In what may be their last season in Seattle, the Sonics
don't look to bid a fond farewell to their long-devoted (and long-suffering)
fans.
Ray Allen (25.1 ppg) and Rashard Lewis (20.1 ppg), are among the
NBA's most lethal 1-2 punches, and are only a year removed from leading Seattle
to a division title. That team, though, had experience in the middle. This one
doesn't. That difference, and a fan base that might be indifferent to a team
with one foot potentially out the door, probably amounts to more than the Sonics
can overcome over 82 games
With so little change and so much off-court turmoil, it's
unlikely that Seattle will return to its 50-win status of two seasons ago. A
repeat of last year's mediocrity will be the likely swan song for the Sonics.
