds that would cover operating losses for this season projected by the team at $15 million.
Walker declined to comment in detail on the agreement, nor would he specify how much money the team hopes to generate. However, two sources with knowledge of the process said the Sonics expect to raise about $17 million.
In an e-mail last week to members of The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC, a group of local private investors who purchased the Sonics and the WNBA's Seattle Storm in April 2001 for $200 million, Walker notified them of their financial commitment. The Times obtained a copy of the original contract, which states: "The Subscription of Agreements signed by each unit holder has a 10 percent mandatory capital call feature, which, if needed, would be required of all owners."
Shareholders have until early March to raise the funds and Walker confirmed that partners who do not meet capital calls face dilution of their ownership stakes. Sources have indicated that a major local investor has inquired about purchasing a significant stake in the Sonics and that an announcement is forthcoming.
Walker, however, denied rumors and reports that the team is for sale, but said individual owners can do whatever they want with their shares.
Before the season, Howard Schultz, the Sonics majority owner and chairman of The Basketball Club of Seattle, refuted claims that he was seeking to sell his share in the team, which is believed to be about 42 percent.
"I'm not selling the team," Schultz said on Oct. 4. "I have no intention of selling the team. I'm excited about the season. Excited about the direction we're going. ...
"I learned a long time ago at Starbucks when there was a lot of cynicism and concern about whether or not we could build a national company around coffee and a lot of people doubted that. What we demonstrated was that through hard work, passion, commitment and perseverance and surrounding yourself with great people that you can succeed."
Schultz's declaration preceded revelations the team is $78 million in debt and has lost $50 million in the past five years.
On Tuesday, in a speech sponsored by the Puget Sound Business Journal, Walker confirmed reports of the losses and reiterated his stance that the team's financial woes cannot be reversed by the team's surprising 33-13 record. Despite a $53 million payroll that is the 10th-lowest in the NBA, according to Sonics officials, even if the team sells every seat for every game this season it team would generate $32 million, which would be $6 million below the NBA average.
Walker has said the Sonics are losing money because of their lease agreement that requires them to give the city of Seattle a large share of revenue from suites, parking and KeyBank naming rights to pay off the $74.5 million in debt used to finance the arena's 1995-96 renovation.
At this time, the Sonics have no plans to use the funds generated from the capital call to help finance proposed renovations to KeyArena.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company"

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002175879_soni10.html

Magic number is 27.5

37 games to go, 9.5 games up on Minnesota. I'm joking at the expense of the Timberwolves since they are, as of today, 9th in the Western Conference. There has been some well thought out discussion on the performance of the Sonics since the beginning of January (that last part was purely for the benefit of the new readers and to keep them from wondering what the heck did I do to suffer from starting to read this blog).
The Timberwolves have struggled and lost 5 straight games. Going .500 over the past week would have been a welcome change from what has gone on with them.
If the Sonics can get this to 10 games by All-Star Break that would be great. The last month of the schedule will be tough. Some cushion would be good.

NBA contract talks

Nothing really new in the story other than Antonio Davis chirping about trust. It does mention that there will be more intensive negotiations durring All-Star weekend. I'm interested in hearing what happens then.

From the Houston Chronicle

"One of the primary goals of the players is to stop having such a substantial chunk of their paychecks withheld, while the owners are seeking further control over payroll costs. Among the items on the league's wish list is a reduction in the maximum length of contracts from seven years to four, an increase in the minimum age for draft eligibility from 18 to 20, and a substantial reduction in the percentage increases available to players who sign long-term deals.
Sources involved in the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there already have been indications that the owners would be agreeable to altering the way they distribute the escrow tax among themselves, while the players have signaled some flexibility on the issue of maximum contract lengths.
Stern made clear he will not accept a revenue-neutral deal, while Hunter insisted there be more give-and-take than there was during the 1998-99 negotiations. Some of the sessions have been heated, but tempers have always been prone to flare when players and owners are in the same room, and the hard feelings from those arguments have lingered."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3025819
~

the other all-star weekend hope

I hope that the Commish has something positive to say in his midyear state of the NBA speech about the new CBA (contract). I do remember that they were attempting to get something done by then but I haven't noticed anything indicating that will be the case. It would be good PR and possibly good grab for advertising dollars and a few sports fans if they could produce something near the time that the NHL misses their All-Star game.
As a bonus, it could give some teams a green light to make moves prior to the trade deadline if the luxury tax, salary cap, BRI (basketball related income), etc., are known.