| Meltdown In Milwaukee Authored by Hunter Johannason - February 27, 2005 - 5:26 pm
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However I was not worried, the Sonics shot poorly versus Minnesota and still managed to pull out the win in the fourth quarter. If they could do it versus the Garnett-powered Timberwolves, than by process of deduction, the Bucks would be even easier to come back against.
It never got any better. The Supersonics had no answer for Ray Allen’s replacement Michael Redd. Every time the Sonics tried to make a run, Redd was there with an answer. The fourth quarter tone was set by Redd when he picked Flip Murray with 4 seconds left in the third, drove the court and finished with an emphatic jam with no time left on the clock. Redd finished with 35 points on 14-25 shooting. Compare that to Ray Allen who finished with 16 points on just 4-16 shooting. The Sonics were blown out by the Bucks 99-73, a rare thrashing for the Sonics, but the fact that it is rare did not make it any easier to swallow.
To make matters worst, the Sonics one bright spot in this game, their tenacious rebounder and all-around defensive monster Reggie Evans went down late in the third quarter with an injury to his right ankle. Evans finished with 12 rebounds (7 offensive) and a tweaked ankle, nothing serious thankfully.
I will spare the details of the Sonics players individual shooting performances. Needless to say it added up to 29.4% in the end on 25 of 85 shooting. Compare that to the Bucks who shot 50.6% making 41 of their 81 shots. At least Sonics rookie Robert Swift saw his most minutes (4) as an NBA player.
Milwaukee showed a bit of class, holding the ball for the final 20 seconds instead of shooting. If the Bucks score 100 or more points, every fan in attendance receives a voucher for a free bratwurst with sauerkraut.
These games happen and are not a sign of a team in collapse. The true test will come when the Sonics have to bounce back versus a surging Indiana Pacers team this Tuesday.
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