Call it the start of the unknown.
Last night marked the beginning of a reputation-building project for the Sonics. With seven eager new personalities on board, the Sonics may be the biggest mystery in the Western Conference.
The unknown became a little clearer against the Kings, who didn't put the Sonics away until late in the fourth quarter. The Sonics were within four points with just outside of three minutes left before the Kings pulled ahead. From coach Rick Adelman down to his players, the Kings said this year's revamped Sonics are a much-improved team.
"I like their team. I think their key is that if Vin Baker can shoot like he did tonight, they're in good shape," Adelman said. "They've got good, young talent. They just need to get production from their big people."
Banging down low against Scot Pollard and Vlade Divac, Baker came outside often and hit 10 of 18 shots. Big men Jerome James and Calvin Booth showed glimpses of what they could bring, as the Sonics try to return to the playoffs. James, who spent the 1998-99 season with the Kings and played a total of 42 minutes in the whole year, brandished his improved skills and slimmed-down frame. He was an active presence all night, something the veteran Divac took notice of. The new additions showed some promise, despite the loss.
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You've seen the short proclamations around Seattle, on billboards along the highways and byways.
They are designed to capture the spirit of the SuperSonics and their coach: ALL BALL, ALL DESIRE, ALL HEART.
Last night in their regular-season opener, the Sonics, even with all those unrecognizable names and faces, just might be ALL RIGHT after all.
Not great, but highly competitive. They kept it together in one of the NBA's toughest environments against one of the NBA's better teams, ultimately dropping a 101-95 decision to the Sacramento Kings that easily could have gone the other way.
Trailing 98-91, the Sonics cut the deficit to five when Gary Payton sliced in for a finger roll with 1:14 left. Vladimir Radmanovic, the Sonics' first-round draft pick, had a chance to cut it to three, but missed two free throws with 18.3 seconds left.
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Nate McMillan never has entered a season feeling like this, never known less about his team, never been pestered by so many unanswered questions.
Simple questions like: Who are these guys? And how can I best use them?
Every season since 1986, as a player or an assistant coach, McMillan has come to Opening Night with a firm understanding of his role and his team's personality.
But last night, his first Opening Night as a head coach, McMillan entered the great unknown.
"As of now, I don't know this team," McMillan said before last night's 101-95 loss to Sacramento. "I know what I want from this team and I know they're capable of giving me the intensity out on the floor, and we'll make adjustments after that.
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Oct 2001 Archive
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| Oct 31, 2001
Jerome James received the most applause from the Arco Arena fans when the Sonics' players were announced.
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| Oct 31, 2001
The Sonics showed energy and promise when they twice defeated the Sacramento Kings during the exhibition season.
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| Oct 31, 2001
The NBA will have a bit of a different look to it this season, especially when it comes to defense.
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| Oct 31, 2001
When the Los Angeles Lakers won their second consecutive championship last season, all-universe center Shaquille O'Neal seemed almost complacent about the achievement.
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| Oct 31, 2001
Mark it down
Tonight: Seattle at Sacramento: Season opener for both teams.
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| Oct 31, 2001
1.
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| Oct 31, 2001
After seeing Vin Baker practice Monday for the first time in a week, Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan did an about-face and said Baker likely will start tonight, when the Sonics visit the Sacramento Kings in the season openers for both teams.
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| Oct 31, 2001
Matchup - Sonics at Sacramento Kings
Time - 7 p.
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| Oct 31, 2001
There is little debate that this season's version of the Seattle SuperSonics is different, and mostly in positive ways.
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| Oct 31, 2001
VIN BAKER, 6-11, 250, F: In many ways, a key to the Sonics' success.
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| Oct 31, 2001
THIN VIN
His body is not as pudgy, but that does not necessarily mean his game is in shape.
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| Oct 31, 2001
Can't you just sense the excitement in the air over the start of the Seattle SuperSonics season?
No, wait, I guess that's just a musty breeze in from the tide flats.
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| Oct 31, 2001
Defining moments don't generally present themselves as such at the time of their appearance.
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| Oct 31, 2001
The Seattle SuperSonics discussed trying to sign forward Derrick McKey, who was waived by the Indiana Pacers earlier this week.
