Feb 27, 2002 11:44 PM EST
Not exactly what they had in mind.
The Hawks turned a fast start into a lethargic performance to spoil homecoming from a moderately successful road trip Wednesday. Anyone with a fairly good memory will recall that the Hawks came home from last February's marathon and lost six in a row.
This time they were punished 98-81 by the Seattle SuperSonics.
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Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City
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Feb 23, 2002 11:36 AM EST
According to Jeff Denberg of the AJC, in a crackling good game the Hawks got 32 points, eight assists from Jason Terry and 25 points, 16 rebounds from Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but it wasn't enough as Seattle put the Hawks away 99-96 in the closing moments.
Terry's 3-pointer with 13.1 seconds remaining left the Hawks a point behind. The Sonics got two at the line, and it was Hawks ball, down three, 12.2 left. Abdur-Rahim tried to tie it quickly from the corner and missed, and it was over.
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He's a fifth-year pro, Predrag Drobnjak patiently reminds questioners. So while he is considered a rookie by NBA standards, the 26-year-old center has been playing professionally since 1997.
That said, his recent run of double-digit scoring games doesn't surprise him one bit.
"I'm rookie to the NBA, but not to basketball," Drobnjak said after practice yesterday. American players are more athletic, quicker and faster, he allowed, but European players bring their own set of skills: passing and jump shooting.
"I can shoot the ball really well," he said. "People know that."
Drobnjak has totaled 53 points in the past four games, giving the Sonics' front line a boost with forward Vin Baker on the injured list (three dislocated toes). Drobnjak scored 16 points in a 99-79 victory over Boston on Saturday, 14 points in a 126-116 victory at Sacramento on Sunday, 15 in a 103-91 victory at Phoenix on Tuesday and 8 in a 90-84 loss to Portland on Wednesday.
"I think he's done a wonderful job," coach Nate McMillan said of Drobnjak. "His strengths are shooting the ball and passing. We've gone to him for that."
It's unclear how McMillan will use Drobnjak tonight against the Atlanta Hawks (19-35) and versatile forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who played in his first All-Star Game earlier this month. Abdur-Rahim is averaging 21.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game -- both numbers higher than his career marks.
He also has a habit of making good defenders look inept, and Drobnjak isn't among the Sonics' better defenders. But he's working on it.
"Also on getting better position for the boards," he added.
McMillan agreed. He said he likes to play Drobnjak against slower power forwards who are loath to defend the jump shot. Forward Art Long and center Jerome James still get the call when a key stop must be made.
Abdur-Rahim isn't the Sonics' only worry. The game also marks the only visit this year by guard Jason Terry, a Franklin High School graduate averaging 18.7 points a game.
"He going to be playing at home, so he's going to be fired up," McMillan said.
Drobnjak, whom teammates call Peja, said the off-court adjustment to the United States has been fairly easy. His English is good, and playing first for Partizan ICN in his native Yugoslavia and then for Efes Pilsen in the Turkish league helped him adjust to long stretches away from home.
What's more, he's got a close friend and countryman in Sonics rookie Vladimir Radmanovic. Drobnjak also received advice from the NBA's other Peja-Vlade duo (Sacramento Kings forward Predrag Stojakovic and center Vlade Divac).
Drobnjak called the pair before coming to Seattle. He smiled when he said they gave him good advice, then clammed up when asked what that advice was.
"It's a secret," he said with a grin.
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Feb 2002 Archive
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| Feb 22, 2002
When: 7 tonight.
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| Feb 22, 2002
Over the past few days, several NBA teams executed blockbuster deals to transform their clubs.
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| Feb 18, 2002
Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan said he had mixed feelings about the ejection of Rashard Lewis in the Sonics' victory over Boston on Saturday night.
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| Feb 18, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS: The Sonics took a 16-10 lead after scoring eight consecutive points, four each by Brent Barry and Gary Payton.
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| Feb 18, 2002
The Sonics will be without Vin Baker and Calvin Booth for at least the next three weeks, leaving the frontcourt full of inexperienced players.
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| Feb 18, 2002
The fans who make Arco Arena perhaps the most hostile place in the NBA stood up in the waning moments of last night's game.
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| Feb 17, 2002
As Thursday's trade deadline looms, discussion has arisen around the Seattle SuperSonics about whether the team is better or worse without power forward Vin Baker.
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| Feb 17, 2002
Despite clawing through an extremely close playoff race, the Seattle SuperSonics say they aren't checking the scoreboard to plot the progress of rivals such as the Portland Trail Blazers or the Phoenix Suns.
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| Feb 17, 2002
1.
