Medellin INC Presents Emerald City Twilight

[IamMedellin]

Game: NBA2K8
System: 360
Difficulty: All-Star
Sliders: My Own
Rosters: Complete Custom update for the 2011-2012 season

[Golden Taters]

Save our Sonics!

[IamMedellin]

Rebirth:Prelude

Now we all know that NBA Basketball ended in Seattle following the 2007-08 season, that following the sale of the team to Clay Bennett in 2006, Seattle Supersonic Basketball was on borrowed time. The Seattle SuperSonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the people of OKC were the ones to enjoy the spoils of the next great team. But what if it didn’t go that way, what if Clay Bennett never bought the Sonics, what if another Investment group bought the team. One small change and the entire Timeline is irreparably transformed. This Franchise Explores that Timeline...

Hard to believe that, three years ago, the Sonics were a 23-win team that changed coaches during the season and finished last (yes, below the Timberwolves) in the division and was facing an uncertain future in Seattle. But the team’s ascent has been quick and impressive—they’ve upped their win total to 40 and then 50 games each of the past two seasons and, last year, they took a major step forward by carrying their regular-season success into the playoffs, where they beat the San Antonio Spurs before eventually losing to the eventual Champion Rockets in the semi-finals.

The Seattle Supersonics surprised skeptics last year when they rode a young team to the playoffs, and brought the eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets to six games in the second round. Led by one of the best players in the league, Kevin Durant, the Sonics look poised to make a run to become a serious contender for the Western Conference title.

The Sonics did not change their line up much from last year's team, but they did not really have to. Durant averaged more than 30 points per game, and is considered by some to challenge LeBron James and Derrick Rose for MVP this coming season. Durant is also lucky enough to have a talented teammate in Russell Westbrook, who can help carry the load as he averaged 21.9 Points per game.

The success of Seattle’s season hinges largely on how much of an impact their role players can make. Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden and Serge Ibaka all had solid years in 2010. The Sonics also had a relatively productive draft, highlighted by the addition of Kansas stand out Cole Aldrich, who should provide some depth.They’re a good bet to return to the West semifinals—and probably can go beyond that.

[IamMedellin]

[IamMedellin]

Seattle Sonics 2011-2012 Season Preview



Prediction 55-27

The vogue pick to win the Western Conference and the alternative choice by pundits to win the title, the Sonics are not sneaking up on anyone this year. Every team they play will come focused and motivated to bring their A-game. It shouldn’t matter.
Seattle features two of the ten best players in the league, the favorite for the “Sixth Man of the Year Award,” a defensive stalwart who came to camp in the best shape of his life, and no significant changes to the roster (meaning no requirement to build cohesion through growing pains). The time has arrived for the team of the future.
Some might notice that my win total prediction is actually only good enough for the 4th seed last year. But you have to realize that the World Champion Rockets still reside in the West and the Lakers, Spurs, and Blazers have all reloaded.

So what could derail this young team?

If Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook were to miss significant time with an injury, obviously that could hurt them. The less obvious problem might be rule changes.
Before the lockout was avoided, the league announced changes to the interpretation referees will use in assessing fouls. Two of them could have a huge negative impact to the Sonics. The first was the end of the “rip move.”
This was something Kevin Durant used with great success over the past two years. Basically, since there is no way of guarding him (his offensive repertoire is so versatile that he can beat a defender regardless of what he attempts) defenders encroach on Durant’s personal space and put their arm above the ball. That way, if Durant goes into his shooting motion, he can’t get a clear shot off because he’ll bang arms with the defender. So, Durant calls their bluff and initiates the contact, but it looks ugly and both Durant and the defender know that the shot had very little chance of going in.

The thing is this is a foul. There is no question. It isn’t like there is incidental contact or the defender was guarding him fairly. In essence, the defender is saying the only way I can guard him is to foul him, then getting angry when the foul is called. Somehow, the league agreed with the whiners. Now, the referee has been given the leeway to psychically decide if a player truly felt his shot had a chance of going in, and if the ref thinks it was a shot taken only in hopes of getting fouled, no free throw shots will be awarded. More on the ramifications of this in a second.
In the same vein, referees are now given the option of not awarding free throws to players who are fouled driving into the lane. Again, this gives a lot of subjective decision-making to the refs. Again, it affects the Sonics because Russell Westbrook charges into the lane a lot.

Those are two 90% free throw shooters who are accustomed to taking a lot of free throws that are likely going to see their attempts decline as a result. That could potentially cost the team four or five points that would normally be easy money for them (not to mention that free throw attempts can help players like Durant and Westbrook get into a scoring rhythm).
What else should we worry about?

Russell Westbrook is eligible for a contract extension. Unlike Kevin Durant, whose negotiations lasted two minutes, no deal has been struck yet. If Westbrook and management fail to reach a deal by the deadline and he plays the season trying to prove he deserves a maximum contract, we might watch Westbrook going into “Superman” mode (a nickname used for when the point guard attempts to beat opposing teams by himself as if he has no other teammates on the floor) much more often than he does normally…which is a lot.

