Keys to Sonics' Success

Insider's Brian James – a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards – examines the Sonics' sharpshooting, the changing tides in Los Angeles and names the best crossover dribbler in the NBA.

Wow, I am only throught the first 3 paragraphs, but the insight is really good... you can tell this comes from a basketball mind.

The SuperSonics' 103-95 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday was a joy to watch for the true basketball fan.

The Sonics tied a team single-game record for successful 3-point shots with 18 conversions in 39 attempts. Actually, it would have been 19-for-40, but one of the officials – who will remain nameless – signaled a Rashard Lewis 3-pointer in the first period as only a two-point goal.

Ray Allen sank 7 of 12 from 3-point land. Going into the game, Allen was shooting an incredible 60-percent from the arc (24-for-40). His aim "sunk" to 59.6-percent (31-for-52) after his showing against the Sixers. Vladimir Radmanovic added 6-for-11 aim from long distance.

But the outside shooting is only part of the reason the Sonics are off to a 7-1 start. How have they, so far, defied some experts who predicted a last-place finish in the Western Conference? There are a few reasons.

The Sonics have spread shooters all over the floor, stretching defenses beyond their limits. The coaching staff has used every screen-and-roll available and adjusted the spots on the floor or angles from which the screen is set in order to vary the play is run or how opponents can defend it.

Tuesday, the Sixers used mostly a "hard show-and-recover" type of defense: They were very aggressive on the dribbler coming off the screens, making it seem like a trap on the ball until the pass to a teammate was made.

The Sonics have worked hard on creating distance by the screener from his defender after the screener makes contact with the defender being screened, making it more difficult to "show and recover." For the screener to become a shooter, rolling to a spot on the floor, getting his feet set and square to the basket is so important.

Also important: The screener/shooter must have a quick release so he can fire before the defender retreats to him.

The Sixers were in "full rotation," so the nearest player would rotate up to the shooter. Seattle displayed enormous unselfishness and ability to find the open man with ball movement. If the screener wasn't open, he rotated the ball to the open man. Sometimes, the point guard found the open teammate after dribbling off the screen and probing the defense.

Starting point Luke Ridnour had eight assists in the first quarter on his way to a 10-assist, three-turnover night. Antonio Daniels, Ridnour's backup who often finishes games, also has played tremendous. He hit the game winner against Toronto on Nov. 12, then went 8 for 10 from the field against the Sixers. He also guarded Allan Iverson down the stretch, but most importantly he ran the pick-and-roll like Mark Price used to in his prime.

Seattle coach Nate McMillan has been able to put at least four players on the floor at a time who can make shots and score in a variety of ways. When you space the floor properly, it also gives ample driving room to finish at the basket or for the penetration and kick out to open shooters.

McMillan can deploy five scorers when the Sonics go small with Nick Collison at center at the end of games.

But the combination of Ridnour or Daniels at point, Allen at the two, Rashard Lewis at three and Radmanovic at the four spots has created havoc for defenses.

Allen's defender has to be getting worn down by all the screens being set for him by the improved front line of Reggie Evans – who came up with huge offensive rebounds (four of his 11) to give the Sonics extra possessions to salt the game away – Danny Fortson, Jerome James and young Collison.

The players have tremendous confidence in the system and are having fun playing the game. The front office has done a great job of getting young players who can play more than one spot to create mismatches all over in the half court.

This Sonic team is taking pride in getting stops, and when you match that up with dead-eye shooters, you can see the results.

This six-game road trip will be a true test of whether the Sonics can keep it going. But this style of play has the rest of the league envious and the fans in Seattle getting excited again about their team.

Changing tide in L.A.?

Wednesday at the Staples Center, the Clippers and cross-arena rival Lakers meet. The question many people are asking is, which team is better?

The Lakers have more veterans, playoff experience and arguably the best player in the game today in Kobe Bryant.

But the Lakers are going through some growing pains learning to play together with a multitude of changes in the roster and coaching staff. Entering play against the Clippers, the Lakers are 4-4 and struggling to maintain any kind of consistency.


Lamar Odom has yet to play the way he did last year in Miami. Odom has been spotting up on the perimeter, facing the basket and looking for jump shots or driving the ball to the basket. Once he starts feeling more comfortable in coach Rudy Tomjanovich's system, he'll start anticipating more post-up opportunities, especially on the right block.

There, Odom can back down smaller players or step out and face the basket against bigger and slower fours.

The "Horns Series", where both the four and five start at the corners of the free-throw line, will be good once the Lakers become accustomed to the nuances of each set, especially the high-low action of both big men.

Odom also has been in constant foul trouble and can't seem to find a comfortable rhythm.

