Surprising Sonics off to 14-3 start
SEATTLE (AP) — After all the predictions of a dismal season, even the Seattle SuperSonics are surprised by their early success.
”Who would have ever thought?” power forward Danny Fortson said. ”I wouldn't have thought so.”
Following their first overtime victory of the season Wednesday night, the Sonics are off to a 14-3 start — the second-best record in the league. They're leading the Northwest Division by three games and are 8-0 at home following a 129-119 victory over the Jazz.
”After all the things we've read in the newspaper in training camp and before the season, you know it hits you a little bit,” Vladimir Radmanovic said. ”They're just saying you're going to be the worst team in the league for no reason, basically. You feel that those people, they're not right.”
The reasons for the Sonics' success are anything but secret.
Guard Ray Allen is playing like an All-Star again, and forward Rashard Lewis is playing as if he wants to be a part of the NBA's showcase game in February.
Also, second-year player Luke Ridnour is excelling as the new starting point guard, pushing the ball up the court and playing harassing defense. And, Antonio Daniels is playing well as Ridnour's backup.
Forward Nick Collison, who missed his entire rookie season because of surgery on both shoulders, is contributing off the bench.
But the major reason for the Sonics' turnaround has been Fortson, their tough-guy reserve.
Fortson has resurrected his career in Seattle, giving a team perceived as too soft the strong defense and rebounding it didn't have last season when the Sonics went 37-45 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
In Seattle's win over the Jazz, Allen scored a season-high 38 points, including nine in overtime, while Lewis added 23 and Vladimir Radmanovic had 21, including a 3-pointer that tied the score and sent the game into overtime. In 29 minutes, Fortson had nine rebounds and eight points.
”Danny has been a big addition to the team,” Lewis said. ”He most definitely has brought us his toughness and his rebounding. That's what we needed this year.”
The Sonics had shooters last season, when they led the league in 3-point shooting, but they didn't have what Fortson has added.
”He's huge,” Ridnour said of Fortson. ”He's an enforcer.
”When that ball goes up, you know he's going to be around it. Once his hands are out there, you know he's going to snag it. Just to have someone like that who has everyone's back like he does is pretty cool.”
Fortson is with his fifth team in his eighth NBA season. The 6-foot-8, 277-pounder plays an emotional game that sometimes draws too much attention from league officials.
After throwing an elbow that hit Toronto's Chris Bosh in the head on Nov. 12, he was suspended for a game against Memphis two nights later. That was one of four flagrant fouls he's been charged with this season.
Fortson had a flagrant foul and two technicals, causing his ejection in the fourth quarter of a close loss Tuesday night in Portland.
Fortson came to the Sonics in a trade with Dallas in July for center Calvin Booth. He loved playing with the Mavericks, and he loves playing in Seattle, too, because of the one-two punch of Allen and Lewis.
”Those guys hit shots in all kinds of situations, in traffic, people in their face,” he said.