Monthly Recap: DecemberPart One: Team Report, Results, League Standings Monthly Recaps are divided into several parts in order to give readers a quick and organized overview. Part One of the Monthly Recap provides the league standings; divided into the two conferences. It also features the Seattle Stealth’s’ team report and schedule of games played in the last month (links are included to game recaps where applicable). Part Two will feature Player Statistics.Team ReportSeattle endured a tough month, finishing with an uninspiring 7-8 record for December; leaving them only just hanging onto eighth place in the Western Conference. Adam Morrison was the most unlucky casualty as he did not play at all for the whole month due to two different injuries to his right leg. Kevin Durant, Brad Miller, and Chris Wilcox all spent recovery time on the sidelines.
Poor team chemistry has also reportedly been a concern for the side with internal bickering amongst some of the players. Morrison has reportedly demanded a trade while reports have surfaced concerning a rumored rift between star forward Kevin Durant and exciting young guard Reshawn Tyson. However, Stealth General Manager Will Sit has come out claiming that the reports are not true and his squad was a ‘tight-knit group’.
Injury has provided some gains for the team; allowing Jeff Green to flourish at the starting shooting guard spot and giving Reshawn Tyson a chance to show his potential. Green has been solid after scoring in double digits in all but three games for the month. Tyson has been turning a lot of heads with his scoring antics in limited game time. Tyson had five 20+ point games over the course of the month including 37 against Sacramento, 29 against Dallas, and 28 against Washington.
The road ahead for the team doesn’t look any easier though. Brad Miller is still out with a broken toe while Morrison is hurt with a bruised heel. The team has at times looked lost and despite having the League’s leading scorer in Durant (30.1 ppg), they lack a consistent second scoring option. Too many times has the team relied on the inconsistent Green and Jason Kidd, who is a great floor general but a below-average shooter. As Coach George Karl said, perhaps in a plea to the front office to make a move, “Some guys don’t want to be here and we really need someone who can score. We really need a second scorer whether they are a guard or a forward.”
December ScheduleDec 3 – Sea @ Atl: 86-116
Dec 5 – Sea @ Mia: 112-132
Dec 6 –
Sea @ Orl: 114-122Dec 8 – Pho @ Sea: 134-119
Dec 10 – Dal @ Sea: 112-126
Dec 13 – Sea @ Hou: 135-127
Dec 14 –
Sea @ Mem: 97-109Dec 16 –
Sac @ Sea: 121-153Dec 19 – Bos @ Sea: 119-134
Dec 21 – Chi @ Sea: 119-107
Dec 23 – Sea @ Cha: 115-109
Dec 26 – Sea @ Det: 94-100
Dec 27 – Sea @ Was: 121-137
Dec 29 – GSW @ Sea: 106-138
Dec 31 – Pho @ Sea: 110-118
Western Conference Standings1. New Orleans Hornets (26-7)*
2. Houston Rockets (21-10)
3. Denver Nuggets (22-11)*
4. San Antonio (17-11)
5. Los Angeles Lakers (18-14)*
6. Phoenix Suns (19-15)
7. Utah Jazz (18-15)
8. Seattle Stealth (18-15)- - -
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-16)
10. Portland Trailblazers (14-18)
11. Dallas Mavericks (14-18)
12. Golden State Warriors (13-17)
13. Sacramento Kings (11-20)
14. Memphis Grizzlies (11-20)
15. Los Angeles Clippers (10-20)
Eastern Conference Standings1. Detroit Pistons (22-8)*
2. Boston Celtics (21-11)*
3. Atlanta Hawks (19-13)*
4. Indiana Pacers (18-13)
5. Orlando Magic (17-13)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-16)
7. Miami Heat (16-16)
8. Chicago Bulls (15-16)
- - -
9. Philadelphia 76ers (15-16)
10. New Jersey Nets (13-17)
11. Washington Wizards (13-17)
12. Toronto Raptors (12-21)
13. New York Knicks (10-22)
14. Charlotte Bobcats (9-22)
15. Milwaukee Bucks (8-24)
* Denotes Division Leader