OK, the season is barely a week old so the statistics are bound to be skewed, but one stat already jumps out for the Sonics this season.
A year ago, Seattle was the worst rebounding team in the NBA, averaging just 39.3 total rebounds a game. Through the first four games of 2004-05, the Sonics were still near the bottom in total rebounds, but they have outrebounded their opponents an average of 38.0 to 31.8 per game.
In addition, Seattle had a league-best offensive rebound percentage – the percentage of rebounds the Sonics get at their offensive end – of .401. Seattle, naturally, also led in opponents’ low defensive rebound percentage (.599), but also in opponents’ low total rebound percentage (.453), which is the percentage of rebounds of every missed shot.
Much of the improvement, obviously, has to do with new Sonic Danny Fortson, who led the team (heading into Wednesday’s game) with an 8.7 rebound average. Another factor, Seattle coach Nate McMillan said, is the team’s emphasis on defense.
By playing better individual defense and double-teaming less, the Sonics are doing a better job of keeping opposing players from getting good rebound position. They’re also forcing foes into more outside shots, increasing the number of misses.
“We want our defense to force teams to beat us from the perimeter,” McMillan said. “We want to challenge shots and then rebound the ball … and we’ve been able to do that.”
“We’ve been able to pick it up on the defensive end of the floor,” he added, “which is what you have to do to win in this league.”
Minute madness: Ideally, McMillan says he would like to play Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen about 35 minutes a game. He will, however, play his top two players as much as he needs to win any particular game.
“If our bench can give us some good minutes, I’ll go that way,” he explained. “But if I have to play Rashard and Ray 48 minutes, I’ll go that way, too.”
Playing time will be decided by “what you do out on the floor. It’s not about who you are and where you’re supposed to be in the rotation. You’ll be out there because you’re doing what you need to do and giving us a chance to win the ballgame.”
Bottom line, McMillan said, “if you’re playing (hard), you’re going to play.”
Sharpshooter: Taking passes as he comes off baseline screens, Allen has one of the league’s quickest catch-and-shoot motions. That release allows Allen to get off shots other shooters might not.
Even so, Allen said, he is quite comfortable shooting with a defender nearby.
“I’ve always thought I shoot better with a hand in my face,” he said. “It almost feels like it’s more pressure when you’re wide open because nobody is there. You take your time and you focus too much on the rim. But with a hand in your face you only have a split second to shoot and you don’t think much about it.”
Through four games, Allen was shooting .542 from the field (39-for-72) and a remarkable .714 (15-for-21) from the 3-point stripe.
Rich Myhre
Herald writer
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