FanPost

The Portland SuperSonics?

Recent personnel changes and it's connected reporting have bestirred a few thoughts. The first thing really is a question. Are we now the Portland SuperSonics? There'e no judgement associated with this question. It's simply interesting that Coach Nate, the original Mr. Sonic, hired a former Sonic head coach. Not just any head coach but the one who showed him the ropes and taught him a pro system. Then PA and his sports managers, the "Vulcans", presumably themselves dyed-in-the-wool Seattlites hired Cho, himself a Seattlite. Now Cho rounds out his staff with more Seatlle staffers to serve as assistants. These are all sound player personnel and coaching lifers so I have no complaints with their selection. In fact, this crew is a formidible basketball think tank. We may be fortunate indeed. Still, I find Coach Nate's selections fascinating. It is a safe assumption that Mr. Sonic's system was learned almost entirely in service to the Sonics. It is quite literally Sonic basketball that he brought with him to Portland. It is plausible that being relatively young and previously surrounded by the Sonic safety net he brought an incomplete version of the system with him to Portland. The hiring of Bickerstaff and the others will almost certainly provide a layer of depth and comfort to Coach Nate's system. For all of you who have been hoping for a wholesale change in the our current style I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. Instead we are going, in all likelihood, to see an intensified and fully matured version of the same style. It's very promising in my view to expect to witness a fully implemented basketball system played by our current crop of fantastic athletes and defenders. I think we may be in for a pleasant surprise and it won't seem so bad being a Portland SuperSonic.