New additions Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, with Odom are still searching their way through this young season, and the Lakers are awaiting the return of veteran Vlade Divac from offseason knee surgery.

The one sure thing, though, is the aggressive nature of Bryant's offensive game. He is attacking the basket relentlessly and continually trying to take over games on offense.

Bryant is taking advantage of the NBA's new hand-check enforcement, which favors players with quickness on the perimeter and encourages slashing and cutting toward the basket.

Through eight games, Bryant is second in the league in scoring with 28.3 points per game, and 40 percent of his points have come on free throws. This is amazing when you consider that just a few years ago, Iverson led the NBA in scoring and got 27 percent of his points from the line.

The Clippers, on the other hand, have many people in L.A. believing they might have the better team in that city.

Even though they're just 4-3, coach Mike Dunleavy has them playing some very good basketball. The key statistic for the Clippers is their turnovers in victories and losses. In their victories, L.A. has averaged only 12 turnovers per game. In losses, that number jumps to 22.

Marko Jaric and rookie Shaun Livingston have to play well for this team to win consistently. That is hard, considering they are still learning the NBA game as true point guards.

All-Star power forward Elton Brand is still the rock of the franchise.

Brand has developed his outside shot enough to now make defenders come out to contest it. Inside, he loves the left block to wheel and deal against players his own size. Occasionally, he has problems when guarded by bigger or taller players.

Corey Maggette is leading the league in free-throw attempts, which proves how aggressive he has been at the offensive end. Maggette has improved every year in the league and deserves acclaim because of his work ethic.

The biggest boost has been the great play from forward/center Chris Wilcox and forward Bobby Simmons.

Wilcox has played with a newfound energy and has been able to get quick scores down low in the post. Not one player in the entire league works harder than Simmons to get ready for each campaign. He takes this from friend and former teammate Michael Jordan.

Simmons' outside shooting has continued to improve, and with his strong body he can post up or hurt you from the outside. I coached Bobby for two seasons in Washington and knew all he needed was more experience and a chance to learn his craft by playing consistent minutes. The one thing you could never take away from him, though, is his work ethic and great attitude.

Simmons is fourth in the league in free-throw accuracy at 96 percent (23 of 24).

Even more reason for Clippers' fans to cheer: Guard Kerry Kittles and center Chris Kaman should return soon from the injured list. This will add to the Clippers' depth.

Artest vs. The Pistons

One of the key matchups this week will be the Pacers' Ron Artest trying to contain the Pistons' Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince Friday (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET).

If you remember Game 6 of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, Artest had an ill-timed flagrant foul called on him while defensing Hamilton. The play helped the Pistons secure a victory on their way to the NBA title.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Artest has played great again this season – even though you never know what to expect from him each night before tipoff.

With all of the Pacers' injuries, Artest has been starting at shooting guard. So he will get a chance to use his strength and post up Hamilton. Reggie Miller and Fred Jones' injuries make coach Rick Carlisle's rotation decisions easy. The Pacers only dressed eight players last weekend against the Sixers and Knicks.

On the other side, Hamilton and the Pistons will have to repeat what worked for them in the playoffs. Hamilton will put his track shoes on, never stop running and cutting without the ball, coming off screens in the half court and running for layups in full-court transition.

The new king of the crossover?

There are many point guards who can handle the basketball like magicians. Fans love to 'ooh' and 'aah' at the "crossover" – the ball-handler's swift dribble from hand-to-hand before he makes a break that leaves the defender cemented to the floor.

Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash, Earl Boykins, Alvin Williams (on injured reserve), and Tony Parker all would receive many votes in a poll of which NBA player has the best crossover.

But no one playing now has the strength and quickness on this particular dribble move to get free and go hard towards the rim better than Dwyane Wade.

I've watched Miami four times this season, and it is almost impossible for an entire team – let alone one man – to keep Wade out of the lane. It has to be a defensive goal to forbid him from getting into the painted area.

The Heat are using Wade's strengths. They are setting the wing screen-roll a little lower on the floor than many teams. This shortens the distance to the rim, if Wade can break his man down.

Wade wants to take his defender lower on the wing, then get the defender to look briefly at the screener coming down so Wade can cross the defender over with the dribble. Then Wade can take the ball along the baseline hard to the rim.

He either has been finishing at the basket or lobbing the ball up to Shaquille O'Neal if Shaq's man comes over to help stop the ball.

The defense's job is to make sure Wade uses the screen. That way his defender can get help from a teammate to get Wade under control before the Heat speedster picks up a head of steam.

This is easier said than done. It will be fun to watch Wade play and watch him grow as a point guard when he's completely recovered from his sprained ankle.

funny things happen when you get a group of players together for a long time. Lewis, Allen and Vlade are all good players.