Post by Benwallacedetroit3 on Jan 17, 2006 2:48:00 GMT -5
Seattle Championship Aspirations Back?
Two short years ago. In that short amount of time the Seattle Supersonics went from being the best team in the Western Conference to the cellar. A lineup of Marbury, LeBron James, Shawn Marion, Dwight Howard, and Shaq turned into Ray Richardson, Webster, LeBron, Caracter, and Ruland. A team which was feared by the whole league turned into a team which was considered an easy win for opposing teams. Things did not start out that way before the season.
GM Aaron Reilly came into the 2012 BBS Season with aspirations of a mid seeded playoff team for the Seattle Supersonics. The Soincs were led by all world small forward LeBron James. Big men Jeff Ruland and Derrick Caracter gave the Soincs an elite frontcourt. Caracter came off of last year as the league’s fourth highest scoring player. Jeff Ruland was a dependable double-double every night. The backcourt was even more electric with newly acquired Martell Webster coming into Seattle hoping to take some pressure off LeBron as a second scoring option. Michael Ray Richardson as been a dependable component of the Sonics since he was acquired from the Heat a few seasons ago.
With one of the best starting lineups in the league; the Sonics, despite not having a deep bench, were really looking forward to a good season. To the dismay of the Sonics and their fans things started looking bleek from the beginning. The preseason had the Sonics finish at an abysmal 3-9. Unlike other teams, which sat their players, the Sonics played all their starters full games and still came out on the short end. After looking at the games, Aaron Reilly decided to give the team a chance and not jump to any trades.
The regular season began and the same thing happened again. The Sonics were behind in a weak Western Conference. LeBron James was himself averaging 28 points per game but the two big offseason pickups were nonexistent. Martell Webster shot around 40% from the field. Seattle expected much more from a player one year removed from scoring 19 points per game. With Webster playing well below his level, the Sonics needed Derrick Caracter to step it up. The opposite took place. Caracter, who averaged 26 ppg, is now putting up 18 a game on 37% shooting.
After a 5-13 record, terrible bench play, and lack of consistent numbers from the starters; Aaron Reilly decided it was time to shake things up. Martell Webster was a complete disappointment from day 1 for the Sonics and Reilly decided to look for a small forward. Sonics management felt it was important to have LeBron move back to the shooting guard position and be able to manhandle smaller players. Luckily for the Sonics; the Raptors were in the same predicament at their small forward position. Nemanja Aleksandrov was put on the block and it was only a matter of time until Martell got his passport ready and headed to the great city of Toronto. Nemanja brought size, athleticism, and great handles to Seattle. Nemanja has been a highly touted prospect since his rookie year and is now looking to start showing why he was picked #2 overall only a few years ago.
Aaron Reilly decided to give the lineup of Ray Richardson, James, Nemanja, Caracter, and Ruland a shot. With advice from Detroit GM Dave Krupimpski (hope it isn’t against league rules) Reilly decided to try different backups at each position. With much anticipation the Sonics entered into the sim with high expectations. Unfortunately the Sonics faltered into another 0-3 sim. Despite losing all three games Nemanja showed strong signs of being a great pickup. Aaron Reilly had enough and a big day in Seattle Supersonic history occurred.
Then the unthinkable happened. After talks broke off before the season with the Miami Heat, things quickly picked up again once both teams were struggling mightily. The Sonics decided it was time to deal franchise player LeBron James. The eight player trade sent LeBron James, center Jeff Ruland, and guards Ricky Davis and Fred Jones to the Heat. The Sonics received all star and former MVP Chris Bosh, up and coming all star Kevin Durant, offensive star Rip Hamilton, and former Bennton Treviso star Andrea Bargnani. This trade came with much dismay to the loyal Seattle following. Despite getting two studs and two very good players; it was difficult to see LeBron James leave.
The Sonics were far from done. After learning they’d have a seven foot player starting at the two guard there was still a need for another deal. The Sonics looked throughout the league for a team with a hole in the small forward spot and contacted the Nets. GM Aaron Reilly told Nets GM Pig that he had his choice of Nemanja or Durant for former Sonic Sidney Moncrief. Pig decided he wanted to wait and see how his team turned out in the next few sims. With interest growing from teams such as the Lakers Pig decided to make his move and pull the trigger. Salaries were way off and two more players had to be added to make the trade go through. The Sonics sent Kevin Durant and Damir Omerhodzic to the Nets for Sidney Moncrief and Josh Smith. Just as Durant’s stay was not long the same would go for Josh Smith.
In a move that had Sonic fans jumping for joy, the Sonics contacted the legendary GM of the Sacramento Kings Lumley about former franchise player Ben Wallace. With the Kings struggling the Sonics offered a potential lottery pick with the Knicks, Josh Smith, and center Curtis Borchardt. Lumely agreed stating “I need a backup for Peja since he gets hurt a lot.” At 37 Ben Wallace was not getting any younger and wanted to finish his career where he spent the best years of his hall of fame career.
GM Aaron Reilly feels that the new team is more equipped to win and really feels this team has become a title contender. A new starting lineup of Ray Richardson, Sidney Moncrief, Nemanja, Derrick Caracter, and Chris Bosh is better then the lineup in the beginning of the season. Each position has a player that can beat you in more then one way and the defense is back to what the fans of Seattle have grown accustomed to. The weak bench has also been bolstered by two great veterans in Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace. Milos Vujanic continues to backup Michael Ray Richardson and has done a steady job.
At the end of the long day, the Sonics who stand at 5-13, look like one of the title contenders in the league. GM Aaron Reilly hopes to get this team back to the supremacy Seattle felt only two short years ago.
