Skid Makes Sonics Feel Not So Super Intensity Level Hits Low Point For Karl Era
The Seattle SuperSonics can see the days on the calendar slip away as the losses begin to pile up, and Detlef Schrempf is beginning to worry.
Seattle is 16-9 on the season and has lost three in a row for the first time since November 1994, when they dropped consecutive road games to New Jersey, Boston and Indiana.
“It’s not that early anymore,” Schrempf said. “We’ve been saying
that, but we need to get our act together.”
Sonics coach George Karl is concerned with the way his team is playing.
“Our energy is down, our spirit is down,” Karl said. “I’ve never seen this team play as flat as this team is playing right now.”
Even though the Sonics started 14-3, several players said Seattle hasn’t played well all season.
“We are not moving the ball and that hurts us offensively,” Detlef Schrempf said. “When we won, we beat teams we were supposed to beat.”
On Saturday night, the Houston Rockets beat Seattle 109-100 - the first time since March 10, 1994. Seattle had beaten Houston nine straight times in the regular season and four times in the playoffs.
The Rockets are 4-1 against other powers in the West - the Lakers, Utah and Seattle. But Seattle is 0-4 against the Rockets, the Lakers and Utah.
“They’re (Seattle) the best team in the West until someone beats them. Our goal is to be the best in the world,” said the Rockets’ Charles Barkley, who scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, hauled down 15 rebounds and had six assists.
“I was tired of hearing about this streak. This is a different team now. I’m 1-0 against them.”
The Sonics have a chance to get back on track with six of their next seven games against teams with losing records.
“We are 16-9, which is very disappointing to us,” said Hersey Hawkins. “At some point, we have to say, ‘Hey, enough is enough, and let’s get things together quickly before they fall apart.”
Seattle led only once against the Rockets (20-2), who have the NBA’s best record.
Shawn Kemp had another strong game with 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting and 10 rebounds.