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| Oct 31, 2001
Seattle SuperSonics majority owner Howard Schultz was bouncing all around ARCO Arena before the team's regular-season opener Tuesday night, telling anybody that would listen that his underdog team was going to pull off an upset of the Sacramento Kings.
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| Oct 30, 2001
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| Oct 30, 2001
The mood is one of optimism and hope.
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| Oct 30, 2001
After attending a practice yesterday at the Sonics' practice facility, I can confirm, without fear of contradiction, that the rumor has become a fact.
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| Oct 30, 2001
You might know Howard Schultz as a grown man who built the Starbucks empire.
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| Oct 30, 2001
When: Today, 7 p.
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| Oct 30, 2001
The Sonics won't have to worry about All-Star Chris Webber (sprained right ankle) when they play Sacramento tonight in both teams' season-opener.
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| Oct 30, 2001
For much of the summer, the Sonics seemed headed toward rebuilding, the euphemism often used for being a lottery-bound team that promises future glory.
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| Oct 29, 2001
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan said Sunday that even if injured power forward Vin Baker is able to play in the season opener against Sacramento on Tuesday, he likely won't start.
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| Oct 29, 2001
Gary Payton slipped on a gray, designer sweatshirt over his black silk undershirt after leading the Sonics to an exhibition victory over the Kings on Friday.
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| Oct 29, 2001
The rules allowing zones for the first time since the NBA's inception were expected to drastically alter the game.
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| Oct 28, 2001
Sonics Principal Owner Howard Schultz writes his final monthly column for the Seattle Times.
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| Oct 27, 2001
Sonics fans know little about Predrag Drobnjak after the rookie was acquired last summer in a draft-day trade.
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| Oct 27, 2001
After almost four weeks of a training camp that stressed intensity on defense and selflessness on offense, Nate McMillan hoped to put the finishing touches on his rotation.
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| Oct 26, 2001
With Seattle SuperSonics power forward Vin Baker out indefinitely with a strained back, coach Nate McMillan went to his smaller lineup in practice Wednesday, with rookie Vladimir Radmanovic stepping in for Baker at his front-court position.
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| Oct 26, 2001
The development of Jerome James continued with something of a flourish last night.
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| Oct 26, 2001
John Amaechi scored nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Utah Jazz beat the Seattle SuperSonics 103-98 in a National Basketball Association exhibition game last night.
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| Oct 25, 2001
Sonics forward Vin Baker emerged from the passenger's side of a sport-utility vehicle yesterday the way Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson rises from the bench to bicker at an official or instruct his team.
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| Oct 24, 2001
J-Will's hair-raising antics will either dispel or add to Memphis' blues.
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| Oct 24, 2001
When a layup will suffice, Desmond Mason tries to bring down the backboard with a thunderous dunk.
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| Oct 23, 2001
With the Oct.
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| Oct 23, 2001
You have seen him the past four years in Pauley Pavilion and Hec Edmundson Pavilion, never standing out, just blending in, helping turn the UCLA Bruins into championship contenders.
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| Oct 22, 2001
Brent Barry knocked down a long 3-pointer.
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| Oct 21, 2001
In college they used to call Seattle SuperSonics guard Brent Barry "the condor.
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| Oct 21, 2001
On the first day of training camp, Brent Barry approached Vladimir Radmanovic after practice to give the Yugoslav rookie some pointers on making the transition to the NBA.
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| Oct 20, 2001
Earl Watson entered training camp hoping to show the Sonics why he is the all-time steals leader in UCLA's storied program.
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| Oct 19, 2001
With the Seattle SuperSonics leading the Sacramento Kings, 101-99, with 15.
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| Oct 19, 2001
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| Oct 19, 2001
When Seattle SuperSonics first-round draft pick Vladimir Radmanovic was introduced this summer, coach Nate McMillan, general manager Rick Sund and owner Howard Schultz raved about how good they thought the Yugoslavian would be, about how he could play four positions, about how they thought he was the best player in the draft.
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| Oct 19, 2001
SONICS 101, KINGS 99
SACRAMENTO -- Pollard 1-5 2-2 4, Stojakovic 9-17 4-4 23, Divac 7-9 4-4 18, Bibby 3-12 0-0 7, Christie 3-11 3-3 11, Turkoglu 3-8 2-2 8, Price 0-5 3-4 3, Smith 5-9 3-3 13, Braggs 2-2 3-5 7, Jeffers 1-4 3-4 5, Watson 0-1 0-0 0.