Will James Harden crack the starting line-up?
Probably, but I hope he doesn’t. Starting is overrated. He should certainly play starter minutes (about 35/game), but the infatuation with fans that six of those need to be directly after tip-off is misguided. Yes, he’s the team’s third best offensive player, and he is no defensive liability. However, as the anchor of the second unit, he is the best offensive option and a complete mismatch playing against opposing team bench players. If he starts, he will rest along with Durant and Westbrook and the best bench scorer will be…?

What has changed from last season?
Very little. The team signed Luke Ridnour, a solid backup point guard out of Oregon. At best, he’s the third string point guard behind Westbrook and Eric Maynor. More likely, he will spend most of the season as an extra 3pt threat.
Byron Mullens was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats near the end of training camp. The biggest adjustment that will cause is to me for losing a deadweight player for me to make jokes about.
My prediction for the team…

I am always a pessimist. For instance, this was a great start to the New York Mets season, and as a die hard Mets fan, Im was still convinced that the Mets would botch the season soon. That being said, I would be absolutely shocked if this Sonic team did not manage a trip to the NBA Finals, and I would be disappointed if they didn’t end up winning it all, But at the same time the West is Stacked and anything can happen in the NBA playoffs, especially when the 1st round is back to being a dangerous best of 5.

[IamMedellin]

SONICS BUST OUT!


SEATTLE -- A block party filled the street with fans in Green Seattle Sonics shirts. Sonics Legend Gary Payton walked to midcourt to kick off the 2011-2012 Season. Kevin Durant scored 30 points to help the Sonics win their opener with a 107-85 victory Sunday night over the Denver Nuggets. "We know there are outside expectations," Sonics coach Scott Brooks said. "But there aren't absolutes or guarantees. Our guys just work. I know it gets boring at times, but we like that. We're not going to change. We're all in the same boat on that. You can never become complacent. It has to be about the team."

Durant led the league in scoring the past two seasons, including averaging 27.7 last season. On Sunday, he was 11 of 19 from the field and added five rebounds and six assists. James Harden added 19 points and the Tough Sonics D held one of Last year's highest scoring teams to 37% shooting.

The Sonics lost to Houston last year in the Western Conference semi-finals but are expected to be one of the top teams this season. They led throughout, including by 24 at the end of the third quarter and really were never in danger of losing.

"It's something we can't control," Durant said of expectations. "We have to keep getting better every day and see what happens." A 13-2 run in the second quarter, after Durant and Russell Westbrook checked back in, helped the Sonics get out to a 17-point lead. They led 55-41 at the break. Durant had 14 points in the first half.

Danillo Gallinari scored 25 points and Ty Lawson added 18 for the Nuggets, who commited 18 turnovers.

"It was a good game for us," Brooks said. "Everybody chipped in. We had a lot of good plays tonight."

[IamMedellin]

Medellin Inc Presents KD35 Sonics Remix

[Bomberooski]

I'm all in on this jam

[IamMedellin]

[Bomberooski]

Taking names!

How's Collison doing early on? #WhiteGuyQuestion

[IamMedellin]

[Golden Taters]

Save our Seattle Supersonics!

[Glenbino]

What game is this and what are you playing it on?

[IamMedellin]

[IamMedellin]

Ernie Johnson - Sonics/Trail Blazers...up Next. Charles so what are your th-
Kenny Smith - Lemme just explain what I was trying to say, Last Year They were the 2nd best team at blocking shots, this year they got off to a slow start, and I get it...I've been on young teams before and It can be hard out there when everyone know's your coming. Last Year the Sonics could sneak up on teams and that's just not the case this year. But they havent played as well as I expected them to..
Charles Barkley - Kenny....Dont ever do that again. look, 1st of All...Durant,Westbook n dem boyz...I Luv watchin um. Defense n reboundin is their Bugaboo, theyre nawt gonna beat da Big Boys not playin any Defense n not getting any rebounds..
thas a ole ghetto word - Bugaboo

[Panel laughs]

Shaq - Say it again.
Charles Barkley - Bugaboo, actually that's what we used to say about the gurls you used to date. heh
Shaq - The Ladies Luv a Man with RINGS

[Panel Laughs]

Barkley - Listen I luv Kevin, but..
Kenny - Who?

Barkley - Durant!,,,Kevin Durant....look theyre gonna win some games, cuz they got 3 young stallions....but outside of Tyson Chandler, nobody on that Team rebounds, their big guys dont take hard fouls, they dont play defense n they dont rebound..Look you can get through the regular season, but the three most important stats in Basketball..
#1 where you at defensively, then you got to rebound the Ball and can't turn it over...and they play no defense and dont rebound the ball well.

Kenny - I will say this in their defense, there arent alot of teams that are equiped to make the transition to being an elite team. They have the equipment, they have the assembly line, They can make the car, they can be the Championship contending team, they have guys who can play defence, they have guys who can rebound. So with all of this said, they're only a game away from being in a tie for the 4 seed.
Charles - Look you know theres a difference btwn the reg season n the playoffs
Kenny - look im just say-
Barkley - Who's their best Big Guy?
Kenny - im ju..
Barkley - Who's their Veteran?
Kenny - It's not always abo-
Barkley - Who wins tonight? Sonics or Blazers?
Kenny - Blazers.
Barkley - turrible Kenny