| Seattle Supersonics News: |
| On the court and off, Sonics unpredictable
THE NEWS TRIBUNE Published: October 31st, 2007 06:00 AM Whenever the NBA special section is planned, I usually get an invitation from an editor to contribute some manner of a prediction column on the Seattle SuperSonics. My response is generally a groan because I have a sorry history at such things. Embarrassingly bad, in fact. Still, it's a chance to consider how new players or staff members might affect this season's performance. And I'll admit to getting caught in the upswing of optimism that accompanies any new season, and I scoff a little less strenuously when a player or coach cites the possibility of great achievement. Playoffs? Hey, could happen. They haven't lost a single time, yet. So these things are always highly speculative because every season is something of a voyage of discovery, a venture into the unknown. But this one? Has this team ever entered a less predictable season? It's not only how they'll fare, but also how many games they'll win, and whether they'll develop and maybe even contend after two down seasons. The picture is much bigger, as we've got to wonder if the Sonics even will be here when it's over. |
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| Chauncey Billups scored 32 points and Rasheed Wallace had nine of his 24 during a key stretch of the fourth quarter to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 102-95 win over Seattle on Wednesday night for their 10th straight home win.
Rashard Lewis scored 26 for the SuperSonics, who have won four straight on the road. Lewis' three-point play midway through the fourth quarter put Seattle ahead 83-82, its first lead in almost 10 minutes. The teams took turns with the lead before Rasheed Wallace turned two steals into a dunk and a mid-range jumper, giving the Pistons a 91-90 lead. Richard Hamilton then connected on a 3-pointer, and Tayshaun Prince made two free throws to seal the victory. Detroit's Ben Wallace had six points, 14 rebounds and, with his first of three blocks, broke Terry Tyler's franchise record of 1,070. Hamilton and Prince each scored 18 for the Pistons, who have won four of their last five games. Pistons coach Larry Brown missed his second straight game and is out indefinitely after having surgery Monday related to a November hip operation. Gar Heard coached in Brown's place. Seattle's Ray Allen missed all four of his shots and was held to two points in the first half before finishing with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Jerome James added 12 points and reserve Antonio Daniels scored 10 points for the Sonics. Ben Wallace helped Detroit take a 27-19 lead in the first quarter with six points, nine rebounds and his record-breaking block. The Sonics started the second quarter with a 12-0 run and led 47-42 at halftime. Billups put the Pistons back ahead early in the third with one of his 15 free throws and he scored Detroit's final nine points of the quarter for a 78-72 lead. Notes: Seattle was without Danny Fortson one night after the reserve forward injured his left foot at Chicago, a game in which he fouled out in just 6 minutes. ... The Pistons are 23-7 at home, including a 9-2 mark against the West, and the Sonics are 22-9 on the road. ... Seattle's Ronald Murray played with a bruised hip. ... Mateen Cleaves, a former Detroit Piston player and former Michigan State star, is on Seattle's injured list. ... Lewis has scored 56 points in his last two games. ... Both Wallaces and Hamilton were called for technical fouls. |