G-Force

While we don't expect the Supes to be winning many games this season, there are a couple of new reasons to follow the team. Those two new reasons are rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.

I decided that since so much attention was going to be focused on these rookies, Durant in particular, that I would start a season-long thread to chronicle their performances, growth, and contributions to the team.

I'll start out with some brief recaps and observations from the Sonics first three games. Then after every game I'll add onto the ongoing thread.

Game 1 - Sonics 103 @ Nuggets 120
Durant: 31 minutes as a starter and scoring 18 points on 7/22 shooting. Also added 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. Not bad for a first game, and yes, that shooting percentage looks low. But it will improve over time as his shot selection improves. Besides, with Ray and Rashard gone, he is now our designated gunner.

Green: 18 minutes off the bench with 5 points on 1/2 from the field and 3/7 from the line. Ouch. But hey, that's just the first game. Those free throws will start falling, especially if PJ makes him shoot free throws in practice until his arms are numb.

I like the look and feel of Seattle's new Dynamic Duo. These two kids are big pieces of the Sonics future.

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Game 2 - Suns 106 @ Sonics 99
The second game of a back to back series, this game being the home opener hosting the Suns. Who made this schedule, anyway?

Durant: 39 minutes scoring 27 points on 11/23, including 2/6 from beyond the arc. He added 5 rebounds and a block again, but also got tagged with 6 turnovers. I think AI may have gotten at least a couple of those steals. Second game out, and KD almost gets 30 points. That game is coming.

Green: 21 minutes off the bench scoring 8 points on 3/12 shooting. He did make both of his free throw attempts and also grabbed 4 boards.

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Game 3 - Sonics 101 @ Clippers 115

This is the third time that Seattle has kept the game close for three quarters, and then lost the game in the final quarter. With such a young team with a new coach this is still getting used to playing together, that's gonna happen. But we do gotta win some games...

Durant: 37 minutes scoring 24 points on 10/19 , including 3 threes. Looks like his shot selection is working for him already. Kevin also had 8 rebounds, 5 assists, only one turnover and another block. Now that a nice line for a kid playing his third NBA game. Unfortunately, it did not translate into a win, and that's what KD really wants.

Green: 23 minutes scoring 14 points, including 6/6 from the free throw line. I knew this guy could knock them down. Jeff also had an impressive 7 rebounds and a block.

Chan

Durant is unstoppable on the perimeter right now, averaging over 20 points a game. And I like how Green likes to post up and go for that jump hook, even though it's low percentage right now. He needs to get used to the NBA's phyiscality so he can adjust.

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Hold on a sec, sweetie.

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Just wait until KD gets both his inside and his outside game going offensively. He is an instant fan favorite. There are Durant jerseys everywhere. I'd love to see Key Arena packed again for home games, even if we are losing most of the time.

Chan

I gotta get me one of those. The last Sonic that had a jersey I wanted was Payton.

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Hold on a sec, sweetie.

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Game 4 - Seattle 98 @ Sacramento 104
Another game, the same story. We got outscored by 12 points in the final quarter and dropped another one that was very winnable. Special recognition is due to Wally who scored 32 points in 31 minutes on very efficient 12-16 shooting. Without Wally, we would not have been in this game. Turnovers are absolutely killing us, but somehow we keep it close for three quarters.

Durant: 33 minutes scoring 27 points on very respectable 11-22 shooting, including 3 threes. Sometimes KD looks very Rayesque with his quick release on his jumper. Kevin also garnered 7 boards and gave out 4 assists, but turned it over 6 times. For the first time this season, he did not get a block.

Green: 10 minutes going 1/2 from the field for 2 points. Added a board and three turnovers. His minutes were limited due to Wally being red hot.

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Game 5 - Grizzlies 105 @ Sonics 98

If you had told me before the game that the Sonics would hold the Lanky Spaniard to 11 points on 2/9 shooting and the Grizz to 37.6% shooting from the field, I would have said, "Looks like we are gonna get that first win". Nine Sonics blocks and ten steals could not prevent them from losing yet another game. Dios mio, when are we gonna get that first win?

Durant: 31 minutes on the hardwood hitting only 3/17, including one trey, but making all ten free throw attempts. That will get you 17 points, but not very efficiently. Added only 2 boards and 1 assist, and the turnovers dropped to only 2. But that's allot of misses from the field.

Green: 16 minutes scoring 8 points on 3/5 shooting and 2/2 from the line. Also got 5 rebounds, two of those were offensive.

I origainally planned to go to this home game with my friend Otto, but my wife J-Mac had an awful day at work, so I brought her a dozen white roses, stayed home with her and watched the game on FSN. After yet another disappointing loss, I crawled into bed early.

Chan

Awww G-Force that's so sweet. Woulda been sweeter if we got the win, but that's another 4th quarter loss. That's ok, at least we're keeping it close.

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Hold on a sec, sweetie.

Chan

Green is suprisingly strong. PJ put him on Boozer and he didn't do half bad. He posted up against Boozer to score some highly improbable running hooks.

I like Green's energy and and physicality. His doesn't shoot much, but he likes to slash and post up. His defense is solid too.

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Hold on a sec, sweetie.

Chan

Is anyone else more impressed with Green than Durant? Green's gotta be my favorite Sonic right now. He's stronger, quicker, and more explosive than he looks. On separate nights he tried to post up against Boozer, Duncan, and Bynum. This guy likes the challenge. His defense is really good, and he plays with a very high ball IQ for a rookie.

He's kinda like Danny Granger, but he really needs to work on that range and shot.

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Hold on a sec, sweetie.