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| Oct 18, 2001
Coming off losses in Phoenix and Memphis on successive nights, the Sonics return to face the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game tonight at KeyArena.
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| Oct 18, 2001
Long, black locks drooped over Vladimir Radmanovic's face so much that it's no surprise his sweet stroke turned sour.
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| Oct 17, 2001
Sonics coach Nate McMillan continues to use exhibition games as a classroom for his young players.
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| Oct 17, 2001
Vladimir Radmanovic, the Sonics' top pick in the 2001 NBA draft, showed up for an informal workout yesterday with a new look.
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| Oct 17, 2001
Calvin Booth's gait on the basketball court is more of a trudge than a sprint.
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| Oct 16, 2001
Sonics Coach Nate McMillan was conducting an experiment, and Rashard Lewis was the willing subject.
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| Oct 15, 2001
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: While there still were lingering rumors about Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton still being traded, at some point, to the Minnesota Timberwolves, any future speculation should have ended this past week when Terrell Brandon undermined the entire process.
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| Oct 15, 2001
It may be hard enough for Earl Watson to keep his Sonics uniform for the Oct.
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| Oct 15, 2001
Earl Watson got his first opportunity to show the Sonics he belongs in the NBA.
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| Oct 15, 2001
Poor shooting and slow starts to open both halves led to the Sonics' second straight road exhibition loss, a 69-62 defeat to the Suns last night at America West Arena.
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| Oct 15, 2001
(AP) Sacramento All-Star forward Chris Webber took a fall under the Kings' basket five minutes into an exhibition game Sunday, spraining his left ankle.
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| Oct 14, 2001
The Seattle SuperSonics trimmed their roster to 17 players on Friday morning by waiving point guard Eddie Gill and forward Eddie Elisma.
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| Oct 14, 2001
On the first day of training camp, Vin Baker's right knee still ached from arthroscopic surgery performed during the summer.
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| Oct 13, 2001
Let's say the SuperSonics go 20-62 this season, Gary Payton throws fits and Vin Baker causes problems with his inconsistent play.
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| Oct 13, 2001
When the Sonics lost center Patrick Ewing, they used $34 million to replace him with Calvin Booth.
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| Oct 12, 2001
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Journal reports: It's still early, and there is a lot of basketball left to be played, but if his early season play is any indication of things to come, Seattle SuperSonics power forward Vin Baker could be ready to finally, after all this time, silence his critics.
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| Oct 12, 2001
With Gary Payton on the bench, and this being the Sonics' second exhibition game, Coach Nate McMillan decided last night was the right time.
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| Oct 11, 2001
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| Oct 11, 2001
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| Oct 10, 2001
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| Oct 10, 2001
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: Even though it appears the Seattle SuperSonics are going to keep Vin Baker and Gary Payton, they seem to have placed themselves in a position to be able to carry three players making the maximum salaries without going over the luxury tax next season.
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| Oct 9, 2001
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| Oct 8, 2001
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| Oct 8, 2001
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| Oct 8, 2001
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| Oct 7, 2001
A look at whether JaRon Rush can stay with the Sonics.
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| Oct 7, 2001
Review of Mason, Barry and Williams as the starting 2 for the Sonics.
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| Oct 6, 2001
Remember those reports this summer about Vin Baker looking like a beached whale? The Seattle Times' Nunyo Demasio reports that the Vinster looks positively skinny.
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| Oct 6, 2001
A rundown of eight players competing for the last few roster spots in Seattle.
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| Oct 5, 2001
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| Oct 5, 2001
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| Oct 4, 2001
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| Oct 3, 2001
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: Seattle SuperSonics point guard Shammond Williams is back, signing a multiyear contract with the team Tuesday morning.
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| Oct 3, 2001
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| Oct 3, 2001
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| Oct 3, 2001
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| Oct 2, 2001
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| Oct 2, 2001
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| Oct 2, 2001
Nunyo Demasio of the Seattle Times reports: Shammond Williams was the most conspicuous player missing during the unveiling of Seattle's new uniforms yesterday.
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| Oct 1, 2001
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| Oct 1, 2001
Jim Moore of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter takes a look at where the Seattle Supersonics stand going into training camp.
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