Sonics need an identity

Even with the talented Allen, who is a six-time All-Star, on the roster, Seattle management has struggled to put together a squad around him that is consistently a contender. Allen is averaging a team-best 25.3 points per game and has scored in double-digits in all 18 of Seattle’s contests this season.

Rashard Lewis is still Seattle’s second-best option. The 6-10 forward is second on the club in scoring (22.6 ppg) and has pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game, while starting point guard Luke Ridnour, who is the third part of the nucleus, is averaging 14.9 points and a team-high 6.5 assists.

Allen, Lewis and Ridnour are a solid threesome, but something is missing in Seattle. The SuperSonics look like a team that is headed for the lottery for a second straight year.

The SuperSonics own a below average 7-11 record and sit in fourth place in the Northwest Division. On Tuesday, The Atlanta Hawks play the second of a five- game road trip as they visit Seattle at KeyArena. It is the second and final meeting of the season between the clubs. On November 11th, Allen poured in 33 points, including the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the SuperSonics to a 113-112 victory over the Hawks at Philips Arena.

The Sonics have won six in a row in over Atlanta, which has lost two straight and four of its last five at Seattle.

Seattle tries to bounce back from a loss, as it starts a three-game homestand against the Hawks. On Saturday, Mehmet Okur drilled the game-winning three- pointer with 1.6 seconds left in regulation to lift the Utah Jazz past the SuperSonics, 109-107, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Allen finished with 33 points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter, despite shooting 8-of-19 from the field in the loss to Utah for the SuperSonics, who have lost four of their last five contests overall. Lewis collected 27 points and eight rebounds in defeat.

The SuperSonics are 3-6 at KeyArena this season. They will host Chris Paul and the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets on Friday and Jason Richardson and the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in the finale of the homestand.

Seattle has scored 100 or more points nine times this season and is 4-5 in those contests. The Sonics are 4-6 when they allow over 100 points to their opponent.