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| Feb 17, 2002
The no-kidding department: Karl Malone has a clause in his contract barring use of an armed weapon while riding a horse.
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| Feb 17, 2002
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Two years ago, Doc Rivers was voted coach of the year and John Gabriel was voted executive of the year.
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| Feb 17, 2002
The NBA season has moved beyond the midpoint.
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| Feb 17, 2002
He loves his history and so his solace is in the books.
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| Feb 17, 2002
It's sad, really.
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| Feb 17, 2002
When: 6 p.
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| Feb 17, 2002
With Vin Baker out indefinitely, the smallish Sonics will rely on a free-flowing offense of ball movement and fast-break opportunities.
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| Feb 17, 2002
SEATTLE - The Celtics rolled into the Emerald City looking for joy and victory.
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| Feb 17, 2002
EATTLE - It was not fatigue but disgust that Paul Pierce felt after the Celtics played their fourth game in five nights.
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| Feb 16, 2002
Nunyo Demasio of the Seattle Times reports: The Sonics are expected to place Vin Baker on the injured list because of three dislocated toes on his left foot.
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| Feb 16, 2002
Jim Moore of the Seattle Post Intelligencer Reporter reporters: KeyArena is not working financially for the Sonics, principal owner Howard Schultz said.
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| Feb 16, 2002
When: 7 p.
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| Feb 15, 2002
This was going to be Kobe Unshackled.
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| Feb 15, 2002
Even without Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers loom large.
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| Feb 15, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS: Gary Payton made more shots left-handed (2) than right-handed (1) in the first quarter.
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| Feb 15, 2002
Don't expect the Sonics to do anything to help themselves in the short run.
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| Feb 15, 2002
Calvin Booth's right ankle will be examined by doctors next week to determine whether the 6-foot-11 center is healthy enough to play again this season.
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| Feb 15, 2002
The Sonics didn't have to deal with Shaquille O'Neal's thunderous dunks, spike blocks, body blows and mean stares.
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| Feb 14, 2002
The Seattle SuperSonics' test against the best continues tonight with a visit by the world champion Los Angeles Lakers.
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| Feb 14, 2002
There's a Cuban in the NBA, and his first name is Mark: He owns the Dallas Mavericks.
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| Feb 14, 2002
In his last two on-court appearances, Kobe Bryant was named the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game and recorded a triple-double against Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards.
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| Feb 14, 2002
When: 7 tonight.
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| Feb 14, 2002
Nunyo Demasio of the Seattle Times reports: With the trading deadline one week from today, the Sonics are faced with a crucial decision that will have a bearing on the club beyond the second half of the season.
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| Feb 13, 2002
Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan said he has stressed defense to his players as they head into what, at least mentally, is the second half of the season.
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| Feb 13, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS: Desmond Mason came off the bench and made his first four shots.
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| Feb 13, 2002
Player of the game: Steve Nash, the Victoria, B.
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| Feb 13, 2002
They filled two sections of the KeyArena stands, their shrill little voices shrieking out to an empty court.
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| Feb 13, 2002
They are serious about seeing their season-long, four-game road trip, beginning with Tuesday's 112-106 triumph over Seattle, as a rough journey.
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| Feb 12, 2002
News Tribune NBA writer Frank Hughes caught up with Sonics majority owner Howard Schultz during All-Star Saturday night in Philadelphia and discussed various issues involving the organization.
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| Feb 12, 2002
The Sonics are not only entering the second half of the season, but confronting one of their most difficult stretches, facing six teams that are either championship or playoff contenders in the next nine days.
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| Feb 12, 2002
When: Today, 7 p.
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| Feb 12, 2002
They went through offensive and defensive sets.
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| Feb 11, 2002
They once booed Santa Claus in this city, so it should come as no surprise that they let a native son have it full bore, both barrels, as well.
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| Feb 11, 2002
Midway through the first quarter, Michael Jordan leaned in for a dunk over Tim Duncan.
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| Feb 11, 2002
When Kobe Bryant was introduced as a starter for the Western Conference All-Stars, most fans applauded the Philadelphia-area native.
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| Feb 10, 2002
NBA commissioner David Stern dropped something of a bomb at his annual All-Star Game media interview session Saturday night, revealing that the league is thinking about expanding globally within the next five to 10 years.
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| Feb 10, 2002
The NBA is looking anew at international expansion and could have more than one franchise based overseas by the end of the decade, Commissioner David Stern said.
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| Feb 10, 2002
Understandably, Seattle SuperSonics guard Desmond Mason felt a sense of dejection and unfairness about losing his slam dunk title Saturday night to Golden State's Jason Richardson at the First Union Center.
