(My Sportsbook) - Shhhhhh. Don't tell anyone but the Seattle SuperSonics are off to a 3-0 start and leading the best division in
basketball.
While everybody is focusing their attention on the Los Angles Lakers and Sacramento Kings in the Pacific Division, Seattle has posted wins over Phoenix, Golden State and Utah to start the 2002-03 campaign. Only the Sonics and Dallas Mavericks can boast of flawless marks in the Western Conference.
One reason for Seattle's strong start is the play of their deep bench. In Sunday's 91-77 victory over Utah, the Sonics' reserves outscored the starters, 49-42, with Desmond Mason scoring 16, Vladimir Radmanovic adding 15 and Kenny Anderson contributing 10 in his Seattle debut.
Mason has done especially well in the opening stages of the season, as he's tied for second on the team with a scoring average of 16.7 ppg. He's also averaging 6.3 rebounds in three games off the pine.
"That's gonna be the key for us all season long," said coach Nate McMillan about the play of his bench after the Utah win. "With Mason and Radmanovic coming off the bench I'm able to give those guys opportunities involving them in pick and rolls and isos. Tonight their shots were falling, they were making the right decisions and our defense really set the tone."
Seattle's defense held the Jazz to 41 percent shooting from the field, collected 10 steals and forced 17 turnovers. The Sonics also held Jazz forward Karl Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history, scoreless for the first time in his career.
"I don't think I ever played a game where I didn't score. High school, junior high, whatever," said Malone. "If you stay around long enough in this game you'll have a lot of firsts. Sometimes things just happen but you have to give them a lot of credit."
Despite some gripes with the Seattle management over his contract situation, perennial All-Star Gary Payton is letting his play do the talking. Through the first three games the 34-year-old point guard is averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals, while shooting 54 percent from the floor.
Things gets tougher for the Sonics starting Tuesday, as they open a five-game road trip in Houston. They return from the swing by hosting Sacramento.
