Shifting lineup allows Sonics fleeting success

Somewhere between the record-setting 168 points allowed in Denver and defensive brilliance displayed in Monday's 31-point second half against the Portland Trail Blazers resides the Sonics.

In reality they're not as awful as they were a week and a half ago in the Rocky Mountains, but it's optimistic to think Seattle will shut down the Washington Wizards tonight at KeyArena like they did the Blazers.

Still, coach P.J. Carlesimo thinks the past two quarters are a truer reflection of his club.

"From a team defensive standpoint we're much closer to the second half" of Monday night, he said. "Our [defensive] rotations are much better. Part of what's happening now is we got a group that's playing together that's just getting better from playing together.

"It's not an accident that if the group plays together for a little bit that they get better from playing."

The statistics tell a different story.

Seattle is 29th in the NBA in points allowed (106.4 points per game), 29th in opponent's three-point field-goal percentage (.387) and 20th in opponent's field-goal percentage (.460).

Carlesimo said a big part of the team's defensive problems have been inconsistent lineups caused by injuries and trades. Rookie guard Kevin Durant and point guard Earl Watson have been the bedrock of a shifting foundation this season. Rookie forward Jeff Green became a starter in late December and center Johan Petro moved into the lineup in late February. Forward Chris Wilcox has missed nine games because of injuries.

"On defense, you need everybody on the floor playing together as a unit, and we just haven't had that because guys have been in and out," Durant said on Monday. "On offense, it's different. You can freelance more. It's more on the individual. One guy can bail you out of a bad possession with a big shot or carry a team for a [quarter], a half or a game.

"When we play good defense it's usually because that night we clicked in as a team. I bet if you look at the games when we played good defense, we've won about half of them."

The Sonics are 12-11 when they've held opponents to fewer than 100 points and 12-15 when opponents shoot less than 50 percent.

Monday's 97-84 win not only snapped an 11-game losing streak, but it also was the first time the Sonics (17-54) held an opponent to fewer than 100 points in the past 16 games. Seattle set season records when it surrendered just 10 points in the third quarter and held Portland to 3-for-22 shooting.

"Clearly they missed shots, but when you play good defense, people miss shots," Carlesimo said.

The Wizards (36-34) rank 14th in the NBA in scoring (98.4 points), but they're not as lethal without injured guard Gilbert Arenas. Washington is the only team that's had five players (Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, DeShawn Stevenson and Roger Mason) score at least 30 points in a game this season.

"Even without Arenas, they're a good team," Carlesimo said.

Washington, which carried a three-game winning streak into Tuesday's 102-82 loss at Portland, beat the Sonics 108-86 on Jan. 6.

"They've proven they can score against us," Carlesimo said.

Note

• Watson (right calf contusion) and Wilcox (right pinkie sprain) are questionable. Wilcox, who has missed the past three games, will visit a hand specialist today.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com