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| Feb 10, 2002
The aftermath of Sept.
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| Feb 10, 2002
During the summer of 2000, Rick Pitino prodded his best player, Antoine Walker, to attend summer league.
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| Feb 10, 2002
B.
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| Feb 10, 2002
Who would win an all-star game between preps-to-pros and those who stayed four seasons in college? It's not as easy a pick as you might think.
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| Feb 10, 2002
1.
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| Feb 9, 2002
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton said Friday he would like the Sonics to pursue Chicago Bulls forward Charles Oakley if the Bulls waive the veteran.
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| Feb 9, 2002
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: You pose the question, and their eyes light up like little kids who just caught their first glimpse of Santa Claus.
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| Feb 8, 2002
It used to be one thing kept Gary Payton from being universally accepted as one of the best to play in the NBA.
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| Feb 8, 2002
Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton made his way to the NBA's annual All-Star weekend from Seattle on Thursday for a franchise-record eighth time.
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| Feb 8, 2002
After coffee magnate Howard Schultz bought the Sonics last January, the organization unabashedly stressed a youth movement.
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| Feb 8, 2002
Regardless of the opponent or the circumstances, Desmond Mason always seems to provide the most emphatic highlight of every Sonics game.
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| Feb 7, 2002
Howard Schultz, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics and chairman of Starbucks, is leveraging his business and sports interests in a new business speaker series that will precede four home Sonics games this spring.
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| Feb 7, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS: Desmond Mason, taking a bounce pass from Earl Watson, flew in from the right corner and flushed it with one hand over Suns center Jake Tsakalidis in the second quarter.
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| Feb 7, 2002
About 90 minutes before last night's game, Gary Payton opened a large box in front of his locker.
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| Feb 7, 2002
Former Sonics star Dale Ellis yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife last month, saying through his attorney that he wanted to take responsibility for a mistake and keep his family from having to go through a trial.
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| Feb 7, 2002
The Sonics and Suns are shooting for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.
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| Feb 6, 2002
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| Feb 6, 2002
COLLISION COURSE: Brent Barry and Vladimir Radmanovic collided hard and both went down getting back on defense early in the second quarter.
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| Feb 6, 2002
When: 7 p.
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| Feb 6, 2002
Player of the game: Rashard Lewis, who scored just seven points Sunday in the Sonics' loss to Chicago, bounced back with a huge game.
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| Feb 6, 2002
The fourth quarter started and there was Gary Payton on the Sonics' bench.
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| Feb 5, 2002
Matchup - Sonics at Golden State Warriors
When - 7:30 p.
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| Feb 5, 2002
Nate McMillan is through wasting time thinking and talking about the Sonics' 97-91 loss at home Saturday night to the Chicago Bulls, the worst team in the NBA.
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| Feb 5, 2002
They are one of the best shooting teams in the NBA, and last Saturday the Sonics found something else they could hit -- bottom.
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| Feb 5, 2002
When: Today, 7:30 p.
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| Feb 5, 2002
For a team that has reached the playoffs just once in the past three seasons, the Sonics may be taking a little too much for granted.
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| Feb 4, 2002
Will Rose be making a fresh start in the Windy City?
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| Feb 3, 2002
This essentially ensured that players such as Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki would not be excluded from the team because he could be named as a center, since he started at center a few times this season for the Jazz.
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| Feb 3, 2002
Jamal Crawford couldn't help but take a brief look around KeyArena during the Chicago Bulls' pregame warmup Saturday evening.
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| Feb 3, 2002
1.
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| Feb 3, 2002
Minnesota's Flip Saunders wasn't particularly crestfallen about not coaching the West's All-Star team after just missing out because Don Nelson's Mavericks have a slightly better record.
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| Feb 3, 2002
When the NBA announced that it would allow zone defenses for the first time in its 55-year history, Shaquille O'Neal declared that they would turn him into a "token.
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| Feb 3, 2002
"One week.
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| Feb 3, 2002
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ron Artest led the Bulls with 16 points, five assists and five rebounds.
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| Feb 3, 2002
A.
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| Feb 2, 2002
When: 5 p.
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| Feb 1, 2002
In the fictional version of his life, Doug Christie would have gotten the offer he wanted, signed with the Seattle Sonics and been the homeboy in the backcourt for the rest of his professional life.
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| Feb 1, 2002
Vin Baker's shooting touch hasn't been quite right since Seattle's power forward strained his left shoulder Jan.
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| Feb 1, 2002
The Sonics have produced a winning record — and playoff hopes — with several players whose previous NBA experience amounted to watching it on television.
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