Two short years ago. In that short amount of time the Seattle Supersonics went from being the best team in the Western Conference to the cellar. A lineup of Marbury, LeBron James, Shawn Marion, Dwight Howard, and Shaq turned into Ray Richardson, Webster, LeBron, Caracter, and Ruland. A team which was feared by the whole league turned into a team which was considered an easy win for opposing teams. Things did not start out that way before the season.
GM Aaron Reilly came into the 2012 BBS Season with aspirations of a mid seeded playoff team for the Seattle Supersonics. The Soincs were led by all world small forward LeBron James. Big men Jeff Ruland and Derrick Caracter gave the Soincs an elite frontcourt. Caracter came off of last year as the league’s fourth highest scoring player. Jeff Ruland was a dependable double-double every night. The backcourt was even more electric with newly acquired Martell Webster coming into Seattle hoping to take some pressure off LeBron as a second scoring option. Michael Ray Richardson as been a dependable component of the Sonics since he was acquired from the Heat a few seasons ago.
With one of the best starting lineups in the league; the Sonics, despite not having a deep bench, were really looking forward to a good season. To the dismay of the Sonics and their fans things started looking bleek from the beginning. The preseason had the Sonics finish at an abysmal 3-9. Unlike other teams, which sat their players, the Sonics played all their starters full games and still came out on the short end. After looking at the games, Aaron Reilly decided to give the team a chance and not jump to any trades.
The regular season began and the same thing happened again. The Sonics were behind in a weak Western Conference. LeBron James was himself averaging 28 points per game but the two big offseason pickups were nonexistent. Martell Webster shot around 40% from the field. Seattle expected much more from a player one year removed from scoring 19 points per game. With Webster playing well below his level, the Sonics needed Derrick Caracter to step it up. The opposite took place. Caracter, who averaged 26 ppg, is now putting up 18 a game on 37% shooting.
After a 5-13 record, terrible bench play, and lack of consistent numbers from the starters; Aaron Reilly decided it was time to shake things up. Martell Webster was a complete disappointment from day 1 for the Sonics and Reilly decided to look for a small forward. Sonics management felt it was important to have LeBron move back to the shooting guard position and be able to manhandle smaller players. Luckily for the Sonics; the Raptors were in the same predicament at their small forward position. Nemanja Aleksandrov was put on the block and it was only a matter of time until Martell got his passport ready and headed to the great city of Toronto. Nemanja brought size, athleticism, and great handles to Seattle. Nemanja has been a highly touted prospect since his rookie year and is now looking to start showing why he was picked #2 overall only a few years ago.
Aaron Reilly decided to give the lineup of Ray Richardson, James, Nemanja, Caracter, and Ruland a shot. With advice from Detroit GM Dave Krupimpski (hope it isn’t against league rules) Reilly decided to try different backups at each position. With much anticipation the Sonics entered into the sim with high expectations. Unfortunately the Sonics faltered into another 0-3 sim. Despite losing all three games Nemanja showed strong signs of being a great pickup. Aaron Reilly had enough and a big day in Seattle Supersonic history occurred.
Then the unthinkable happened. After talks broke off before the season with the Miami Heat, things quickly picked up again once both teams were struggling mightily. The Sonics decided it was time to deal franchise player LeBron James. The eight player trade sent LeBron James, center Jeff Ruland, and guards Ricky Davis and Fred Jones to the Heat. The Sonics received all star and former MVP Chris Bosh, up and coming all star Kevin Durant, offensive star Rip Hamilton, and former Bennton Treviso star Andrea Bargnani. This trade came with much dismay to the loyal Seattle following. Despite getting two studs and two very good players; it was difficult to see LeBron James leave.
The Sonics were far from done. After learning they’d have a seven foot player starting at the two guard there was still a need for another deal. The Sonics looked throughout the league for a team with a hole in the small forward spot and contacted the Nets. GM Aaron Reilly told Nets GM Pig that he had his choice of Nemanja or Durant for former Sonic Sidney Moncrief. Pig decided he wanted to wait and see how his team turned out in the next few sims. With interest growing from teams such as the Lakers Pig decided to make his move and pull the trigger. Salaries were way off and two more players had to be added to make the trade go through. The Sonics sent Kevin Durant and Damir Omerhodzic to the Nets for Sidney Moncrief and Josh Smith. Just as Durant’s stay was not long the same would go for Josh Smith.
In a move that had Sonic fans jumping for joy, the Sonics contacted the legendary GM of the Sacramento Kings Lumley about former franchise player Ben Wallace. With the Kings struggling the Sonics offered a potential lottery pick with the Knicks, Josh Smith, and center Curtis Borchardt. Lumely agreed stating “I need a backup for Peja since he gets hurt a lot.” At 37 Ben Wallace was not getting any younger and wanted to finish his career where he spent the best years of his hall of fame career.
GM Aaron Reilly feels that the new team is more equipped to win and really feels this team has become a title contender. A new starting lineup of Ray Richardson, Sidney Moncrief, Nemanja, Derrick Caracter, and Chris Bosh is better then the lineup in the beginning of the season. Each position has a player that can beat you in more then one way and the defense is back to what the fans of Seattle have grown accustomed to. The weak bench has also been bolstered by two great veterans in Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace. Milos Vujanic continues to backup Michael Ray Richardson and has done a steady job.
At the end of the long day, the Sonics who stand at 5-13, look like one of the title contenders in the league. GM Aaron Reilly hopes to get this team back to the supremacy Seattle felt only two short years ago.
2012 Western Conference Finals
