Notebook | Revamped Sonics appear to be a turnover factory
LOS ANGELES - Turnovers are driving P.J. Carlesimo crazy.
In the Sonics’ first three games, they’ve committed 21, 18 and 22 turnovers, which have given their opponents 29, 27 and 25 points, respectively.
Looking for a reason to explain why Seattle allows an average of 113.7 points, which ranks 29th in the NBA, look no further than the offensive miscues.
“We must have gotten stripped, it seemed like, 10 times,” Carlesimo said.
Forward Jeff Green lost the ball four times on hard drives to the basket. However, the Sonics are urging the 22-year-old rookie to continue being aggressive. In the first half of Sunday’s 115-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Green constantly blew past opponents and finished with 12 points.
During one stretch early in the second quarter, he hammered in a jam in traffic and minutes later he used an up-and-under move to softly drop in a reverse layup against Los Angeles rookie Al Thornton. When Green attacked the basket, he was the best player on the court for a short span.
“The Clippers did a great job of making a change in the second half to where they tried to limit my touches in the post,” said Green, who had two points after the break. “They got easy strips, and that’s on me. I need to get the ball up and be stronger.”
Ten Sonics had at least one turnover, and eight had two or more.
Notes
• C Robert Swift scored two points and grabbed two rebounds inhis season debut. He missed the first two games because of soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. He’s listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game in Sacramento.
• Sonics point guards Earl Watson, Delonte West and Luke Ridnour combined for four points, 10 assists and six turnovers.
• Thornton, who many believe will push Seattle’s Kevin Durant in the rookie-of-the-year race, had four points and two rebounds.