Eric, I caught the first half last night (on the East coast so the late start makes it hard to watch the whole game) and saw some good things and some bad.
1) Not a fan of the zone defense. The Lakers torched them from outside and it didn't really improve the interior defense either.
2) Swift looks too slow right now to contribute. He was late rotating a bunch of times. Sene at least looks active. He'll probably foul out in about 12 minutes, but he could be disruptive while he is out there. His foul shooting however....
3) Wally needs to take the open jumper when it's there. He seemed to hesitate when he got the ball on the wing. The Sonics are going to need some instant offense from him.
4) If Wilkins starts then Ridnour has to be the PG. A starting lineup of Watson, Durant, Wilkins, Wilcox and Swift has only Wilcox as a consistent scoring threat. Durant should pick it up as the season goes along, but for now that isn't enough to keep them in games. Ridnour keeps the tempo up and generates some easier looks for the other players while Watson seems to clog things up.
I hope Saturdays game looks better.

I second this, "Ridnour keeps the tempo up and generates some easier looks for the other players while Watson seems to clog things up."

Last night was not pretty. In general, it looked like a team that just didn't really know quite well enough what they were going to do, and what the guy next to them was going to do. It seemed, really for the first time , I's msorry to say, how difficult it is to put together a functioning team from this roster.
Durant, Green, Gelabale, Petro, Swift, Sene - three centers, and two small forwards, either rookies, or with language issues, or just without much time playing together. I would expect that Carlisimo's patience is going to be tested here.
What is it with Swift's rehab? He seems not only slow, but to have no strength in his legs. It looked like he mostly got the worst of the pushing and shoving under the basket. Petro didn't have enough time to show much of anything. Sene to my surprise (and delight) looked strong and ambitious.
Green and Durant both justified all the hype about their skills. But they do look like rookies at times, and sometimes at very inopportune times. Durant just also looks like he has to get bigger and stronger. He sometimes looks like a college freshman (Gee, why do you think that is?)
The two small point guards seem to have similar skills but play very different games. At least they don't seem to complement each other. Ridnour moves the ball well, and Watson has a defensive presence in the backcourt, but somehow the two of them don't add up so that when one subs for the other there is some kind of new energy or focus or something. I agree with iqbal 70 at least as far as they played last night.

I agree with most of what you guys are saying. Despite the outcome I thought that Swift didn't do that bad. 7 points, 8 reb (4 offensive) and a block. He will get better and gain more confidence as he starts to trust himself and the knee. Damien showed why he is valuable to the team. He played hard hitting some nice shots, good d and was diving on the floor like it was a finals game. All in all they got a long road ahead but it was good to see them in action. I hate it when Marv Albert says "Kobe Bryant"! Damn Laker fans. I guess Marv forgot all about his days announcing for the Sups.

Got to watch the Supes in hi-def for the first time ever (with slo-mo and rewind)!
WAY better than being there...

My observations:
- We took way too many forced (bad) shots, and the offense in general seemed a bit disorganized much of the time. Didn't look like they ran many plays to get the ball to guys who were in position to score. I'm sure that will get better as we get closer. Don't think the Lakers D had much effect.
- Sene looked like a player, and made some nice, athletic BB moves. He is not a stiff, and is getting better all the time. I haven't looked at the stats, but if his rebound totals were down it's because the Lakers MADE EVERY SHOT when he was in position to rebound.
- The refs were absolutely pathetic early on. In the first quarter they called quite a few phantom fouls on our guys when there was no contact at all. I know it's preseason and nobody cares about the outcome-- which is why no one complained. (Except Wally looked perplexed about a couple that were on him because he was in the area, I guess. Ask him and he'll back me up...)
Durant got called for carrying (palming), which rarely gets called at this level-- but in fairness, he did. He was just emulating MJ and Kobe, I think.
I mention the officiating not because I care who won, but because I hate to see refs get away with that crap.
- I thought Swift looked okay, but he still needs to heal and regain his timing and quickness.
- Weezy looked like the best player on the floor most of the time. If Nick is anywhere close, we're in great shape at 4.
-Luke was the better PG. I still like him as the starter, but I haven't seen Delonte play yet (except his YouTube highlight reels).
- Wilkins looked good at times but forced too many shots/drives when they weren't there.
- Wally looked good but missed a couple I think he'd normally make. Looked a little hesitant at times, but more athletic than I expected. Played decent defense.

The team obviously needs more time, but they're on their way.


TTown-- Perv Albert called Sonic games?

Sounds like Marv "Back Biting" Albert but that was Kevin Harlan last night.

lol, oh it sounded like Marv! I guess he has a following.

Actually I was wrong. I thought he announced for the Sups but I guess what I was remembering is the drive to the finals in 95. Marv called the playoff games. Going back to the hi-def comment. Why doesn't Fox step it up and start broadcasting in HD. I know that they have some home games but they should be broadcasting all games.

Going back to the game last night, I think the team could of used Collison. I would imagine he will get consistent minutes no matter whos starts.

Fox has always had the low-budget affiliates, with less power and unfavorable channel assignments. Reminds me of an old Married With Children episode when the Bundys had to assume the "Fox Viewing Position" (involving extra metals, etc) in order to watch a Fox program.
Here in Yakima the local Fox affiliate has said (via phone call) that it will be sometime next year (or beyond) before they can get all the equipment required to broadcast in hi-def. I'm guessing they get zero help from the network.
This sucks for trying to watch the Seahawks in hi-def. But last night the Sonics were on TNT, and we do get the hi-def version of TNT via Charter cable.

On a side note, the past few years, all FSN telecasts of the Sonics were blacked-out here, and we had to watch the hispanic channel to see those games. I hope it's better this season.

That sucks Doctor. Did your spanish get better from watching that channel? : ) I enjoy watching all games so I am going to try out League Pass this year. Part of me doesn't want a support a business that is more worried about playing games in China then helping save a 40 year franchise... but what are you going to do! Watching any NBA game in HD is nice. Between the Sups, ESPN Wednesdays in HD and TNT games on Thursday, it should keep me busy this winter.

Ha! No, the game is in English but the commercials come in too loud, and in high-energy spanish. Many of them are pleas for advertisers.
On one hand I appreciate getting the games at all-- but on the other hand, I wonder if them carrying the game is the REASON it's blacked-out here.

I agree with your comment about support from the NBA.
I don't see how they could let a team with this much tradition and support go to a minor-league town. If OKC wants a franchise so much, let them go through the expansion process.

Here's my starting 5:
Collison/Wilcox/Szczerbiak/Durant/either Ridenour or West (I don't know enough about West to have an opinion yet)

Primary backups: Sene, Green, Watson, Gelebale .

With that already being 10, I'd think Damien, Swift, Petro & Thomas won't be seeing many minutes

I definitely agree on starting Collison at center. He played well enough last year to earn the spot, at least until swift gets his legs under him.

West is really good. Strong areas are outside shooting, driving and scoring, defense (esp. shot blocking!), highlight dunks, and versatility at either G spot... Weaknesses are distributing and injuries. But I think he CAN dish it out if called upon, so we'll see about that.
He'll be a fan favorite in no time. My opinion is that it should be Luke and West at PG (Watson = 3rd option), and West getting some minutes at the 2 after KD and Wally. Once Kevin gets bigger and stronger he'll play a lot less at 2, which will give more minutes to the other SGs.