Day 1
Seattle vs. Philadelphia
The Sonics and Sixers kicked off the 2006 Rocky Mountain Revue by giving the fans a great fast paced, high scoring game. The Sonics began the game scorching hot, but would cool down as the Sixers got hot in the second half.
Saer Sene started the game off by getting a loose ball and going up for a monster dunk, and getting fouled. Sene made the free throw giving the Sonics a 3-0 lead. The two teams traded turnovers before Steve Castleberry drove to the hole, only to be rejected by Sene.
Rodney Carney would get Philadelphias first basket on a running lay-up to make the game 3-2. However, the first quarter would belong to Saer Sene, who immediately responded with another dunk. Castleberry would get revenge on Sene for his early block by dunking on him later in the first to make the score 5-4.
Sonics veteran forward Noel Felix would score the first of his team high 19 points, when he grabbed and rebound, and put it back in and drew the foul. Felix hit the free throw making it 8-4. Philadelphia’s Bobby Jones was injured on this play and would have to leave the game, he would not return.
Louis Williams and Denham Brown would trade baskets, before the Sonics would go on a run to give them a double digit lead. The Sonics run began after a Sene basket, followed by a Denham Brown jump-shot, and two quick baskets off turnovers by Andre Emmitt.
The Sonics defense frustrated the Sixers in the first quarter, only allowing Philadelphia to score 18 points on 25% shooting. Felix lead the Sonics with 11 points, and 1 board. After the end of the first the Sonics lead 30-18.
Seattle defense continued to cause problems for the Sixers in the second quarter, as Seattle built a 39-20 lead halfway through the second. The Sonics bench, lead by Keith Langford, and Andre Emmitt was able to split Philadelphias defense and get to the foul line.
The Midway point of the second saw a change in the Sixers, before than they had been afraid to go inside against Sene, but after a few inside moves by Harold Jamison that fear seemed to dissipate. With the Sixers now going inside, Sene found himself in foul trouble and out of the game. This really gave the Sixers confidence to attack the hoop, and slowly they began chipping away at Seattles lead.
The Sixers were able to knock the Sonics lead down to seven with about three minutes to go after an Ivan McFarlin tip in. The Sonics needed an answer; and they found it in a Keith Langford three pointer, which gave them a 10-point lead. It was mostly turnovers and fouls by Seattle that allowed Philadelphia to get back into the game, but once they got back into it, the momentum shifted.
The Sonics kept an 8-12 point lead through the rest of a sloppy three minutes to finish out the half, and lead 49-40.
As the teams warmed up it was obvious who had the momentum. The Sonics lethargically did their lay up drills, while the Sixers seemed to add just a little extra pizzazz that really seemed to fire them up.
With the team fired up the Sixers came out and took charge of the game early in the third, Harold Jamison scored the first two points on a jump hook, followed by a Carney turn around jumper after a Seattle inbound violation. Philadelphia’s defense was so stingy in the second half that Seattle didn’t score until the 5:31 mark, at which time the Sixers had already taken 51-49 lead on a Carney three.
Shavlik Randolph, who had been struggling early on, caught fire midway through the third quarter, scoring 8 of his game high 25. The Sonics would be able to stay off a complete meltdown for a little while, as they were able to tie the game at 60 going into the 4th quarter.
Randolph continued his dominance in the 4th, by quickly scoring and getting fouled for a three-point play, than adding in more free throws. Randolph got so confident that he began challenging Sene every chance he got, he wasn’t able to dunk over Sene but was able to draw the foul on Sene.
After the Sixers got up 76-62, Noel Felix tried bring back the Sonics, but it was to little to late. Felix did however score eight points in the final four minutes to bring the score to 80-70, but Randolphs aggressiveness was to much as the Sixers went on to win 88-74.
Players to watch
Philadelphia
Rodney Carney: He’s really a stud of a basketball player, he’s got great ball handling abilities, and can run the floor well. His athleticism will be an asset to the Sixers, but his shot selection needs work.
Shavik Randolph: He started out quite but really had a huge second half. His defense needs some work, but he is very athletic and a good rebounder.
Louis Williams: He’s still very raw, but has improved a lot from last year. He’s able to run within the offense very well, and has a nice stroke to his shot, but he does need to work on his shot selection, and needs to work on passing out of double teams.
Edin Bavcic: He’s your prototypical European player. If he’s left wide open, he will kill you, but put a hand in his face and he can’t shoot. He’s got a very nice stroke and release when it comes to shooting, but again like most Europeans he couldn’t guard a closed door.
Harold Jamison: While Statistically he isn’t the greatest, he’s really a good leader for the younger players on the Sixers roster. He’s a tough defender who does the little things that don’t show up.
Steven Smith: He silently had a huge impact for the Sixers, he was where he needed to be, and was able to run the break to get easy shots. He’s still a little bit to raw for the NBA, but he’s definitely someone teams will be keeping a close eye on.
Sonics
Saer Sene: Had a fantastic first quarter, than did hardly anything else the rest of the game. If he wants playing time this coming season, he will need to step up his consistency. He is an awesome shot blocker, and for someone who hasn’t played basketball all that long he’s got an excellent basketball IQ.
Noel Felix: His three point shooting has really improved since last year, but his rebounding still needs to improve.
Yotem Halperin: Other than turn the ball over and foul, Halperin didn’t do anything. His defense was really lacking as well, he got beat a lot, and when he didn’t get beat he fouled the guy he was guarding. There is no way Halperin is ready for the NBA yet, he’ll probably go back to Israel for a few more seasons.
Andre Emmitt: He’s a solid contributor with NBA experience. He’s not going to ever be a great player, or even a starter but he’s a court smart player who will be able to provide most any team with depth.
Keith Langford: Solid guard who is great at attacking the hoop, but he’s a poor shooter.
the rest
Rocky Mountain Revue: Day 1
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